la garagista

vineyard: In 2007, we planted our first experimental vines.  Over the last few years, we have continued planting  cold hardy varietals typical of Vermont: Marquette, La Crescent, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, and St. Croix as well as Riesling and the Austrian red Blaufrankisch sent from a nursery in Washington state.  

The whole estate is farmed naturally, and we are learning more about farming biodynamically.   We use no pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides, or chemicals.  In order to manage our vineyard with respect for our terroir and environment, we use compost and green manure created on the property, rotating cover crops, and natural tea sprays made from herbs and plants on the property to combat disease and promote beneficial insects, encourage the plants, and healthy soil.   Winegrower Deirdre Heekin received a grant in 2010 from the Vermont Farm Women's Fund to go study biodynamic viticultue at the L'Ecole du Vin et des Terroirs started by Anne-Claude LaFlaive in Burgundy. She continues to study under a number of natural winegrowers from Italy, France, Austria, and California.  Next year, we will plant more vines.  And the year after that, and after that--until we have completed the plantation program for our single hectare.

For vintage 2010, we worked with sustainable grape grower Panton Hills Vineyard in Panton, Vermont for fruit for our first official fermentation, and we will happily continue working with them slowly increasing our produciton.  In October 2011, we will release our first offering of 2010 vintage negociant wines, our own fruit classic method ciders under our la garagista label.  In 2011 we will also be able to harvest our own fruit.  Our joint project with Eden Ice Cider: Orleans Aperitif (www.orleansaperitif.com) has already released and is available in NYC, Boston, and Vermont.