Our Story

Some stories are grown. Ours was earned.

Horse Thief Vineyards is more than a vineyard. It is the latest chapter in a family story that began generations ago, when the Gourley family left Scotland with little more than determination, a willingness to take risks and a few horses that helped pay their passage to a new life in Nova Scotia.

That spirit of rebellion, resilience and hard work has been part of this land ever since.

For four generations, the Gourleys built a life here by working the land and building something bigger than themselves. What began with one family’s journey from Scotland eventually became one of Nova Scotia’s largest dairy farms.

Christopher Gourley grew up watching that legacy take shape.

His father, Ron, helped build the family dairy operation and was instrumental in the development of the Nova Scotia Dairy Co-operative. But his contribution to the community went far beyond the farm. Ron also volunteered with the Stewiacke fire department, giving his time to protect and support the town his family called home.

His mother, Bette, had a vision of her own.

When the opportunity came to transform the farmland next door into what would become Fox Hollow Golf Course, she didn't sit on the sidelines. She got on the tractor and plowed the fields herself, helping turn another piece of the family land into something that would become known far beyond Stewiacke.

This is the legacy Christopher inherited.

Not simply acres of farmland, but a belief that land is something to build on. That ideas are worth pursuing. That hard work matters. And that the best way to honour what came before is to keep moving forward.

Today, Christopher, alongside his two daughters; Monique and Olivia, is writing the next chapter.

Horse Thief Vineyards has transformed a portion of the family farm once again, bringing vineyards, wine and hospitality to land that has been shaped by five generations of Gourleys.

Together with his daughters, Monique and Olivia, Christopher is building something that looks forward while remaining firmly rooted in where it began.

The next generation is already here.

And soon, they will be holding the reins.

From horses to harvests.

The Horse Thief name pays homage to the family's earliest chapter. But it also represents something bigger: the courage to leave what you know, take a chance on something new and create your own path.

That spirit lives on in every bottle we make.

Our vines are planted in Nova Scotia soil. Our wines are shaped by this land and our seasons. And our approach is influenced by the generations who taught us that nothing worthwhile comes without a little grit, a lot of work and the courage to try something different.

We aren't just making wine.

We're continuing a family tradition of turning land, ideas and hard work into something that lasts.

This is our land.
This is our legacy.
This is our families spirit of rebellion.
And this is only the beginning.

Horse Thief Vineyards
Ride Hard. Pour Slow.