For Sipping, Not Drinking

Truro Vineyards is a beautiful plot of land nestled just behind the highway in North Truro. I usually pass it on my way to Provincetown, and was excited to give it a try. Zach and I arrived a bit early in the summer season, so tours were not yet being offered, and we were definitely visiting outside of growing season so the vines were bare, but it was still enjoyable to wander the property on a sunny afternoon.

         The wine tasting itself was an enjoyable experience. It costs $8 per person, and allows you to sample 5 out of 10 wine varieties and you get to keep your Turo Vineyards etched wine glass as well (ok, the glass is not that cool, but who am I to turn down some swag). At the beginning of the tasting, the host suggested that if you were friendly with your table partner, you might as well each try 5 different wines, swap glasses half-way through, and thus get to run the whole gamut of the vineyard offerings, along with swapping germs with your wine-tasting buddy. Zach and I did take advantage of this suggestion and were pleased to try each wine, even if just a few sips. Overall, we were impressed by the 2009 Zinfandel, described as having distinct notes of cherry, raspberry, and plum, but which also had a surprisingly pronounced peppery finish. The 2008 Triumph –a blend of Truro Vineyards’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot—was also decent. Of the white wines, the 2010 Pinot Grigio was our preferred. The lighthouse series' wines, Cranberry Red and Diamond White, were, just as described, very sweet. Though not quite dessert wines, there was relatively no dry finish to either variety, and the overall taste did mimic more a grape juice than a wine because it fell a bit flat on flavor, giving in entirely to its sweet tendencies. We didn’t care for the 2009 Vignoles, the 2009 Cape Blush Rose, nor the 2008 Cabernet Franc, and the 2010 Chardonnay and 2008 Merlot didn’t particularly make an impact on us, positive or negative. The palette cleansing crackers supplied on the table were excellent.

The tasting was well planned-out, not too slow, but with enough time to talk a bit about the wine and sip carefully, and the friendliness and knowledge of the host, who explained each variety with an air of sophistication but not stuffiness, was also appreciated.

         At the edge of the parking lot there is a sign that reads “Napa Valley, 3,100 miles to the right,” and, unfortunately, our overall opinion is that you should head that direction for a good drink. We enjoyed our afternoon of wine sipping that did, for the record, leave us buzzed enough to have to frolic the property awhile before getting back in the car, but since we were still talking about the crackers (they were really good) and not the wine when we finally did buckle in, this might be one instance in which local is just not quite up to parr. Bottles begin at $11.99, and though we enjoyed the tasting, there is certainly a better bang for you buck elsewhere. But do go for a tasting because it's good fun and it's always nice to support a local business. And when you go for the tasting, ask about the crackers.