The Playful Plymouth Bay Winery
Plymouth Bay Winery is not your average winery.
Sure, the wine is created from locally grown grapes and berries. And, yes, the view of Plymouth Harbor is pretty sweet. But owners Michael and Pam Carr offer guests more than just a wine tasting.
“We want to give people ideas with what they can do with the wine, bring out the chef in them,’’ said Carr.
They want you to pour their wines into recipes and also make mixed drinks with them. They want you to slather their exclusive wine-infused dips and jellies (also available for tasting) on your favorite dishes too. A “Play with Bay!’’ recipe playbook on the winery’s website provides inspiration (Cranberry Bay wine over vodka and tonic with lime, anyone?). And the Carrs encourage guests to share their own recipes on the winery’s Facebook page.
Intrigued? So were we. We learned the winery’s Drydock Wine makes one hell of a scampi sauce and you can spice up your chicken wings with a jar of raspberry spice jelly, some soy sauce, and garlic. Oh, and the “What’ta Pair’’ dip, made from the winery’s Widow’s Walk wine, which tastes like apple pie filling, can be used as a marinade over pork dishes.
Are you a fan of Sangria? You’re in luck. Pam Carr, a.k.a Dr. Sangria, has many recipes to share, including mixing a bottle of Cranberry Bay wine, Cherry Bay wine, some Mandarin Vodka, a chopped apple and peach, a sliced orange, lemon, lime, and a dash of ground cinnamon to create the winery’s “Wicked Pissah Sangria.’’
And the play doesn’t stop there.
From the moment you enter, the affable Michael Carr is ready with a joke (“the sarcasm is free’’) or a story (ask him which dip inspired a customer to say, “This is the one where they find you in a closet with a spoon’’).
Plymouth Bay Winery
The Carrs bought the 22-year-old winery three years ago. New in 2014 is the seasonal Pear Wine along with deck furniture that allows folks to enjoy tastings outside overlooking the bay. The wines, in cherry, blackberry, cranberry, and raspberry, are sweet. So dry wine lovers beware. However, Carr suggests his Blueberry Wine for those who like it dry because he says it is most like a Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.
“When our customers come in, we want them to experience delicious,’’ said Carr, who isn’t above dropping a frozen cube of pineapple into your Blueberry Wine just to see the reaction when the combination of fruit and wine hits your palate.
Our reaction? Yum.
Where to go:
Plymouth Bay Winery
114 Water Street, Plymouth
Cost:
Tastings daily
Mon. – Sat. 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun. noon to 5 p.m.
$6 entire collection
$4 four wines
What to drink:
For the wine snob: Widow’s Walk
For the adventurer: Blackberry Bay
Pleasing to the masses: Cranberry Blush
Boston.com favorite: Cranberry Blush
Make a day of it!
For food: Tuscany Tavern, 294 Court St., Plymouth
For activities: Plimoth Plantation, a living museum at 137 Warren Ave., Plymouth
(Recommendations by Michael Carr)
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