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As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog, urban wineries create an easily available experience for urban dwellers. Urban wineries also may make use of restoring older buildings rather than razing and building anew.
Winemaking has a long history behind it and it seems appropriate that new wineries use available historical buildings. Preservation of the past has benefits for today’s society. We have visited several urban wineries that winemakers established in buildings 50 to 100 years old.
Examples of these preservationist wineries include Pentamere Winery in Michigan, St. Michael’s in Maryland, Frederick Cellars in Maryland and Old North State in North Carolina. Check out these articles for detailed information about these wineries.
Pentamere Winery in Tecumseh, Michigan was the location for the Anderson dry grocery built in 1871. Later the building became a clothing store followed by a diner. The Pentamere Winery partners purchased the building in 2000.
St. Michaels Winery located in the tourist town of St. Michaels, Maryland is making use of an abandoned flour mill. Tourists and residents enjoy stopping by St. Michaels for a tasting and winery events.
Converted from a brick 1904 ice warehouse, in addition to the tasting counter Frederick Cellars has a small stage for entertainment. Check out their entertainment schedule.
Old North State Winery in Mt. Airy, North Carolina combines a winery and restaurant in a restored 1890’s mercantile building. Prior to the mercantile, the building was a hardware store. The site was also believed to have been a saloon. By the way Mt. Airy, was home to Andy Griffith.
When you visit an urban winery, take note of what the building may have been in a previous time period. How much of the building still keeps its original character. You may be very pleasantly surprised. All of the above wineries benefit from foot traffic.
What’s the most intriguing renovated urban winery you have visited? Email me at kathy (at) winetrailtraveler.com.
What’s the Best Way to Buy Wine?
What’s the best way to buy wine? While there is no right answer for all people, here are some ideas to think about. Personally, I like to purchase wine directly from a winery I visit. There is something about remembering the experience and the occasion of visiting a winery. Will it cause you to remember the winery tasting room, vineyards, staff, camaraderie with other visitors or the landscape? Whatever you remember will add to the experience of tasting the wine as you pair it with dinner or sip it after dinner.
If you can’t buy wine at a local winery, consider joining a club membership. There are many different wine club memberships. Some wineries charge for a membership while others do not charge. Benefits vary from winery to winery but usually include several wine shipments to your home. Unfortunately due to archaic laws in some states, some consumers in the US are unable to avail themselves of this opportunity.
Consider becoming involved with a barrel program. Some wineries encourage people to purchase an oak barrel and they are rewarded with benefits. Benefits vary with each winery. For an example of a barrel program, visit The Winery at La Grange in Virginia for details.
Wine stores can be a good source of wine and if you’re looking for wine outside of the US, a good wine store is the place to go. We have two local wine stores that I consider to be good, because the owners are very knowledgeable about the wines in their stores. If you are looking for a wine to pair with a particular food, just mention it and they can quickly guide you to a selection of wines. Curious about a wine you heard about but not tasted, the owners are not afraid of telling you what they really think about the wine. Compare that to walking into a wine store where the staff members don’t know much about wine and just want to make a sale. Choose your wine store carefully.
You will most likely discover that one of the most expensive ways to purchase a bottle of wine is at a restaurant where prices may be three times what you expect to pay. Consider purchasing a wine and enjoying it with a home cooked meal and candlelight.
Sounds good to me.