Our Story

Dan and Lynn Sullivan, with support from Cam Reston (JCR), founded Rosehall Run in 2000. The 150-acre farm was selected due to its proximity to Lake Ontario (1-2 kms on three sides) and the remarkable clay soil scattered with rock and shale fragments on a calcareous limestone base. One of the earliest Prince Edward County wineries established in the west central region known as Hillier Ward; planting of the vineyard began in 2001 with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Today there are 25 acres of vinifera including Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Muscat and Tempranillo.

Rosehall Run has always been a working farm; in 2001 operations were established to accommodate the needs of an efficient and utilitarian grape growing farm, and subsequently a winemaking operation.  A modest barn was first constructed as a grape processing, wine production and barrel storage facility. A focus on state-of-the-art winemaking led to the design and construction of a 7,200 sq ft winery facility and barrel cellar blasted deep into the limestone foundation.  Finally, in the original winemaking facility, a modern Tasting Room was created, offering visitors a warm and inviting space to sample Rosehall Run’s critically acclaimed wines.

Land Acknowledgement

The land we reside on is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Anishanabewaki, the Wendake-Nionwentsio, and the Mississauga peoples. We are grateful to be able to use this land to farm and grow, and we are committed to recognizing and understanding the role that colonialism and privilege play in allowing us to do so.

Rosehall

Rosehall is the name of one of The County’s historic hamlets just south of our vineyards on the Loyalist Parkway leading in to Wellington. Established in the 1820’s surrounding a grist mill and pond, it is home to fewer than 50 full time residents.

Hungry Point

Prior to being a winery, the farming operation on Greer Road was part of the thriving tomato canning industry in Prince Edward County that existed during the first half of the 20th Century.  Rosehall Run still has remnants of those days including the early 20th Century Farmhouse and tractor which sits out front. Since the 1960’s, however, the demand for canned tomatoes dropped and the farm was planted with a variety of rotating crops such as corn, hay and soy. These traditional crops did not fare as well and local farmers soon coined the term Hungry Point for our farm. As the joke among the farmers before us went - if you were farming on "the point" you were going hungry. Fortunately for us, the rocky soil and dry conditions are ideal for growing wine grapes!

Prince Edward County Appellation

Officially identified in 2007 as a VQA appellation of origin, Prince Edward County is separated from the mainland by the Bay of Quinte at Belleville and is completely surrounded by the waters of Lake Ontario. The soils and microclimates of the County coupled with the all-pervading limestone base provide an ideal growing environment for cool-climate grapes such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  This idyllic island setting is now home to over 40 wineries, a dozen craft breweries, fine restaurants, cheese producers, farmers’ markets and other local food purveyors dotted along the natural beauty of the County trails and beaches.