LaBelle Winery Opens New Sparkling Wine Production Facility and Tasting Room in Derry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2022

Derry, New Hampshire— Winemaker Amy LaBelle and husband, Cesar Arboleda, co-owners of LaBelle Winery, which has locations in Amherst, Portsmouth and Derry, New Hampshire, announce the opening of a new sparkling wine production facility and tasting room at the winery’s Derry location.

Construction on a new building to house both facilities began last fall under the direction of designer and architect Peter Niemitz of the Niemitz Design Group in Boston. Jennifer Bartholomay of Fulcrum Associates in Amherst, New Hampshire, managed the project.

Winery and Tasting Room Design

The new barn-style structure, home to the 880-square-foot tasting room and 1,446-square-foot sparkling wine production space, is located in the northeast section of the Derry property.

According to LaBelle, the architecture of the area’s farm buildings provided inspiration for the new structure.

“Our new building pays homage to the clean utilitarian design of early Colonial barns,” LaBelle says. “Its subdued historic colors allow it to blend into the landscape.”

The tasting room features rustic hand-painted plaster walls, stained oak woodwork, a natural stone bar and a polished concrete floor. The lighting fixtures were made from reclaimed wine barrel staves. Vintage-style wall sconces light the back bar.

A covered outdoor patio and a large open-air terrace flank the new structure, allowing visitors to enjoy their wine tasting experience alfresco. These outdoor areas are also available for weddings and group events.

From November through January, the new building will be featured in the winery’s annual holiday light show, LaBelle Lights.

Landscape Design

Joshua Boisvert, LaBelle’s vineyard manager, designed and managed the construction of the landscaping that surrounds the new building. More than 350 perennials will provide varying color displays throughout the spring, summer and fall months. Potted floral arrangements and festive string lighting add ambiance to the area.

Boisvert also designed and built a 40-foot-wide arbor adjacent to the building using wood repurposed from wine barrels. The Vineyard Surround, the area encompassing the arbor, will be available for wedding ceremonies April through November.

Sparkling Wines

New red, white and rosé sparkling wine varieties will be made and fermented in the building’s production area, located at the rear of the barn, using Méthode Champenoise. LaBelle is among the few New England wineries currently using this classic French technique.

After fermenting in barrels, sparkling wines created using Méthode Champenoise undergo a second fermentation in the bottle. Guests who visit the new facility will have the opportunity to learn about the process.

“I’m thrilled to make wine in this beautiful place, and to introduce the classic French method of making sparkling wine to New Hampshire,” LaBelle says.

New Vineyard

LaBelle’s Derry location is also home to a new vineyard, located adjacent to the tasting room. Grape varieties planted last fall include itasca, petit pearl and cayuga, cold-hardy hybrid varieties suitable for New England’s climate. It will take two years for the new vines to produce fruit that can be used for winemaking. Until then, LaBelle will utilize grapes grown by local farmers.

Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration Events

In partnership with the Greater Derry Londonderry, Greater Salem and Merrimack Valley Chambers of Commerce, LaBelle Winery will host a grand opening reception on June 8 at 3:00 p.m. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony held at the entrance to the tasting room at 3:30 p.m., followed by the reception. Tours and wine tastings will be offered. The event is free of charge.

Vouchers for a complimentary round of golf or mini-golf will be offered to those who pre-register for the event on the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce website.

On June 22 at 5 p.m., the public is invited to join LaBelle and Arboleda and the LaBelle Winery team for a celebratory event at the tasting barn. LaBelle will offer an educational talk about the Méthode Champenoise process of making sparkling wine. The event will also include a shimmer toast, a complimentary signed copy of LaBelle’s cocktail recipe book With a Twist: Classic Cocktails Reimagined, hors d’oeuvres and an interactive, live sparkling wine display. Tickets are $45 plus tax and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased on LaBelle Winery’s website.

Hours and Fees

LaBelle’s more than 30 award-winning wines will be available for sampling in the tasting room. Gifts, bottled wines and The Winemaker’s Kitchen culinary products will also be available for purchase.

LaBelle Winery’s Derry tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tastings are six for $14; 10 for $20.

About LaBelle Winery

After working as a corporate attorney in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Amy LaBelle founded LaBelle Winery in 2005 at Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, New Hampshire. In 2008, she and husband Cesar Arboleda moved the winemaking operation to a barn behind their home in order to expand production. LaBelle made award-winning wines at this location until late 2012 when the operation was moved to its current location in Amherst. In addition to the winery, LaBelle’s Amherst location includes a restaurant, a wedding and event venue, an art gallery, a retail store and tasting room, and an on-site vineyard.

LaBelle Winery Amherst is located at 345 Route 101, Amherst, New Hampshire.

LaBelle Winery Portsmouth is located at 104 Congress St., Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

LaBelle Winery Derry is located at 14 Route 111, Derry, New Hampshire.

Visit LaBelleWinery.com for directions and hours of operation. For questions email michelle@labellewinery.com.

CONTACT:
Michelle Thornton
Director of Marketing
LaBelle Winery
345 Route 101
Amherst, NH 03031
(603) 672-9898
michelle@labellewinery.com
labellewinery.com