| Bill Galarneau of Adams Point Winery did not plan to re-invent fruit wine, but
his innovative approach to winemaking has resulted in a line of Tropical Fruit
and Dessert wines that has re-kindled the fruit wine industry. Like most home winemakers, Bill started making wine in the garage of his Adams Point home in Oakland, CA. When a neighbor asked if he could use some Persimmons from a backyard tree, he jumped at the chance to try something new. He was awarded a Best of Class gold Medal for his persimmon wine. This was followed by a chance purchase of mangoes and papaya at an outdoor market. The resulting Mango/Papaya blend became another Best of Class gold medal. A judge at the California State Fair described it as "A party in every glass." Now Bill was facing a new challenge. He had wine filling the garage, basement and every nook and cranny of his crawl space. He needed to get larger or smaller. He decided to get larger and opened his small winery in nearby Berkeley, CA. To what does he credit to his success? His fruit wine is light, easy to drink and very food friendly. This is not the heavy syrupy fruit wine that he remembers his grandfather made from backyard fruit. Bill uses only whole ripe tropical fruit, not someone's excess white wine with artificial flavoring added. Also, only natural grape brandy is used for his dessert wines, not distilled grain alcohol. You also won't find high fructose sweetener in his winery either, just pure cane sugar. Sensitive to environmental concerns, he uses recycled glass in his wine bottles. Even his colorful bottle closure can be recycled. The wine pairs particularly well with Thai, Hawaiian, and Caribbean food, as well as food from the regions of the world where tropical fruit are grown. Are you ready to taste? Are you ready to join the party? Bill has brought a casual elegance to tropical fruit and dessert wines. Imagine yourself in the tropics, imagine yourself at the party. Adams Point Winery is located at 2413 Fourth Street in Berkeley, CA. Phone 510-384-0384. Open by appointment. |