Explorer Ponce de León abandoned his quest to discover the mythical land of wine after a tumble into the Fountain of Youth left him eternally underage. Take up his journey with today’s Groupon: for $8, you get two winery-logo-etched flutes at Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery in Westport (a $16 value). Guests are invited to stay for a complimentary wine tasting and vineyard viewing, and will receive 10% off nonalcoholic beverages, food, and retail merchandise in the shop.
Westport Rivers' winemakers, once consulted by the Wall Street Journal, experiment with new harvest and fermentation methods to coax original vintages from familiar fruits. After customers receive their wine glasses, tongues are free to swirl the five or six different varietals on the tasting menu, palates discovering flavors described by a nearby tasting expert or delivered via semaphore from a ship docked in the nearest harbor. The 2009 pinot gris winemaker's selection greets the nose roundly with pear and citrus secrets, while the winery's signature 2005 Westport brut blends pinot noir and chardonnay to create energetic, lingering sips. Lemon and lime banter dryly in the 2008 Westport Rivers rkatsiteli, pairing nicely with Asian cuisines or quick-witted comedians.
On Saturday afternoons, complimentary tours available by reservation explore the blend of traditional and modern techniques vintners use to coddle their grapes from infancy to winehood on a 200-acre farm. Each varietal draws personality from the New England loam to showcase crisp flavors, full aromas, and hatred of the Yankees. Customers can use their 10% discount to purchase other logo-emblazoned merchandise to match their fluted glasses from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday–Saturday.
Westport Rivers Winery
Carol Russell comes from a long line of winemakers—her father, Herbert, and grandfather, Max, crafted sparkling wine at their vineyard in New York. After dreaming of rebooting the family tradition for quite some time, she moved to farmland in Westport, Massachusetts, in 1982 and her family planted their first vines four years later. Today, the winery family cultivates 80 acres of grapes including chardonnay, pinot gris, pinot noir, and riesling.
Made through a combination of old-timey and contemporary techniques, the sparkling wines, table wines, and aperitifs have earned more than 20 gold medals and twice-filled glasses at the White House. Wine flows year-round at the Westport Rivers’ store, which hosts tastings, an art gallery, and autumnal hayride vineyard tours where guests meet the giants who squash the grapes with a single stomp once a year.
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