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Aaronap Cellars has announced the release of HOPPED!, an innovative dry white wine that brings together the flavors and traditions of wine and beer. Crafted with Chardonnay grapes grown at the winery’s Coastal Vineyard in South Dartmouth and dry-hopped with Citra hops, HOPPED! offers a distinctive combination of bright citrus, stone fruit and apple characteristics.
The release marks the second exploration by Aaronap Cellars into the emerging intersection of wine and hops. The winery’s original hopped wine, released several years ago, featured a complex blend of Nelson Sauvin and Calypso hops with Cayuga grapes. HOPPED! takes a more focused approach, pairing Chardonnay with Citra hops to create a crisp, aromatic wine with a distinctly citrus-forward profile.
“HOPPED! is really an exploration of what happens when you bring two very different beverage worlds together,” said Noel, CEO and winemaker at Aaronap Cellars. “I’ve always loved the bright citrus character of a good IPA, and adding hops to wine has been a fun way to experiment with those flavors.”
The result has already earned recognition, with HOPPED! receiving a Silver Medal at the 2026 Big E Wine Competition.
The wine has also received an enthusiastic response from the winemaker’s family. After tasting the new release, Noel’s wife described it as, “Yum! A beer-y Sauvignon Blanc!”
Hops are the cone-shaped flowers of Humulus lupulus, a climbing vine most commonly associated with beer production. Their essential oils and bitter acids contribute botanical, citrus and herbal flavors to styles such as IPAs, pale ales and pilsners. By dry-hopping the Chardonnay wine, Aaronap Cellars incorporates some of those aromatic qualities while retaining the characteristics of the underlying wine.
Aaronap Cellars is touting HOPPED! as the only hopped grape wine made in New England, offering wine enthusiasts and craft beer fans an opportunity to experience a unique crossover between the two beverages.
HOPPED! will be available for sampling at Aaronap Cellars’ farm market locations beginning this week. Customers can also schedule a private tasting at the winery, where they can sample HOPPED! and other Aaronap Cellars wines in the winery’s basement cellar where the wines are crafted, aged and bottled.
For more information or to schedule a private tasting, visit Aaronap Cellars or contact the winery directly.
About Aaronap Cellars
Aaronap Cellars is a Massachusetts winery producing handcrafted wines from locally grown grapes. Located in South Dartmouth, the winery is committed to exploring unique winemaking techniques while creating distinctive wines that reflect the character of the region.
