Do you crave the full body flavor of a great red? Do tannins make your eyes roll in bliss? If so, I have just the place for you to visit during your Trumansburg getaway. Just 17 miles from my Finger Lakes bed and breakfast is a small craft winery that specializes in only reds: Shalestone Winery on Seneca Lake.
“Red is all we do” is the bold statement that greets guests when they arrive at this
unassuming little building just outside of Lodi, NY. But don’t let the size fool you. Shalestone produces some of the best reds in the country.
Owners Rob and Kate Thomas aren’t in the business for national accolades. They have built their business around their serene lives and their love of red wine. The quiet winery is close to their hearts, and the couple appreciates small-group wine enthusiasts who are respectful of their care for their wines, and of their nature-loving lifestyle reflected in their philosophy: “Tune into nature, go with the natural ebb and flow of life.” The couple believes that red wines are much like life in that they are both complex with multiple layers – the taste progressions in red wine somewhat reflect the vast experiences of a life. This noble view guarantees an amazing tasting experience when you visit Shalestone!
While the wines are amazing, you won’t find any award-winners, as Rob and Katie don’t bother with the competitions. Instead, they concentrate solely on crafting great red wines to their taste out of the amazing grapes grown on the 6.5 acres of shallow, but nutrient-rich, soil. And they make only what they grow, which usually works out to about 1,200 cases per year.
The wines at Shalestone run toward the dry-end of the spectrum including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. The real treat, however, are the house-named blended wines: Harmony, Synergy and Red Legend. Rob is known as a “Michelangelo” of red wine blending, producing these three amazing variations.
The winery is open on weekends on a seasonal basis for relaxed and serious tasters and guests. Hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. from Friday through Sunday, with occasional long and short weekends. I will be glad to check during your stay to assure they are open. Special appointments are often accommodated. Wines can be purchased year-round, however, by calling 607-279-6065. Some shipping restrictions may apply, depending on state.
Consider a visit to Shalestone Winery during your visit to The Inn at Gothic Eves bed and breakfast in Upstate New York; discover what 25 years of wine making experience and a passion for creativity can produce!
Innkeeper Rose Hilbert
POB 95, 112 E. Main St.
Trumansburg, NY, 14886
info@f67.62d.myftpupload.com
1-800-387-7712 | 607-387-6033
