January 29, 2025: It was a great week of tasting – but this Marquette made by a Vermont pioneer stood above the rest

What a great week of tasting red hybrids from Maryland, New York, Vermont, and Virginia! Check back on Friday to read more about those wines in my weekly “Tasting Table” post — but today, I want to talk about Lincoln Peak Vineyard 2020 Marquette ($36*), the best of the batch.

Lincoln Peak is one of Vermont’s pioneering and most important estates. Founded by Chris Granstrom in 2001 as a vine nursery, Granstrom released his first wines in 2007, and for many years, he was a go-to for expertise and deliciousness in the Green Mountain State.

Upon Granstrom’s retirement in 2021, Shelburne Vineyard took over and ran it until last year when new owners Kevin Bednar and Nichole Bambacigno purchased the vineyard, winery, and tasting room.

The couple first met while working in the California wine industry, but I first tasted their wines when Bednar and Bambacigno were making wine in New Jersey, at William Heritage Winery and Sharott Winery, respectively. Bendar is a Vermont native, so returning home to make wine was part of the long-term plan.