Whaleback Vineyard - A deliciously unique family-owned winery
Jun 02, 2022 01:45PM ● By KAREN CASSIDY
If you’ve ever found yourself tasting your way through Vermont along the Southern Vermont Food and Farm Trail, then you are already familiar with Whaleback Vineyard. If not, then you should be!
Cradled between the beautiful Green Mountains and stunning Lake St. Catherine, the family-owned and operated Whaleback Vineyard is a unique and unforgettable wine-tasting experience. Owners Amy and Dennis Brown and their two daughters have created a must-visit wine tasting destination.
DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
What started out as a hobby for Dennis more than 20 years ago has since become a true passion and lifeblood for him and his family. He has been growing and cultivating grapes on this family farm for decades while staying true to his Vermont roots.
The name Whaleback Vineyard comes from local history books that described one of the nearby hillsides as Whaleback Hill because of the shape of the landscape.
“We pride ourselves in only producing our grape wines from grapes that we can grow ourselves,” says Amy. “While some wineries import or purchase juices, we grow all of our own grapes, which give our wines a flavor unique to this region.”
Whaleback Vineyard grows grapes known as cold hardy grapes, which were developed out of the agricultural research done by the University of Minnesota. Cold hardy grapes were developed to withstand the winter temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. Having these cold hardy grapes is the only way Amy and Dennis could have their own productive vineyard in Vermont.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
They offer a variety of wines: a white wine, a rosé, two dessert wines, two fruit wines, an ice wine, and several red wine varieties. All of their wines are crafted from the highest quality grapes, grown in their very own vineyard. On nine acres of land, Whaleback Vineyard cultivates over 6,000 vines of St. Croix, Marquette, La Crescent, Frontenac, and Frontenac Gris grapes.
Located on a family farm dating back to the 1700s, the vineyard’s tasting room sits within a beautiful colonial farmhouse that offers a uniquely Vermont backdrop for your wine tasting experience.
Wine production takes place in a historic remodeled barn, and all wines are produced, cellared, and bottled on the Whaleback estate. During the fall harvest season, you can visit Whaleback Vineyard and watch the completion of the winemaking process.
Whaleback Winery is not only a winery but a brewing and winemaking supplies vendor, maple syrup maker, and a lovely wedding venue. They offer a little something for anyone visiting southern Vermont.
PERFECT WEDDING VENUE
Their charmingly rustic remodeled barn has been the perfect backdrop for many weddings. You can have your wedding ceremony inside the beautifully decorated barn or outside overlooking the vineyard. This perfect venue has received only five-star reviews.
“Our historic barn event venue was initially renovated when our daughter Sadie wanted to get married on the property in 2017,” Amy says. “We have been hosting weddings and special events ever since!” Modeling the Vermont ethos of giving back to the local community, the Browns also put that picturesque barn to use by hosting high school proms and community dinners.
And they wouldn’t be keeping true to their Vermont roots if they didn’t also make and sell their very own 100 percent natural maple syrup, all collected from trees on their property. The family has been sugaring on their land for over 25 years.
Whaleback Vineyard offers free wine tastings Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Tours are available upon request. Planning an outing with friends? Group tastings are welcome. Inquire how you can schedule a large group tasting in their tasting room or in their small event room. They are also happy to accommodate bus tours. Stop by for a truly perfect
Vermont experience!
WHALEBACK VINEYARD
202 Old Lake Road
Poultney, VT
(802) 287-0730
