Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod, Truro, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA

I don't know about you but I've never really thought of New England as a wine growing region. Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod, however, has been producing wines for ten years in the sandy soil of the outer cape. On this mid-October visit I found the vines bulging with ripe grape clusters almost ready for harvest.

The Truro Vineyards of Cape Cod are easy access off Route 6. They offer tastings, tours, special events, a wine club, a gift shop, or, you can just walk along the vineyard and enjoy the setting as I did.  It's a hands-on family business and it feels good to visit.

Looking across the vineyard at their processing and central business area. (A peek of Route 6 is at the upper left corner).

I am not much of an oenophile but they had multiple grape varieties growing on the south facing slope.

I am not much of a farmer either, but I liked how well-kept and orderly everything was - well-tended rows, sturdy supports, efficient drip-irrigation system, and all the vines and grapes covered in mesh to protect them from the critters.

There is a signpost in the main area that points to France's Loire Valley 3500 miles to the east........

...... and California's Napa Valley is 3100 miles away to the west.

Look at that sandy Cape Cod soil! I find it fascinating that the popular wine region of northern California is just below latitude 42 degrees north, southern France is just above 42 degrees north, and central Italy is also  just above 42 degrees north. Truro and much of southern New England is right at 42 degrees north - who would have thought? Maybe we're poised to be the next great world wine producer.