Who We Are
In
1977, Dr. Peter D. Oldak, an emergency physician and his wife,
Brenda, moved to a 12 acre farm in South Hampton, New Hampshire. In
1982, merely as a hobbyist home gardener, he planted six
individual grape vines. Four years later, he started
making wine. Each year more vines and varieties were planted to see
which would do best in our climate, soil, and location, and
which
varieties would make excellent quality wine in the chilly
climes of the Northeast.
By 1990 there were over 60 varieties of American, European,
and
French Hybrid grapes in the ground and it was becoming evident that the
vineyard, with its southward facing slopes on the Powwow River,
possessed the ideal micro-climate for wine growing. Through extensive
study, trial and error, and availing himself to the best professionals
in the East, Dr Oldak learned grape growing and wine
making. With
this knowledge, the quality of the grapes improved with each harvest
and as a result of hard work, skill, and dedication, so did the wine!
In 1990, the vineyard was established named after (and situated in) the Jewell Towne Historic District of South Hampton. Dr. Oldak narrowed the focus of his grape growing to approximately 20 varieties and worked on honing his wine making skills. In 1992, at the American Wine Societies National competition one of his wines, South Hampton White, won a gold medal and best hybrid of the show. Another wine, Alden, was awarded a silver medal. This was the beginning of the 'hobby run amok' as Brenda is fond of saying.
In 1994, the decision was made to go commercial and the first harvest of 40 cases was released. These sold out in 3 weeks. In 2005, Jewell Towne Vineyards produced over 3800 cases and could be found in over 80 stores, NH Liquor stores, and restaurants throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
From 1994 to 1996 wines were produced in the cellar of the Oldak home. In 1997, due to increasing production and demand and limited space, Peter and Brenda made the decision to build an 18th century reproduction New England style post and beam barn in the middle of the vineyard. Construction was started in May of 1997 by David Cronin, a local resident, known for his exquisite historic reproductions, and it was completed in May of 1999.
Jewell Towne Vineyards is a family run enterprise, embracing the New Hampshire entrepreneurial spirit. Brenda, as an artist, has designed the label, runs the art gallery, and along with the Oldak's child ren, Tenley and Trevor, participates in every aspect of the vineyard and winery's operation. The Oldak's are joined by two full time team members, Derek Brock, Assistant Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, and Rich Collins, Director of Sales and Marketing.
The winery offers a wine cellar, a bottling room, a spacious tasting room, and a balcony which showcases an art gallery, featuring the works of noted local artists and artisans.
Jewell Towne has a strong tradition of community involvement and has sponsored many fund-raising wine tasting events for charitable and non-profit groups and are current members of the Alliance for Amesbury, the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, the New Hampshire Winery Association, and New Hampshire Made.