The Creative Economy in Ontario East allows a Portuguese winemaker to link with other businesses while continuing his family’s heritage

Fernando Paulino knows about making wine. As a child, he helped his grandfather pick, squeeze and crush grapes in a small town north of Lisbon, Portugal. Now in South Dundas, what was a small vineyard has grown to become a full fledged winery business, and Paulino is bringing an Old World tradition to his own grandchildren.

The Twin Pine Estate Vineyard is a family run business that covers 68 acres in Iroquois. It produces wine from locally grown Eastern Ontario grapes, though not all from the vineyard itself. Paulino has connected with other smaller vineyards in Ontario East. In fact, he bought the entire first harvest from the Howe Island Winery.

Paulino, who came to Canada from Portugal in 1963, says it’s important to have a well prepared business plan. “You have to put down on paper what you want to do. You have to understand all the intricacies of the business plan to sell it to the banks and investors.”

Just as important, he says, is believing in yourself and working hard. “It is what I call a business of love.”

You can see more about Fernando Paulino’s story below: