OXFORD STATION - A local couple with a passion for winemaking is transforming a vineyard into a destination meeting place.

Green Gables Vines owner Marie Chinnatamby and winemaker Richard Deslandes are pleased to be offering an exciting selection of white, rosé, off-dry, dry red and fruit-flavoured wines at the winery.

"This is a lot of fun," says Richard, who has been crafting with care new blends from the five-acre vineyard. "People seem to want to taste local wines and buy local," he says.

"We chose to offer an organic, high quality product even when it means a lower production volume. There are no herbicides or pesticides used to produce our wines. We accept a few more weeds to get better, healthier wine," says Richard.

Marie agrees, noting this season they have been expanding their wine sampling and meeting room to include an upstairs sitting area. The goal is to have a winery where people can also host indoor and outdoor gatherings while enjoying the scenic vineyard and winery property. They welcome group visits, including bus tours.

"This is a passion for us," says Marie. She enjoys promoting the business and feels its location, minutes off Highway 416, is ideal for locals and tourists alike.

Richard, an engineer who grew up on a farm, has been making wine for 30 years. The couple is excited to now be able to develop new wines, including "Honey I'm Home," an off-dry white made of a blend of five grape varieties grown on site.

Green Gables Vines retail store is open Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 1-5 p.m. Book a meeting or event at the vineyard.

Learn more about Green Gables Vines, a member of the East Ontario Wine Producers Association, by visiting their website and Facebook page. You can shop online, send them an email or give them a call 613-986-4318. The winery is located at 1600 Porter Road in Edwardsburgh Cardinal Township.