Tip of the Cap to Local Wines

It has been a while since I posted to this blog and a realized that I was way overdue. I have had a lot of wine-based experiences since my last post. After a honeymoon spent Rome-ing through Tuscany and the Amalfi coast of Italy, I have traveled to and through the Oregon and Washington State wine terroirs, and even spent an anniversary in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson in and around Monticello and the Virgina wine country. Obviously all of these would provide plenty of information worthy of entry into this blog, and eventually I will get there. However, today's post is going to be a tip of the cap to the local wines in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area that we spend much of our free time visiting and much of our liquid assets supporting.

I will start with what may be one of the largest wineries in the state of Massachusetts, Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, MA. If we were to rewind the clock about 5 years I would tell you how I was sick of going to Nashoba and always tasting the same week grape varietals and a bunch of fruit wine that could have been served at my Bar Mitzvah....but that has certainly changed. The newer wines coming out of this place are great! Most of the fruit is local, with a portion of the more difficult to acquire grapes being shipped in. The body, color, diversity and every other possible characteristic I can use have all improved. The only negative is the pricing has increased to reflect the change, but they are worth it in many cases. Some of the best options here are their Dry Blueberry, Merlot and Cyser. For those that have a taste for something with a little more alcohol than the typical wine, I would also HIGHLY recommend the Nashoba Gin called "The Perfect 10". And as if you needed more reasons to travel to Bolton (about 45 minutes west of Boston), the restaurant at the winery, "J's", may be one of the best restaurants in New England for farm-to-table, elegant cuisine.

The next winery worth of mention is a favorite of ours... Just over the southern border of Massachusetts into Little Compton, RI is Sakonnet Vineyards. Sure, there are 3-4 other wineries in this general area of Rhode Island, but not a single one of the others deserves mention. Sakonnet is a family owned gem hidden down a road that paints a perfect picture of what New England used to be, dairy farms, fields of vegetables, older beach from homes, etc. The tasting room is large and the scene on the weekends tends to be very lively. All grapes are locally grown and no random fruit wines are here to spoil the party. The wines of note here are the Rhode Island Red (a 3 grape blend NV), the Unoaked Chardonnay and the Cock of the Walk White table wine. Keep an eye on their website at www.sakonnetwine.com for events as they have great barrel tastings and other special offers.

Another winery of note, and easily added to the trip to Sakonnet, is called Running Brook Vineyard in N. Dartmouth, MA. This is another winery that 5-6 years back I would have told you to hold off on visiting. They have certainly grown into a wonderful family run little place. "Little" may not be the best label to use as they are currently in full production of 10 standard wines and seems to always have at least 10 more past vintages or up-and-coming bottles to pour a taste of. Their wines range from strong dry wines to be included with a beef pot roast all the way to delicate whites worthy of the flakiest New England broiled Cod or Sushi. Excellent wines, fun tasting room, great family....and locally sourced grapes!!

Finally I am going to throw out one more winery that is worthy of acknowledging on this entry. Wineries, outside of the traditional "wine countries" are far too often located just west of nowhere and miles from civilization. In the rather dated and supposedly soon to be gentrified city of New Bedford, MA is a small city store front that one would never know masks a wonderful little winery. Travessia Urban Winery is a very small facility that solely focuses on making wines using local Massachusetts grapes. Though only 6-7 wines exist at any given time and are often in extremely limited supply, this winery is a gem producing complex, palette pleasing masterpieces. I wont highlight a specific wine, just tell you its worth the trip and let them do the rest!