Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/70670
WineEastNews Nova Scotia Winery Gains Investor Family behind Jost Vineyards hopeful that new president will prompt expansion M alagash, nova Scotia—Carl Sparkes, a food industry expert who has taken three regional brands in atlantic Canada to the national level, is partnering with Jost Vineyards, the Mala- gash-based winery owned by hans Christian Jost. Sparkes' investment in the winery for an undisclosed amount was made through the formation of a holding company, devonian Coast Wineries ltd. as president of Jost Vineyards, Sparkes will take the lead in the winery's business development, while Jost will concentrate on the production side. Jost's annual production now exceeds 60,000 cases per year. a second winery, Gaspereau Vineyards in Wolfville, and vine- yards are included in the transaction. Jost told Wine east that the winery had reached the threshold of what he and wife Karen could manage. "We began looking for a partner who had the expertise to take it to the next level," Jost said. "Our wines have already had good distribution, and now maybe they can move further and faster." previously Sparkes was the managing director of Boardroom Metrics Inc., where he is continuing in an advisory capacity. for more than 20 years he has provided operational and strategic leadership in more than a dozen mergers, acquisitions and integration projects ranging from less than $5 million to more than $200 million. Jost Vineyards was one of the first winer- ies to open in nova Scotia, and hans Chris- tian Jost has been a promoter and advocate for the entire industry. "That somebody of Carl Sparkes' caliber would be willing to in- vest in our operation shows the confidence he has in the nova Scotia wine industry." —Hudson Cattell winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Jost Vineyards." 60 Wines & Vines JULY 2012