By Betsy Levinson — Betsy@concordbridge.org
Several months ago, members of the Concord250 business subcommittee approached Joe Saia of West Concord Wine & Spirits about marketing reds and whites with a label that heralded the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolution in Concord.
Saia readily agreed. He teamed up with Rhode Island vintner Paul Fede of Goose Neck Vineyards, who crafted a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon on sale at Saia’s stores in West Concord, Sudbury, and Maynard.
Saia said he has seen keen interest in the new vintage, which retails for $17.75 a bottle. He said he will be donating $500 to the Concord250 Corporation, which is raising funds for semiquincentennial events.
Fede said the grapes he blended are from Washington State. He described the Chardonnay as “clean, not oaky, with a nice acidity, perfect for Netflix and chill.”
The Cabernet, he said, is “softened with Merlot and aromatics.”
Fede stopped by the Main Street store for a recent tasting, joined by Saia, wine appreciators Nancy Nelson and Melissa Saalfield, and artisan Todd Taylor, proprietor of Minuteman Pewter.
Taylor fashioned unique wine stoppers for the bottles with the Minute Man at the top and the date 1775 on the bottom.
The bottle’s label is a fresh take on a design created in 2010 to honor Concord’s 375th birthday.
The refresh, with a tagline of “Still heard round the world, 1775-2025,” is the work of graphic design artist Priscilla Sturges.
Fede was more than happy to develop the wines for the historic anniversary.
“I’m chasing my American dream,” he said. “It’s a small business helping another small business celebrate. What could be better than that?”
