Vintage in the Village in Gagetown New Brunswick

I Heard it Through the Grapevine

Vintage in the Village wine tasting walk is so popular that it sells out almost immediately. For that reason, I truly thought I had missed my opportunity to go this year. However, I heard through the grapevine that there were a few villagers who were unable to go at the last minute and I just so happened to be at the right place at the right time, two days before the event. You see, it is well known that Gagetown knows how to throw a wine tasting tour and absolutely everyone wants to be in on it. Finally, I got my chance and luckily Lang House B & B had a room still available for me to bring my friend Laurie along, too.

11th Annual Vintage in the Village

This year, Gagetown celebrated its 11th Annual Vintage in the Village. Eleventh! I’ve got some catching up to do as this was only my first - but, I assure you, it won’t be my last. This wee picturesque village, nestled on the Saint John River, pulls out all the stops for this fall fundraiser. Mother Nature even cooperated with a bright sunny warm day. I think she knew better after the organizers had to reschedule around Hurricane Dorian on the original date. This village is resilient. They faced flooding this year (again) and then braced for a hurricane, but nothing was going to stop this wine tasting tour. If you plan it - they will come.

Put a Lid On It Campaign

Vintage in the Village showcases Gagetown at its best and it is always for a good cause. The focus for all Gagetown fundraisers this year is putting a new roof on the Queens County Court House and on the recently relocated Loomcrofters Studio. You have to admire this village and their tenacity and hardwork to better their community.

Wine & Friends are a Great Blend

Wine a little and laugh a lot. This well organized event allows you lots of time to wander off and browse antique, artisan, craft and gift shops as you walk the village following the Vintage in the Village map & guide to historical sites and heritage homes where you are met with wine samples and tasty appetizers. It’s all for fun and fun for all. You begin and end at the Court House where you receive your participation bracelet and first glass of wine and meet others doing the same. Then you are off with an empty wine glass in hand on a mission to mix & mingle with good friends, good wine and good food for a good time. I was impressed that Bankside Cottage Gallery was also offering food & wine, as well as, a special draw for a lovely piece of original art. It seemed that everyone in the village was in the spirit of the day.

Time to Wine Down

Once back at the Court House, it was time to wine down, enjoy more food and trade your wine glass in for a beautiful pottery goblet as a treasured keepsake of the event. Each year a different Queens County potter is highlighted on the tour. This year, it was Liza McDonald. You can find her on Facebook at Liza’s Pottery. An auction, with several donated items and gift baskets, wrapped up the Wine Tasting Tour. Although, The Old Boot Pub started rocking with local talent, great music and dancing for those wanting to continue on. Laurie and I decided we would head back to Lang House and enjoy a quieter evening, but I heard great things about the pub’s evening activities the next day from other guests at the B & B. All in all, this was one great day.

Lang House B & B

Marian and Bruce Langhus are the owners and gracious hosts of Lang House Bed & Breakfast on 58 Front Street. This is is a delightful heritage home in downtown Gagetown that was originally built in 1880 by River Boat Captain Harvey Weston. Comfy, quiet and cozy rooms await you here adorned with beautiful quilts. You awaken to freshly brewed coffee and Bruce cooks up a mean breakfast. We were even treated to some peach mimosas - hair of the dog, so to say. Delish, I say!

Antique Quilts

This interesting duo are not only great conversationalists but uber-talented in their own right. Marian lovingly rescues, restores, researches, collects and sells antique & vintage quilts. Click on the Antiquequilts.blog photo link below to see her collection of quilts and the background behind them. Impressively, some primitive quilts date back to the early 1800’s. This is a labour of love, that ignited a passion, that began when Marian decided in 2016 for Lent she would work on something to fix every day!

Wood Carving

Bruce is a wood carver with a flair especially for First Nations sculpture. His working studio is on the main floor of Lang House with masks on display throughout the home’s main level. My favourite is the viking proudly in a place of honour in their great room above the fireplace. The Berserker on the workbench is his latest creation. Berserkers, Bruce shared, were a special group of viking warriors who went into battle without traditional amour. They draped animal pelts, typically from bears or wolves over them. There must have been some good wacky tobaccy back then! Although Bruce looks like a darling in the kitchen, I think he is a secret warrior in his studio carving up these fascinating masks. Together Marian & Bruce have also become flood water mitigation, and climate change experts from their real life experience living in a flood zone. They have been interviewed by local and national TV & radio for their risk reduction steps utilized living in a riverside home & business.

2023 Update:

Marian & Bruce have since sold their home and have moved to another within the village and Lang House B & B is no longer in operation. However, there are several other places to overnight in Gagetown: including Gulliver’s Guest Suites and The May Queen to name a couple that I have personally stayed in. This summer in 2023, I also partnered with Fredericton Capital Region Tourism for an ongoing blog series to inspire visitors and locals to experience life well crafted in the Fredericton Capital Region. One of my articles - Discover Arcadia - focussed on the new larger village of Arcadia encompassing the former villages of Gagetown, Jemseg, and Cambridge-Narrows. I hope it will whet your appetite to follow in my footsteps or make your own plan to discover all of Arcadia's treasures. See links below for more information.

This post was originally sponsored by Lang House; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads & Twitter. Be the first to receive my latest articles by clicking on the ‘subscribe’ link at the top of this page. Share articles you love with your social media community. There’s No Place Like Home!