Winthrop Massachusetts is a peninsula that juts out into Boston Harbor and it has the look of a typical New England seaside town. It’s known for beaches, a multitude of piers where fishing and pleasure boats dock, and for being the tightly-packed home for a middle/working class populace. But it’s not known for wine. However, a local merchant and the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce are trying to change that. On Friday evening the annual A Sip of Winthrop was held at the Cottage Park Yacht Club with the proceeds benefitting a business district beautification program.Paul Lucerto, owner of Swett’s Liquors in Winthrop Center, enlisted the distributors he does business with and invited other food businesses to donate and showcase their products. While a jazz quartet entertained the well-dressed crowd, representatives from eight beer and wine distributors offered tastings of their wares. I had already met a number of the distributor reps at the regular Friday evening tastings that Paul offers throughout the year at his store. Here are a few of my favorites:Brian Hammond represents Genuine Wine Selections, which specializes in small-production wines from artisan wine makers. My favorite of his wines was Lūmos Pinot Noir, a surprisingly smoky red from Oregon. When I asked about this smokiness, Brian said it was the result of the terroir of the Temperance Hill winery - very intriguing. For those who are unfamiliar with the term “terroir,” it denotes how the geography, geology and climate of a specific place affect the flavors of what is grown there.Brian Regan from Martignetti Companies introduced me to Laguna Ranch Chardonnay. His description in the program explains the wine has “notes of apple, pears, quince, and tangerine, framed by sweet undertones of Asian spice.” I’m always in the market for a good chardonnay.Gwen Richardson of Berkshire Brewing Company showcased their fine ales and lagers, plus Still River Winery’s Apfel Eis (Apple Ice) Wine. It is a delicious dessert wine and I was told each bottle contains the fermented juice of 80 Massachusetts grown apples. My tasting companion, Rochelle, was especially taken with this sweet delight.Then there were Adam Senesi and Chad Whitman from Horizon Beverage. Adam showed me their Renwood Amador Ice Wine, a 2009 Ice Zinfandel, another great dessert wine. While Chad had me taste Tait Ball Buster, a Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend from Australia – an amusingly named, big flavored import.Also featured were passed hors d'oeuvres, bruschetta from Letterie's Italian Market and ginger snap cookies from my friend Laraine Mitchell, who with her husband Grant, owns Crusty Crumpet Bakery.At each tasting I learn a bit more about wines and spirits and I’m definitely looking forward to next year’s event.
