LaBelle_Winery

LaBelle Winery, a US-based producer of apple wine, has expanded its business by adding a new $4m winery and a retail and event facility on an 11-acre site of farmland along Route 101 in Amherst near the Bedford town line.

Scheduled to open on 3 October 2012, the 20,000ft² California-style winery features a large tasting room, French brasserie café and outside terrace with a fire bowl.

Designed by BMA Architectural Group and constructed by Fulcrum Associates, the winery also features a large 4,500ft² bright ballroom or great room that can make room for around 230 people besides private rooms that can accommodate up to 60 guests, reported The Union Leader.

The winery is installed with five 23 feet stainless steel tanks and an automated bottling line that will allow the winery to increase its wine production from 18,000gal to around 60,000gal per year.

LaBelle Winery owner Amy LaBelle told the website that the new winery will enable the business to expand distribution beyond New England.

Within three years, the winery plans to make wine from its own grapes, which includes 1,500 grape vines that were planted on the site in June 2012 and another 500 plants to be added in the spring.

LaBelle said, in the meantime, the winery will continue to use grapes from the Finger Lakes and New Hampshire farms.

Funded by Enterprise Bank, the winery also plans to provide table services for wines, cocktails and small plates besides encouraging wine tasting at the area’s first wine aroma bar.

The winery plans to celebrate the opening of the winery with events like cocktail reception on 18 October 2012, a black tie gala on 20 October 2012 and an artists’ exhibit brunch on 28 October 2012 that will promote the five varieties of grapes used in LaBelle products.

Image: Established in 2005, LaBelle Winery produces around 22 varieties of wine. Photo: LaBelle Winery