In the quiet corners of Canadian cities, beyond the urban towns and the bustle of Toronto, an old-world tradition simmers beneath the surface—bold, fragrant, and lovingly fermented. It’s the story of Portuguese-Canadian winemaking, a legacy rooted in immigration, family, and flavour. And for me, it’s more than a charming cultural tale—it’s the wine that seasons my food and fills my father’s cold room.
From Portugal to Canada: How Grapes Carried More Than Juice
When Portuguese immigrants arrived in Canada during the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, they brought with them a wealth of traditions: salted cod (bacalhau), soulful music (fado), and the sacred ritual of homemade wine. Lacking the sprawling vineyards of the Douro Valley, they adapted to Canadian life with ingenuity.
Families sourced grapes from Niagara’s fields or Ontario markets. Oak barrels and grape presses were repurposed in garages and basements. Techniques were handed down through memory, not manuals. These wines were never meant for shelves—they were meant for tables. Shared between friends, poured at weddings, and savoured during quiet moments of reflection.
My Father’s Cellar: Where Tradition Became Personal
Every September, my dad begins his ritual. The scent of crushed grapes fills the garage, and the rhythmic churn of the press echoes through our home like a heartbeat. His passion is steady and deliberate—each bottle speaks of history, patience, and pride. For the first time ever, I got to sit down with my dad to ask him questions that I never thought I would ask about wine making.
Interview with Pai Braga
I have done many interviews in the last ten years on Momma Braga and this was one was the hardest for me to do. I had to take my English interview questions and translate it into Portuguese. Then I had to write the answers in English based on the Portuguese responses. Translating is never an easy process even with the tool called, “Google Translate.” Every language has it’s own dialect and sometimes I need to ask the real expert my mom! 🙂
So here we go with my pai (dad) Braga:
How long have you been making wine?
“Oh. How long I have been making my wine? It has been a really LONG LONG time. I have been making wine for over 40 years. Oh, your mom is telling me it has been 46 years.”
How did you learn to make it?
“I learned by watching others when I was younger. It was something that we learned back in my home country in Sao Miguel, Azores. My father (your grandfather) use to work in a vineyard and I would watch him. Back then, we helped our parents with work. I would be responsible to help him bring the grapes in. Wine was made a little different then because we didn’t have the technology or tools that there is today. Everything was done by hand and it took a lot longer to make. But still made with great pride, care and love.”
What is your process of wine making?
“You got my video? (*I replied yes and it is featured below). Ok good. It’s very easy to make wine. First, you buy the grapes and you squish them (grind them, I have a machine for it) and then place them in a wine presser. It stays there for at least 5 days. Every day you need to stir it once a day. Then cover it up. After the 5 days, you tighten the wine presser slowly and the wine then comes out of the spout. You need to keep doing this until all the juices (wine) come out. This process takes about 2 to 3 hours. Then when it slows down then we need to open up the wine presser, mix it and then squeeze again to get more wine out. Once no more liquid comes out the rest inside is waste. Everyone has their own way of doing it.”
How long does it take?
“It takes 5 days but then you keep the wine in the “balceiro” for four weeks then you empty it and put the wine in wine barrels (make sure they are clean first). Then you let the wine sit in the barrels for three to four months. After this time, the wine is ready to drink.”
How do you pick the grapes?
“We buy them from grape suppliers which usually leads us to Toronto. When we go through the grapes at home, we pick the best ones in the batches to use. Sometimes we put some aside for us to eat. They taste great!”
What do you like about making your own wine?
“I like working and doing things myself. I like making my own wine because it is natural and there is no chemicals in it. I can control what grapes are used and can control the taste of it. I am proud of the wine I make to use at home. This is my tradition that I love doing every September.”
My dad took something that he learned from his own father back in Portugal, blending tradition with Canadian culture. His wine—deep, ruby, slightly smoky—is the soul of our kitchen. I use it in my cooking to this day: in marinades, reductions, and sauces that carry the flavour of our ancestry. When I stir his wine into stews or drizzle it into sizzling pans, I’m not just cooking—I’m reconnecting. It’s memory, heritage, and love all wrapped in steam and spice.
Momma Braga Note to Dad
English Version
Dad,
I just want to say how deeply grateful I am for everything you’ve taught me—not just through words, but through the way you live your life. Watching you make wine, with such care and pride, has shown me that tradition isn’t just something we remember—it’s something we live. Thank you for taking the time to explain your methods, your stories, and the roots of this beautiful craft that you carried from your homeland. Your work ethic is something I admire every single day. You never stop, never complain, and always remind us that family, culture, and tradition are the pillars that hold us together. You’ve taught me that hard work means more when it’s done with love, and that our heritage is a gift we must protect and pass on. I carry your lessons with me, and I always will. Thank you for being the kind of father whose legacy is felt in every moment, every meal, and every glass we raise together.
With all my love,
Melanie
Portuguese Version
Pai,
Queria dizer-te o quanto estou grata por tudo o que me ensinaste—não só com palavras, mas com o exemplo da tua vida. Ver-te fazer vinho com tanto carinho e orgulho mostrou-me que a tradição não é só para lembrar, é para viver. Obrigado por teres partilhado comigo os teus métodos, as tuas histórias, e as raízes dessa arte tão bonita que trouxeste da tua terra. Admiro muito a tua maneira de trabalhar. Nunca paras, nunca te queixas, e estás sempre a lembrar-nos que a família, a cultura e a tradição são o que nos mantém unidos. Ensinaste-me que o trabalho duro vale mais quando é feito com amor, e que a nossa herança é um tesouro que devemos guardar e passar adiante. Levo comigo tudo o que me ensinaste, e hei de levar sempre. Obrigado por seres um pai cuja presença se sente em cada momento, em cada refeição, e em cada copo que levantamos juntos.
Com muito amor,
Melanie
Toasting the Future: Keeping the Tradition Alive
As younger generations rediscover their roots, this lost art bubbles back to life. From workshops in community centres to social media stories celebrating family vineyards in backyards, the tradition is fermenting anew. And me? I’ll keep cooking with my father’s wine—seasoning meals with memory, and writing recipes with gratitude. Because every glass poured is a tribute to those who carried vines across oceans and turned garages into vineyards.
Until next time…Happy Parenting!
~ Momma Braga