Our Story    

Gerry McConnell and his late wife Dara Gordon purchase 60 acres of land bordering on the Gaspereau River in Nova Scotia.

Benjamin Bridge engages leading international winery consultant and winemaker Peter J. Gamble, along with his partner, winemaker Ann Sperling. Land cleared and tiled, subsoil fractured in preparation for the first plantings.

First five acres planted in four blocks. Gamble and Sperling invite oenologist Raphaël Brisbois, the world’s foremost Champagne authority and former chef de cave for Piper Heidsieck, to tour and assess the vineyard.

After seeing tremendous potential of the vineyard, Brisbois agrees to consult on an ongoing basis with Benjamin Bridge. Seven experimental sparkling cuvées made in order to better understand the terroir; the varieties, structure, and aromatics of the wine.

Six year-round computerized temperature loggers installed. Further experimental cuvées created.

Coolest grape-growing season in 20 years. Grape analyses meet Brisbois’ exacting criteria. This vintage becomes the inaugural release of Benjamin Bridge sparklings.

Volume of sparkling cuvées increased as more estate grapes come into production.

A devastating winter (-26.5ºC) hits Gaspereau, leading to an extremely limited vinifera harvest. No wines are created.

With vinifera resurgent, two wines are created. An early-disgorged classic method sparkling debuts at Michael Howell’s “Taste of Nova Scotia” event in New York City, hosted by the James Beard Foundation.

After a two-year search, Jean-Benoit Deslauriers is chosen to join the Benjamin Bridge winemaking team. The Benjamin Bridge vineyards are officially certified organic. Volume of Méthode Classique sparklings increased as vineyard continues to fuller fruition. David Lawrason, one of Canada’s most respected wine journalists, visits Benjamin Bridge: “I can’t say enough about how good these wines are.”

In a singular honour for Benjamin Bridge, leading international Champagne expert Tom Stevenson selects our early-disgorged sparkling for presentation at the first International Sparkling Wine Symposium in London, England.

Two Benjamin Bridge Méthode Classique sparkling wines are released, the 2004 Brut Reserve and 2004 Blanc de Noirs.

Beppi Crosariol, renowned wine critic for the Globe and Mail, declares our 2004 Méthode Classique Brut Reserve “a sparkler that rivals Champagne” and “one of the best Canadian wines I’ve tasted”.

Benjamin Bridge’s 2008 Méthode Classique Rosé is selected for inclusion in an event held during the 2012 London Olympics, promoting and celebrating Canada’s best wines. The much-anticipated BB Club debuts.

After success in Ontario’s Vintages, Benjamin Bridge is set to enter the Alberta, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec markets.