Denis d'Eschambault

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

by Burke Campbell 

Published in the Financial Post

 June 30, 2008  

Denis d'Eschambault and Leonard Streilein founded D.D. Leobard Winery ( www.ddleobardwinery.com ), a Winnipeg firm that creates fruit wines made from local Manitoba fruit. Denis d'Eschambault tells the Financial Post what motivated him to become an entrepreneur.  

Independent: “I come from a family of entrepreneurs. One of my grandfathers made money cutting blocks of ice from the river and selling them. He eventually created a travel and insurance business. I grew up with the notion that if you wanted something, you just did it.”  

Taking a chance: “I grew up drinking wine. Learning to make it, I served it to family and friend. Then, eight years ago, my friend Leonard Streilein and I founded D.D. Leobard Winery, with the idea of fruit wine.”  

Tough going: “The banks couldn’t believe we wanted to open a winery in Manitoba . They refused us loans, so we paid our own way. Fortunately, our wines proved popular and we have won awards at the Canadian Wine Awards and the All Canadian Wine Championship.”  

Ground breaking: “Our wines are made from wild and cultivated fruit. We use the Saskatoon berry, blueberry, and strawberry. We’re the only winery in North America that makes wine from the sap of the birch tree.”  

Maverick spirit: “I’ve never done the conventional thing. I always want to see something new. I’m an explorer.”  

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