Our guest this evening, Daniel Speck, is one of three brothers who, as children, shovel planted the modern-day vineyards that became Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery in Niagara’s Short Hills Bench.
The Speck brothers founded the winery with their parents, a family venture which began in 1984.
After Daniel graduated from philosophy, math and science at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, he returned to work on the farm/winery.
After fourteen vineyard-years he migrated from the farm to the marketplace and today is Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
And he joins me live now from the winery: Welcome to the Sunday Sipper Club Dan Speck!
You grew up on the family farm and winery. What was your favourite part of helping out? Why? Tell us exactly where you were? How did you feel?
What was your least favourite? Why? Tell us exactly where you were? How did you feel?
How did you divide up chores among three brothers? What did Paul and Matthew do?
What did you argue about? How did you settle disputes?
Want to know when we go live with our next guest?
Click on “Get Reminder” on the page below:
Click on “Get Notified” at the link above to know when we go live.
You can also click on the “Follow” and “Like” buttons.
Watch previous episodes of the Sunday Sipper Club (SSC) and to find out who’s coming up next.
https://www.facebook.com/natdecants/videos/10155989612404845/
Henry of Pelham Inn & Coach House Cafe
Henry of Pelham Barrel Cellar Tasting
Henry of Pelham Sparkling Mezzanine
Alyssa-Damien Studios
We named the winery Henry of Pelham after great-great-great grandpa’s son, Henry, who we think had a pretty dry sense of humour, nicknaming himself “Henry of Pelham” after a British Prime Minister. He was quite the entrepreneur, building an inn and tavern on the property and operating a toll road. He raised sheep. And grew grapes—some of the first to be planted in Canada. Our tasting room and wine store are in Henry’s carriage house.
In 1984, when our parents decided to replace Henry’s concord and Niagara grapevines with old world vinifera grapes, the Niagara wine scene hardly existed and there were a lot of naysayers—but we had done our homework. Heat scans proved we had the right conditions, and we bettered our chances by contouring the hills and installing drainage. At the time, we were one of only a few Niagara wineries to make premium wines from our own grapes.
Dan Speck
Daniel is co-owner and one of three brothers who, as children, shovel planted the modern-day vineyards that became Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery in Niagara’s Short Hills Bench. The Speck brothers founded the winery with their parents, a family venture which began in 1984.
Daniel spent the years from age 8 to 22 in the vineyards. He studied philosophy, math and science at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, then returned to work on the farm/winery upon graduation. After fourteen vineyard-years he migrated from the farm to the marketplace when a key sales person left the company.
Today he is Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Daniel actively promotes and sells his family’s wines while still participating in determining each wine’s final composition with his two older brothers and the winemakers.
Daniel has received partnership awards from the LCBO; has sat on various sales and marketing committees with the Wine Council of Ontario; and is now a member of the CCOVI Outreach Committee at Brock University helping determine future educational needs for the wine industry. Daniel actively promotes and sells his family’s wines but determines each wines final composition with his two older brothers and the winemakers.
