Massachusetts - Haverhill - Willow Springs Vineyards

Willow Springs Vineyards - Another winery we visited while on vacation, when we pulled into their upper parking lot, we were treated to a view of the one of their vineyards. We walked into their restored barn tasting room to find this is a family-run operation. Although they only had two wines for tasting, they were preparing for additional releases in the fall. We were able to taste the seyval blanc and marechal foch. I enjoyed both, especially the marechal foch.Before leaving, we were treated to a tour of the barn and learned of the extensive restoration and a look at the lower vineyard.

Massachusetts - Rowley - Mill River Winery

Mill River Winery - (August 2015) While we were in Massachusetts on vacation this past summer, we enjoyed a tasting at Mill River. We arrived soon after the tasting room opened and were able to meet the vitner, who was working the bar that day. I chose the dry wine flight and my wife chose the sweet flight.

I started with their 2012 naked chardonnay; it was crisp and I could taste the zing of the lemon. I finished the whites with the 2013 Reisling. Made in the French tradition, this off-dry white had a vanilla finish. I started the reds with their Plantation Red, a blend of syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon; I tasted the light oak, but not the raspberry jam finish. I enjoyed the 2012 cabernet sauvignon, with its chocolate finish over the 2013 zinfandel, lightly oaked but high in tannins.

My wife started off with the Reisling, but gave me the rest to drink. She went to the Plum Island White, a semi-sweet blend of white malvasia, pinot grigio and cayuga, which was not overly sweet. It is aged in their outside stainless steel tanks. The 2014 sauvignon blanc was toned down, not as acidic to the finish as other sauvignon blancs; but the highlight was the Plum Island Rose, a blend of petit syrah, pinot grigio and white malvasia. It was not as sweet as the white. She finished her tasting with the Plum Island Red, a blend of syrah, merlot and pinot grigio.

Australia - Baileys of Glenrowan

Baileys of Glenrowan - Friends gave me a bottle of their 19 Crimes, a 2013 red wine, as a parting gift from the Board. How fitting, they made sure to paste my photo on the label. A dry wine, I found it very pleasing although I could only tell it was a blend.