Westport Rivers Winery, Blanc de Blancs, Brut 2013, Westport, MA

This Massachusetts Champagne Method Brut gets top marks—it has fine bubbles and notes of lemon, warm butter, and brioche, along with pineapple and marzipan.

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: MA

APPELLATION: Southern New England

REGION: Massachusetts

SUBREGION: Buzzards Bay

VINTAGE: 2013

GRAPES: 100% Chardonnay

PRACTICE: Sustainable, small farmer

SOIL: Loam on well drained gravel

VINIFICATION: Minimally processed, using ancient, traditional methods including those of Champagne and Burgundy

METHOD: Traditional Method

STYLE: Sparkling

COLOR: Pale straw yellow

BODY: Full bodied

BUBBLES: Fine

TASTE: Dry (Brut)

PRIMARY AROMAS: yeasty brioche, warm butter, lemon, citrus

FLAVOR: Pineapple, marzipan, brioche, toasted bread

FORMAT: 750 ml

SERVICE AND SUGGESTION: Serve ice cold. This is a rich and toasty sparkling, so skip the oysters and caviar and go for roast chicken. 

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: In 1982 Bob and Carol Russell sought to re-enter the wine-growing business that Carol’s father, Herbert Grifenhagen, and grandfather, Max Grifenhagen, loved so dearly.  Herb and his father had grown their upstate New York Germania Wine Cellars brand into a nationally celebrated sparkling wine.  The Russell couple dreamed of returning to the family’s tradition of raising grapes and making champagne.  In 1982, after searching the globe for the perfect place to farm flavorful sparkling wine, they chose Westport, MA.  Their bold vision and daring tactic was proven to be revolutionary.

Several years later, the vines arrived and oldest son Rob came aboard to plant and manage the vineyard. Rob and his crew planted the first vines in 1986. Since then, our vineyard has grown to 80 acres, the largest vineyard in New England.

Hugo and Luis Quezada joined Rob in the vineyard during the 90’s. The winery opened to the public during the summer of 1991 and has earned over 20 gold medals and endless praise from wine critics worldwide.

The Russell’s founded both Buzzards Bay Brewing and Westport Rivers Winery upon this deep regard for local agriculture and education. As of 2012, the Russell Family has permanently preserved 400 acres of working farmland and forest.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD: 80-acre sustainable vineyard planted in 1986