Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we joined Gina Haverstock, head winemaker at Devonian Coast Wineries (Jost, Gaspereau and Mercator Vineyards) and Matt McSweeney, Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for the Sensory Research of Food at Acadia, for a conversation about the Nova Scotia wine industry, moderated by Acadia’s Executive Director, Alumni Affairs Oonagh Proudfoot (’93, ’06). Gina provided an overview of the Nova Scotia wine industry and then walked participants through a wine-tasting experience with her choice of recommended local and comparable wines for participants outside of Canada. Matt, who had just finished a three-year research project on Nova Scotia wine, provided a synopsis of his results.

To view the recording of this virtual event, visit here.

Presenter biographies:

Gina Haverstock

Nova Scotia-born (Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton), Gina Haverstock started her wine-making career at Gaspereau Vineyards in 2006. A Bachelor of Science graduate majoring in biochemistry with plans to become a doctor, Gina took a job at Jost Vineyards in the summer of 2000 and was soon captivated by wines. With this new-found love for wine, Gina sought opportunities to expand her knowledge. She completed her Sommelier certification in 2001 and, shortly after, began the Bachelor of Science program in Viticulture and Oenology at Brock University in the Niagara region with the goal of becoming a winemaker.  After her studies at Brock, Gina worked at wineries in Germany (Rheingau), Austria (Wachau), France (Burgundy), and New Zealand (Hawkes Bay) to increase her knowledge base of cool climate winemaking.

She was happy to return to Nova Scotia in 2006 as Gaspereau Vineyard’s winemaker. Her wines, particularly her Riesling and aromatic whites, have received international awards and accolades. Gina takes great care to transfer the essence of Nova Scotia’s extraordinary terroir into truly outstanding wines.

As of 2018, Gina’s role in the company has expanded from solely making the wine at Gaspereau Vineyards to overseeing the winemaking team at Jost, Gaspereau and Mercator Vineyards as head winemaker at Devonian Coast Wineries.

Gina currently resides in Wolfville, Nova Scotia with her two children and husband, Sean.  Sean and Gina also co-own the Annapolis Cider Company, a boutique cidery in downtown Wolfville.

Matt McSweeney

Matt McSweeney joined the Acadia University faculty in 2013 after completing both his BSc and PhD in Food Science at the University of Guelph. Matt primarily studies sensory science. His research focuses on the sensory aspects of food (taste, aroma, appearance, and texture), and is largely concerned with the factors that influence the acceptability of food products. Recently conducted studies have examined the use of new sensory methods, 3-D printing, wine produced in Nova Scotia, and the production of new food products from alternative grains and food waste.