Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Fall Tour: Mount Felix Winery



Mary and Peter Ianniello only have had Mount Felix Vineyard & Winery open for less than two months. Located in Havre de Grace, Md., in what they term on their site as the Birthplace of American Viticulture, the couple just sent out the winery’s first e-letter a few days ago.

That included the link to their new Web site, which is a dramatic improvement on what they used before. With the vineyards and winery as part of a bigger estate, the new site features photos of the rooms in the manor house, loads of info on the vineyards and the
wines, a link to John Adlum, the Father of American Viticulture, and key words to other pertinent information.

Peter had written by e-mail a few weeks ago that they’ve been quite satisfied with their volume and the interest in their winery. They also feature a link to retail outlets around them, more than 15 strong, which are carrying their wines. I always preferred the wineries that included the price on the wine list, but certainly in this region those are in the minority.

Still, nice to see progress, evidenced by the correspondence and the upgraded site. One thing that always adds some flavor is the background of the family and the winery. In this case, Peter explains that this idea took root as he was growing up, listening to grandfathers Luigi and Giulio talk about wine and how it became such an important aspect of their family. “I recall fond memories,” he writes, “of passionate debates filed with laughter when arguments ensued over what tasted better, Grandpa’s jug wine or Uncle’s vintage Barolo.

What will I try when I eventually swing by? Well, there’s neither the jug wine nor the Barolo. But the Chambourcin, called Adlum’s First, would work just as well for me. A full-bodied red, they describe it as possessing complex flavors of dark cherries, spices and smoke.

Pretty much open full time, the winery welcomes visitors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and Fridays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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