Harrison Thorp 4:16 p.m.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016 4:04 pm

WEST LEBANON - While this summer's drought has frustrated back-yard gardeners and is expected to produce a less-than-normal apple crop, local winemaker Richard Carle said today his grapes are doing just fine.

"Our grapes are doing fine," he said. "They have deep roots, and we're not looking for the big fat juicy grapes. The smaller ones are more concentrated and better for wine."

Carle and his wife, Anita, own Prospect Hill Winery on Orrills Hill Road in West Lebanon. They've been pursuing their passion to make distinctive, quality wines for about seven years now.

Their 14 varieties of grapes are used to produce some 15 different wines, all of them on the dry side.

Carle said the wines selling this year are from last year's crop, and some have already sold out, including a rose and a couple of whites.

"There was a lot of demand for white wine this summer due to the heat," he said. "Once the weather cools down there will be more demand for the red."

The Carles hold public tastings every Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

Sept. 17 is Open Winery Day in Maine, however, so that weekend they'll be available for tastings and tours of the vineyard both Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

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