If you have seen the movie Bottle Shock, then you will know that no one took Napa Valley wine seriously in 1976. Well, flash forward 48 years and I suspect that it would be hard to find someone who takes Massachusetts wine seriously in 2024.
But that’s about to change.
On Friday, May 10, 2024, Marzae Wines held its grand opening – and half of our community’s local officials turned out for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Located at 55 Knox Trail, Suite 407, the Acton winery has been carefully nurtured by the husband-and-wife team, Eliot Martin and Katie Luczai.
After living in Europe for a couple of years, visiting and working at sustainable, natural wineries, Martin (Mar) and Luczai (zae) came back to this side of the pond, looked around, and asked, “Why wasn’t anyone making natural wine in Massachusetts?”
So, the couple started producing their low intervention wines and co-ferments in Acton during August 2023. All aspects of Marzae products, from fruit to honey, are as local and sustainable as possible.
At their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, State Representative Dan Sena, and Select Board Chair Jim Snyder-Grant each presented citations to Martin and Luczai. Several other members of Acton’s Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee, and Economic Development Committee were in the audience.
In addition, Jenna Amara, the Executive Director of the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce, shared a giant pair of scissors with Martin and Luczai for the ribbon cutting event. The ribbon was held by Luczai’s parents.
I should disclose that my wife and I bought a bottle of the Marzae E. leei 2023. But I was a little hesitant before sipping this American sparkling white wine. The illustration of razor clams on the label led me to expect something that tasted like clam juice. And the pale-yellow appearance was also different, although I was told the cloudiness and sediment is “normal.”
However, the ingredients of this Petillant Naturel are 35% Chenin Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Vidal Blanc, and 15% Seval Blanc. And the tasting notes are brioche, green melon, and lemon juice. After the first sip, which had an initial hit of yeasty notes, I thoroughly enjoyed the natural wine’s viscous melony to distinctly lemony finish.
Hey, some things can surprise you. And I was pleasantly surprised.
But don’t take my word for it. Judge for yourself by visiting the Acton winery on Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m. for walk-in tasting and retail sales. Or you can make a tasting by appointment or private booking on other days of the week.
If you are interested in venturing beyond Acton’s town line, then Marzae Wines has partnered with Bloc Cafe in Union Square, Somerville, to offer pop-up food and a natural wine bar every Thursday night. And you will also find samples and retail purchases are available from the Marzae stand in the farmers market portion of SoWa (South of Washington) Open Market in Boston.
So, don’t be shocked to find there is a growing number of people who take Massachusetts wine seriously — without a blind taste test against French wine.
Greg Jarboe is beat reporter for Council on Aging and other senior issues, but he writes on other issues as well.