The site was covered with second growth bush with some conifers and a lot of scrub maple and broom. The land had to be cleared; this was done in the spring of 2001. All the brush was cleared and burned over.

After an initial clearing, the land was then root and rock raked and limed to correct the low pH. Because of the nature of Royston soils, the next job was to deep rip the land on 4-foot centres. This had to be done to ensure adequate drainage and to break up any of the concretions that are inherent in these soils. Concretions would inhibit the development of good root growth, which is essential for the growth of quality fruit.

A system of 4-inch drainage pipe was installed, draining into a large pond at the bottom of the vineyard where water could be stored for irrigation. This work was completed in the summer and fall of 2001. That winter, 14,400 plants were ordered for delivery in May of 2002, from Mori and Euro Nurseries in Ontario. The varieties selected were Pinot Noir, Merlot, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer—all pre-grafted Vinifera varieties on resistant Riperia and Rupestris root stock. The commitment of Averill Creek is to develop small-lot Pinot Noirs in a gravity-fed winery with emphasis on clonal differences. To this end, four clones of Dijon Pinot Noirs were selected, numbers 114,115,667 and 777. These were planted on three separate elevations in the vineyard.

Construction of the trellis systems and irrigation were started in Feb of 2002, with planting started in the first week of May. Initially, a fruiting wire was installed at 20 inches, and an irrigation line at 16 inches.

Work in the vineyard continued through 2002 and 2003 with generally good root and cane development. There was no fruit available on the two-year old vines as cane and bunch pruning had been severe in order to promote good root and cane development.

In the spring of 2004 further pruning continued, in order to develop a Vertical Shoot Position system. This promoted ease of viticulture with limited crops. Shoot and bunch pruning continued to maintain a crop of 2.5-3 tons/acre. Bird nets were erected in the summer of 2004.

In the spring of 2005 eight more acres of grapes were planted, this time of Marechel Foch and Marechel Foch/Cabernet Sauvignon. This was followed in the spring of 2006 by the final six acres of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Marechel Foch, bringing Averill Creeks total acres of planted vines to thirty.