Huff Estates sparkling wine to honour Sir John A. Macdonald

Huff Estates has released a new sparkling wine to honour Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

“Macdonald’s birthday will be celebrated on January 11th, 2015 and the wine will be available starting today and throughout the period leading up to the 150th birthday of Canada itself on July 1, 2017,” said Jason Sharpe.

Frédéric Picard, Huff’s award-winning winemaker from Burgundy France, said this vintage is one of the best Huff Estates has yet produced.

“It is perhaps our premier wine and it’s only fitting that it be dedicated to Canada’s first and greatest prime minister, a man who loved the best European wines and especially premier champagne,” he said.

Huff Estates and the non-profit, non-partisan Macdonald Project of Prince Edward County have partnered on this project to help raise funds for the Ruth Abernethy bronze sculpture of Macdonald for Picton and to raise awareness of the rich history of the Quinte Region.

“Sir John A. once told his secretary that he always felt he was a Quinte boy at heart, so it’s only fitting that a Prince Edward County wine be selected to celebrate important occasions across Canada,”  said David Warrick, chair of the Macdonald project.

Huff Estates will be donating $5 from the sale of each bottle to the Macdonald Project,” said owners Lanny and Catharine Huff. “We are pleased to assist this worthwhile project and to help all Canadians to remember our greatest leader, ‘the man who made us.'”

“This is a great example of an area business seizing the opportunity presented by the 200th birthday of Sir John A. Macdonald,” said Warrick. “The Macdonald Project team hopes this will encourage other groups and businesses in the area and across Canada to become involved in this national commemoration.”

The first two bottles will be presented to Ruth Abernethy sculptor and Richard Gwyn, Macdonald biographer, during their visit to the historic Picton courthouse for a trial re-enactment on Friday, July 11. This is the place where Macdonald “came of age” and began his professional career in law in 1834.

“The full sculpture entitled ‘Holding Court’ is to be unveiled for the first time at the Fairmont, Royal York gala dinner on Jan. 10, 2015 when 500 guests will gather, many in period dress, to mark the bicentennial of Macdonald” said Warrick.  “The first 40 bottles of the wine have already been sold to the Friends of Macdonald, the organizers of the event.  Each of the 40 tables will be treated to a bottle of the Huff’s premier sparkling wine to toast the Old Chieftain.”

The bottle features an historic label designed by Carl Wiens, award winning illustrator and graphic designer. It depicts the Abernethy bronze head study of the full sculpture and the story of Macdonald’s happy childhood and the beginning of his career in the Quinte region.

The full sculpture is to reach its final resting place in downtown Picton where it will be unveiled on Canada Day, July 1, 2015 in the “Year of Macdonald.”

To purchase Sir John A. Macdonald Bicentennial Wine, contact 613-393-5802, email info@huffestates.com or visit www.huffestates.com