Magnetic Moments at Magnetic Hill Winery

UPDATED MARCH 2, 2026

Award-Winning Wines, Historic Charm & a Million-Dollar View in Moncton, New Brunswick

Let the magnetic phenomenon pull you up the hill and into Magnetic Hill Winery. Satisfy your thirst. Socialize. Sip something exceptional. Stay awhile.

Jeff and Janet Everett may make the transition from berry farmers to winemakers look effortless — but make no mistake — this has been an uphill journey (and not the “put it in neutral and coast” kind). Once the proud owners of Utopia U-Pick, the largest strawberry and raspberry operation in New Brunswick, they poured years of dedication, education, and reinvestment into pioneering one of Atlantic Canada’s most recognized wineries.

Today, their son Zach works alongside them as winemaker and co-owner — carrying forward the family vision while thoughtfully shaping its next chapter.

And oh, how worth it the climb has been.

From Strawberry Fields to Signature Wines

Before vines, there were berries.

Long days in the fields planted more than fruit; they planted resilience, work ethic, and a deep respect for the land. When Magnetic Hill Winery opened in 2005 with just three wines, few could have predicted how quickly it would grow.

By 2008, sales had increased by 200%, earning the Greater Moncton Excellence Award for Top Emerging Business and “Best of Show” Wines at the NB Savour Food & Wine Show. Since then, their wines have continued to collect medals — including recognition at the All Canadian Wine Championships — solidifying their reputation as one of New Brunswick’s most awarded wineries.

Not bad for a cool-climate hill in Atlantic Canada.

Rooted in Heritage, Raised with Vision

The winery sits on a lovingly restored 1867 farmhouse property — land as old as Canada itself. Jeff and Janet didn’t simply renovate it. They raised it. Literally.

They separated barn from house, lifted the home three feet to allow for a wine cellar beneath it, and restored the farmhouse room by room, preserving original woodwork wherever possible. The Guesthouse opened in 2010 and remains one of my favourite places to stay near Moncton.

There’s something deeply satisfying about enjoying a tasting — then simply walking “home.”

The Wines: Cool Climate, Bold Character

University of Minnesota cold-hardy grape varieties thrive here, perfectly suited to New Brunswick’s shorter growing season. Local fruit also plays a starring role — including rhubarb, which shines in Illusion, a crisp dry white named for the famous Magnetic Hill optical illusion.

And then there are my personal favourites. Mascaret — a medium-bodied, Merlot-style, oak-aged red that is beautifully structured and balanced. The OC (Osceola by the Sea) — clean, bright, Riesling-inspired, offering lemon peel, apple, and tropical undertones. Every time I visit, I tell myself I’ll branch out and I do and I have fallen for others, but every time, one of those bottles still makes its way home with me.

If you haven’t tried Maple Swish, you must. Aged two to three years in wet Kentucky bourbon barrels, it delivers layered maple warmth with smoky complexity. Janet once described it as “Oaky Smoky Whiskey Maple,” and that feels exactly right. Pair it with aged cheddar, dark chocolate, and good conversation — and you’ll understand why it has become one of their most celebrated pours.

Wine tastings invite you to see, swirl, sniff, sip your way through Dry & Traditional, Fun & Fruity, Sparkling, and Dessert collections — often accompanied by charcuterie boards featuring local Maritime cheeses and fresh fruit. All with that panoramic Moncton view.

Raise the Barn

One of the most remarkable chapters in their journey is the addition of a 10,000-square-foot winery expansion — funded entirely through wine sales. They thank their faithful wine drinkers to helping “Raise the Barn.” Inside, poured concrete wood-look floors meet reclaimed beams and thoughtfully displayed agricultural tools. A fireplace built with original bricks anchors the space. There’s even a miniature covered bridge along a catwalk — “the smallest covered bridge in New Brunswick,” Jeff likes to joke.

It is heritage honoured and future embraced — much like the winery itself.

A New Generation

While the foundation is firmly Jeff and Janet’s, Zach Everett now plays an integral role as winemaker and co-owner. He returned home in 2015 when New Brunswick wines were approved for sale in select grocery stores — a moment that felt like both opportunity and invitation. Bringing global perspective, entrepreneurial energy, and a deep respect for agriculture, Zach has helped expand the winery’s portfolio into oak-aged reds, traditional method sparkling wines, and refined cool-climate expressions that continue to earn provincial and national recognition.

As a farmer at heart and an advocate for food tourism, he speaks passionately about strengthening local supply chains and elevating New Brunswick’s culinary identity. His approach doesn’t replace what his parents built — it builds upon it, honouring the land, the legacy, and the loyal community that supported the winery from the beginning.

More recently, Zach introduced a small-batch creative label called Loose Wire Winery — a space for expressive, limited-release wines that allow for experimentation and imagination. Think bright stainless-steel whites, oak-driven bolds, and playful flavour explorations. It feels less like a departure and more like a natural extension — curiousity meeting craftsmanship on the same hillside.

More Than a Winery — A True Tourism Destination

Magnetic Hill Winery isn’t simply a place to taste wine — it is a full tourism destination.

What Jeff and Janet envisioned years ago is now fully realized: a hillside experience where wine, hospitality, heritage, and community come together in one beautiful setting overlooking Moncton.

Beyond award-winning tastings and charcuterie boards, the winery’s calendar is full. From Thirsty Thursday Trivia Nights and seasonal markets to live music, pop-up events, and curated culinary experiences, there is always something unfolding here. Weddings fill the barn and tent with celebration. Corporate gatherings spill onto the patio. Friends meet for flights and linger long after the glasses are empty.

Summer afternoons belong to the patio and vineyard views. Autumn brings crisp air and colour-drenched hillsides. Even winter has its own cozy charm inside the warm timbered tasting room. Gardens, rock walls, ornamental trees, and illuminated wine bottle sculptures transform the property into a truly immersive experience. The restored 1867 Guesthouse invites visitors to extend their stay, and the expanded winery space allows for larger community events and experiences that go far beyond the tasting bar.

With Zach continuing to champion food tourism in New Brunswick, supporting local growers, and hosting community-focused events, the winery’s role within the province’s culinary landscape only deepens. This is a destination in its own right — one that invites visitors to pause, taste, explore, and connect.