OBADIAH IS NO PHOENIX

THE HARD DECISION has taken a year. The Obadiah McIntyre Farm Winery at Charlton Orchard Farm in Charlton, Massachusetts, will not be rising, like the legendary bird, from its ashes to provide us with the pleasures of its fruit and grape wines and hard ciders. Recall that the winery was destroyed by suspected arson on the night of August 2, 2O15, (see October 2O15 issue of this publication). Evidence against a “person of interest” is judged insufficient for prosecution. The winery’s incineration was complicated by questions raised about the fire department’s performance in fighting the blaze, and owner/winemaker Nate Benjamin Jr.’s life was complicated by months of bureaucratic and financial hurdles, while he went through the equivalent of the several stages of mourning. The decision not to rebuild is dictated by funding realities.
The orchard will continue through the natural vicissitudes of this unnatural year. Nate expects a bumper crop next year. We shall miss his elixirs.   -Harvey Finkel