Who's Your Farmer? September, 2009This month's feature: Wineries and Artisan Cheese in Northeastern MassachusettsEssex County
Alfalfa Farm Winery is a family-owned and -operated vineyard in rural Topsfield, Massachusetts. It produces a variety of hand-crafted wines and host functions for up to 80 guests in its tasting room.
Follow the road to Crane Beach and discover 24 fruit wine and hard cider varietals offered at Russell Orchards. The winery began in 1988 with traditional New England hard ciders in three flavors. They now offer Sparkling Cider, Perry and Cider/Perry and many new fruit wines. Wine tastings are always available in their farm store.
A small herd of Nubian goats produce sweet, mild milk, especially suited to fresh farmstead cheeses at Valley View Farm. Several varieties of specialty cheeses, including chevre and feta are available. Tours are offererd by appointment. Though Valley View Goat Cheese in Topsfield was established in 1998, the name dates to the property's transformation at the turn of the 20th Century into a gentleman's farm with a commanding view in all directions.
Middlesex County
Established in 1995, Broad Hill Vineyards is a joint venture between two Eastern New England families. They combine old-world techniques with new-world methods to craft wines with complex character and remarkable flavor. Wine tastings are scheduled by appointment.
Turtle Creek is a small winery, producing about nine hundred cases per year from plantings that include Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. It is a winery in the "garagistes" tradition, that produces small scale, yet with extraordinary quality and a passion for the craft of viticulture and winemaking.There is no tasting room at the winery and visits are by appointment only. New releases are announced via e-mail.
Carlisle Farmstead Cheese produces nationally award winning goat cheeses year-round from the milk of a small herd of Oberhasli goats. Owners Tricia Smith and Michael Holland find milk quality key to their cheese and a reflection of their goat husbandry. The goats are hand-milked twice a day and each goat milks for 22 months. The goats enjoy pasture and browse, a variety of hays, organically produced vegetables, herbs, and flowers from their garden, and enough grain (some organically certified) to maintain condition. Tricia follows as many organic practices as possible in the barn and cheesehouse. |
Alfalfa Farm Winery
Russell Orchards 
Valley View Goat Cheese
Broad Hill Vineyards
Turtle Creek Winery
Carlisle Farmstead Cheese
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