Greenvale Vineyards, Portsmouth RI: Where Wine Meets History

Jay Bell

I've found my new favorite barn!

Greenvale's vineyards abut the Sakonnet River at the end of a quiet road. Th views and the vibe are wonderful!

Greenvale Vineyards is a boutique winery in Portsmouth, RI, just a few minutes outside of the vibrant, oceanfront city of Newport. It’s a small place, down a dirt road, but seeking it out is definitely worth the effort.
 
For starters, Greenvale Vineyards abuts the Sakonnet River. The water was visible when we pulled up to the tasting room. But so, too, were the fields. In fact, it felt remote and still, almost suspended in time.  This turned out to make sense, as this is the only winery listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the property has been in the same family for six generations.

The Greenvale Vineyards tasting room is a beautiful, renovated barn from the late-1800's.

Greenvale Vineyards' tasting room has a uniquely rustic yet upscale feel.

The tasting room itself is in a renovated barn from the late 1800’s. It’s kept a lot of the old wood and so much character, making it a uniquely interesting building. However, you can sit outside or stroll the grounds if you choose but don’t go too far. Down the hill sits one of the older homes in the area, which is still a private residence to this day. They also host live jazz every Saturday afternoon from May to November.

Greenvale Vineyards itself was founded in 1982, so the oldest vines have matured over the course of 36 years. They produce about 3,500 cases (all estate grown) per year from 27 acres of grapes. While they lost a lot of grape leaves in a storm a few years ago, which hurt the yield that year, the vines all bounced back with even better production since then. The tastings covered seven wines and a vermouth, with an eighth wine being sold out. What was great about the tastings was that they covered the entirety of the wines produced. Sampling the full range offered a broader understanding of the winery and left no opportunity for buyer’s remorse.

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Greenvale Vineyards has a growing and well-deserved set of medals.

Like other vineyards in the area, there were more whites than reds due to the climate and soil. However, over five whites and two reds, we found a nice variety, and wines that would combine to cover any occasion and pair with any food. The chardonnay was particularly interesting, with two versions. One paired newer vines with reused oak barrels; the other combined the oldest chardonnay vines with new barrels. Vermouth was their bigger experiment, which was unexpected but fun to try. The cabernet franc topped our list, with a classic taste – flavorful but light, good for any season. With springtime beginning and barbecue season not far away, this wine will pair very well with grilled meats.
 
Greenvale Vineyards is quiet and off the beaten path. But with the live jazz and historic feel, it’s a great location for functions, or bachelorette parties, a couple of which we saw during our stay. However, it likely wouldn’t ever feel crowded and cramped. The staff also were excellent: knowledgeable of the product, friendly and attentive, and they truly hustled hard and went out of their way to make sure our experience was as great as possible.

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Key Details

• Greenvale Vineyards 
• Tasting: $12 for 8 samples with a souvenir glass
• Bottles: $16-$29; our cab franc was $29
• 582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth, RI