Finding the Property

Before buying, I searched for vineyard property for about two years with the help of the definitive \"Soils of Prince Edward County\" map that was re-released in October 2002. The map is produced with excellent topographical details from data collected in the 1948 Soil Survey of Prince Edward County. It\'s a good reference with defined contours, fault lines and most importantly colour-coordinated soil types and ratings. I believe it\'s still available from Books on the Bay in Picton for about $30.00.

Because both my family roots and my present-day cottage are in the Cherry Valley area, I focused my search there. With the help of real estate agent, Jim Wait, I investigated several properties, talked to local farmers and grape growers and read all I could find about soils and cool climate grape growing. I made up my mind I wanted a property with sandy loam soil with lots of depth and good limestone presence, either in limestone debris or a fractured shelf.

I made two serious attempts to purchase land in the Cherry Valley area and, although for various reasons they didn\'t work out, I still believe both properties would make excellent winery locations.

While I searched for perfect vineyard property in the summer of 2003, I continued my telecommunications consulting work at Queen\'s University in Kingston. My morning commute was usually a dash down highway 401, but if I had time and it was a beautiful morning I took the Glenora Ferry to the mainland and traveled Highway 33 along the lakeshore, through Bath into Kingston. I had driven this road hundreds of times, but that summer I really noticed the beauty around Adolphustown and Conway. Apple orchards, strawberry fields, cornfields and now fledgling vineyards - the potential of the area was obvious.

One unique property on this stretch of highway is hard to miss. It\'s a farm with a wonderful old barn and a big red CN caboose that I\'m sure intrigues everyone in the 50,000 cars that pass by each summer. They must wonder \"Why is it here? How did it get there?\" Hopefully their questions will be answered right here by the original owner himself, Mr. Adam Ruck.

Driving by the property that summer, I saw a \"for sale\" sign and wrote down the number. But Adam Ruck is a cautious man and was not about to hand me a survey on my first request. With just seven acres of land on the property, I had to confirm at least five could grow grapes, because in Ontario you must have a minimum five acres of vines to qualify for a license to produce and sell wine on-site.

I visited the property twice and dug three test holes, and then I was confident I\'d found a property with all the elements of a successful vineyard: good soil, good microclimate, proximity to the lake, good slope and sun exposure, high traffic flow and a whole lot of character.

My next step was to make an offer on the asking price of $125,000. After two years\' looking I had a pretty good idea of prices and values, and I felt Adam and Anne Ruck\'s asking price was reasonable. More importantly, they were very attached to their property, so I wasn\'t going to insult them with a \"lowball\" offer.

In late August 2003 I met Adam and Anne at Tim Horton\'s in Portsmouth Village in Kingston. I presented my price, they presented theirs. We split the difference and made a deal, working out details in less than 30 minutes and sealing it with a handshake. A few days later Anne and Adam left for a trip to Paris, France. I think they felt comfortable that their beloved caboose and property was in good hands.