Sail to Trail WineWorks – An Urban Winery for the Unpretentious Winelover

A new urban winery with a hip, casual vibe can be found in Worcester, Massachusetts and you’re invited to check it out. Sail to Trail WineWorks has as its goal to offer refreshing, inclusive experiences to every lover of wine, not just those who wax poetic about legs, tannic structure or notes of red fruit compote. How? I chatted with Chris Simpson, Founder and CEO of Sail to Trail WineWorks, who stated that “we offer great wine at a great value. We want to give consumers a relaxed, unpretentious and high-quality bottle of wine to enjoy. And you can have it delivered directly to your door.”

As a former engineer with a self-proclaimed “entrepreneurial spirit,” Chris and his team of experts who have vetted the portfolio of wines for premium quality are excited about this venture. After tasting two wines sent to me as samples, I’m looking forward to checking out of what Chris and the team are bringing to the glass. Enjoy my reviews below and the Sail to Trail WineWorks website here.

 

 

“My mission in launching Sail to Trail online is to create a more approachable, simplified alternative to the market’s status quo with a focus on the casual wine drinker. By pairing our urban New England roots with select with top notch blends produced by our partners across the globe, our goal is to promote inclusion by eliminating industry intimidation—doing the hard work for our consumers by curating and bottling a limited collection of what we believe are the very best varietals out there.” Chris Simpson, Founder and CEO of Sail to Trail WineWorks

But that’s not all. Chris Simpson is dedicated to “integrating Sail to Trail WineWorks in the local community” and giving to charity is a priority. In honor of his grandfather, who was a hometown firefighter and World War II veteran, The Ladder 7 Club offers exclusive benefits to residents in 40 states.

Simpson and his team “put a great deal of effort” into searching for premium and ultra-premium wines for the portfolio. Hand selected, limited batch wines are produced in Yakima and Walla Walla, Washington and the Central Coast and Sonoma, California. The juice is bottled, labeled, marked with its own cuvee number, and corked or capped at a west coast location specifically for Sail to Trail WineWorks. The total production at this point is 1200 cases across all five labels, but I predict growth in the near future. Click here to see the current portfolio.

Although the target consumers are those between 30 and 45 years who prefer to snub the snobbery of wine, Chris Simpson is also ready to share these wines with anyone who craves good taste and value. A by-appointment-only tasting room in Worcester has opened, yet it’s easy enough to order wines from the website to be shipped directly to your door.  Simpson explained that Sail to Trail WineWorks’ selections are meant to be a bit on the lighter side, although their Signature Cabernet has a more bold profile. “The Sauvignon Blanc is light and crisp, the Chardonnay is unoaked, the Zinfandel is round and soft and another Cabernet is fruit forward,” he said.

I was impressed with the colorful labels that immediately grabbed my attention on the two bottles sent and I asked Simpson to explain. The sailboat indicates the coast of Massachusetts and the trail (on the sail) harkens a mountainous terrain. Simpson shared that “in one day, people can sail along the coast, hike a mountain and have time to chill and relax with a glass of wine.”

Although I’m not in the “sweet spot” of target consumers, I was duly impressed with each of the wines I tasted. Both were food friendly and delicious – just what I was looking for. The Sauvignon Blanc 2018 ($20) from the Central Coast of California was easy drinking and crisp from the first sip to the last. Aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit, yellow flowers, straw and hint of beeswax led to a palate profile with vibrant acidity and flavors of bright citrus, juicy yellow apples and straw. The mineral-driven finish was ever-so satisfying. After opening for about 30 minutes, the Zinfandel 2015 ($35) from Sonoma exuded intense aromas of blackberries, black cherries, crushed green tea, fall leaves and spice. Flavors of dark plums, lush red fruit, menthol, raspberries, dark chocolate and spice were framed with bright acidity and moderate tannins. Just lovely.

Cheers! ~ Cindy

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