Cellardoor Winery's tasting room, the first drink-related business in a row of redevelopment at Thompson's Point, opened its doors on Saturday. Thompson's Point, formerly an industrial no man's land (for the history of the property, see That's Our Dump! published in The Bollard in August 2011), is becoming an off-peninsula destination already home to a summer concert series, special events, the circus school, and soon that of Bissell Brothers Brewing, Stroudwater Distillery, and a new restaurant from Nosh and Slab owner Jay Loring.
Cellardoor Winery's facility and vineyard is located in Lincolnville, where the winemakers use grapes from California, New York, and Washington to make their wine. They do grow a cold-hardy hybrid to make a sparkling rosé and make wine from Maine-grown blueberries.
The 5,000 square foot tasting room at The Point is a beautiful space, with about 40 seats around a central tasting bar, a retail shop featuring local artists' wares, and an event space with a large demo kitchen for cooking classes. It was open this weekend on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday as well. It will open again on Saturday, May 28th and be open 7 days a week.
I sampled 4 wines for $8, selecting my varietals with a dry erase marker and a laminated sheet listing the 17 wines available for tasting. I tried the Cantina Rossa, a red blend of Barbera, Sangiovese, Carignane, and Grenache; the Trilogy, a Spanish-inspired blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, and Carignane; the Cabernet Sauvignon, and the Chenin Blanc.
Once the surrounding businesses open, this row will be a nice place to spend an afternoon, especially with out of town guests. You'll have something for beer, wine, and spirits lovers alike. Bonus: once you've gotten a little tipsy, you can check out the eternal weirdness that is the Cryptozoology Museum!
