Lake Champlain Wineries

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Champlain Valley Wine Production

The history of grape cultivation for wine making in the Champlain Valley is a relatively recent one, beginning with Snow Farm Vineyard in South Hero, Vermont in the late 1990’s. In less than twenty years vineyards and wineries have sprouted throughout the Champlain Valley. Today nearly twenty wineries are in operation near Lake Champlain – in New York, Vermont and Quebec.

The latitude of the Champlain Basin is comparable to that of Burgundy or Bordeaux in France, and in terms of growing degree days (GDD’s), a key factor in growing grapes for wine, the Champlain Valley compares favorably to Burgundy or the Rhine Valley in Germany.

According to Rob McDowell of Purple Gate Vineyard in Plattsburgh, NY:

Champlain Valley vineyards, Champlain wineries

Amazing Grace Vineyard

“The real magic in the Lake Champlain Valley is the serendipitous fit of grapes to vineyards. The cold hardy hybrid crosses of Vinifera, the European wine grape, and the hardier, more disease resistant American grape species thrive in this region. These hybrids capable of producing grapes in the Lake Champlain Valley are of great winemaking potential.

High sugars, deep flavors, and crisp acidity combine into outstanding wine. One of the great advantages of the cold hardy hybrids is their unique character. Their flavors result in wines that are often quite different than the usual fare from California, Australia, and Europe. This translates into a palette of flavors that are refreshing in a world tired of the same old Merlot and Chardonnay. And, our wines are distinctly local; they come from this land of ancient mountains, crisp sun and air, and deep cobalt waters.”

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Wineries of the Lake Champlain Valley

Here are a list of Lake Champlain wineries, along with contact information and website addresses:

New York

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Amazing Grace Vineyard & Winery 9839 Route 9, Chazy, NY (518) 215-4044

Amazing Grace Vineyard and Winery is a newly licensed small farm. They feature native and French hybrid varietals as well as fruit wines. Open during the winter months by appointment. www.amazinggracevineyard.com

Elf’s Farm Winery and Cider Mill  7411 Route 9N, Plattsburgh, NY (518) 563-2750

Lake Champlain Wineries

Shelburne Vineyards

Elf’s Farm tastes approximately 7 wines, hard cider and sweet cider. Tasting is three dollars and you take away an Elf Farm logo wine glass. www.elfsfarm.com

Everett Orchards and Cidery 1945 Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 563-2438 or (866) 563-2633

Everett Orchards dates back to 1776 when Captain Edward Everett moved to the Champlain Valley from Massachusetts after serving in the American Revolution. Captain Everett had received a 150 acre tract of land the previous year for surveying . His son, David Allen Everett purchased the property where the farm still exists and operates today in Peru, New York. http://everettorchards.com

Hid In Pines Vineyard 456 Soper Street, Morrisonville, NY (518) 643-0006

Specializing in Cold Hardy Grape Varieties. Currently the vineyard is comprised of three acres of grapes and will be expanding further. http://hipvineyard.com

Stonehouse Vineyard 73 Blair Rd, Mooers, NY (518) 493-5971

Phil and Bonnie Favreau craft about 25 wines in their hand-built Stone House and Winery. This estate winery charms the visitor as soon as you pull off the back country road into the stone-walled vineyard. Tasting is free. stonehousevineyardclintoncountyny.com 

The Champlain Wine Company 8 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 564-0064

The downtown Plattsburgh tasting room for the North Star Vineyard of Mooers, NY. The North Star Vineyard is the largest commercial winery in the North Country, and the northernmost commercial vineyard in the eastern United States. They produce seven varieties of grapes adapted to this region, and about a dozen varieties of wines. The tasting room also features wines from other North Country wineries and some select Finger Lakes wineries. www.champlainwinecompany.com

Vesco Ridge Vineyards  165 Stratton Hill Rd., W. Chazy, NY (518) 846-8544

A New World expression of classic North Country wine using traditional Old World methods with grapes from this vineyard and the surrounding Lake Champlain Basin. Patiently handmade with care, they produce less than 200 gallons of a variety of wines a year. With immense flavors and aromas, these wines are a tribute to the small North Country vineyards. www.vescoridge.com

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Vermont

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Champlain Valley Wineries

Boyden Valley Winery

Boyden Valley Winery   70 Vermont 104, Cambridge VT 05444     (802) 644-8151

Located in a restored 1875 carriage barn on a family farm, the Boyden Valley Winery is steeped in the culture and agricultural heritage of Vermont’s Green Mountains. From 8000 grapevines and 100 acres of maple trees, lovingly tended by the family for four generations, they craft wines that feature only the finest locally grown fruit from the loamy soils of the Lamoille River Valley. All of their wines are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks to produce elegant, lively whites, and medium bodied reds full with character. Aged in French Oak casks their cellars yield mature, European–style wines. www.boydenvalley.com

Charlotte Village Winery   3968 Greenbush Road, Charlotte, VT    (802) 425-4599

This winery features both fruit and grape wines. The fruit wines are made from fresh Vermont fruits. Selections include a Strawberry Riesling Wine, Raspberry Wine, a Peach Chardonnay Wine and three styles of Blueberry Wine. The grape wines include Merlot Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon Wine, Gamay Wine, and Pinot Grigio Wine. All these wines are made in Vermont. www.charlottevillagewinery.com

East Shore Vineyard  69 East Shore North, Grand Isle VT 05458  (877) 378-8466

“Lake Champlain helps make ESV an excellent place for growing grapes. The deep lake waters provide us with a micro climate favorable for growing winter hardy cultivars capable of producing world class wines.” (from winery website) eastshorevineyard.com

Hillis’ Sugarbush Farm & Vineyard, Colchester, VT   (802) 893-2928

The main farm is located near Lake Champlain in Colchester, Vermont on Sugarbush Farm Road. A smaller part of the farm (Butler Island Vineyard) is on Butler Island located in the middle of northern Lake Champlain. http://www.hillisfarm.com

Huntington River Vineyard at Galloping Hill Farm 344 Moody Road, Huntington, VT 05462 (802) 434-3332

Former hayfields and pastures are now growing grapevines – currently nine different varieties all considered to be ‘cold hardy’. These grapes can withstand the cold temperatures of Vermont and many other places where the temperatures can dip below freezing for weeks on end.  http://www.huntingtonrivervineyard.com

Lincoln Peak Vineyard 142 River Road, New Haven, VT, (802) 388-7368

At this Vermont winery, they make crisp refreshing whites; deep full-bodied reds, light and joyful rosés; and some sweet and fruity wines, too. www.lincolnpeakvineyard.com

Neshobe River Winery 79 Stone Mill Dam Road, Brandon, VT (802) 247-8002

wineries of Lake Champlain

 Concert series at
Snow Farm Winery

Located at the Old Mill Inn Bed and Breakfast in the town of Brandon, VT. The property is backed by the 5th hole of the Neshobe Golf Course and the Neshobe River runs through the front of the property. It has a small vineyard and supplements with grapes obtained from Vermont, California, and the Finger Lakes.  www.neshoberiverwinery.com

Shelburne Vineyard   6308 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482  (802) 985-8222

Shelburne Vineyard has three vineyard sites in Shelburne which include the following varieties: Cayuga, LaCrescent, Louise Swenson, Marquette, St Croix, Riesling, Traminette, Vidal, Vignoles, and Zweigelt. The tasting room is open 11am-5pm 7 days a week. $4/person for a selection of wines.

The Rte 7 location is a 13 acre site, and houses their new, state-of-the-art, winery building. The vineyard is just south of the Shelburne Museum and just north of the Vermont Teddy Bear factory, and is near Shelburne Farms. www.shelburnevineyard.com

Snow Farm Winery  190 West Shore Rd, South Hero, VT 05486   (802) 372-9463

“Because Snow Farm is situated on an island in the middle of Lake Champlain and therefore able to enjoy the micro-climate created by the U.S.’ sixth largest lake, Snow Farm’s growing season is identical to Burgundy, France. This permits Snow Farm to grow cooler climate vinifera grapes, such as Pinot Noir and Riesling, as well as the more cold hardy French Hybrids, such as Vidal Blanc and Baco Noir. However, thanks to Vermont’s cold winter temperatures, in addition to producing table wines, Snow Farm produces, among other dessert wines, an ice wine, a product that cannot be made in many other places in the world.” (from the winery website)

Thursday evening live concert music series from June to September. www.snowfarm.com

.Quebec

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Le Vignoble Du Domaine St-Jaques 615 Rte Édouard VII, St-Jacques-Le-Mineur, QC (450) 346-1620

Champlain wineries

Vignoble du Domaine St-Jacques
Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur, QC

In the south of Quebec, between the St Lawrence River, the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain, the Domaine St-Jacques takes advantage of the few weeks of additional warmth to fill its grapes with sugar. In seasonal thermal units, the vineyard compares itself with some regions like Burgundy in France and New Zealand, who both elaborate splendid products. http://domainest-jacques.ca

Vignoble Morou    238 ch Louis Cyr (Rte 221), Napierville, QC    (450) 245-7569

Open year-round, a visit or a guided tour of our vineyard will let you discover our picturesque site with our wine tasting boutique and our two-century-old stone house. http://www.vignoblemorou.com

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Articles About Lake Champlain Vineyards and Wineries:

Related Websites:

http://www.vermontwine.com/

http://goadirondack.com/Things-To-Do-In-The-Adirondacks/Wineries

http://www.lakechamplainwines.com/

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