Weir greets family, friends at winery opening

Perseverance was the word of the day at Mike Weir Winery on Saturday.

Scores of family and friends were invited to the private, but official, opening to Beamville’s latest addition to its winery contingent.

Winery president Barry Katzman told those on hand it had taken the group nearly nine years to get to the point where a retail shop would become a reality.

“All good things are worth waiting for, and this is one of them,” Katzman said.

“It has been four years since I first toured this site.”

Katzman noted that the process to get the facility open was long and arduous and praised Town of Lincoln officials for aiding in getting it done.

Internally, he said Jim Weir, older brother of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike, was instrumental as well.

“Jim is a behind-the-scenes guy and he gets things done. The level of care which the Weir family instills is evident from Jim,” Katzman said, noting the family got into the wine business as a method of supporting Mike’s charitable foundation. All proceeds from the winery go to the foundation.

“Mike got into this industry for all the right reasons and that permeates through our entire staff,” said Katzman.

Despite the long journey, Mike Weir told those in attendance his team is sure it was all worth it.

“We’re very happy. We are sure we have the right spot,” said Weir.

As part of the operation, the facility includes a 13-acre tract of vineyard which will support the Weir Family Vineyard, the resulting wine production will be sold exclusively at the Locust Lane retail shop, which has been long known as EastDell Estate Winery.