Sampling affordable wines at a fundraiser for affordable homes

FALLS VILLAGE — The wines available for tasting at the Habitat for Humanity auction Saturday, July 11, are inexpensive.

This is by design, said Fred Tregaskis of New England Wine Cellars, who came up with the list with Little Gates Wine Merchants in Millerton.

Tregaskis said the wines all retail for under $15 a bottle.

“That was the idea — value wines,� he said.

The wines (with Tregaskis’ comments):

Vespailo — An Italian sparkling wine that is more complex and less sweet than the usual Prosecco, with the small bubbles found in more expensive sparkling wines, and a taste of green apples.

Berger Gruner Veltliner — An Austrian white. The refreshing hay-harvesting-peasant flavors make you feel like you are part of a Bruegel painting.

Tierra de Luna — A big floral surprise from Argentina’s popular white grape, the Torrontes. Think Creamsicle, with a good acid finish for balance.

Senorio de Iniesta — A Spanish rose, made from the unusual Babol grape. A bit richer and darker than most rosés.

Indaba Shiraz — From Stellenbach South Africa, this rich red wine has a pipe tobacco nose with ripe fruit, molasses and smoked bacon fat flavors.

Cartlidge & Browne Cabernet Sauvignon — A classic California Cab with herbs and fruit.

Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc — A tropical sweet treat from Chile with flavors of honey and guava.

The wine tasting and auction to benefit Habitat for Humanity will be held Saturday, July 11, on the lawn at the home of Elyse and John Harney, 11 East Main St. in Salisbury, from 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased there.

Some of the items up for bid are: a handmade Victorian doll house; a week at a five-bedroom ski house in Deer Valley, Utah; a week at an oceanfront cottage in County Cork, Ireland; sculptor Ken Memoli’s “Tristan and Isolde;� and a two-week stay at YMCA Camp Sloane in Lakeville.

The auctioneer is Brian Ross, an investigative reporter for ABC News.

Jazz music will be provided by the Louise Baranger Trio.

Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut was founded in 1991 as a locally run affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. It serves the towns of North Canaan, Cornwall, Falls Village, Norfolk, Salisbury and Sharon.

To date, seven houses have been built, with an eighth under construction in Falls Village.

Most of the labor is donated, and individuals and corporate donors provide many of the materials to build Habitat homes.

Volunteers include local electricians, plumbers and builders, but also doctors, lawyers, office workers, students from schools in the areas, and others who want to help out.

Tregaskis is a well-known wine reviewer but his New England Wine Cellars designs and installs high-end wine cellars.

He has also just patented  the CellarMate, a climate control system that can be used for a wide variety of purposes.

The machine controls both temperature and humidity and can be installed by most contractors.

The electronics that control the units are simple and ordinary; Tregaskis’ customers are often out of the area, and there is a nationwide service company on line for any necessary repairs.

But it is so simple, Tregaskis promised, that “most plumbers can fix this.�

The advent of the device comes at a good time, as orders for wine cellars have dropped off. Tregaskis said he has customers for  the product from Montreal to Peru, and the CellarMate is being used for purposes as diverse as protecting music manuscripts and native American artifacts (and, of course, fine wine).