Furnace Brook WineryCurrently I'm trekking through the cold and snowy landscapes of western Massachusetts with my friends Lindsay and Danielle in what is known as the Berkshires. We've been looking at bed & breakfasts for their March wedding, and having spent the entirety of Thursday with that I decided that today we needed some wine! From our "base" in Pittsfield, MA we drove about 10 miles to visit Furnace Brook Winery and Hilltop Orchards.
Location: Richmond, MA
Owner: John Vittori
Owner, John Vittori, welcomed us into Furnace Brook's tasting room located on the orchard property. With all the drifting snow outside we hastily rushed inside only to find that the furnace had blown. John was busy building a roaring fire in another area of the building but was more than happy to help us warm up with a few tastings. Furnace Brook began producing hard cider with Johnny Mash Hard Cider being their flagship brand.
Armed with Danielle's "good" pen and a tasting card I was ready to take notes on everything Furnace Brook had to offer. Lindsay joked that that little card "never stood a chance." Here's a brief overview of my tasting notes:
While John helped some other patrons who had come to snowshoe around the property, I had an opportunity to speak with Rob Todd one of Furnace Brook's winemakers. Rob has a background in brewing beer and came from a local brewery to lend his experience to Furnace Brook. He explained that while beer making can have more complexities - where as wine is made from grapes, beer can be brewed by any number of materials - the physical process isn't anywhere as involved or complex as that of winemaking.Chardonnay Special Reserve - Softly oaked and full bodied this wine offered mild acidity and soft finish. Citrus and apple balance the oak flavors. Charval- A blend of Seyval Blanc (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) this wine was softer than the Chardonnay. A little more citrus/apple fruit and lighter oak for more of a medium body. Dry Riesling - Even with 1.3% residual sugar (RS) this is certainly a dry wine. Aromas and flavors of peach, apple, and lime the moderate acidity would pair well with food. My favorite white. Johannisberg Riesling - With 2.7% RS, this wine boasts a lot of the same fruitiness of the Dry style but with more noticeable sweetness and an added element of tropical pineapple. Merlot Special Reserve - Medium bodied dry wine with soft tanning and cinnamon and blackberry notes. Soft oak and red fruit on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve - Full bodied dry red wine with spice and blackberry, higher tannin levels and moderate acidity would make this a great food wine. Shiraz Special Reserve - Chocolate, cherry, and spice! Full bodied, juicy, fruit-forward wine with smooth notes of chocolate and coffee compliment the palate and leave a long lingering finish. My pick of the reds. Sparkling Blanc de Blancs - A fun dry sparkling wine with medium acidity and crisp apple characteristics. Sparkling Muscato - Apple, peach, apricot, and pineapple made this wine a lusciously sweet after-dinner treat. "Bee My Honey" Mead - Made from honey this had interesting herbaceous qualities with a lot of floral aromas. Sweet and fruity, but not overbearing. Johnny Mash Hard Cider - light with mild acidity. Fresh fruit juice is added after fermentation to give the cider an additional sweet and fruity profile. Furnace Brook's complete wine list
We really enjoyed our visit to Furnace Brook Winery, and it was fun to try wines made in Massachusetts - had you asked me I would have never suspected to find any in the first place given all the snow! I should also say that John owns a really cool B&B in nearby Lenox, MA called the Garden Gables Inn. This was one of the locations we visited on Thursday, and given the utter charm of the village it is one of the top locations Lindsay and Danielle are considering for their ceremony in March. Managed by Brande and her husband Dan (check out their blog!), an enthusiastic young couple, this place was really knock out and would be a definite must for anyone visiting the area. Cozy rooms, beautiful grounds, and common areas filled with a sense of utter relaxation are just some of the inn's best features. They are also working on becoming a green B&B which is really great.
Regardless as to the inn though Lindsay and Danielle have already decided on local Alta Restaurant & Wine Bar for the post-ceremonial dinner. Being the only place open on New Years day we had an amazing lunch there. A foodie-friendly menu, reasonable prices, and a formidable wine selection made them a perfect choice. I sampled some great red wines - Garnacha, Syrah, and Malbec - along with a savory veggie panini.
Our trip continues before we head home on Sunday. Snow or not I'm definitely having a great time in this beautiful state and would highly recommend making a detour if you're passing by. There are countless things to do whatever your tastes, and you can even come when it's not snowing!
Cheers!