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Which is a lot of wine for a small winery in Downeast
Maine. But as the winery’s reputation has grown, and
the wines keep winning awards year after year, the
Bartlett’s have resisted pressure to industrialize and
increase production. Bob says they’d rather keep it
small and local, with a focus on experimentation.
These days, the winery makes about 3,000 cases of
wine, and has expanded into distilling. Currently,
they produce small batches of pear eau de vie, apple
brandy, pear brandy, raspberry geist, and a rum made
with organic molasses.
As an industry pioneer, Bob says he’s humbled by
the radical growth in wine-making and distilling in
Maine, and notes that it’s gratifying to see the amount
of support there is for newcomers.

“I started with a certain amount of ignorance,” Bob
says. “But we had a passion and a doggedness that’s
important to have in business. If we had listened to
everyone else, we might not have done it.”

Bob looks up from ‘Lola’ and smiles with the thrill of the still.

The Bartlett tasting room is open June-October, and by
appointment in the off-season. They are located in
Gouldsboro, at 161 Chicken Mill Pond Road, and may
be reached at (207) 546-2408.
Visit their website www.bartlettwinery.com.
** Due to COVID restrictions, please call the winery for
sales pickups and updated tasting room information.

Beautiful flowers offer a warm welcome to the Tasting
Room.

Left: Meet ‘Lola’ our custom hand-crafted copper still
imported from Germany.
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