On the weekend of August 21 and 22, Mad River Vineyard, along with
vineyards and wineries around the state, will welcome the public for the
first annual Vermont Winery and Vineyard Open House Weekend.
Wine production in Vermont has been on the rise over the last five
years. The new availability of hybridized varieties of grapes that can
thrive in harsher climates has enabled a boom in wine production in the
Green Mountains.
"People don't realize it, but every state in the union, bar none, grows
grapes," said Godolik. "Although it may sound like an industry that has
no place in Vermont, it really has established itself quite
successfully, in all corners of the state."
Godolik and Klimek began the Mad River Vineyard four years ago, one year
after Klimek moved to the East Warren Road property. They are both
long-term admirers of wine and have spent time touring vineyards
everywhere from Italy to France to Sonoma, California.
Currently, they are cultivating three varieties of hybridized grapes. It
all began with 500 vines of Marquette, a hybrid variety derived from
pinot noir.
Godolik and Klimek will harvest their first commercial crop this fall.
Their grapes will then be sold in bulk to a Vermont winery. The first
bottles of wine made from Mad River Vineyard grapes will likely be
available next summer.
"We've had a lot of fun. It's a lot of work, but it's interesting," said
Godolik. "Having gone to all those other vineyards and getting a sense
of what people do there, then coming here and doing it ourselves - it's
very fulfilling."
Since the beginning of the Mad River Vineyard, Godolik and Klimek have
been involved with the Vermont Grape and Wine Council, a statewide
organization of vineyards and wineries. The council supports the
industry by holding educational events, linking vineyards and wineries
statewide and working with state agencies.
The council recently lobbied for legislation to support local grape
producers. "We want to make sure the wine that is produced in the state
is from Vermont-produced grapes," said Klimek. "Rules have been put in
place so that in order to have a bottle of wine that says 'Made in
Vermont' it has to be 75 percent from Vermont-grown grapes."
Across the state, vineyards and wineries are planning events as part of
the council's Open House Weekend. While many wineries will offer
tastings, vineyards like the Mad River Valley Vineyard will feature
tours and discussions about the wine industry in Vermont.
"The industry has grown well enough now that it's time that we allow the
public to really come in and see what this industry is all about," said
Klimek.
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