The Roost Wine Company Blog

We're Hiring!

Summer is approaching so we're looking to expand our Tasting Room team to host lots of great tastings at the winery this summer. 

The working environment at the Roost is professional, team-oriented and - according to staff members - fun. We have high standards reward those who meet them. 

We have multiple positions to fill that involve working in a beautiful setting, a great atmosphere, appreciative guests, and you can be home for dinner! 

For the most up to date information, please see our jobs board at this link.

What Staff Say

"I have to say that this has been my favorite job to date. I’ve never felt so comfortable with my coworkers and have had such a positive experience." - Emma, 2021 Season

"The Roost has a wonderful working environment where staff are supported and work well together. I love the good vibes every shift!" - Tia, 2021 season

Mar 17, 2022 at 11:58 AM Permalink

Roost Wines Win at International Sparkling Competition

We're delighted to share that The Roost's 2017 Sparkling Rosé and 2017 Sparkling Red both received Bronze at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships!⁣
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No, it wasn't silver or gold. But as a small, new winery in an unknown region we're pretty proud to have been recognised in such a prestigious competition. The CSWWC features the best international sparkling wines and champagnes in the world, so for us to receive a nod from the judges in the form of a bronze score is pretty remarkable. ⁣
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Of particular pride is the Silk Purse Sparkling Red, made with 100% Georgian Bay grapes and in the traditional method. Plus these were the first two sparkling wines made by The Roost, and winemaker Jessica. ⁣
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Our 2018 Sparkling Rosé and the Sparkling Red are both available to buy in the tasting room and on our website. ⁣

Jul 14, 2019 at 11:17 AM Permalink

Review: A Weekend in Grey County, Ontario by Jennifer Weatherhead Harrington in Travel and Style

The Roost was recently visiting by Jennifer Weatherhead Harrington as part of her tour around Grey County. You can read her full write up at this link including some great photos and other ideas for what to include on a visit to Grey County. Thanks Jennifer!

 

The tasting room at @theroostwineco may have only been open for just under a year, but owners Mike and Jess have nailed it with really good wines in a cold climate, a chic country setting and zero pretentiousness when it comes to enjoying a glass or two of crisp whites (you also have to try their sparkling rosè ✨💕✨).

A post shared by Jenn Weatherhead (@jennweatherhead) on May 13, 2018 at 7:16pm PDT

Jun 4, 2018 at 12:32 PM Permalink

Review: Viticulture Meets Vision article in Escarpment Magazine

The Roost is delighted to have a 5-page feature in Escarpment Magazine this Spring. You can read the full article at this link: Viticulture Meets Vision.

Apr 23, 2018 at 9:00 AM Permalink

Roost Wines win at International Competition

Four wines entered - four medals won. The Roost Wine Company is thrilled to announce that our 2016 wines Frontenac Blanc, Marquette, Rose and L’Acadie brought home a gold and three bronze medals respectively, at the prestigious Finger Lakes International Wine Competition held on the 24th and 25th March 2017. The competition has a focus on cold-climate wines and had entrants from 18 countries.  Wines were judged blind on their own merits - presence, balance and varietal character - by a panel of international judges. 

The 2016 vintage was the first produced at The Roost, which opened its tasting room in July 2017. The Gold-winning Frontenac Blanc was the only wine in its category to win the top medal, a notable achievement for a wine exclusively grown and made in the relatively new grape growing region of Southern Georgian Bay. The 2016 Rose is available online and will be back in The Roost tasting room when it re-opens for the summer season in May, alongside the new vintages of Frontenac Blanc, Marquette and L’Acadie. 

Apr 3, 2018 at 10:48 AM Permalink

Review: Ayngelina Brogan reviews The Roost

This fall we were visiting by travel and food writer Ayngelina Brogan. You can see her review in her excellent article Grey County Fall Colours, and her post from Instagram below.

Link: Grey County Fall Colours

 

Michael Maish from @TheRoostWineCo in his vineyard overlooking Georgian Bay. The winery opened this year and is experimenting with varieties like L'Acadie Blanc and Frontenac Blanc. It's inspiring to see new winemakers experiment but unfortunately these grapes aren't eligible for Ontario VQA, which means to be profitable he can only sell these at the winery tasting room. Just one more region to @VisitGrey County - this has become my favourite winery in Toronto - get the 2016 Marquette and thank me later. . . . . . #sponsoredtrip #ColourItYourWay #DiscoverON #ExploreCanada #discoverontario #FeastOn#loveONtfood #winecountryont #visitawinery #VQAontario #ONwine #VQA #winery #wine #vineyard #winecountryontario #canadianwine #winetasting #winelover #winewednesday #winelover #winestagrams #winecountry #winelovers #wineenthusiast #wine #wineporn #winetours #winemaking #winemaker

A post shared by Ayngelina Brogan (@ayngelina) on Sep 12, 2017 at 10:23am PDT

Oct 1, 2017 at 9:50 AM Permalink

Hurry! We're running out...

We've been thrilled to meet so many fans of our 2016 Frontenac Blanc and L'Acadie. But we didn't make enough...

We are down to 9 cases each of 2016 Frontenac Blanc and L'Acadie

If you're a fan of these wines, you're not alone. We've been pleasantly surprised by how popular they've been. We wish we had more in the cellar to share, but unfortunately the supply will be out in the next couple weekends. The next public release of L'Acadie and Frontenac Blanc will be May 2nd 2018, so if you can't wait until then, please come in and pick up a few bottles before they're gone!

Aug 24, 2017 at 11:47 AM Permalink

Corks Popping at The Roost Wine Company

Artisanal agritourism winery in The Blue Mountains now open

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS, Aug. 18, 2017 - The Roost, a new family-run artisanal Ontario winery, has opened its doors to local wine enthusiasts and thirsty tourists. Located on a picturesque hilltop, with stunning views of Georgian Bay and only 20 minutes from Collingwood and Thornbury, the vineyard and winery is the perfect destination for people exploring the natural beauty of The Blue Mountains.

The winery is the fulfillment of a dream for husband-and-wife team Michael and Jessica Maish. Together the pair do everything from tending the vines to making the wine.

Visitors to The Roost winery can sample six delicious wines in a rustic 19th century barn. Wine fans can also grab a spot on the patio and enjoy a glass while taking in stunning views. Wines can be purchased by the glass or in flights of four, and visitors can also take home wines by the bottle.

“This has always been a special place for our family and we wanted to invite others to enjoy the experience too,” Jessica says. “The Roost is about bringing friends and family together in a beautiful setting, allowing them to dream away an afternoon - accompanied by a glass of wine of course.”

Creating this little slice of paradise wasn’t easy. Jessica and Mike studied Enology and Viticulture, respectively, at Washington State University. In 2013, with a newborn at home, they hit the books and planted vines at the same time. They also consulted Ontario wine experts. “It was really a step-by-step process that had a lot of setbacks,” Jessica says. “For a long time we weren’t sure we were going to be able to do it.”

Fortunately, the winery is now flourishing and people are pleasantly surprised by the high quality of The Roost’s wines. “The response has been amazing,” Jessica says. “Getting such positive feedback from guests has been wonderful after working behind closed doors for so long.”

The Roost wines include 3 whites, 2 reds and a rosé. From the fruity red Marquette to the dry and fresh white L'Acadie, there is a wine for every palate. Two Wrongs Make A White is a unique blend of Riesling and the winery’s third white, Frontenac Blanc. Barn Red and The Roost Rosé round out the selections.

Jessica and Mike’s passion and dedication to the business is reflected not only in the quality of their wines, but also in the overall experience they have created for their visitors. “When you’re in the city it can be difficult to experience a rural setting like this,” Jessica says. “We love living in the Southern Georgian Bay area and we’re thrilled that we can invite visitors to enjoy it with us.”

For more information, please visit www.theroostwineco.ca

±Must be legal drinking age

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Aug 18, 2017 at 9:02 AM Permalink