Frankie RowleyCape Cod Times
Is there anything better than sipping on a nice glass of wine on a warm summer day? If this sounds like your perfect day, I'm sure you'll be happy to know that on Saturday, May 25, you have an excuse to sip all day for National Wine Day!
In the spirit of the holiday, I spoke with the Cape's two vineyards and wineries, Truro Vineyards and Cape Cod Winery, about some of their favorite wines being made on-site. Whether you're team white or red, bubbly or not, there's certainly a Cape Cod-made wine perfect for your summer sipping.
So cheers to good wine, good health and delicious National Wine Day!
Cape Cod Wineries and Vineyards
Truro Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits
Driving along Route 6 through North Truro, a vineyard peeks out from the side of the road. While one may pass by without a second glance, seeing a vineyard on the sands of Cape Cod isn’t quite what one would expect.
Those vines belong to Truro Vineyards, a vineyard, winery and distillery (thanks to South Hollow Spirits) located in North Truro. The seven-acre vineyard was purchased by the Roberts family back in 2007, but was created in 1992 by two women who originally intended to open a vineyard in the Finger Lakes but found that the winery scene was getting too crowded.
“There were so many (vineyards) popping up there that they were worried about saturation so they decided to do it here instead where there were no wineries,” said Kristen Roberts, co-owner of Truro Vineyards. “There's still only us and Cape Cod Winery.”
The vineyard makes and sells a total of 19 different wines and spirits. Select grapes, such as the chardonnay and cabernet Franc, are grown on-site while others are sourced from places like California and Oregon but everything is made on-site.
“We get a lot of our reds from Napa,” Roberts said. “We get our sauvignon blanc grapes from Central Coast, California.”
Outside of winemaking, the vineyard hosts free tours every Monday to Friday at 11 a.m. plus daily tastings. They also have a food truck on-site and are dog-friendly.
“(My father’s) selling point was ‘We're not curing cancer here, this is not important work, but you're part of a community,” Roberts said. “‘You're creating a space that people want to come to.”
Wines to try:
Cabernet Franc: A dry red wine is aged in an oak barrel giving the wine notes of plum and herbal tannins, according to their website.
Cranberry Red: Part of their “Lighthouse Wines” collection, the Cranberry Red is made from syrah and rougeon grapes and Cape Cod cranberries perfect for making sangrias or punches, according to their website.
Triumph: Similar to a Bordeaux or meritage style blend, according to Roberts, the Triumph is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec, petit verdot and cabernet Franc — per their website — with hints of oak.
Sauvignon Blanc: With notes of pear, peach, white flowers and honeydew, the Sauvignon Blanc is a great choice for those summer seafood dinners, according to their website.
Rosé: Touted as “summer in a bottle” in its online description, the Rosé is one of Roberts’ favorites, perfect for a dry wine lover who likes fruity flavors.
M White: A blend of pinot blanc, riesling and alboreto, the M White is one of Robert’s favorites with notes of white peach, pear and citrus, according to their website. “It's really nice,” Roberts said.
Chardonnay: Made from grapes grown on-site, the Chardonnay has flavors of apple and vanilla coupled with hints of oak and citrus, according to their website.
Spirits to try:
- Whiskey: As part of their new Whiskey project, South Hollow Spirits is rolling out whiskies named after beloved family pets. Here's a couple of note:
- Moose Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Rosie Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
- Otis Rye Whiskey
- Twenty Boat Spiced Rum: Made with whole spices from the Atlantic Spice Company, the Spiced Rum has all the warm spice flavors one would expect from a spiced rum.
Cape Cod Winery
Further up the Cape sits Cape Cod Winery, a Falmouth-based winery run by Pete and Erika Orlandella. The couple bought the winery in 2013 and swiftly moved the location a bit further down Oxbow Road in 2014 where they remain.
At the winery, guests can sip on a glass or a few with their Cape Cod Winery wine flights, enjoy a bite from the Mermaid Kitchen Food Truck or pursue the Mermaid Gift Shop — all inspired by their flagship wine the “Mermaid Water” rosé.
“Our whole concept is we want you to come into the winery and kind of forget about any troubles that you might have,” Erika Orlandella said. “We want to create a very relaxing atmosphere.”
Currently, the winery sources their grapes, mostly from California and New York, but they do have a vineyard on-site (the vineyard vines are just a little too young to use just yet.) They make and sell a variety of different kinds of wines from rosé to cabernet.
“We kind of have something for everyone,” Orlandella said.
Wines to try:
- Mermaid Water Rosé: The Mermaid Water Rosé is made from grenache grapes and pairs well with salmon and mild cheeses, according to their website.
- Vineyard Sound Sauvignon Blanc: A good seafood dinner pairing, the Vineyard Sound is one of Cape Cod Wineries more popular blends with hints of citrus and tropical fruits. “A lot of people will come in and buy a bottle to take home for dinner,” Erika said.
- Cranberry: Made with local Cape Cod cranberries, the Cranberry is sweeter than sangria and is made by mixing a sweet white riesling with tart cranberry juice.
- Barb’s Bubbly Sparkling Blanc de Blancs: If you’re a fan of the bubbly, Barb’s Bubbly might be the bottle for you. This dry sparkling wine has notes of citrus and is one of Erika’s favorites.
Cape Cod Winery is located at 4 Oxbow Road in Falmouth. For more information about their wines and the winery or to make a reservation, visit www.capecodwinery.com/.
Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and things to do. Contact her atfrowley@capecodonline.com.
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