By Darlene Brace
If you enjoy a glass of wine and are thinking about local wineries, Merritt Estate Winery in Forestville, NY is sure to come to mind. Merritt Estate Winery has been established for decades and there are traces of Merritt vineyards that date back to the 19th century. Bill Merritt, along with his wife Christi and his mother Marguerite, began Merritt Estate Winery in 1976, after the Farm and Winery Act was initiated by Governor Carey. This act encouraged the development of NYS wineries and enabled wineries to sell directly to the public. Merritt Estate Winery has been family owned and operated since opening in 1976.
In 1998, Bill’s son Jason joined the family business, and he is now the general manager of the winery. Together, Bill and Jason dedicate themselves to producing and selling some of the greatest wines in New York State on their own a fifty-acre farm. They use their grapes and fruit from other Chautauqua County and Finger Lakes region growers in making their wines.
Currently they have 27 award winning wines they produce and sell. Their comprehensive list of wines includes a variety of white and red wines ranging in levels of sweet to dry. They also offer a few specialty wines like Raspberry Truffle, Peach Splash and more. Bill’s wife Christi came up with the idea of a wine slush in the 1980s, and it’s still very popular today. The Merritt’s two best-selling wines are their Concord Semi Sweet Bella Rosa and their XTC, which is a pomegranate juice and wine blend.
The Merritts invite customers to enjoy a free tour of their winery. Customers come from all over New York State, Pennsylvania and other locations to enjoy Merritt’s wine in their tasting room. The wine tasting includes samples of five wines for $5 and you get to choose from a range of dry to sweet wines, depending on your taste. Bill said, “Whether customers are new or returning, most of the time they come in to do a wine tasting. Then they usually stay and relax and have a glass of wine or two. You can buy any wine by the glass or bottle. You can munch on some snacks like popcorn or crackers while enjoying your beverage.” They can accommodate groups of people and are often part of the local winery tours. Groups of eight or more people need to make a reservation.
Besides tours and wine tasting, they have special events that they host throughout the year. The two biggest events they host are their Strawberry Festival and their Septemberfest. The Strawberry Festival is the second weekend in June, celebrating the strawberry harvest. Along with other refreshments, you can enjoy a delicious strawberry shortcake. Their Septemberfest is the second weekend in September, celebrating the grape harvest. Both weekend events, have other food and craft vendors, and include activities for children. They have live music that performs throughout the weekend. These two events are very popular and well attended. This year’s Strawberry Festival will be June 7-9 and the Septemberfest will be September 7-8.
Merritt Estate Winery often participates in many events in Chautauqua County like the Grapes and Hops Festival in Jamestown and the Coffee and Chocolate Festival in Clymer and many more. They participate annually in 40-50 events in Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, Syracuse and other locations across New York State and Pennsylvania.
A perk they offer returning customers, is a wine club called the Copper Club, that was named after their winery dog. There are three levels of membership that include shipments of wine that are sent out quarterly. Prices for membership depend on whether you want 3, 6 or 12 bottles. As a member of the Copper Club, you will receive free wine tasting, free festival tickets, and many other perks and discounts.
Since Merritt Estate Wines are very popular, you will find them in a variety of restaurants and bars across the state. You can also buy bottles of wine, wine basket gifts, and other products online. They can be ordered and shipped to most states across the country.
Merritt Estate Winery is open year-round, Mondays-Saturdays from 10am-6pm and 12pm-6pm on Sundays. In January and February, they close at 5pm. On merrittestatewinery.com and their Facebook page, you will find a wealth of information. You will find information on all their wines, the Copper Club, and how you can order their products online. You will also find updated information on all their events that they will be hosting or participating in.
Go to Merritt Estate Winery for a free wine tour and a fun wine tasting experience, where you can enjoy some of the best wine you have ever tasted.
Continuation Caption: A perk they offer returning customers, is a wine club called the Copper Club, that was named after their winery dog. There are three levels of membership that include shipments of wine that are sent out quarterly. Prices for membership depend on whether you want 3, 6 or 12 bottles. As a member of the Copper Club, you will receive free wine tasting, free festival tickets, and many other perks and discounts.