Cape Cod Wineries, Breweries and Cape Cod Potato Chips

This weekend was Truro's Treasure Weekend. They have a great antique and flea market on Saturday and Sunday. I found some really pretty celluloid boxes. I always remember my Aunt Olive, whose doll now lives at the Inn, having a set on her dresser. I was fascinated by them, then and now. This year one of our guests found an oil painting on wood. Looks like something he will be able to take to the Antiques Road Show.

The festivities close with the annual "Grape Stomp and Jazz Festival" at the Truro winery. Yes, I did say winery. I know when you think of wineries, you may first think of the New York Finger Lakes , California's Napa Valley, of course, but rarely would you think of Cape Cod. Well, about 20 minutes from the Whalewalk Inn is the Truro Winery. From the road you will see clusters of purple Cabernet franc and chardonnay grapes, and further up the blue-tinged Merlot grapes. Dave Roberts and his family bought the winery in 2007. They make a selection of six different wines which are sold all over the Cape, especially at Windmill Liquors, right around the corner from the Inn. So add a tour and wine tasting at the winery as part of your stay at the Inn on Cape Cod. There is a charge for the tasting, but you do get a nice commemorative wine glass to add to your collection.

If you prefer organically grown products, there is a winery in Falmouth, the Cape Cod Winery. The Lazzaris have cultivated a vineyard of not only European grape varieties, but several French-American hybrids. They grow grapes without using any pesticides.

If you are taking a day trip to Nantucket, there is a winery there also, The Nantucket Vineyard. Here they make a variety of white and red wines with grapes from Washington State. Next door houses the Cisco Brewers and Triple Eight Distillery.

If beer is your thing to make or just to drink, you must visit Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis. Some of their choices of beer are Cape Cod Red, India Pale Ale, Beach Blonde, Summer Ale, Harvest, Porter, the award winning Dunkell-Weizen, Berry Merry and Old Man Winter. Tours are on Saturday at 1:00 pm and Tuesdays at 11:00 am. They sell Growlers, which is a large refillable jug of beer, filled right from the tap. Just remember to wash your Growler before you get it refilled. (The Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory is close by for another informative tour, and free chips. Can also buy them at a discounted price.)

You don't have to travel from coast to coast to sample some really great wines and a terrific beer. Make your reservations today, design your own tour, and stay at the Whalewalk Inn & Spa for a relaxing, fun-filled time.