Holy Fields does not have any religious affiliation. Before standard street names were assigned, 158th street used to be "Holyfield Road". The Meyer family own and operate this small vineyard and winery, keeping the production small to focus on quality of grapes and wine production. A small chest which sat next to the cash register was full of red and blue ribbons illustrating the international and national winemaking awards.
We started with the fuller bodied wines and progressed to the lighter and sweeter wines. My favorites were the Tailgate Red and the Tailgate White. The red wine was off-dry and not as heavy as the other red wines. The white wine was made from a blend of local grapes, creating a soft wine that would be enjoyable anytime. Most of the wines tasted too sweet. The Racy Red had a berry flavor, but not as strong as the Over the Rainbow Raspberry which is a very fruity wine with a taste and bouquet of raspberries.
While in the process of tasting the wines, another group of people came into the gift shop / tasting room. They purchased an entire case of St. Francis Dessert Wine, a sickeningly sweet port-like wine. They waited for me to taste this wine, anxious for my reaction to their favorite vintage. I believe I masked my face expressions well. The sweetness was overwhelming, way too much for me. I did finish the sample in my glass rather than pour the remaining amount into the discard jar.
We learned that the grapes are harvested by hand and immediately pressed. The wine-making facility is in the cellar below the tasting room where the wines are fermented, aged, and bottled. Holy Fields has about 30 acres with 14 of them dedicated as the vineyard. The grapes are Native American and French Hybrid. There are over 10,500 vines growing in the vineyard.
Tasting parties can be arranged for groups of 15 or more people. Additionally, the Vineyard Room and Wine Deck (which overlooks the vineyard) can be reserved for parties, receptions, or meetings. Tours of the vineyard can also be scheduled during the summer months. I noticed a wheelchair ramp outside, allowing the outdoor facilities to be handicap accessible. Items in the gift shop left very minimal room for walking, let alone for a wheelchair so the inside facility was not fully handicap accessible.
Of the three local wineries (all documented in this journal), Holy Fields was my favorite. The wine simply tasted better. Holy Fields believes in the high quality of the grapes and their attention to the wine-making process. I think that has made all the difference.