Heritage Grape Varieties and Wines of Massachusetts
In the 1800s, the Boston area was an exciting time for growing and breeding grape varieties. Pioneering New England horticulturists bred unique new varieties like Salem, Merrimac, and Concord, hybridizing existing varieties to maximize flavor and growability. As we discuss these hybridizers and their work, the class will take a walk to the nearby Leventritt Garden to see several of these vines growing in the Arboretum’s own collections.
The class will begin in the Hunnewell Lecture Hall and then walk to the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden.
This program will be led by winemaker and author J. Stephen Casscles of Cedar Cliff Vineyards and Nursery of Athens, NY and the author of the book Grapes of the Hudson Valley and Other Cool Climate Regions of the US and Canada.
Accessibility: This program takes place primarily in the wheelchair-accessible Hunnewell Lecture Hall, plus a walk to the Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden and back over crushed stone and mowed grass (10 minutes each way).
Audience: This program is geared towards adults. Participants must be 21+.
Inclement weather policy: Participants will be notified via email at least 24 hours in advance if a program needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, and will be notified by phone if a program must be cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice. Click here to view our full inclement weather policy. If you have questions about the status of a program, please email publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.
