Early in my farming career, I worked in the vineyard of a small winery in Lincoln, MA (where my daughter goes to school) that was just establishing itself. Kip Kumler, the owner of Turtle Creek Winery, entered into a longterm agreement with the town to install vineyards on some of its conserved farmland, the first example I am aware of anywhere in the state (if not the country) of a vintner taking over stewardship of town-owned conservation land for the purpose of producing wine.
I am still in touch with Kip, and recently I spoke with him about the possibility of Heirloom Harvest offering a share program for his wines. He grows on European vinifera stock, and has won bronze, silver and gold awards at competitions in San Francisco, Sonoma and internationally. He produces reislings, chardonnays, cabernet sauvignons, zinfandels, sauvignon blancs, etc. (see his website for more info www.turtlecreekwine.com).
This share program would be run entirely as a favor to members (no money goes to Heirloom Harvest) and to support another local farmer (Kip). The share purchase would be directly from Kip, and I would just swing by the vineyard to retrieve your wine when I am in Lincoln to pickup my daughter. For Kip this would operate like a wine buyer’s club, and he would offer some discount for Heirloom Harvest participants.
This program is available to Heirloom Harvest CSA members only.
