STAPPA VINEYARD A Women-Owned Winery Rooted in Family Tradition

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.

“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.”

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.

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.”

Photo: Paula Severino

General Manager and Wine Team Member, Christina Campbell (l) with Alexa Charles (r) displaying their five varieties of wines.

While Stappa offers a small charcuterie box by Cascade Fine Catering for sale, guests are welcome to pack a picnic for their visit. No pets are permitted on the premises, except for service animals.

Alexa says that it has been an honor connecting with her peers in the vineyard community and that she is eager to collect feedback from customers. “We are thankful to have received so many compliments – even from visitors traveling from California! I love constructive criticism, and it’s been rewarding to hear that people not only love how our wine tastes, but also how relaxing the atmosphere is at Stappa,” Alexa said. “We are lucky to be a part of the Orange community, and it has meant the world to meet with vineyard professionals in the area who take the

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

For future brides and grooms looking to capture romantic engagement or wedding photos among a scenic landscape, Stappa allows couples and wedding parties to take photos on the property.

“Over the past few months, we’ve had quite a few wedding parties take photos here,” Alexa said. “My family grew up in the restaurant industry, and then we moved into a wedding business that is still open in Hamden, called Cascade. I love weddings and am glad that couples are capturing such meaningful moments with Stappa as their backdrop!”

“It still feels surreal that this business came to life,” Alexa said. “At Stappa, our goal is to create authentic experiences for our customers, and we look forward to being a part of many memories to come.”

The vineyard is open Wednesday to Sunday throughout the year. Check out the website at www.stappavineyard. com or call 203-795-1795 for hours and the latest menu items. Follow Stappa Vineyard on Instagram and Facebook for the latest happenings! 