Don traveled to the ancestral homeland of the Crofuts and hung with cousin Alan (aka Chef Alan of Unbridled Chocolates) last weekend. We had family visits, wandered all over New Hampshire/Vermont, and walked where our ancestors walked, lived and still live. It was my first opportunity to see Crofut Tavern, where Ethan Allen, Remember Baker and some Crofuts met to forge the beginnings of the state of Vermont!
We also visited Walpole Valley Winery and Vineyard and shared the passion of the grape with Virginia, its owner. What nice wines and the view at sunset was breathtaking.
We collected pollen from some of the wild grapes on the banks of the Battenkill river in Vermont just in front of Sidney Crofut's house he built a 100 years ago in Arlington, Vermont.
On Sunday nite, I crossed some of the pollen of the Battenkill grapes with some of my test vines in the front vineyard. Sure am hopeful in five or six years we may have a Crofut grape cross from the pollen we collected. All in all, a memorable trip. (Thanks Cuz!)
See you in the vineyard!
Don
<< Cousin Alan Crofut (of Unbridled Chocolates) stands in front of Crofut Tavern, where the American patriots met to discuss their options during the Revolutionary War.
>> Sidney Crofut built his home over 100 years ago in Arlington, Vermont. He also planted the grapes a long time ago and great-grandson Jamie rebuilt the arbor several years ago. Crofut Pond is over the hill. Norman Rockwell painted Sidney as a youth skating on the Battenkill River (on the green next to the chapel).
<< Crofut Perch - this granite slab juts out of the water in front of the Sidney Crofut home and has become part of our family lore.
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