Sixty-one years young, Bill Goneau is still going strong

By Dan Pearce

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (03/31/11) - Bill Goneau stands with carboys full of fermenting wine in Freeman's Winemaking in Belleville. Photo by Dan Pearce.

He’s a Queen’s University graduate for engineering and spent a number of years blasting mines in Labrador.

“He’s one of the few people who talks a good game, that can actually back it up,” said Jack Pearce, a longtime friend of Goneau.

Goneau is well-known for his penchant for long conversations.

“He’ll stand and talk to me for hours, and well after closing,” said Al Vance, store manager for Goneau’s Belleville winemaking shop. “But I get paid to listen. I feel sorry for the customers who’ve got things to do.”

He opened a video store, College Video, on College Street in Belleville in August of 1986. He would add winemaking to the mix shortly after. Eventually, he would change locations, and convert solely to winemaking.

Goneau decided to use his middle name to brand the new winemaking shop and that’s how Freeman’s Winemaking was born.

Several years ago, Bill’s wife, Janet, convinced him to add professional gourmet kitchen supplies to the Freeman’s product line.  Less than a year ago, Goneau purchased a winemaking shop in the Kingston area, which he owns in addition to Freeman’s in Belleville.

More recently, Freeman’s has got some new competition in the form of major kitchen supply chain Bed, Bath and Beyond which has moved in next door.

However, Goneau and Vance are optimistic for the future.

“They sent four people over to Freeman’s for products they don’t carry,” Vance said. “And that’s just today.”

“We’re always looking for new suppliers and the existing suppliers are always looking for other products,” Goneau said.

Goneau is looking forward to warmer weather when he can enjoy one of his favourite pastimes, cycling. He is also an avid golfer, eager to get back on the links. But more than anything, it seems he’s most excited to enjoy a glass of wine, or a cold beer in the sunshine.