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09/29/2019 12:00 AMThe days of wine at Rose Vineyards and Winery are nearly here. On Saturday, Oct. 5, the new North Branford venue will open its airy, modern-California-meets-rustic-New England winery at 2 Valley Road.
More than two years in the making, the over-21 establishment's first day of operation has been highly anticipated by folks who have been flocking to the vineyard's Facebook page (@RoseVineyards) for updates.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, patrons will be welcomed for the first time, during a grand opening celebration day taking place from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. The day will introduce guests to Rose Vineyards and Winery's regular offerings of wine tastings, reserve wine tastings and farm-to-table menu, rounded out by a raw bar and live music. Reservations are also being accepted for grand opening guests to experience a vineyard tour (noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.) The tour concludes with a wine tasting in the building's unique wine cave – where they can also taste the vineyard's aging wine, straight from the barrel.
The vineyard and brand-new winery building stands on land that's been part of the Rose family farm since 1644. Rose Vineyards and Winery is a multi-family operation, with 12th generation family member Jon Rose, and his wife, Ellen Rose, as co-vintners. The building's construction was also all in the family, built by Al Rose Construction of North Branford.
The family's vineyard/winery venture adds the newest layer to the very popular local farm property, which draws the public out in droves to experience pick-your-own and other seasonal offerings at Rose Orchards and Farm Market (33 Branford Road/Route 139).
Back in 2017, Rose family members from multiple generations assisted in planting the new vineyard's first vines; hundreds of Marquette (red) and Vidal (white) varieties of grapes. Producing wines at the farm has been underway for nearly two years, using selected varieties brought in from other growers. Today, Rose Vineyards bottles three whites, a rosé and five reds, all of which bear the Rose Vineyards name on a variety of distinctive black and white labels. One of the next wines to join the mix will be made with Rose's own Marquette, which came to a very successful first harvest this September.
The bountiful rows of vines leading up to the doors of the winery also make for picturesque views – and perfect selfie shots -- for patrons, who will be welcome to wander up to the vineyard's edge for photo opps and a closer look at the vines. The outdoor seating and main floor spaces of the winery building can accomodate up to 300 patrons. Guests are welcome to congregated on the spacious patio, inside the breezy, oversized lounge (featuring wide windows, a huge field stone fire place, wood floors, high ceilings, wooden beams and wrought iron chandeliers) or in the bountiful tasting room, also on the main floor, which features a 35-foot bar and pub table seating.
Ellen Rose said the family can't wait to share Rose Vineyards and Winery with guests, especially those who have been closely following the progress and posts the family has been sharing on Facebook for many months. She also hopes the venue's 21-and-over patron age is being clearly communicated.
"We've been getting lot of questions and contacts on Facebook from people who want to come and visit," she said. "We're also trying to relay the message, as much as possible, that this is a 21-and-over establishment. We offer a place for families at the orchard; but here, we want to make it for adults only."
Following the Oct. 5 grand opening, Rose Vineyards and Winery will be open to patrons on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, to start. Regular business hours are expected to include opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.; depending, said Rose.
"We're going to see how it goes, see what the vibe is and what people want," she said.
The winery will offer both bottle sales and by-the-glass wine sales for guests to enjoy at outdoor patio seating, and amidst a mix of indoor spots including intimate seating, cozy fireplace furniture, dining-style tables, pub tables and bar seating. A few picnic tables will also be scattered on the grounds. Guests can also gather on an elevated outdoor deck off the tasting room, overlooking Valley Road.
"We want people to come and stay, and enjoy themselves," said Rose.
The winery will have at least a dozen on staff to assist guests with tastings, choices from the wine list and food menus. The food offerings will feature sharable plates. Some of the opening day offerings include a traditional cheese plate, charcuterie, mezza plate, baguette sandwiches, a farm style ratatouille and a delicious citrus and local beet cured salmon dish, said Rose.
"We want to do a lot of local ingredients, a lot of farm-to-table style foods," she said.
The winery will also offer guided tableside wine tastings in the lounge and at pub tables in the tasting room.
"With our guided tasting, you go through four pre-selected wines and you get to choose the fifth," said Rose.
Another offering: reservation-only tasting tours. The tours will bring guests through the vineyard to learn about the grapes growing there; then to the onsite wine making facility at the farm, followed by a visit to the winery's grotto-like wine cave for pre-selected wine tastings. Guests can add on experiences including barrel tastings and optional food pairings. The climate controlled, low-lit wine cave, located in winery's lower level, is entered through heavy wooden doors and married to a separate party room for intimate gatherings. Both spaces can be rented out (separately or together) for private parties.
Rose said she hopes guests will find Rose Vineyards and Winery to be "...a little different" from area vineyard and winery visits. Many members of the extended Rose family spent a lot of time researching, traveling and testing concepts to come up with the right combination to bring to this new venture, she said.
"We wanted to bring something different to the area. We went to a lot of vineyards in the [New York] Finger Lakes, and a lot of vineyards in California; and we fell in love with the concept that they have, which is they really focus on agriculture and the wine-making practices, and that's what they share with their customers," said Rose.
"That's a huge part of what we also believe in," she continued. "We've been farming this land for so many years, that it means a lot to now share the viniculture behind everything. So it's not just about just trying the wine, it's understanding how it came to be."
Rose Vineyards and Winery is located at 2 Valley Road (corner of Valley Road and Route 139) in North Branford. For tour reservations (including grand opening day), call (475) 221-8637 or email rosevineyards@gmail.com Follow Rose Vineyards and Winery (@RoseVineyards) on Facebook for more information.