Meet the Growers

Meet our growers

There is more to the wine in your glass or the juice in your cup than the taste, colour and aroma. The hard work of hundreds of Ontario grape growing families make up the quality of what is in your glass.

Kyle Baldwin

Kyle Baldwin, General Manager, began working at Waupoos Estates Winery when he was 16, and hasn’t turned back.

Nestled on the beautiful Prince Edward Bay in Picton, Ontario, Ed Neuser and Rita Kaimins first opened Waupoos Estates in 2001, making Waupoos the first winery in Prince Edward County. After moving to Canada from Germany in 1957, the pair originally began with half an acre of grapevines in 1993. General Manager Kyle Baldwin became Ed’s right-hand man in 1993 and has seen the Estate grow to include 20 acres of grape vines. Careful consideration was made to ensure the perfect vines, clones and rootstocks were planted in the perfect location, which was the foundation for the success of the vineyard.

One thing that makes Waupoos unique, says GM Kyle Baldwin, is that it is the only winery in Prince Edward County that is located on water, which works to their advantage as this helps to moderate the climate year-round. The lake breezes prevent vines from overheating in the summer, and frost from forming in the winter. Additionally, Waupoos’ slopes are south facing, which aides in excellent drainage, sun exposure and efficient irrigation.

Waupoos is a one-stop shop for locals and tourists alike. Not only is this gorgeous 100-acre plot home to a well-known, family-owned winery, but it also has a wine retail boutique, a farm-to-table restaurant, century home accommodations, a cider house, operating farm, 5-acre vegetable garden, chocolatier store, sugar shack, and petting zoo. As GM for several of these businesses, there is a never dull moment for Kyle, who spends his days ensuring each business has a local focus, which includes supporting the PEC region and local trade workers, offering locally made products and highlighting local artists.

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