Voice of the Vine 
On the Wine Trail Near Newport

– By Lou Campoli –

Vacationing in Newport, R. I. is a pleasure that everyone should experience at least once. The beautiful sea views, mansions and historic buildings are worth the trip. And while you're there, looking for things to do, here are three suggestions: Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton and Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery in Westport, Mass.

In addition to producing very fine wines, these wineries are on beautiful estates that feature musical concerts and other events. Westport Rivers houses the Long Acre House Wine and Food Center on the property, and features the Buzzards Bay Brewing facility, which produces very tasty beers.

Our visit to Newport was indeed memorable. Here are our tasting notes for the wines we sampled.

Greenvale Vineyards
582 Wapping Road
Portsmouth, RI
www.greenvale.com

Rosecliff Pinot Gris ($16.99): The pinot gris grapes for this white grow beautifully in the area. This wine is a blend of two vintages. It shows delightful aromas and delicate peachy fruit flavors. It is soft and dry on the palate, with a very pleasant finish.

2003 Chardonnay Select ($19.99): The grapes in this wine are the estate's oldest chardonnay grapes. The wine undergoes fermentation in stainless steel vats and is aged in French oak. Tropical fruit flavors abound, with notes of honeydew and melon. It is structured and fuller bodied, with a crisp, lingering finish.

2005 Vidal Blanc ($11.99): This French-American hybrid is extremely aromatic, with intense flavors of racy, bright fruit, flowers, perfume, and honeysuckle. It has a delicious, bright, medium-dry finish.

2002 Skipping Stone White ($11.99): This blend of 90% cayuga and 10% vidal blanc grapes is crisp and bright, with racy grapiness and a balance of off-dryness and acidity on the refreshing finish.

2003 Cabernet Franc ($22.99): This well-balanced, medium-bodied wine is a Bordeaux-style red, using a blend of 75% cabernet franc and 25% merlot grapes. It shows wonderful red berry, cherry and plum notes, with hints of earthiness and spiciness on the smooth, lingering finish.

2003 The Elms Meritage ($24.99): This is Greenvale's top-of-the-line red, blending 52% cabernet franc, 45% merlot and 3% malbec grapes. It is a medium-bodied, dry red with dark berry and candy-apple cherry fruit flavors, with hints of smoke and subtle spice on the lingering finish.

Sakonnet Vineyards
165 West Main Road
Little Compton, RI
www.sakonnetwine.com

2005 Gewürztraminer ($18.95): This grape acclimates itself well to Rhode Island's cool climate. This white is packed with flavors of honey, lichee, limes, orange blossoms, peaches, lavender and roses. Excellent spiciness on the crisp, dry finish.

2003 Fume Vidal Reserve ($15.95): Elegant flavors of fresh apricots, baked apples and grilled almonds. Oak barrel fermentation and aging add to this wine's complexity.

2003 Estate Chardonnay ($11.95): Soft, elegant wine with intense fruit flavors of limes, green apples, white peaches and a hint of vanilla from oak fermentation and aging.

2003 Reserve Chardonnay ($18.95): Made with riper fruit than the Estate Chardonnay and aged longer in oak, this white shows a lot of character. It has forward lemon, lime, baked apple and nectarine flavors, with notes of bread, toasted coconut, wild honey and oak on the elegant finish.

2004 Rosé Cabernet ($13.95): This rosé is produced from cabernet franc, not cabernet sauvignon. Its luscious ripe flavors of cherries, cassis and wild chanterelles combine with a hint of oak to produce a wonderful wine that has a dry, refreshing finish.

2004 Pinot Noir (24.95): Burgundy in style and elegant in character, this red exhibits dark cherry, cranberry and earthy notes, with touches of wild mushrooms, black tea and oak on the long finish.

2003 Rhode Island Red ($13.95): A blend of chancellor, lemberger, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon grapes, this medium-bodied red shows raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry flavors, with touches of violets, lilac and oak on the clean finish.

2003 Cabernet Franc ($18.95): This is the estate's signature wine. It is spicy and sophisticated, with fresh raspberry and black currant flavors and hints of black pepper, nutmeg and leather on the long finish.

2003 Winterwine ($24.95): The vidal blanc grapes for this white were harvested after the season's first frost. Rich, intense and sweet, this dessert wine shows luscious flavors of apricot, tangerine, passion fruit and honey, complemented by refreshing acidity.

Sakonnet also produces Sakonnet Champagne (sic), America's Cup Red, America's Cup White, Eye of the Storm and Spinnaker White.

Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery
417 Hixbridge Road
Westport, MA
www.westportrivers.com

1998 Blanc de Blancs ($29.99): Note: Current vintage is 1999. This sparkling wine, 100% chardonnay, is ultra brut, the driest of the winery's sparklers. It exhibits bright grapefruit, tart apple and ripe pear flavors, with a toasty yeast finish.

2000 Blanc de Noirs ($29.99): A blend of 87% pinot noir and 13% pinot meunier, this wine has a beautiful copper-rose color. It shows flavors of citrus, cranberry and orange zest, with hints of black pepper and yeast on the creamy finish.

2000 Imperial Sec ($29.99): Starts with ripe red grapefruit, orange, honeysuckle and ripe pear flavors and finishes dry and clean with spiced apricot notes. It’s 80% riesling and 20% rkatsiteli.

1992 Cuvée Maximilian ($59.99): Only available at winery. This sparkling wine, 78% pinot noir, 22% chardonnay, was aged for 10 years to develop exquisite, rich, silky flavors of toast and yeast.

In addition, Westport Rivers produces Chardonnay ($13.95), Rosé of Pinot Noir ($8.95), and three products available only at the winery: Pineau de Pinot (eau de vie and pinot noir) ($28.99), Rkatsiteli ($18.99) and Proprietary White ($14.99).

When we visited Newport, we stayed at a fabulous nearby B&B, Shamrock Farm Inn (www.shamrockfarminn.com), 465 Union Street, Portsmouth (888-451-1240). William Conheeny is a superb host and provides a scrumptious breakfast, as well as countless tales of the area.

If you travel up to the Newport area this summer or fall, check out the events going on at these wineries. And, of course, sample some of their wonderful wines. Happy travels!