Located in Comeauville, along St. Mary’s Bay, it is the only winery on the Acadian coast, away from other Nova Scotia wine producers, most of which are concentrated in the Annapolis Valley. Yet, despite being isolated, Maison Meuse & Fils successfully produces, thanks to its unique geographical location, a quality artisanal wine that is the pride of the entire Acadian community. It is true that its three owners have applied an organic grape cultivation program to their two-acre (0.7 hectare) vineyard, with well-drained soil, exposed to the saline air of Baie Sainte-Marie. But they owe their success in large part to one of them, Daniel Surette, their Chief Winemaker, whose experience was instrumental in crafting quality wines from L’Acadie Blanc, Nova Scotia’s famous robust grape variety.
Daniel has always been passionate about distilling and fermenting his own alcoholic beverages. This passion comes from the Acadian region where he grew up, in Belliveaus Cove, where such a practice was common. Daniel is a resolute and demanding man. In 2018, he did not hesitate to give up his job as an insurer to become an assistant winemaker and thus acquire skills to satisfy his passion. From then on, everything came together. He stayed two years at the Planters Ridge vineyard in Port Williams. The next two years, he completed Washington State University’s renowned online oenology program and earned his certificate in oenology. At the same time, he acquired an MBA at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Because the ambitious Daniel also has the soul of an entrepreneur. In 2022, his MBA facilitated his recruitment by the provincial agency Invest Nova Scotia, where he is still currently the Business Development Advisor for the West Region, in Yarmouth and Digby.
Welcome to the Clare Distillery
Today, Daniel remains closely connected to his Acadian community, where his bilingualism is a real asset in his role at Invest Nova Scotia. In Comeauville, Maison Meuse & Fils takes full advantage of its expertise as a winemaker, which has now been enriched on the practical, theoretical and professional levels. Above all, Daniel has just made his dream project a reality. He is now the proud founder and owner, with his wife, of the Little Brook Distilling Co., the brand-new distillery in the municipality of Clare. Trained in responsible management, he produces, with innovative practices, quality artisanal alcohols, while preserving the environment and striving to use local raw materials.
In his distillery, Daniel has also opened a small bistro, Le Rouleau, where he cooks traditional Acadian dishes and world specialties that compete in flavors to the delight of his visitors. If you’re a vodka lover, indulge in Daniel’s flagship product, STAT Vodka, a unique craft vodka carefully distilled from the finest potatoes grown in Nova Scotia. We wish this passionate master distiller to continue his successful responsible approach that honours the Acadian community.
Photos: courtesy of Daniel Surette.
Jean-Marc Agator
Paris, France