Be a Winemaker for a Day

Be a Winemaker for a Day

So, you think you have what it takes to be a winemaker? Well, here is your chance to prove it. This Saturday and Sunday, April 2nd & 3rd, as part of Newport Restaurant Week, Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton is giving you the opportunity to be the winemaker.

Join a small group in an intimate backstage setting as you taste, mix and match your own unique wine. Enjoy a nice spread of cheeses as you sip your way through more than seven estate-grown wines straight from the barrel. Try for example their semi-dry, yet deliciously acidic ’09 Vidal Blanc, the winery's flagship white wine that is unique to New England’s cool climate, or their clean and crisp un-oaked Chardonnay. If you are into red wine, this limited-time special event allows you to taste and blend the wineries ‘08 and ‘09 Merlot, as well as their Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc; everything you need to make a classic Bordeaux style blend. (And yes, it is perfectly acceptable to blend red wine with white wine.)

Don't know the first thing about wine? Don't worry.

Don’t know the first thing about wine or winemaking? Don’t worry, as Sakonnet's winemaker Elaine Bernier will be at your side to answer any questions you may have. This event is for wine rookies, as well as for serious enthusiasts so roll up your sleeves and start blending. Once your master creation is complete and Elaine has bottled and corked it for you to take home, step into Sakonnet’s tasting room and sample the rest of the winery's award-winning offerings, like their estate grown Gewurztraminer or Pinot Noir.

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As always, you are allowed to bring a picnic basket and enjoy a stroll through the vines before heading home. The total experience is $30 and reservations are required. Sakonnet Vineyards is open daily from 11am – 5pm for tastings and will be so during this experience. Public tours will be offered at 12pm and 3pm. Tastings are $10 per person. To book your reservation call 800-998-8486 x 116.