The Vineyard

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THE LOCATION

Tall Glass Vineyards in Litchfield New Hampshire is located along the banks of the Merrimack river. The site was primarily selected for the soil, specifically named 'Occum fine sandy loam, high bottom' which is considered the finest type of soil for agriculture and exists only here and a patch up the river that is home to another local farm. The fact that it also has a spectacular view of the river is a major bonus!

THE GRAPES

Tall Glass Vineyards specializes in aromatic white wines but we do have reds as well. Being in New Hampshire all our vines are 'cold hardy' - Hardiness Zone 5b: -15F to -10F. In cooler regions, choosing the correct varietal is crucial as they need to be able to mature before the first frost hits. Hardy grape varieties are bred using indigenous grapes found throughout North America that are cross bred with other varieties of grapes to create hybrid grapes that survive the cooler northern temperatures and a shorter growing season. 

A quick primer on cold climate grapes: for the most part, they tend to have a more fruit-forward flavor profile, higher levels of acidity and for reds, a smaller amount of noticeable tannin than European grape varieties.  

White Wine Grapes

Brianna

Brianna grapes produce a nicely balanced, semi-sweet, white wine with a fruity nose and apricot, peach, pineapple, and honey flavors and can also be used as a table grape.

Brianna is a hybrid of Vitis Labrusca and Vitis Riparia. Brianna vines produce medium-sized tight clusters of thick-skinned greenish-gold grapes that mature early in the season. 

Similar to: Riesling and Edelweiss 

Pairs with: Spicy foods like Shrimp Scampi, Chicken Piccata and Curries 

Cayuga

Cayuga White produces a light, citrus-tinged wine that can come in a range of styles, from dry and sparkling to late-harvest dessert wines. It can produce a very nice sparkling wine with good acid balance, structure, and pleasant aromas or a fruity white wine. 

Cayuga White is a mid-season ripening French-American hybrid wine grape developed from crosses of the Vitis Labrusca hybrids Schuyler and Seyval Blanc. Cayuga White produces white grapes, medium-sized tight clusters of medium sized grapes. 

Similar to: Riesling and Viognier

Pairs with: Can be paired with anything from Fish tacos, Steamed clams with garlic butter to Pasta Carbonara

Elvira

Elvira grapes make good, crisp white wine. It is typically used as a blending wine but can also make a sweet dessert wine.

Elvira is a mid-season ripening, white variety of Vitis labrusca and Vitis riparia parentage, Taylor x Martha.  The grapes are tight clusters of  medium-sized green grapes.

Similar to: Has its own unique flavor 

Pairs with: Can be paired with Roast Duck or other wild game. 

La Crescent

Reminiscent of an aromatic white that might come from Germany or Austria, La Crescent has flavors of apricot, citrus, and tropical fruit. The high acidity makes it relatively versatile for various wine making styles from dry to sweet or even fortified dessert wines.

The La Crescent grape originated from a cross between St. Pepin and ES 6-8-25. It is a mid-season ripening with small yellowish grapes on abundant medium-sized clusters.

Similar to: Riesling 

Pairs with: Bold Cheeses, Green Salads, Seafood, Chicken, and Pasta with White Sauces.

Niagara

From Niagara you can expect aromas of candied lemon and floral jasmine. A medium-bodied white, the tasting notes evoke fresh grapes and tropical fruit, with a moderately acidic finish. The varietal can be made in both a sweet and off-dry style. It has a pure, fruity, long finish.

Niagara grape is a cross-bred grape of Concord with white Cassady grapes. It produces bunches of large greenish-white grapes that ripen early in the season.

Similar to: Has its own unique flavor 

Pairs with: Salads, Pork, Chicken, and Pasta with White Sauces.

Petite Amie

Petite Amie is a white wine grape with Muscat flavors and a nice floral nose having a fine flavor; it’s fragrant, but not overbearing. Wines have a wonderful smell of fresh roses and tend to develop tropical taste and nose over time.  

The Petite Amie grape is a cross between Vitis Vinifera and Vitis Riparia. It produces small to medium sized clusters of small yellowish green grapes that ripens early to mid-season.

Similar to: Muscat Blanc

Pairs with: Fruit and Vanilla-flavored Desserts, but can also provide a refreshing companion to spicy cuisine.

Prairie Star

This variety is produces excellent, crisp, clean, dry full-bodied white wines in the California tradition. It has a nice flavor with good balance of sweetness and lower acidity.

Prairie Star is a cross between ES 2-7-13 and ES 2-8-1 (if that is important to know!). Prairie Star is a light green grape with a thick skin on long, loose clusters that ripen mid-season.

Similar to : Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay

Pairs with : Shellfish, Baked or Broiled fish, and Poultry, and spicy Asian dishes

Red Wine Grapes

Baco Noir

Baco Noir has rich fruit tones, typified by blueberry and plum with a light to medium body, good acidity and preference for cooler climates. Baco Noir's origins go back to 1894, when French grape breeder François Baco crossed created phylloxera-resistant vines that retained their French character.

Baco Noir is a crossing of Vitis Vinifera (Folle Blanche) and Vitis Riparia. Small sized clusters of blue/black grapes that ripen early to mid-season.

Similar to: Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon

Pairs with: Any kind of red meat—from Ribs and Burgers, to Smoked Brisket, Tomato Sauces, and Lamb

Maréchal Foch

Wines made from Maréchal Foch tend to have strong acidity, aromas of black fruits and, in some cases, toasted wheat, mocha, fresh coffee, bitter chocolate, vanilla bean, and musk. Maréchal Foch was named  in honor of Marshall Ferdinand Foch, Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War. 

Maréchal Foch is a crossing Vitis Vinifera variety Goldriesling and Vitis Riparia-Rupestris. Small sized tight clusters small of blue/black grapes that ripen early season.

Similar to: Léon Millot

Pairs with: Grilled Salmon, Sautéed Mushrooms or even a Chocolate Mousse!

Marquette

Marquette wines are very complex, with attractive ruby color, pronounced tannins, and notes of cherry, berry, black pepper, and spice. It is named after Pere Marquette, a Jesuit missionary and 17th century explorer in North America.

Marquette is a cross between MN 1094 and Ravat 262. Marquette is a blue/black-berried variety with high sugar levels and moderate acidity. Grape bunches are medium size that ripen early in the season.

Similar to: Pinot Noir 

Pairs with: Lamb, Roast Duck, Steak and Fresh Water Fish

Noiret

Dry wines made from this grape boast a rich red color, with prominent black pepper notes on the nose and with raspberry and mint aromas and a fine tannin structure. 

The exact genealogy of Noiret is complex: the variety counts Vitis Vinifera, Vitis Labrusca and Vitis Riparia in its lineage. Noiret is a blue/black-berried variety with grape bunches are medium size that ripen mid-season.

Similar to: Petite Syrah and Pinot Noir

Pairs with: Spicy foods including Steak with Peppercorn Sauce and Spicy Jambalaya

Petite Pearl

Petite Pearl wine is garnet red; quite complex, with aromas of fresh blackberry, plum, raspberry fruit, and wild mushrooms. Excellent fullness and tannin structure in the mouth and finish; excellent balance of acid, tannin and alcohol.

Petite Pearl is a cross of MN 1094 x E.S. 4-7-26. It has medium size black berries on compact, very dense cluster with large shoulder that ripens late season.

Similar to: Bordeaux

Pairs with: BBQ ribs, aged Gouda cheese, Roasted Duck, Wood-fired Pizza, Chili, or Seared Tuna

Table Grapes

Alpenglow 

The clusters of this seeded light red grape are long and loose with firm, medium size grapes.

Color: Red

Harvest: Early Season 

Uses: Eating

Himrod

Grapes have a honey-like flavor and a melting, juicy texture. Vigorous vines produce large, loose clusters of oval, soft, flavorful grapes.

Color: Green

Harvest: Early Season 

Uses: Eating

Mars

The fruit is sweet and juicy with a flavor similar to 'Concord' grapes. Mars has medium-sized clusters of medium to large slipskin grapes that turn from crimson to deep blue at maturity. 

Color: Blue 

Harvest: Mid Season 

Uses: Eating, Jam & Jelly, Juice

Reliance

Reliance produces large clusters of round, red, medium-sized gapes with tender skin non-adhering to flesh. Color is pink to red when fully mature with delicate Labrusca flavor and aroma.

Color: Red

Harvest: Early

Uses: Eating, Jam & Jelly, Juice

Somerset

Somerset produces small to medium-sized, compact clusters with medium-sized grapes with great strawberry-like flavor.

Color: Red

Harvest: Early

Uses: Eating 

Suffolk

Suffolk Red produces medium to large, loose clusters of red grapes with a delectable spicy flavor is that is outstanding.

Color: Red

Harvest: Early

Uses: Eating