WATCH: LaBelle Winery Announces Planting of its Derry Vineyard

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2021

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

Derry, New Hampshire — LaBelle Winery has recently begun the planting of its new vineyard at its Derry location. According to Joshua Boisvert, LaBelle’s vineyard manager, 1,600 vines have been planted on three acres adjacent to the future location of the winery’s sparkling wine production facility and tasting room. Grape varieties planted include petit pearl, Cayuga and Itasca, all of which are cold hardy and able to withstand temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Vineyard planting will conclude in 2022.

The vines, in the form of bare rootstock, were ordered in November 2020 from Double A Vineyards in Fredonia, New York. They were stripped of their soil and stored between 35 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit in order to keep them dormant during shipping.

“The vine stocks were shipped in boxes surrounded by moistened wood shavings. They were essentially sticks with roots,” Boisvert says. “The plants arrived earlier than we were ready to plant them due to unsettled weather, so we had to bring them out of dormancy before planting them using peat moss and a fish emulsion.”

LaBelle’s Vineyard Club members, along with LaBelle Winery co-owners Amy LaBelle and husband Cesar Arboleda, friends, family members and winery employees—40 people in total—planted the vines in a single day in late June. After planting was complete, The Vineyard Club members and other volunteers enjoyed a complimentary celebration breakfast buffet.

LaBelle, who in addition to co-owning the winery with Arboleda serves as its winemaker, says, “Planting a vineyard is a very grounding process. It requires continued stewardship of the land and vines for many years to come. Sharing in the experience of the initial planting, and future harvests, with our dearest supporters and friends is one of the most enriching and rewarding experiences we have at LaBelle Winery. It’s something we genuinely look forward to.”

The rows of vines were set north to south in order to provide the plants with optimal sun exposure.

A 4,000-square-foot area in the center of the vineyard was reserved as a venue for wedding ceremonies and other celebrations. The sparkling wine production facility will be built with two terraces flanking the structure and will overlook the vineyard.

The new vineyard, which was previously a golf driving range, has an interesting layout consisting of small hills. The rocky soil is not overly nutritious, which is suitable for grape vines, according to Boisvert. All-natural neem oil will be used for controlling pests such as Japanese beetles.

The first grape harvest will be in 2024 and will be used to make estate sparkling wine, including a sparkling rosé.

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’s Portsmouth tasting room and retail store opened in September 2017.

As of summer 2021, all facilities at LaBelle Winery Derry, with the exception of the sparkling wine production facility and tasting room, are now open including the event center, golf course, Americus restaurant, The Gallery at LaBelle Winery and LaBelle Market. The sparkling wine production facility and tasting room will open in summer 2022.

LaBelle Winery Amherst is located at 345 Route 101 in 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@labellewinerynh.com.

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