By Holly Riddle
While Dreaming Tree Wines is hardly a newcomer to New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet shelves, the brand has recently received new life. In the words of Jeff Gomes, regional manager of The Wine Group, Dreaming Tree Wines’ parent company, “the [Dreaming Tree] brand that you see in the stores today is not what it has been.”
A complete brand overhaul has put an even greater emphasis on sustainability. While this has always been a core piece of Dreaming Tree’s identity, the renewed focus brings a breath of fresh air, with recent initiatives that compliment past endeavors, such as a partnership with The Nature Conservancy, which ensures that, for each bottle of Dreaming Tree cabernet sauvignon or Crush Red Blend purchased, a tree is planted. To date, this long-standing partnership has resulted in hundreds of thousands of trees planted.
Now, taking the commitment to sustainability several steps further, Dreaming Tree is sourcing sustainably grown grapes from California for its red wines. New packaging is more eco- and Earth-friendly. Lighter wine bottles generate fewer carbon emissions during production and transportation (in fact, the new bottles are a third lighter than a typical wine bottle). Naked corks negate the need to toss a foil capsule in the trash, and labels are made from recycled paper.
“Sustainability has become such an important factor in consumers’ purchasing decisions,” Gomes said, also noting, “These are all things that the brand was meant to be about. It was part of the brand’s DNA when it first hit the market many years ago… Now, we’re back to that and wine publications have taken notice.”
In 2024, Wine Enthusiast gave all of Dreaming Tree’s red varietals 90-point scores. That said, Gomes is quick to point out that, though Dreaming Tree’s wines have been highly rated, the stigma that often accompanies fine wines has been stripped away from the brand.
“[We] make these wines that are highly rated,” he said, “but also approachable for all consumers to enjoy…It’s not pretentious…You can drink a really high-end wine at a very reasonable price point.”
As the Wine Enthusiast scores might allude, Dreaming Tree Wines is very red wine centric. According to Gomes, the Crush Red Blend, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir drive a large portion of the brand’s sales. While the chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are certainly delicious, customers still gravitate toward Dreaming Trees’ reds, and they’re even among Gomes’ personal favorites. If you’re interested in trying the new and improved Dreaming Tree Wines for yourself, he recommends picking up a bottle of the cabernet sauvignon, which retails for $14.99 at New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet locations.
“It really punches above its weight class,” Gomes described. “It’s not overly fruit-forward. It has good structure and nice tannins — and you’re getting a super value.”
Whatever you sample from Dreaming Tree’s family of wines, your purchase will go toward supporting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly wine industry — and, as Gomes posed, when you can do that while enjoying amazing wine at the same time, without sacrificing quality, taste and flavor profile, why wouldn’t you?
Be sure to check out Dreaming Tree Wines’ participation in the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet’s 90 Years of Cheers celebration, featuring in-outlet tastings and a chance to win two Epic Ski Passes! This exciting prize gives you access to some of the best ski resorts across New Hampshire and New England. Visit 90yearsofcheers.com for a chance to enter and experience the thrill of the slopes!
By Holly Riddle
