Rockport is a small town with a large harbor on the west side of Penobscot Bay. The land in the background is the island of Vinalhaven. Looking over the red building, Last Dance can be spotted hanging on a mooring.
The mooring and dock for dinghy access to shore was offered by friends Phil and Linda, another opportunity to visit with wonderful folks in Maine.
Having someone with local knowledge, and land transportation, provided additional exploration opportunities for the Last Dance crew. An outing to the Cellar Door Winery was one of the adventures undertaken.
Gourmet sandwiches, cheese and fruit trays, an assortment of interesting wines, partaken on the back porch of the winery overlooking the vineyards and mountains, all enjoyed with friends, makes for an outstanding lunch.
One could argue that Maine is not known for outstanding wines. And that is true if you are referring to wines made from grapes grown in Maine. Cellar Door Winery aspires to be a first-class wine producer and to do so crafts their wines from grapes grown in California and Europe. Cellar Door wines have won awards in numerous competitions.
For a wine lover, what could be better than a tour of a winery?
Wine tasting, of course. Our hosts knew the Cellar Door owner, Bettina Doulton, who provided a personal tour through the many flavors contained in a wide variety of wines. There are many interesting stories about the winery and the owner. More can be learned at their website Cellar Door Winery.
While the Cellar Door Wines are very special, their prices are very reasonable. After some time in the gift shop, boxes filled with wines and new glassware were loaded into the car bound for enhancing the wine cellar on Last Dance.
The beautiful grounds of the winery alone are worthy of a visit. Placing a teak bench next to a 100-year-old apple tree creates a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy. The winery was just one part of a captivating visit to Rockport.
