Bartlett Maine Estate Winery, Gouldsboro, Maine

The Oldest Blueberry Wine Maker in the State

We heard about Bartlett's from a retailer in the town of Milbridge, in Washington County. They told us to take Route 1 south for approximately ten miles and turn off when we saw the sign for Bartlett Winery. These were great directions except for the miniscule sign. We caused several cars to swerve as we tore across the intersection to make our turn. The Granite sculpture sign on the side road was easier to find.

The main winery building was small and unimpressive on the outside but inside the tasting room opened up to vaulted ceilings and polished wood floors. There was a small tasting bar on one side and display shelves on the other.

When we arrived, there was another couple was in the middle of a tasting, and as there was only one wine pourer, we had to wait our turn. We wanted to taste a blueberry dessert wine but were told the winery was not willing to open another bottle so close to the end of tourist season. Pity.

We tasted eight other varieties of wine made from peaches, pears, apples, honey and wild Maine blueberries. It was surprising how dry the blueberry wines were. The attendant said the skin to seed ratio of blueberries was higher than grapes and so produced more tannin in the wine. During the tasting, the wine pourer gave us extensive list of dishes to go with each wine.

We started our tasting with a dry Honey-Mead that was too dry for our pallet. Then we moved onto reds which tended to be blueberry based and dry like Cabernet Sauvignon; whereas the whites, made of either peach, pear, apple or mixed berries tended to range from Chenin Blanc to Riesling style in dryness. There was also medium-dry Rose, called Trio made with blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. We bought two bottles of Coastal Red, a light table wine made from a combination of apple and blueberry wine. It was a smooth with a buttery finish.

There are many wineries in Maine but Bartlett's is the oldest, and this is definitely reflected in their wines. We plan to go for another tasting the next time we are in the area.

We went in August when the showroom was open for tastings Tuesday through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.