Tom and Janet say “Jabulani”

We have all heard of the romantic notion of vineyards and wineries, but what many of us don’t know is the dedication, enthusiasm, and passion that go into the making of the bottle of wine we enjoy. From the farmers, who tend the vines and make sure the grapes are of the highest quality, to the winemakers who craft the wine, each and every step of the process requires an incredible amount of skill and dedication.

In this episode, join Tom and Janet as they uncover the dedication and determination required to formulate the perfect bottle of wine. Find out about the challenges and struggles faced by the people behind the scenes, as well as the joy and satisfaction they get from doing what they love. Together, we’ll explore the hard work and dedication that goes into making the perfect wine.

What you will learn from this episode:

• Learn how to overcome the struggles of having to contend with fluctuating temperatures and global warming
• Find out helpful ways to fight off frost-bite and fungus attacks in order not to mess up with the harvest.
• Discover additional revenue-generating means to keep the wine business running as well as ideas for charitable events.
• Hear of ideas and technology used by different wineries to make the best wines.
• Discover how this couple and the people in the winery are finding joy and contentment in their work, despite the hard work and dedication it requires.
• Hear about creative ways to do organic farming as well as fending off bugs and pests that destroy the vines.

Jabulani is a Zulu word meaning “Rejoice”, “the Spirit or Place of Happiness”.

Jabulani is the home and business of Tom and Janet Moul. They bought the land in 2006 and broke ground for their home which eventually served as the original winery building. The first 600 vines were planted in 2007 and the first harvest was in 2010. They opened the doors to the small winery in June of 2011. Back then, they had six products, five-barrel tables and a small retail shop.

Today, the farm has over 11,000 vines and over 20 products; a larger winery building (6000 sq ft) has been added to accommodate for the bigger harvest, a larger retail shop, an outdoor tasting patio (seats 160) and a summer event space (seats 120). The vineyard has 8 varietals; all cold-climate grapes. A testament to the quality of the grapes and Tom’s wine-making ability is their 23 awards; both national and international.  He has been making wine since he was 14 years old, in Southern Africa.

Connect with Tom and Janet Muol:

• Website: http://www.jabulani.ca
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jabulani-Vineyard-Winery
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jabulani_winery
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/jabulani_winery
  

Topics Covered:

02:35 – Where to find Jabulani Winery

03:22 – Tom’s interesting country of origin and where he first learned to make wine

04:02 – Getting into Canada, becoming a winemaker at the same time owning a winery [and the funny story of how the two met]

08:42 – An amazing story of how the first planting of the grape vines took place
09:20 – Designing the house and building a winery with it [starting small but growing each year]

10:50 – Struggles and challenges of growing and cultivating the vines 

15:33 – A narrative of hard work and passion not merely of romantic imaginations

16:24 – What Tom considers a rewarding experience of being a winemaker and winery owner

18:18 – Events ideas that add up to wine business income [and creative ways to add in the fun and enjoyment]

20:29 – Charitable initiative drives

21:36 – How you can come and visit Jabulani Winery

22:44 – Having a bottling line and letting people also join in the fun [plus their units of production in a year]

23:55 – A winery and  a home 

24:30 – Revisiting South Africa and the places they want to go next

26:33 – Breaking language barriers with wine [having fun visiting and learning from other wineries]

29:15 – Combatting problems with insects and bugs

Quotes from Tom and Janet Muol:

“Our winery’s in Richmond, basically in the inside the city limits of Ottawa, which is the capital of Canada.”

“We call it Siberia sometimes.”

“I was born in southern Africa in a tiny little country, which used to be a British colony called Southern Rhodesia, which became Zimbabwe eventually.”

“I started making wine when I was a teenager, 14 years old.”

“I always like to joke with people and say, one of the most silly things I ever did in my life was to do farming in Canada ’cause it’s too cold to farm here.”

“It turns out there’s a thing called cold climate grapes, which have been cross-bred with Vitus Vinifera and Vitus Riparia, which actually grow really well here, and they make remarkably good wine.”

“A firm called Ernst and Young actually came and actually wanted me to come and consult with the aerospace and defence industry.”

“So when she first met me, basically she hated me. So I married her just to take a shortcut.”

“When we found this land, I said, honey, you gotta come see this.”

“In 2007, once we had bought the place and started building the house in the spring of that time, we started planting. “

“We put in our first 600. With a bucket, a shovel, and not even a hose.”

“Our first harvest was in 2010 and it was small but it allowed us to open our doors in 2011. “

“I think our record in one day was something like 3000 vines.”

“It takes lots of beer to make wine.”

“We didn’t realize that having a winery in Ottawa would actually be so popular.”

“This up and down with the temperatures right now is very difficult.”

“I fill a tractor with an atomizer sprayer and go up and down the barn from three o’clock until six o’clock in the morning.” 

“So if you wanted to be an organic farmer, you make sure your neighbour to the west of you has soya. And the neighbour to the east of you has roses.”