All audiences. Visitors and wine lovers who care about family stories, local giving, and a winery that does business with heart.
Grandma Hare's Shortbread and Gillian's Place
Some recipes are just instructions. Others are a way of keeping someone close. Grandma Hare's Scottish Shortbread comes straight from my grandmother, from a recipe our family has kept for generations (only four delicious ingredients). We still bake it here at The Hare Wine Co., a family winery at 769 Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake. We sell it in simple packs of three, and we want you to know exactly where every penny goes before you ever pick up a pack. All of it goes to Gillian's Place.
That is the heart of this little cookie. It carries a family memory in one hand and a helping hand for our community in the other.
The recipe behind the cookie
Every family has a recipe that means more than the sum of its ingredients, and for us that recipe is Grandma's shortbread. It was hers first. She made it, she passed it down, and now we make it in her honour, the same way, so the taste stays true to the woman who started it all.
We keep it humble on purpose. The cookies come in packs of three, just enough to share or to quietly keep for yourself. There is nothing fussy about them. They are warm, buttery, and honest, the kind of treat that feels like it was made in a home kitchen rather than a factory, because the spirit behind it was.
Our family carries two heritages, Scottish and Bulgarian, and both taught us that the small rituals matter as much as the big ones. A glass poured with care. A grandmother's Scottish shortbread, still baked long after she first wrote the recipe down. These are the threads that hold a family story together, and we are grateful to keep this one going.
Why Gillian's Place
Here is the part we are proudest of. Every penny from Grandma Hare's Shortbread goes to Gillian's Place, a local shelter for women and children experiencing abuse. Not a slice of the proceeds. Not what is left over at the end of the month. All of it.
We chose to give this way because a winery is never just a business. It is part of a community, and ours has been good to us. Gillian's Place does the kind of work that changes lives in the hardest moments, offering safety and support to neighbours who need it most. When you buy a pack of these cookies, you are standing with them, helping someone close to home find a little more shelter and a little more hope.
It feels right that a recipe handed down with love should go on to do something loving in the world. Grandma started something kind in her kitchen, and this is how we carry it forward.
How to support by visiting
The warmest way to support Grandma Hare's Shortbread, and Gillian's Place through it, is simply to come see us. The cookies are available in our boutique during any visit, so there is no special occasion required. Stop in, say hello, and pick up a pack while you are here.
They also happen to pair beautifully with a glass of wine. We make VQA small-batch wines and Icewine right here on the estate, and a buttery shortbread alongside a thoughtful pour is one of those small pleasures that makes a Niagara afternoon feel complete. Settle in, take your time, and let the cookie and the wine keep each other company.
If you are planning a trip our way, you can find everything you need to know about coming to see us on our visit us page. Reservations are recommended so we can give you our full attention, and you can book your time with us on our reservation page. If a question comes up before you arrive, our FAQ page is a good place to start.
With 4.8 stars across more than 847 reviews, we like to think guests leave here feeling looked after. We would love to welcome you too, pour you something we are proud of, and send you home with a pack of Grandma's cookies that does a little good on the way out the door.
Frequently asked questions
What are Grandma Hare's Shortbread cookies? They are a treasured family recipe from John Hare's grandmother, baked here at the winery and sold in packs of three.
Where do the proceeds go? All proceeds go to Gillian's Place, a local shelter for women and children experiencing abuse. Every penny, not just a portion.
Where can I buy them? The cookies are available in our boutique during any visit to The Hare Wine Co. at 769 Niagara Stone Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Do they pair with wine? They do. Grandma Hare's Shortbread pairs beautifully with a glass of our VQA small-batch wine or Icewine, so it is a lovely treat to enjoy during a tasting.
Come share in the story
A family recipe, a few good cookies, and a chance to help a neighbour in a hard moment. That is what a pack of Grandma Hare's Shortbread holds. Come see us in Niagara-on-the-Lake, pick up a pack in the boutique, and pair it with a glass of something we made with care.
Reservations are recommended, so plan your visit and become part of this small, good thing.