Located in Lake Champlain, the island of South Hero, Vermont has become a foodie destination
Anthony Everett visits South Hero, Vermont. There, he checks out a dairy farm that has added wine to its repertoire, and bikes to the Blue Paddle Bistro, a place where foodies from throughout the region stop in for a bite.
Updated: 8:20 PM EDT Jun 27, 2022
TO SOUTH HERO, VERMONT. ANTHONY: AS THE SAYING GOES, NOT ALL HEROES WERE CAPES. THIS ONE IS ADORNED WITH VERDANT FARMLAND, LUSH VINEYARDS AND BRILLIANT WATER VIEWS. WELCOME TO SOUTH HERO, PART OF AN ARCHIPELAGO IN NORTHERN VERMONT IN THE MIDDLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. >> THE LAKE IS VERY DEEP. ANTHONY: DEEP ENOUGH TO CREATE A MICROCLIMATE PERFECT FOR GROWING GRAPES AT SNOW FARM VINEYARD. A LITTLE COOLER IN THE SPRING. A BIT WARMER IN THE FALL. JULIE AND HUSBAND DAVE TOOK OVER HIS FAMILY DAIRY FARM IN THE 1990’S AND ADDED THE VINEYARDS AND WINERY THEY WERE FOR SALE IN 2012. >> SO MANY FORMS GET DEVELOPED WITH LOTS OF HOUSES BUT WE HAVE HARD WORK TO DO. WE DO ALL OF OUR PRODUCTION HERE. WE GROW ALL OF OUR GRAPES HERE. WE DO MAPLE SUGARING AND CONTINUED THE 200-YEAR-OLD FARMHOUSE AS A BED-AND-BREAKFAST. ANTHONY: THE FOUR BEDROOM RED AND BREAKFAST OVERLOOKS THE 11 ACRES OF VINEYARD THAT PRODUCE 15 TO 18 WINDES OVER THE COURSE OF -- 15 TO 18 WINES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. PATRICK HAS BEEN HERE SNCE THE BEGINNING AND SAYS THE UNIQUE CLIMATE OF SOUTH HERO IS SIMILAR TO THE BURGUNDY REGION OF FRANCE WHERE HE STUDIED. >> THAT IS THE GREAT PART OF HAVING THE VINEYARD ON SITE. PEOPLE SEE THE VINES AND WHEN THEY SAVED YOU HAVE A MERLOT, WE WILL SAY WE DON’T GROW MORE LOW BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING IF YOU LIKE MAYBE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER OR A FRUITY, WE HAVE THIS TYPE OF WIND. WHEN THEY CAN TRY IT AT THE BAR, IT IS A LOT EASIER TO EXPLAIN. PEOPLE DISCOVER THE VARIETIES WE GROW HERE. ANTHONY: THEIR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IS A HUGE HIT DRAWING AS MANY AS 2000 PEOPLE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS. FOR JULIE, A FORMER SECOND-GRADE SCHOOLTEACHER, SNOW FARM MARRIES HER TWO PASSIONS. >> I LOVE TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT AGRICULTURE. I LOVE TALKING TO PEOPLE. IT IS MY FAVORITE THING. >> FOR ME, THE BEST PART IS WHEN PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY SAY I REALLY LOVE YOUR WINES AND THAT IS IT. I AM HAPPY. ANTHONY: A FAIR NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVEL TO THE VINEYARD AND TO SOUTH HERO BY BIKE. IT IS A POPULAR DAYTRIP FOR CYCLISTS RIDING A THREE MILE LONG RAIL TRAIL THAT CONNECTS SOUTH HERO AND COLD CHESTER, A STUNNING CHAMPLAIN CROSSING THAT INCLUDES A SHORT FERRY RIDE ACROSS THE ONE BREAK IN THE TRAIL. IF CYCLING AND WINETASTING HAVE WORKED UP AN APPETITE, THEN COME HOME TO THE BLUE PADDLE BISTRO. >>>> I WANTED A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD COME IN, HAVE GREAT FOOD, ENJOY YOUR COMPANY. ANTHONY: BUSINESS ARNER’S MANDY HODGKINS AND FOR BE BRIGHT USED ON DELIS IN THE BURLINGTON AREA. THEN MANDY WENT OFF TO SELL WOODEN CANOES AND PHOEBE WENT TO NEW YORK TO STUDY UNDER AN AWARD-WINNING CHEF. THAN 16 YEARS AGO, THEY REUNITED AND OPENED THE BISTRO. >> I THINK WE BOTH GOT SICK OF WORKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE. ANTHONY: WITH PHOEBE AS CHEF AND MANDY AS MARKETER, THEY CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE FOR ALL PEOPLE. >> IN THE BEGINNING, PEOPLE PRIMARILY ORDERED FROM THE FOOD THEY UNDERSTOOD. THE FOOD THEY COULD MAKE AT HOME YET OGRES OR CHICKEN SANDWICHES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AS TIME WENT ON, THEY STARTED VENTURING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MENU WHICH WOULD MEAN THE DUCK OR THE FILLET OR THE SEA SCALLOPS BECAUSE WE GAINED THEIR TRUST. ANTHONY: THEY NOW DRAW FOODIES FROM VERMONT, NEW YORK AND CANADA FOR DISHES LIKE A GORGONZOLA CRESTED FILET, VEGGIE SPRING ROLLS AND PAN SEARED SCALLOPS. WORTH THE TRIP FROM ANYWHERE. THOSE ARE DELICIOUS. THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON HAVING HELP TO PUT SOUTH HERO ON THE MAP. >> AT THE BEGINNING, SOUTH HERO KIND OF PUSHED BACK. I HAD A COMMENT FROM SOMEONE WHO SAID WE DON’T WANT MORE BUSINESS TO THE ISLANDS. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE UP AGAINST. THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I THINK THE ISLANDS ARE BEGINNING TO REALLY EVOLVE. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE BEEN THE CORNERSTONE. ANTHONY: THE BLUE PADDLE IS DEFINITELY RIDING A FAVORABLE CURRENT. SHAYNA: AND ANTHONY TELLS US THERE IS ALSO A NORTH HERO VERMONT. ORIGINALLY THE AREA WAS CALLED TWO HEROES, NAMED AFTER REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROES AND BROTHERS ETHAN AND IRA ALLEN WHO WERE GIVEN THE LAND IN 1779 FOR THEIR SERVICE AND IF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. AS FOR THE BISTRO, THE OWNER SAID THEY ONE OF THE RESTAURANT TO FEEL LIKE THE GREEN MOUNTAINS MEET THE ADIRONDACKS AND THEY CERTAINLY SUCCEEDED. JUST A QUICK CORRECTION ABOUT THE WIRELESS STEAM MUSEUM IN GREENWICH, RHODE ISLAND TED VISITED.
Located in Lake Champlain, the island of South Hero, Vermont has become a foodie destination
Anthony Everett visits South Hero, Vermont. There, he checks out a dairy farm that has added wine to its repertoire, and bikes to the Blue Paddle Bistro, a place where foodies from throughout the region stop in for a bite.
Updated: 8:20 PM EDT Jun 27, 2022
Taking advantage of a unique island climate in the middle of Lake Champlain, Snow Farm Vineyard makes award winning wines. Stop by the tasting room or visit during their summer concert series.Crescent Bay Farm Bed and Breakfast is a small bed and breakfast overlooking the vineyards and just a short walk to the Snow Farm Vineyard tasting room. https://www.snowfarm.com/crescentbaybb/crescentbaybbfinal/A small town restaurant with big city cuisine, Blue Paddle Bistro helps draw visitors from New York, Vermont and Canada to South Hero. The 14-mile long Island Line Rail Trail includes a three mile stretch across Lake Champlain connecting Colchester to South Hero.
Taking advantage of a unique island climate in the middle of Lake Champlain, Snow Farm Vineyard makes award winning wines. Stop by the tasting room or visit during their summer concert series.
Crescent Bay Farm Bed and Breakfast is a small bed and breakfast overlooking the vineyards and just a short walk to the Snow Farm Vineyard tasting room.
https://www.snowfarm.com/crescentbaybb/crescentbaybbfinal/
A small town restaurant with big city cuisine, Blue Paddle Bistro helps draw visitors from New York, Vermont and Canada to South Hero.
The 14-mile long Island Line Rail Trail includes a three mile stretch across Lake Champlain connecting Colchester to South Hero.