Island Briefly: Into the Blue

Gladstone’s Mike Newman makes his dreams of opening his own winery a reality

By Meredith Morrison

 

It’s not exactly normal, or even acceptable, to drink on the job but given the circumstance, I’m sure an exception can be made.

I was lucky enough to spend a sunny fall afternoon on the deck of PEI’s newest winery, Newman Estate Winery, located just outside of Murray River on the Gladstone Road, with owner and winemaker, Mike Newman. Quite frankly, it would’ve been rude not to try a glass of his New Blueberry wine that just recently made its way onto the shelves of PEILCC liquor stores. Plus, it was for research purposes. Consider that rubber arm of mine twisted as he filled my wine glass…for the second time.

New Blueberry is the first product to emerge from Newman Estate Winery and it’s quickly proving itself as a competitor amongst PEI’s more established wineries. It’s not your typical fruit wine – it’s full-bodied, low in sugar, high in alcohol content with all the mouth-puckering tannins you’d find in a bold red wine but with a distinct blueberry taste. “It’s wine that’s supposed to taste like wine,” says Newman. “I’ve expressed a lot in it. I hope people support it. I want people to buy it because it’s good.”

No worries there. The winery, which officially opens next spring, is already getting the attention of both the media and wine enthusiasts alike. The wine itself is story enough but when you get to know the man behind the vineyard, the story becomes even more fascinating.

You see, Mike Newman is 30-years-old. He doesn’t come from money, nor is he from a long line of established winemakers. In fact, he’s not even originally from Prince Edward Island. Newman Estate Winery is his baby, built from the ground up (literally, he did a lot of the handy work himself). He’s a former Monctonian with Island family connections on his Mom’s side, trying to make a go of it in the winemaking biz. And he’s off to a booming start.

Winemaking had always been a hobby for Newman, starting back in his early 20s. After finishing his undergraduate degree in Engineering, he started working on his MBA, which helped the future entrepreneur realize his one-day dream of opening his own winery. “My business plan was what I wanted to do,” says Newman. “It was basically my thesis. I came up with the marketing plan and just started building it from there.”

His dream of opening the winery was often his escape from reality. “I wasn’t happy with what I was doing as a job and I wasn’t really happy as a person,” he recalls. Newman was working at a well-paying job in Ottawa and while most people his age would be living and spending like a rock star, he was saving his money. In 2006, at just 25-years-old, he bought the land that would eventually become home to his 6,500 grape vines.

Fate works in mysterious ways. Two years ago, Newman was laid off from his job. Most people would see this as the end of the world, but for Newman, this was his opportunity to put his plans into action. He had the money, he had the land and he was finally free from the 9 to 5 lifestyle that was making him so unhappy. “It came down to why the hell not?” he laughs. “I literally got the mortgage from the bank right before I got laid off because I was still working. I took out a construction mortgage and a line of credit and that’s how I funded everything. I took out a bunch of money and just started building this place. It was interesting but it was also fun. I loved it. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It was the freedom of finally doing something I wanted.”

Building Newman Estate Winery has been an experience to say the least. The first 300 grapevines he planted died that same winter, but learning from his mistakes, he planted another 300 vines and half survived. Now, his 10-acre property is flourishing with promising vines that will be quite impressive when the winery holds its grand opening in the spring.

It’s been a challenging process, both physically and financially, but as he says himself, “it’s been a very great start.” Thanks to a great support system, helping him with everything from construction to hand-painting bottles to landscaping, Newman’s been able to overcome many obstacles in a short time. “I would’ve fallen flat on my face had it not been for the support of my family, community, and friends. If it hadn’t been for them, this would not have been going,” he says.

Given all he has achieved since laying roots on the Gladstone Road, Newman is still cultivating his vision and dreaming big. He plans on expanding his product line to include raspberry and blackberry wines, as well as ice wine. He’s currently working on his distance learning winemakers certificate through the University of California, which will help him understand the science of winemaking and the chemistry behind the process. “I love it. There’s so much to it,” he says about the program. “I learn something new every day.” It will be a very busy winter for the winemaker as he prepares for an exciting 2012, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s finally found his calling.

“How could I not love doing this?” he says with a smile as he looks across his vineyard and sips from his glass of blueberry wine. “There’d be something seriously wrong with me if I couldn’t be happy with this.”

I’ll drink to that.

To learn more about Mike and Newman Estate Winery, visit newmanestatewinery.com or Like the Newman Estate Winery Fan Page on Facebook. New Blueberry is available in liquor stores across PEI so pick up a bottle and give it a try.  

Gladstone’s Mike Newman makes his dreams of opening his own winery a reality By Meredith Morrison   It’s not exactly normal, or even acceptable, to drink on the job but given the circumstance, I’m sure an exception can be made. I was lucky enough to spend a sunny fall afternoon on the deck of PEI’s [...]

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Stand-Up Style

MuchMusic’s Video on Trial star Dini Dimakos talks about two of her favourite things – fashion and comedy – with her friend and G! columnist, Heidi Brander

When I was first approached to write a fashion-related article, I had an anxiety attack. I don’t consider what I wear “fashion” so much as I think of it as “the stuff I have to walk around in before 5pm hits and I can take my pants off.” That’s why I decided to solicit style advice from my most fashion-forward friend. Dini Dimakos is a stand-up comedian who should be best known as my bandmate in Toronto’s premiere drag queen song parody trio “The Cheeto Girls”, but is actually best known as a juror on MuchMusic’s Video on Trial and Love Court. I sat down with her to talk shop (and shopping!) and this is what took place:

 

HB: Who are some of your comedic influences? What about fashion influences?  

DD: Funny you should ask this two-tiered question, Heidi. As you may be aware, the two have nary a thing in common. Par example, I am influenced by Kathy Griffin’s storytelling comedy style, however, the chunky-heeled 1992 fashion clogs that she has sported onstage for the last two decades leave much to be admired. Loads of female comics I know try to dress in a way that won’t alienate their female audience or arouse their male one. I don’t worry too much about it. I’m relatively well received onstage, however, no one finds me remotely attractive.

HB: Which recent fashion trends do you love, and which ones can you absolutely not get behind?

DD: I’m a fan of layering, and all the shapeless, flowing shirts and dresses that girls are casually pairing with leggings or a skinny jean. I really like leggings with prints, or intricate stitching and details. Riding boots are a must this fall. A fitted blazer works well with almost everything, I would look for it in a different colour this season rather then busting out your black one for yet another year. Shoulder pads are hot again. Crop tops have made a big comeback with the younger set; I would do a silky crop over a pencil skirt or high waisted pant. I can not personally get behind skinny jeans because of my behind. It’s enormous. I try not to accentuate it unless I’m going to Caribanna, or the Toronto event formerly known as Caribanna.

HB: What is the best thing you’ve ever said on Video on Trial that didn’t make the cut?

DD: So many things! People don’t realize how much great material doesn’t make it on. The show is only 22 minutes long. The producers are wonderful, and they do what they can. I do remember one time I said something like, “You know who should be on this show? Heidi Brander. You know who shouldn’t? That girl who’s not a comic but gets all the executives into nightclubs.” Club promoters should probably not be on hilarious TV shows, unless they are also comedians.

HB: Which celebrity memoir and/or Lifetime biography do you most relate to?

DD: Jane Fonda because of everything I went through by being against the Vietnam War. I was labeled a traitor, and everyone called me “Hanoi Dini” for years and years! Luckily I went on to produce and star in a series of very popular workout VHS tapes. Okay, that only happened to Jane Fonda as I wasn’t born during her tumultuous years of political discord and aerobics. But I did relate to her eating disorder.

HB: Do you have any plans to ever visit PEI?

DD: It’s unfortunate that a flight to England is cheaper. I’d love to do a show with you, Andrew Johnston and myself in PEI. I do believe if Lucy Maud Montgomery were still alive, she would come to our show. I know this because we shared a cigarette with the late, great Jackie Burroughs (when Jackie Burroughs offers you a cigarette, you take up smoking immediately) who adored all of us, and you can’t get much closer to Lucy Maud then Jackie Burroughs unless you’ve brunched with Megan Follows.

HB: Lightning Round! Fashion “Would You Rather”: Would you rather be wearing incredible shoes with nasty hair, or have luxurious hair with moldy Birkenstocks?

DD: Great shoes, gross hair. I have an extensive wig collection for such a conundrum.

HB: Would you rather wear skinny jeans or bell bottoms?

DD: Bells, because of my ginormous butt. I thought we went over this?

HB: Would you rather be overdressed or underdressed?

DD: Overdressed, always! Even in the bedroom. Especially in the bedroom!

MuchMusic’s Video on Trial star Dini Dimakos talks about two of her favourite things – fashion and comedy – with her friend and G! columnist, Heidi Brander When I was first approached to write a fashion-related article, I had an anxiety attack. I don’t consider what I wear “fashion” so much as I think of [...]

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A New Month, A New Issue of G!

Welcome to the October/November issue of G!

Ever get that itch for something new? I do, especially this time of year. Maybe it’s the colder temperatures or the shorter days, I don’t know. Whatever it is, something in me just craves change. A new experience, a change of scenery, a new scarf, a new hair colour – it doesn’t have to be drastic, it just has to be different. Trying new things keeps life interesting, especially this time of year when routine sets in and we find ourselves in the lull between Thanksgiving and the holidays. Now is as good a time as any to scratch that itch because in a few weeks, we’re all going to be caught up in the holiday rush and “me” time is going to be hard to come by.

Let’s change it up then, shall we?

 

In this month’s issue, we’ve got stories that will inspire you to shake up the old routine and think outside the box.

 

• Get to know PEI’s newest winemaker, Mike Newman, who just launched his unique brand of blueberry wine called New Blueberry (I tried it and it’s goooood!) in this month’s Island Briefly.
• Go behind the scenes with the G! Team and Kimberly Rashed of the Confederation Centre of the Arts Costume Department to play dress up and talk shop with Wardrobe Mistress, Karyn MacPhee.
• Try a taste experience like no other at Liquid Gold Tasting Bar & all things Olive with Ellen Egan in G! Eats (and find out how to join us for a tasting party with G! on page 6!)
• Want to know how to Shop Your Shape? Find out what style expert, Lynn Spence has to say on the topic!

 

Plus all your favourite regular features (and a few new ones, too)!

 

Lots to read and lots to see this month, so pick up your copy today (or tomorrow when it’s officially Island wide!) and Connect with G!

 

Cheers,

 

Meredith Morrison

Writer/Editor

G! Magazine

 

 

Welcome to the October/November issue of G! Ever get that itch for something new? I do, especially this time of year. Maybe it’s the colder temperatures or the shorter days, I don’t know. Whatever it is, something in me just craves change. A new experience, a change of scenery, a new scarf, a new hair [...]

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