about
We are making sophisticated and delicious wines from Maine-grown rhubarb. We get our rhubarb from local farmers and ferment, bottle, ship and pour it by hand at our location in Portland, Maine. Our wines are often mistaken for a traditional french Rosé, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon blanc.
Ground to glass, seed to sip… whatever you you call it, we think you can make great wines from produce found right here.
Amanda O'Brien
owner eighteen twenty wines
Amanda started eighteen twenty wines in 2015 with a friend who had been home-brewing rhubarb wine. When she tried it, she had the same reaction everyone else does when they have it "this actually tastes good".
Amanda has a strong background in marketing, had worked professionally in the wine industry, and wanted to take on the challenge of bringing a good wine to market made with local produce (rhubarb).
She has taken her love of wine and Maine, her marketing experience, and constant curiosity to keep eighteen twenty growing.
Amanda is also the Director of Marketing at DAVO Technologies and is the mother to an awesome little boy named Emmett and a spunky vizsla named Milo. She grew up and currently resides on Peaks Island with her husband, Alex (see below).
Alex Denniston
winemaker
Alex started his journey at eighteen twenty on the other side of the bar... Mostly due to his interest in Amanda. After a couple of weekends hanging around, he offered to help do some dishes when she got busy. After a couple of weeks he was able to help explain the wines to patrons. Fast forward a couple of years, he is now the head winemaker, and--while sneaking some dating in to all that wine business--even proposed. They (and her son, their dog Milo) live year round on Peaks Island.
Alex has a degree in engineering and while has no formal winemaking training, through a mix of research, trial and error, and pestering experts near and far, he's helped bring what eighteen twenty had started to a new level. He has expanded the wine offerings and big a big contributor to the company’s growth. He's excited to help create a product that isn't just a novelty but a serious testament to Maine agriculture, resourcefulness, and community.
Alex is also an innovation and strategy consultant.