After 8 years of support for a wide number of County community initiatives Andrew and I are proud to announce that all of the proceeds and awareness from our annual run will be directed to the ROC in support of the Prince Edward County Youth Centre after-school food and taxi program.

We have a deep relationship with Prince Edward County, our run started as a personal project that celebrates the landscape, people and products in a healthy and fun way. However, at its heart the event has always been a platform to give back to this community we love.

The Terroir Run has become an annual spring tradition and attracts hundreds of people from across the province to participate. The economic impact is significant, over $50K into the local economy each year, and the thanks really is to our partnership and especially our runners. Thanks for being part of our great community!

We’ve always donated the run proceeds to support County initiatives including County FM, the Quinte Humane Society, Slow Food PEC, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, and Terry Fox to name a few. Although, they’re all extremely worthy we’ve always felt we can have more impact if we focus on a single cause especially one with a vision of giving ‘every young person in Prince Edward County an equal chance to excel in life’. To this end, we’ve identified and chosen the ROC& Prince Edward County Youth Centre or simply ‘The ROC’. We’ll be donatingall funds from our annual run, encouraging our runners, friends & family to make personal charitable donations, and will volunteer time to help develop food programming partnerships. Terroir Run has already donated $4000 this year from the proceeds from the 2018 Terroir Run.

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Driven by a team of dedicated volunteers, the ROC began in 2000 with a belief in the potential of youth and a vision to help guide them through the major and recurring difficulties in their lives. A core element of the organization is the Prince Edward Coun

ty Youth Centre which provides a safe, supervised space for teens to flourish and grow. One challenge with their key after-school program is that many high-school students want

to participate but travel logistics make it extremely difficult. In the past the ROChas run a taxi program so kids outside the Picton area can use the centre without the anxiety of getting home but the consistency of this servi

ce was resource dependent.

“We’re thrilled to announce that Terroir Run will be donating funds to support a ‘Terroir Run Taxi’ and will also work closely with us to strengthen our after-school snack program”, says Lesley Lavender, Community Development Director & Special Projects. “The ROC provides a safe place for our young people to call their own, programming to develop life skills, an

d mentorship relationships that builds the confidence to succeed”, adds Darlene Thompson, Executive Director. “Knowing they’ll have a healthy snack and a ride home makes it easier for some of our kids to make the Youth Centre a regular part of their lives so we’re thankful for the Terroir Run partnership.”

Learn more about the ROC and how you can support it at theroc.ca, and coming soon live registration to get your ticket for the 9th Annual Terroir Run on Saturday, June 1, 2019 at terroirrun.com.

We’re very lucky to be part of a remarkable community of passionate makers. Whether it’s wine, beer, cider, spirits, tea, cheese, charcuterie or the brilliant local agricultural components that go into these and more authentic gastronomic delights, Prince Edward County has them in abundance–the bounty of the County is often celebrated. In an attempt to capture participation and share appreciation each year we’re committed to sharing small notes about members of this remarkable group. We can’t get everyone, every year, but know that we won’t stop trying. Enjoy and follow @terroirrun on Instagram for more partner snippets:

Bruno Francois, co-founder & winemaker, The Old Third Winery

Some people are content to sit and watch the world go by. Winemaker, tinkerer, imagineer, philosopher and cancer survivor Bruno Francois is not one. Ask him about his last year to hear a story with a much welcomed happy ending. Speaking of which this is where you’ll find him as after 7 years of starting our run he and his partner Jens Korberg will host our finish-line — more so Bruno will join us and run it! To celebrate we’ll be sure to raise a glass of the @theoldthird 2015 Cider Cuvée, as like Bruno, it’s dry, fresh, and promises a lovely mineral finish;)

Mackenzie Brisbois, winemaker, Trail Estates Winery

On a cold, grey spring afternoon @trailestatewine winemaker @mackbrisbois reluctantly agreed to a photo. Like many talented craftspeople she’d prefer to let the product of their labour and passion speak for itself. Their marketers however shared that the 2016 Vintner’s Weis is “a great finish-line wine. The combination of Riesling and Chard Musqué are utterly refreshing and the off-dry nature is perfect for post-run recovery. (more carbs!)” I believe our runners will find the truth somewhere between this smile and the magic in their glass on June 2nd.

Emily & Kimball Lacey, winemakers, Lacey Estates Winery

You can’t help but notice the pride on the face of @laceyestateswinery winemaker Kimball. His daughter Emily is following in the family footsteps with a scholarship to @niagaracollege Viticulture program. #terroirrun runners can look forward to tasting their first unoaked chardonnay, the 2017 INOX Chard.

Derek Barnett, winemaker, Karlo Estates Winery

Thought to be a South American wine, #malbec is actually one of the original six Bordeaux varieties. This is the first to be grown and released in #princeedwardcounty. It wasplanted by @karloestateswinery founding winemaker and dear friend Richard Karlo and made into wine by the talented Derek Barnett. Only 90 cases. Our #terroirrun runners have another compelling reason to reach the finish-line.

More to come.