Westport Rivers Winery, Geisenheimer Estate Grown 2020, Westport, MA

Geisenheim is a child of Riesling and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, so to speak. It’s aromatic with flowers, peach, and pineapple, and on the palate it’s bright and ripe. 

COUNTRY: USA

STATE: Massachusetts 

APPELLATION (AVA): Southern New England

REGION: Massachusetts

SUBREGION: Buzzards Bay

VINEYARD: Westport Rivers Estate Vineyard

VINTAGE: 2020

GRAPES: 100% Geisenheim

SOIL: Granite over glacial outwash

PRACTICE: Sustainable

VINIFICATION: VINIFICATION: Juice cold settled for 2 days prior to an initial racking. Fermented in stainless steel tank with temperature control for about 2 weeks. Aged on the fine lees for 3 months. Fined with Bentonite over the winter and filtered prior to bottling in the spring.

STYLE: Still

COLOR: Light gold

BODY: Medium bodied

TASTE: Dry

PRIMARY AROMAS: Floral, pineapple, peach, quince

FLAVOR: Bright and ripe, pineapple, quince

FORMAT: 750 ml

ALCOHOL: 12%

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTION: Serve chilled. Pair with Hawaiian roast pork. 

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Westport Rivers Winery

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

ABOUT GEISENHEIM: Geisenheim is a German hybrid grape created in 1957, although it is grown more widely outside of Germany. It is a cross between Riesling and Chancellor. It produces wines that are aromatic and floral.