Avondale Sky Winery

Avondale Sky Winery is a family-owned winery, restaurant and destination in Newport Landing, Nova Scotia, Canada. Its vineyard, on the Avon Peninsula where the Bay of Fundy's record tides meet fertile soils and a cool coastal climate, was first planted in 1987 by the Bennett family and is described by the winery as one of the oldest vineyards in the province. In 2009 the vineyard was transformed into a winery, and the site became home to one of Nova Scotia's most remarkable buildings: St. Matthew's Church, built in 1837, which was rescued from demolition and moved forty-two kilometres across land and water, including a ferry ride over the Bay of Fundy, to serve as the tasting room. Locally it is known as "the church that walked on water." The Coutinho family took ownership in late 2019 and operates the winery hands-on as a family business. Since then the portfolio has expanded to include more premium and distinctive releases alongside Nova Scotia favourites such as Tidal Bay, Bliss and Nirvana, and the wines continue to win awards. Winemaker Ben Swetnam, who had been making wine on site before the retail shop — the former St. Matthew's Church — was relocated there, draws on experience across viticulture and viniculture to produce the estate's wines. Beyond wine, Avondale Sky operates a tasting bar, retail shop, restaurant and the restored Farmhouse guest accommodation, and offers a Sky Club wine club with quarterly curated releases. The winery sits within Nova Scotia's emerging cool-climate wine region, where freshness and character are shaped by coastal conditions.

Avondale Sky Winery traces its roots to 1987, when the Bennett family planted a vineyard on the Avon Peninsula in Nova Scotia, seeing potential in a site where the Bay of Fundy's world-record tides meet fertile soils and a cool coastal climate. The winery describes this as one of the oldest vineyards in the province, and the conditions there produce wines with a freshness and character that have defined the region. In 2009 the vineyard was transformed into a winery. That same period brought the site one of Nova Scotia's most remarkable buildings: St. Matthew's Church, built in 1837, was rescued from demolition and moved forty-two kilometres across land and water, including a ferry ride over the Bay of Fundy's massive tides. Every pane of glass survived the journey, and the church now stands at the centre of Avondale Sky as its tasting room. It is known locally as "the church that walked on water" and remains a symbol of renewal and possibility. In late 2019 the Coutinho family took ownership of Avondale Sky, carrying forward its history while guiding it into a new future. As a family-owned and operated winery, the family is hands-on in every part of the business. Since the change in ownership, Avondale Sky has grown in many directions: its wines continue to win awards, and its portfolio now includes more premium and distinctive releases alongside Nova Scotia favourites such as Tidal Bay, Bliss and Nirvana. The tasting bar has become a place where guests learn about winemaking in an engaging and approachable way, and the business has expanded into hospitality with a restaurant and the restored Farmhouse guest accommodation. Winemaker Ben Swetnam had been creating wines on site before the retail shop — the former St. Matthew's Church — was relocated there, and he uses experience from all aspects of viticulture and viniculture to create the estate's wines. The winery also runs the Sky Club wine club, with four curated releases a year drawn from its Reserve and Select Small Lot collections, and offers tastings, tours and events at its Newport Landing site.

• 2019

  The Coutinho family takes ownership of Avondale Sky in late 2019.

• 2009

  The vineyard is transformed into a winery; St. Matthew's Church is relocated to the site.

• 1987

  Bennett family plants the vineyard on the Avon Peninsula.

• 1837

  St. Matthew's Church is built; it later becomes the winery's tasting room.

A unique Nova Scotia wine destination combining one of the province's oldest vineyards, a historic relocated church tasting room, a restaurant and farmhouse accommodation, with a portfolio spanning Nova Scotia favourites and premium small-lot releases.

• 2025 Tidal Bay

• 2024 Muscat - Small Lot

• 2025 Drops of Amber 6-Pack

• 2025 Bliss

1. 1Nova Scotia Vineyards | Avondale Sky Winery Nova Scotia – Avondale Sky Winery & Restaurantavondalesky.com
2. 2The Avondale Sky Story – Avondale Sky Winery & Restaurantavondalesky.com
3. 3Sky Club Experience – Avondale Sky Winery & Restaurantavondalesky.com
4. 42025 Bliss – Avondale Sky Winery & Restaurantavondalesky.com
5. 5Avondale Sky Winery – Wikidatawikidata.org