Glendale Ridge Vineyard is a boutique, family-owned winery located in Southampton, Massachusetts, in the Pioneer Valley. It is owned by Mary and Ed Hamel. Glendale Ridge has five estate acres of cool climate grapes, and also sources fruit from New England and New York. Glendale is among one of the best producers of quality wines in New England, and could stand out in any region of the east or west coast.
The winemaker is Tim Beaudry. Tim is a Holyoke native, Tim joined Glendale Ridge in 2016 and has worked just about every job there is to have at the vineyard. He worked a season in New Zealand, then headed to Bordeaux for a 2-year master’s program in Vineyard and Winery Management. A fiery season in Napa left Tim looking for a breath of fresh air. He has been the winery's lead winemaker since 2022.
Glendale Ridge Estate Vidal Blanc 2024 was exceptional. The nose is a perfume of apricot and peach, mixed with green apple and lemon and lime zest. There are also notes of green melon and kiwi. Those flavors also come across on the palate. Those apricots and peaches, and apples, blend with a hint a salinity and a lovely note of blue slate, before devolving into fresh lemon and lime zest. A wonderful acidity underlies the whole wine, and the thing comes wrapped together in a flavorful, sophisticated white whine that begs for food...and friends and family.
Glendale Ridge Estate Traminette 2024 was equally impressive. Traminette is a hybrid grape related to Gewürztraminer (one of my favorite aromatic whites). It starts off with a powerful perfume of flowers and fruit in an exotic mix. Lilacs, jasmine tea, honeysuckle, and Mandarin orange all come wafting through in an exotic mist. The wine is a blend of green apple, key-lime pie, and lemon squares. Not sweet mind you, but incredibly layered and complex. There's a note of spice, ginger and black and white pepper, that finishes off with a little grapefruit pop. I would have to say one of the most perfectly executed Traminettes I have ever experienced. Tremendous!
Glendale Ridge Estate Crescent White 2024 was another aromatic white, bursting with white peach, mango, apricot, orange blossom, and fresh apple. On the palate, the peach and apricot give way to tangerine and pineapple. There's a hint of lychee and spice. It all gives way to a hint of key-lime before ending with a mouth-puckering dollop of grapefruit. Another exception wine. Truly impressive.
The two Pet Nats that Glendale Ridge produces are among the best, not only in New England, but throughout the east coast. The Glendale Ridge Petillant Naturel Rose 2019 was exquisite complete with rose petals, strawberries, and key lime among the many other complex flavors. And the Glendale Ridge Estate Pétillant Naturel Blanc is a complex sparkler, as akin to classic sparkling wine as can be made from a blend of estate cool climate white grapes. A nice dose of fresh bread gives way to a perfume-y wine filled with honeysuckle, peach and orange blossom, and layers of tropical fruit. The fine fine bubbles give way to apple, pear, apricot and peach, dissolving to ginger and white pepper, and a lovely lemon custard finish. Exceptional underlying acidity ties it all up in a bow. The perfect bottle for two, or more folks. A great way to celebrate each other, family, and friends. Two great sparklers!
