Bonaventura Vineyards: How a Maine Winery Opened in a Dry Town | Up+Adam on the Road

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParking This episode of Up+Adam lands in Hartford, Maine, at Bonaventura Vineyards, but the conversation quickly becomes about much more than wine. Adam sits down with Chad Casey and Jen Bonaventura to talk about the property they bought in 2015, the vines they planted themselves, the 1890s barn they cleaned out and later used for their own wedding, and the strange twist that came years later when they learned Hartford was still technically a dry town. What followed was part farming story, part small-town civics lesson, part marriage-and-business adventure. Chad and Jen had to explain their vision to the community, put alcohol sales to a town vote, and ultimately earn overwhelming support to move forward. Along the way, the conversation gets into the realities of growing grapes in Maine, from humidity and mildew to robins with an eye on the Marquette, plus the challenge of making wine in a climate that does not always cooperate. There is also a lot here about place. Bonaventura Vineyards sits above Little Bear Pond on a property that has become part vineyard, part gathering place, part event venue, and part home base for a dream that has taken years to build. Jen shares how the barn evolved almost organically into a wedding and event space, while Chad talks about learning his way through cold-climate grape growing and winemaking one season at a time. And in a rare Up+Adam appearance, Lady-I-Fancy joins the conversation too, making this one feel less like a formal interview and more like being invited into somebody’s world for an afternoon. • Bonaventura Vineyards: bonaventuravineyards.com • Instagram: @bonaventuravineyards • Facebook: Bonaventura Vineyards • Visit: 355 Berry Road, Hartford, Maine 04220 • Phone: (207) 332-4140 • Email: [email protected] ******** *PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL AFFILIATE FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS! Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel: Official Website: adammontiel.com Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music ******** CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK! ******** ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE! ******** FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM ********* Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them! Life Elements City of SLO WoodsHumaneSociety Tin City Distillery Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective Moonshiner on Spotify HERE Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com ©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.