Owned by the De Miguels—a family of winemakers from Mendoza, Argentina—Vintage One Wines is a 10,000-square-foot nontraditional winery in the city's west end. The Dundas Street West space opened in August, and its owners are now beginning to promote the property as an event venue suitable for private dinners and tastings.
"We wanted to rethink the location of a winery and bring the world's vineyards to the city," said Jeronimo De Miguel, who operates the winery with his sister Alejandra. "As well, we wanted to provide an opportunity for people to experience the art of winemaking."
The family imports grapes from vineyards in Argentina, Chile, Italy, and California and offers clients the opportunity to take part in developing the wines. "You're purchasing the grape and contracting us to make the wine," De Miguel said of the process, which takes six to eight weeks. (Custom wines can be ordered in advance for events being held at the venue.)
Below Cirillo's Culinary Academy, the winery has two main rooms. The first space features a small lounge with antique furnishings from Smash, a reception desk, and rows of Italian stainless steel fermenting tanks. The second space, dubbed the barrel room, is the main event space. A harvest table sits in the centre of the room, and French, Hungarian, and American oak aging barrels line the walls.
The dimly-lit venue has polished concrete floors throughout and can accommodate wine-themed events like tastings, seminars, and dinners, as well as corporate board meetings and receptions. The barrel room seats 45 and holds as many as 150 for receptions. The entire venue can accommodate 200. Parking is available and catering can be arranged.