Autumn Sendoff

Another handful of pictures with foliage and vines. 

Shocking, I know. 

I couldn't resist. Vineyards absolutely capture me. I think I was meant to live among the vines. Not in a Tarzan way.

Thanks for laughing at my little joke.

These are the last pictures {I think} of the beautiful autumn we had in Rhode Island. In true Michaela fashion, the last few weekends I've been at home in Newport have been spent with friends and family, enjoying some of my favorite spots along the Coastal Wine Trail. I've already written about my love for  Sakonnet Vineyards and Greenvale Vineyards in the past, but I thought the two deserved another shout out. Because they are two of my favorite places to bring out of town visitors when they venture down to my little corner of the state.

Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyards was purchased last year by Carolyn Rafaelian owner of Alex and Ani. The vineyard has changed a little since my last visit, but not in a bad way. There is a delicious-looking restaurant on weekends {that I will have to try one of these days}, and the same staff is as friendly as ever. This is one of my favorite places to spend a few hours catching up with friends over a bottle of Rhode Island Red {highly recommended}. 

Greenvale Vineyards might be my favorite of all the Rhode Island vineyards. There is something so cozy and personal about the experience there. The farm owners are often the ones pouring your glass during the tastings and telling you about how their family has owned the farm for over a hundred years. One of my favorite things about Greenvale is the fact that they keep the vineyard going only to maintain and preserve the land rather than sell to developers, which I think is brilliant. I've been known to spend hours here with a picnic basket and friends on a Saturday during the warmer months. 

Vines of Fall

Fall was showing off a few weeks ago...or perhaps it was its last hurrah. We have snowflakes dotting the sky this morning, but my mind is wishing we could have sunny {warm-ish} days full of light and bright colors. 

It was the last summer farmers' market at Newport Vineyards several Saturdays ago, and it was the perfect day to end the "warm" months before the winter market begins. After shopping around the market, wandering through the vineyard seemed like a good choice for this gorgeous day.

I never realized how brilliantly colored vine leaves become! The gold and yellow of some of the vines was dazzling! I wish I knew more about grapes so I could impress you with that particular variety's name, but alas, all I know is some leaves were still green and some were still gold. Perhaps I will go back one weekend and ask for a lesson in viticulture :)

Also, my friend introduced me to this scratch and sniff wine book over the weekend. Personally, I think this might be the best book ever written about wine. Especially for a wine expert like myself who judges wine by drinkable vs. undrinkable. For the record, there have only been two wines in the undrinkable category in my life. Wine snob, I am not.

Happy Tuesday!

Sakonnet Vineyards

 

If you've been reading for a while, you know getting lost and wandering New England is one of my favorite pastimes. If you're new, well, now you know.

My brother and I took a little afternoon drive last weekend and wound up at the lovely property of Sakonnet Vineyards in Rhode Island. RI has some really lovely little vineyards that dot the coastline near Newport that I have mentioned before, but each time I discover a new one, I am absolutely thrilled. 

Sakonnet is a place filled with casual New England charm. The staff is incredibly friendly, the grounds are gorgeous {even on a slightly chilly, windy day} and the wine was seriously amazing. We tasted seven different wines, and were at a complete loss as to which ones to take home to enjoy. My favorites were the Vidal Blanc and the Rhode Island Red. Their Cabernet Franc was also to die for, and it had a unique bell pepper taste to it. So unexpected but really delicious! 

Another local gem to add to my favorites list.

Wine Time (Part 2)

Little did I know how blessed we are here in New England. Apparently we have vineyards aplenty. 

While visiting my uncle in Newport last weekend, mom and I stumbled upon this gem. Nestled off the beaten track is Greenvale Vineyards. I must admit, my mother and I didn't know what to expect after seeing the tiny sign on the side of the road. However being lushes winos the wine enthusiasts that we are, we decided it would merit investigation.

What a lovely surprise! This vineyard is tiny, but it has breathtaking vistas of the ocean! A charming post-and-beam barn serves as their tasting area and bar. And a lively jazz trio serenaded us as we tried the portfolio. The staff behind the bar was wonderful and made us feel like were were guests in their home. I also loved how some of the wines were named after the Newport mansions. It was a perfect afternoon with my mother!

I also came away with a new favorite wine: Rosecliff Pinot Gris.

It has the faintest taste of rose at the finish - genius!