A Women-Owned Winery Rooted in Family Tradition WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA DAVANZO
Alexa Charles knew that something was special about the wooded land her parents purchased in Orange back in 2012. Little did she know that nearly a decade later, it would become a lively sanctuary for friends and families to gather. “My parents immigrated from Italy in the 1970s, and years ago they found this piece of property that they fell in love with,” Alexa said. “It was pretty run down and forested, but when they started clearing through the trees, they would take one down and plant another. This turned into planting grape vines, and over time my family would come together every Sunday and maintain the plants. It was our way of staying together, even though we all lived separate lives.” Alexa’s love for making table wine with her father, using fresh grapes from the vines, sparked an idea to start a family business.
A DIVERSE MENU Whether a guest is looking to get their Chardonnay, Cayuga White or Frose fix, the menu comprises of a diverse list of flavors, a wine flight option and craft beer provided by Counterweight Local Brewery. “My sisters and I were thrilled to release a special wine in September,” Alexa said. “It was a high-end cabernet blend called Sorelle, which means ‘sisters’ in Italian. It was such a memorable day for us when our unique blend was unveiled to the public. We worked together to create this wine, and the outcome was fantastic.”
With extensive experience in the hospitality industry and fond memories of summers in Italy, it was natural for Alexa’s family to dive into the winery lifestyle. Today over 5,000 vines grow on the Stappa Vineyard property, with most of them being eight years old. FAMILY-FRIENDLY VENUE “Here, you can unwind, catch live musicians and spend time with your loved ones,” Alexa said. “We are family friendly, and it’s wonderful seeing kids run around and enjoy the land.”
“My dad and I made a delicious wine together one year, and everyone who tried it kept complimenting it,” she said. “He told me, ‘One day I’m going to make an award-winning wine,’ and it turned into wanting to open a vineyard of his own. As time went on, I became fascinated with the process of winemaking, and I dragged my sisters along with me.” Photo: Paula Severino
Stappa Vineyard, a women-owned winery, opened its doors on July 15th at 403 Derby Turnpike in Orange. Nestled only minutes off the Merritt Parkway, Stappa offers wines to satisfy any preference. Owner, Alexa Charles at the entrance of the tasting room.
WINTER 2021
OrangeLife
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