Weekend Preview and Local Gems

Is it too early to be thinking about the weekend? I think not! I wanted to share information about an event I am going to on Sunday that I am SUPER excited about, and you might want to check out if you are in the RI/MA area: the Coastal Wine Trail Kickoff at Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton, RI. All EIGHT of the wineries from the Coastal Wine Trail will be under one tent!  This is the first event I am attending as a blogger, and I am excited to photograph and remember every detail to share. I am also going to try to taste as many wines as possible and will award a favorite in each category, sparkling, white, red, rosé, and dessert. We have a plan to tour the entire trail later this summer, so it will definitely be interesting to see who stands out the most.

(So far, the only winery I have visited in this region is Westport Rivers, and I absolutely love it. Rolling fields of grapevines, a beautiful old farmhouse, and very friendly staff that goes through the tasting with you. I am looking forward to tasting more Westport Rivers wine at the event this weekend and comparing it to the other seven!  I am attending a girls’ weekend in Cape Cod the following weekend and am hoping to buy a few bottles to bring along and share with my favorite ladies.) 🙂

I am excited about this event for many reasons, one being that I love to taste and learn about different types of wine. I have also become more dedicated over the past couple of years to really supporting local businesses. Living in New England, I feel extremely lucky to have close access to some great farmer’s markets, orchards, bakeries, and wineries. The hubby and I also just recently bought into a seafood share – like a CSA but for seafood! Summer is such a fun time to start experimenting with new, locally grown vegetables and other ingredients. I plan on doing a lot of blogging this summer as I visit some of my favorites: Copley Square Farmer’s Market, South End Open Markets, and my newest and most local, New Market Farmstand in Dorchester, MA.  

What are your favorite local gems where you live? How important is it to you to buy locally, and has this changed at all with the worsening economy?