With a name like Five Sons Winery and RG Brewery, it’s not surprising that the new venture is a family one.
Aimee and Adam Mesiti (who have five sons) opened their winery/brewery and tasting room this past May. Located at 1360 West Sweden Rd. in the Town of Sweden, the business includes five acres of grapes and a production building.
All wines and craft beers are brewed on-site and the tasting room recently began offering non-alcoholic spruce soda to kick off a line of homemade soda drinks that will eventually include selections like root beer and birch beer, Aimee says.
Adam, who retired as a Village of Brockport Police Officer two years ago, has an interest in wine making that goes back two decades, Aimee says. Ten years ago the family planted their very first grape vines in hopes of one day opening a winery when Adam retired.
Their location turned out to be a perfect spot for a vineyard. “They came out amazingly,” Aimee says of the first crop of grapes. Soil tests done by Cornell University confirmed the site was “fantastic” for grape production, she explains.
The process of building the production facility and tasting room hasn’t been easy, Aimee notes, but the Mesitis persisted through the long process including obtaining all the necessary licenses to open their business.
Initially, they thought they would convert a small barn on the property for production and tasting, but realized it was too small. “We needed to build a bigger building to house both aspects,” Aimee says.
The spacious tasting room has a large porch and overlooks the vineyard. Behind the tasting room is the three-barrel system brewery and winery.
Aimee and Adam’s 20-year old son, Jared, is becoming an experienced brewer despite the fact he is too young to legally drink. Eighteen is the legal age for serving and brewing beer in New York State. He enjoys concocting full grain craft brews with flavors such as “Nilla Wafer,” “Orange Creamsicle,” and “Caramel Apple” for fall.
The Mesitis are pleased that their boys are taking an interest and vital role in the business. “For them to jump in and be so involved is wonderful,” Aimee says.
The Sweden community has also embraced Five Sons. “There has been an amazing response and support from the local community,” Aimee says. “We are touched by the local community support.” She adds that the Town of Sweden was also very helpful in the process.
The success of the opening year has been tinged somewhat by the fact 2015 will likely go down as a memorable year for local grape growers and vintners. Aimee explains that the extended frigid cold of this past winter coupled with the Memorial Day weekend freeze, means there will be no grape harvest this year.
Five Sons vineyards, “got decimated… it was like a nuclear bomb went off,” she says of the effect of the late May temperatures. Five Sons should be able to purchase enough grapes for this year’s productions, Aimee notes. The Mesitis also plan to re-plant vines that suffered winterkill using more cold-hardy varieties.
“We will do what we can do,” she says and hope for a spectacular harvest in 2016.
This fall the winery will release a number of new wines including Ruby Sipper, Lemberger, Baco Noir, Rocco’s Red and Sailors Delight.
Five Sons Winery also hosts special and private events. A Fall Festival is planned for October 17. “There will be a tent with live music, face painting, a food truck and lots that people can do,” Aimee says. The Mesitis hope to offer more special events, particularly during the summer months, in future years.
The tasting room is open year-round and hours are 2 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays; Noon to 7 p.m. on Thursdays; Noon to 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.
