HISTORICALLY DRINKING Essex County has become a hotspot for the production of great drinks, first with the wine industry and now with the addition of a number of craft breweries in recent years.
Many of these drink producers are taking a page from local history when it comes to naming their drinks and even developing their brands as a whole. Pelee Island Winery Thaddeus Smith VQA South Winds is named after one of the founders of Vin Villa, Canada’s first commercial winery that was founded in 1866 on Pelee Island. J.S. Hamilton Red VQA is named after the liquor wholesaler from Brantford who purchased Vin Villa wines from Thaddeus Smith. Mr. Hamilton liked the Pelee wine so much, he moved to Pelee Island and started the Pelee Island Wine & Vineyards Co. Viewpointe Estate Winery Viewpointe’s Surfside line of wines is a nod to Surfside 3, the music venue at Lakeside Park that was popular in the 1960’s and 1970’s featuring performances by Bob Seger, Mitch Ryder, and many Motown groups. Banded Goose Brewery The name Banded Goose pays homage to birding legend and conservationist Jack Miner. At the brewery, you will find Jack’s Golden Ale on tap while large black and white photos hang on the walls from the archives of the Jack Miner Sanctuary. The Grove Brew House The Grove Brew House has a number of their beers named after local history, including their Westcott Cream Ale that is named after musician and composer Caroline Westcott who published songs in the late 1800’s including “Essex Queens” and “Mettawa’s Walzes”. Cured Craft Brewery Cured Craft Brewery is located in one of Leamington’s most historic buildings. It was once the office and garage of American Colonel William T. Gregory who came to Leamington in the early 1900’s and introduced the process of flue-curing to local tobacco farmers. Colonel G’s Cream Ale (left) is a nod to the building’s former owner and a portrait of Mr. Gregory hangs inside the brewery (far left). 32 | Southpoint Living - Boomer
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