NSCC building winemaking facility to meet N.S. demand

A branch of theNova Scotia Community College aimsto churn out workers for the province's growing wine industry.

"When we started this in '07 I believe there were 10 or 12 wineries and I think we're up to 20 now," said Janet Specht with NSCC. "The same thing with the grapes. The acreage of grapes hastripled and they expect that to go even higher."

Specht said the industry will need trained workers to turn all of those grapes into wine. The new winemaking facility will help students learn those skills.

Facility to provide crucial training

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency provided $400,000 to transform part of an existing building into NSCC's winemaking facility.

Janet Specht said she isn't sure what the final cost of the building will be because the college is still waiting on quotes from contractors.

The facility will be set up like a typical winery with a crush pad, vats for the wine and even a lab for students to analyze their final product.

"They can go in there, they can make wine, they can make mistakes with the wine. We don't have to go out into the industry. They will be producing wine here for the purposes of learning and it's okay if they make a mistake," said Specht.

Benjamin Bridge Winery in Gaspereau Valley prides itself on not making those kinds of mistakes. Winemaker Jean-Benoit Deslauriers said every year they're producing more wine. In 2008 they made 200 cases of Nova 7 wine, now they have an annual production of 11,000 cases.

"Your needs, in terms of labour, are going to be substantially higher because to operate at a high level and to pay a tremendous amount of attention to the fruit that you have you need the workforce. You need the labour for sure," said Deslauriers.

Nova Scotia could become apremiere wine region

Deslauriersalso believes that providing a training ground for students is the first step in making Nova Scotia into a premiere wine region.

"One element that is really key in distinguishing a legitimate wine region is the fact that there is usually a faculty nearby that will train the professionals, that will train the workforce."

The Winery Association of Nova Scotia, represents the interests of wine producers in the province, it's also on side with NSCC's plan.

"We always need to look ahead and see where we're going and realize that there will be a demand for those positions," said Gillian Mainguy manger with the Winery Association.

"Why not offer a home-grown solution in terms of education rather than send people away?"