Passionate about Place: Benjamin Bridge
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Ashley McConnell-Gordon explains that the Gaspereau Valley’s distinct terroir is the expression of land and climate that ensures Benjamin Bridge’s artisan wines are reflections of place.
“Nova Scotia’s terroir, and the wine it produces, is some of the most distinctive on earth. So for us, there was a passion for place, and a passion for what we could do at the international level.”
Why Nova Scotia?
Top quality winemaking has deep roots in Nova Scotia. The unique Bay of Fundy ecosphere, our maritime climate, and the acidic soils of the Annapolis Valley combine to produce excellent wines. The grape growing and winemaking industry are also driving renewed economic activity in rural Nova Scotia, and have attracted young Nova Scotians into agricultural production. Indirect effects include increased wine tourism in the province, with economic benefits to local communities.
"When we began production, we allocated a portion of our volume to open up export markets for the future. Not only for the future when there’s lots of production, but also because we wanted to build the reputation of Nova Scotia and attract people here.” - Ashley McConnell-Gordon
What challenges have you faced and overcome?
Nova Scotia wineries need to grow and sustain markets for Nova Scotian wine. Increasing local and national wine sales is a priority, as is wine tourism, but the real mission is to expand international markets for high-quality Nova Scotian wines. Benjamin Bridge reserves a certain percentage of its production for export, and needs to explore and access ways in which it can export its wines worldwide.
NSBI can guide you through any stage of your export journey, and assess your export readiness with the Exporter Self-Assessment tool.
Where NSBI comes in.
Benjamin Bridge wines are found in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, and China, and they continue to explore and access new markets. With NSBI’s support, the winery’s exports have grown 30%.
“NSBI helped us develop an export plan to learn about and access markets, understand wine export regulations, attend trade shows, and access outside expertise to market and export our wines.”
A future in Nova Scotia.
Benjamin Bridge wines are making their mark on the world stage. They’ve been garnering acclaim and awards worldwide and making inroads to new markets. Benjamin Bridge wines have appeared in Michelin-starred restaurants in France.
Interested in export? Nova Scotia Business Inc. is dedicated to supporting the growth of business in Nova Scotia and our team of Regional Business Development Advisors is available to assess your needs and provide practical advice on taking your next steps toward growth in global markets.
Nova Scotia businesses like Benjamin Bridge are focused on building a strong and thriving community for today and for generations to come. We’re proud to be able to support them. Our 2016 - 2017 Annual Report tells their stories. View the full report.