With spectacular views overlooking the Pioneer Valley, meticulous rows of young, leafy, vibrant vines, a rustic tasting room steeped in history and tradition, and a dazzling array of… (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘winery’
Planted on the Bonds of Friendship and a Passion for Wine
Monday, January 21st, 2013West County Cider – The Art of Small Batch, Artisanal Cider
Thursday, November 15th, 2012Located in Colrain, Mass, West County Cider Winery is known and often awarded as one of the finest cider wineries in New England. For the past 28 years, West County has been producing a variety of hard ciders, each handcrafted with local apples grown from its own orchard and other nearby farms. The winery’s owners, Judith Maloney, and her son Field, pride themselves as being a small, artisanal cidermakers who “make ciders that [they] want to drink.”
To quote from its website: “West County Ciders stand out by the simplicity of our ingredients: whole apples, a little yeast, and a bit of sulfite (found in nearly all wines). No sugars, water, flavorings, sorbate, carbon dioxide, or concentrates are used in any of our ciders, allowing for a crisp, clean apple taste in every bottle.”
In this segment, we speak with Field Maloney, who takes us on a tour of West County’s apple orchards and into the basement of the Maloney’s house, which sits alongside its farmed land, and has been bonded and licensed as a winery. Watch as Field pours a sample from a young batch of cider while in the fermentation process – the thick and frothy beverage is truly a sight to behold. Finally, Field offers a one-on-one tasting and discussion of some of West County’s current selection of ciders, including its Redfield and Roxbury Russet ciders.
West County Cider Winery is located in Colrain, Mass in the Northern Berkshires. The winery does not offer tours or tastings, however, its cider can be found in a variety of specialty stores and retailers of fine wines and ciders. For more information, please visit westcountycider.com or e-mail the winery at info@westcountycider.com.
And be sure to check our recent blog post which offers details on a delectable pairing of a spicy roasted carrot soup & West County Reine de Pomme cider.
Editor’s note: This video segment was produced by French Oak TV is part of a series profiling the Massachusetts Farm Winery & Growers Association and each of its member wineries.
Fox Run Vineyards – Refreshing, Delicious Wines
Tuesday, September 4th, 2012In the words of Fox Run winemaker Peter Bell, “the aim of our winemaking is to make the most delicious wines possible.” Simple enough, and one of the many reasons that what we love this place.
Overlooking one of the deepest sections of Seneca Lake, Fox Run Vineyards is producing some of the highest quality and critically acclaimed wines in the region. The winery sits amidst fifty-five acres of meticulously managed vineyards, including plantings of Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Gewurztraminer.
In this segment, we sit down with both Bell and Fox Run owner Scott Osborn, who explain their unique paths into the wine world and discuss the draw of the Finger Lakes for winemakers and enthusiasts. We also delve into the question of what makes for a delicious wine at Fox Run and, in particular, the notion that wines should not only taste good, but also be refreshing.
Finally, we visit Fox Run’s vast vineyard and taste a sampling of wines including two very distinct vintages of Riesling (one drawn directly from a stainless steel tank) and a spectacular unreleased Port.
Fox Run Vineyards is located at 670 State Route 14 in Penn Yan, NY. The winery offers tours every day, every hour, on the hour, with the last tour at 4 PM. For more information, visit http://foxrunvineyards.com.
A thousand thanks to Scott and Peter for being such tremendous hosts on our first visit. We’ve been dreaming of a return ever since!
Behind The Label: How Does 90+ Cellars Do It?
Saturday, August 18th, 2012Finding a great bottle of wine for $40 is a simple as strolling through the aisles of most wine shops. But finding a bottle of similar quality for only $15 is a bit more difficult. Or is it?
90+ Cellars is a virtual winery – meaning that it doesn’t own any land or bottling facility. Instead, the company searches out highly rated – though overproduced – wine, negotiates a discounted price with the source wineries, and passes on the savings to its customers.
So what’s the secret? How does 90+ find these wineries? Where do they source their ratings? Where do they find the best values?
Well, our own Kelsey Clark spoke with the principals of 90+ Cellars, Kevin Mehra and Brett Vankoski, in the comfortable tasting room at Brookline Liquor Mart and her interview revealed quite a bit about this amazing company…perhaps more than one would ever realize…
Turtle Creek – Leading the Charge for Massachusetts Wine
Thursday, June 14th, 2012Widely regarded as one of the best producers of vinifera grape wines in Massachusetts, New England, and beyond, Turtle Creek Winery is leading the charge for high quality wine in the state.
Kip Kumler, the owner and winemaker of Turtle Creek, opened the winery in 1998 and specializes in making small production, handcrafted wines including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
Turtle Creek’s motto, “Classic Wines from Noble Grapes in a Dangerous Neighborhood,” refers to Kumler’s desire to produce high quality wine from vinifera grapes in a cold weather – and often non-forgiving – climate. Turtle Creek does not produce any hybrid grape or fruit wines, nor does the winery produce any so-called “tourist wines.”
The winery produces about nine hundred cases per year, with much of the grapes grown in a meticulously managed vineyard on land leased from the Town of Lincoln. Turtle Creek also purchases ultra-premium fruit from select growers in California.
In this segment, Kumler takes us on a tour of his wonderful winery (including one of the most impressive barrel rooms in the state) and offers some excellent insight on his approach to winemaking. And watch as Kumler and his team stride through the vineyard harvesting grapes amongst dozens of rows of elegant and beautiful vines.
Turtle Creek Winery is located in Lincoln, MA. The winery offers tours and tastings by appointment. To make a reservation, visit http://www.turtlecreekwine.com/reserv.htm
Editor’s note: This video segment is the tenth in a series profiling the Massachusetts Farm Winery & Growers Association and each of its member wineries.
Award-Winning Wines, Stunning Views at Nashoba Winery
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012Located in the heart of Massachusetts’ apple country, Nashoba Valley Winery is one of the state’s most recognized and awarded wineries.
Nashoba has a history dating back to 1980. Jack Partridge, the winery’s founder, owned apple and pear trees in Somerville but had a dream to buy a New England farm and make fruit-based wines. He opened Nashoba Valley Winery out of a rented mill in Concord and in 1984 moved the winery to its current location – a sprawling 52 acre farm – in Bolton.
Partridge eventually decided to sell the winery and in conjunction with the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Bolton Conservation Trust, the winery was sold to Richard and Barbara Pelletier in 1994.
In this video, Pelletier talks about the introduction and variety of grape wines that Nashoba produces including Vignole, Chardonnay and Merlot. Pelletier also discusses the importance of wood aging in Nashoba’s fabulous barrel room and why Nashoba might just be the best place in the state for a family picnic, first date or simply a relaxing afternoon.
Nashoba Valley Winery is located at 100 Wattaquadoc Hill Rd. in Bolton, MA. The winery is open everyday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Guided tours of the wine-making facility are held every Saturday and Sunday beginning at 11:00 AM with additional tours conducted approximately every hour. The last tour of the day starts at 4:00 PM.
Editor’s note: This video segment is the ninth in a series profiling the Massachusetts Farm Winery & Growers Association and each of its member wineries.
Where Farming, Wine, and Community Go Hand in Hand
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011Alfalfa Farm Winery is a family-owned and operated winery and vineyard located in Topsfield, Mass. The winery produces a variety of hand-crafted wines from estate and locally grown grapes including several red and white varieties as well as a number of fruit wines.
In this segment, Richard Adelman, the owner of the winery, and Chris Kieffer, the head winemaker, share the unique history of the land (farmed on for over 300 years) and winery, and explain how their approach to farming, wine and community all go hand in hand at Alfalfa.
Alfalfa Farm Winery is located at 267 Rowley Bridge Road in Topsfield. The winery offers tastings on Sundays from 1-5 PM in the summer and on Saturdays and Sundays from 1-5 PM in the fall. Alfalfa also offers private tours, tastings, sales and event planning available by appointment. To set up a tasting, please e-mail alfalfafarm@comcast.net or call 978-774-0014.
Editor’s note: This video segment is the eleventh in a series profiling the Massachusetts Farm Winery & Growers Association and each of its member wineries.
The Warm Embrace of a Cool Climate at Ravines Wine Cellars
Tuesday, November 29th, 2011Located in Hammondsport, NY, Ravines Wine Cellars is quickly becoming one of the most recognized and awarded wineries in the Finger Lakes.
Ravines is situated on the east side of Keuka Lake and offers a variety of handcrafted wines ranging from an elegant interpretation of a Finger Lakes Riesling to a Provençal-style Rosé of Pinot Noir to a world class Meritage blend.
In this segment, the owners of Ravines, Morten and Lisa Hallgren take us through the history of the winery, explain why the Finger Lakes provide for an excellent expression of New World wine and take us through tasting of several of their delectable – and food friendly – wines.
Ravines Wine Cellars is located at 14630 State Rt 54 in Hammondsport, NY. From March through November, the winery is open daily from 10 AM – 5 PM. From December to March, Ravines is open Friday through Sunday from 10 AM – 5 PM.
Making Mead for the Masses at Mineral Hills Winery
Monday, October 31st, 2011Located within Massachusetts’ pristine Pioneer Valley, Mineral Hills Winery is one of the state’s newest wineries. The winery, aptly named for the Mineral Hills located nearby, opened its doors in 2010 and is a part of Godard’s Red Hen Farm, a sprawling 60 acre farm swathed with apple trees, grape vines, and vegetable gardens.
Mineral Hills produces a wide array of French American and vinifera grape wines as well as a number of fruit wines. However, the winery’s mead, also known as honey wine, may be the its most unique offering. Mineral Hills sources its honey from beehives on the farm and produces its mead in a palate-pleasing dry style.
In this video, Larry Godard, one of the owners of Mineral Hills Winery, takes us on a short tour of the winery, discusses the range of wines he produces and the process for making each, from harvest and crush to fermentation and aging. (Can’t miss section – a mammoth vat of mouthwatering blueberries undergoing an initial fermentation.)
Mineral Hills Winery is located at 592 Sylvester Rd in Florence, Mass. The winery is open April – December and wine tastings and tours are available Friday through Sunday 11 AM – 5 PM or by appointment.
Editor’s note: This video segment is the eighth in a series profiling the Massachusetts Farm Winery & Growers Association and each of its member wineries.
Embracing Wine and Modernity – in an Old Dairy Barn…
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011Though it is one of the newest wineries to open in Massachusetts, Amherst Farm Winery is steeped in a rich history dating back to the 1800s. The winery – which opened its doors in August 2011 – is housed in a 19th century post and beam barn once used for dairy cows. The barn has been preserved and enhanced with the addition of a modern winery that is complete with state-of-the-art of the stainless steel tanks and bottling line.
From within its rustic frame, Amherst Farm Winery produces a range of distinctive fruit wines including carrot, pumpkin, cranberry, blueberry, apple, and strawberry as well as a sparkling hard cider made from local apples.
In this segment, Audrey Samek, the owner of Amherst Farm Winery, takes us on a tour of the wonderfully restored barn and loft space – artists’ exhibits and wine – heaven! And watch as Audrey explains – and shows – how a passion for wine truly means a labor of love (the winery fills, corks, seals and labels 24,000 bottles of wine – by hand!)
Amherst Winery is located at 529 Belchertown Rd. in Amherst, Mass. The winery is open year-round, seven days a week from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tours of the winery are given every weekend at 1 and 3 PM. Groups of 10 or more require a reservation.
Editor’s note: This video segment is the sixth in a series profiling the Massachusetts Farm Winery & Growers Association and each of its member wineries.
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