let's take a ride
Dog-Day
WINERY ROAD TRIPS By JoAnn Actis-Grande – Portsmouth, NH
In the past year, my limited outings included taking my dog on adventures around the Seacoast. We discovered many of our local wineries are a great place to take long walks through beautiful vineyard trails and topping it off with tasty wines, good chow and dog treats. Here in New Hampshire, there are over thirty producers of wine (both grape and other fruit- based), cider or mead (a honey wine). They are offered in every imaginable style - still, sparkling, dry, semi-dry, rosé and sweet. Bottled and canned.
Most grapes grown in the state are considered “cold climate grapes” such as French-American hybrids (the genetic crossing of two or more grapes) including Cayuga, La Crescent, Marechal Foch, Seyval Blanc, St. Croix and Vignoles. Niagara, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Riesling and Zinfandel, along with other wellknown grape varieties are found here too. The fruit wines use locally grown apples, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and cranberries.
Guests Rusty & Silas
Zorvino Vineyard
Wineries are spread throughout the state. The largest and oldest wineries are located in the Seacoast where the climate is milder, allowing tender grapes to thrive. Here’s a few great wineries offering unique styles of wine that are also dog friendly with outdoor patios.
Zorvino Vineyards Sandown
Zorvino is an authentic Tuscan style winery with a long list of exceptional wines. Their wines are made from grapes grown on 80 acres of land in the center of a hardwood forest, as well as grapes sourced from other regions throughout the world. The vineyard is famous for their 100% fruit wines and unique Z Lab creations that include wine-based Hard Seltzer in 4 flavors. Reserve a seat on the patio and meet Z dogs, Vinny and Brewer, while enjoying flatbreads and other fabulous food, along with locally made natural Happy Belly Bites for dogs. You can also bring your own lounge chairs and blankets to hangout on the property with your pup. (zorvino.com)
LaBelle’s Amherst Venue
Zovino’s Vineyard Dogs Brewer & Vinny
LaBelle Winery – Amherst & Derry
LaBelle, with two venues and a retail tasting store in Portsmouth, specializes in transforming local fruit into award winning wines. Grapes are picked at their peak, then pressed and fermented the same day, producing delicious fresh and balanced wines. The Americus is a tribute to the American dream, made from the Noiret grape and blended with Cabernet Franc. Their second winery in Derry just opened and will feature LaBelle Market (slated to open mid-May) along with a new event center, golf course and mini golf. They also are building a champagne house to craft their own sparkling wines. The restaurants have outdoor patios with fire-pits and live music most nights. Dogs can deck out wearing LaBelle bandanas and stay hydrated in style with LaBelle logo water bowls. The "biscuit of the day” is often chosen by a dog-loving staff member. (labellewinerynh.com)
16 seacoastbarkmagazine.com
