Local wine anyone?

[CarolynInInman]

Many of us love to eat local, and support local businesses, so I'm wondering why Boston wine lists never seem to feature wines that are produced any closer to home than California. What's up with that? Granted, New England isn't exactly wine country but there are some feisty little producers here, and not all of them make dubious blueberry and cranberry wine. I know of Shelburne vineyards in Vermont, which is all organic. Somebody else must be making decent wines around here. (Anyone have recommendations?) I know for sure that there are many world class wineries in nearby New York state but I can't even find them in wine stores here, let alone on a menu. Many restaurants that tout their local sourcing of ingredients don't have a single American wine- not even one from California- on their wine lists. Most have local microbrews, which is a great start, but I like wine with dinner.

So if anyone spots an East Coast wine on a Boston wine list, please post it here. Think of how good that Vermont cheese with Cape Cod cranberry compote would be with a New York dry riesling....

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Shelburne Vineyard
Shelburne, VT, Shelburne, VT

[WineAG]

You want local wines... how about this. There's a winery in Lincoln, MA of all places. Can't get much more local than that. I happened to meet the owner/winemaker a couple of days ago. Don't think it's on any wine lists but I'm gonna search out a bottle or 2 and check it out. Guess it's sold at Brookine Licquor Mart, Bermans in Lexington and a few other local places. Called Turtle Creek Winery.

http://www.turtlecreekwine.com/

[BostonZest]

We always serve Westport Rivers RJR sparkling wine as our toast wine when we have guests from out of the area. I'm proud to have a great sparkling wine made in Massachusetts.

It also comes from a family who are great people and care about the land and the environment.

Recently, I've grown attached to their Rkatsiteli. Sel de la Terre was pouring it by the glass and I seem to order it each time I'm there.

You'll find Westport wines on a lot of area lists. We've has it at L'Espalier, Meritage, Blue Room, Sel de la Terre, and King Fish Hall (where the server spilled most of the bottle because it was too warm and didn't see it as a problem- that was our last visit there.)

http://www.westportrivers.com/

They also own Buzzards Bay Brewery if you are looking for local microbrews.
http://www.buzzardsbrew.com/

[CarolynInInman]

One of our favorites is from a mid-size family owned winery in the Finger Lakes of New York: Hunt Country Vineyards produces a great variety of wonderful wines...it seems like they have a bottle for every dish we are serving or any occasion we are celebrating. Plus they are committed to sustainability on every level.

www.huntwines.com

[Gio]

Alfalfa Farm in Topsfield produces some pretty good local wine. Not great - just pretty good... I like the Merlot. Their sign is noticable as you travel north on 95 just past the Rte. 1 North exit.
Alfalfa Farm
267 Rowley Bridge Road,
Topsfield, MA
http://www.alfalfafarmwinery.com/

The Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton RI is another local vineyard of note. We spent a weekend at their B & B a little while ago and had the grand tour of the winery. Came away with a case of a variety of their wines. Again, not great but very drinkable.
162 W Main Rd
Little Compton, RI 02837
[phone]
http://www.sakonnetwine.com/

[Infomaniac]

I like Alfalfa Fram Merlot also and I really like their Cranberry wine but wasn't crazy about thier Blueberry vine.
Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton,MA produces a nice selection of fruit wines, and has J's Restaurant on-site. http://www.nashobawinery.com/award.html

Jewell Towne Vineyard in South Hampton, NH on the Amesbury, MA border also produces some really good wine. This place is way to local for me, and and they put on a nice tour and tasting show in the summer and fall. Could be a side trip if your heading to or coming home from Newburyport area.
http://www.jewelltownevineyards.com/i...

[adobokid]

I second Sakonnet. Went for a tasting a few years ago and thought it was just okay (we purchased 1 bottle). Went again last month and found the whites to be very nice (ended up with 8 bottles). The reds still left much to be desired...

[trufflehound]

Local wines such as Westport Rivers, Sakinnet and Nashoba are on several menus. The wineries in Lincoln and Holliston can be found in local stores.

[RichardA]

I am a big fan of Turtle Creek. Their wines are small production, about 100-200 cases of each type, yet only sell for around $20 and are excellent. Great Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and more.

I also like the Westport Rivers sparkling wines.

Jonathan Edwards winery in CT also is producing some very good wines, including a spicy Zin.

I just had an Apple Ice Wine from a relatively new winery in Harvard, MA. It is supposed to be on the menu at Small Plates in Harvard Square.

[jajjguy]

I rather like Truro Vineyards' Cab Franc. It's findable in many wine shops around, including the Brookline Liquor Mart, though I have not seen it on restaurant lists.

[CarolynInInman]

Thanks to everyone for such informative responses. I'm thrilled at the prospect of further supplementing our annual winetasting trips to the Finger Lakes in NY with closer to home wineries like those you guys listed. I will check out the restaurant and liquor store recommendations as well, as the budget permits...

[itaunas]

If your intent is to truely be a localvore, then you are probably best talking directly to the vineyards rather than buying their products at a liquor store. For those vineyards which use local grapes, keep in mind that state and regional appelations do allow use of grapes from other regions up to a certain point. For a specific varietal, I believe federal law limits this to 25% (which is the amount of other varietals which can be used and similar to current vintage requirements, but those vary by appelation), but for blended wines I think it can be more (I have heard of a CT law which only requires 51%). Some wineries even use bulk wine or concentrates. The federal laws require that wineries be able to document what is on their labels, but by the time you get through a distributor and in a liquor store, its pretty hard for the consumer to follow up on that.

Turtle Creek to my knowlege has mostly released vintages of (properly labeled) California sourced grapes, but their own vines might be ready pretty soon to produce a vintage.

So, I would start with some of the lists of the wineries on the Internet and call them to get more information. As you head down to the Mass South Coast and Rhode Island, I tend to find the vineyards use more of their own grapes. One such vineyard which also has a list of other local vineyards is:
http://www.runningbrookwine.com/

Make sure you post what you find out as this topic hasn't been well covered on the board in full detail.

[Gio]

This is a page from the Sakonnet Vineyard which lists what they call a "Coastal Wine Tou" with web links and map:

http://www.sakonnetwine.com/trail.cfm