We recently received another confirmation that our guests feel right at home while staying at the Winthrop Estate. Of course, we receive lots of feedback from guests and friends telling us how happy and satisfied they are with the luxurious accommodations and warm atmosphere. But this was not a written confirmation of satisfaction– it came in the form of a bathrobe. One evening Jamie encountered one of our guests walking around the house in his bathrobe (we provide Cypress cotton robes to all our guests). He was admiring the original brass hinges and old bell system on the second floor, and he and Jamie got into an amiable conversation about the history of the house. Our guest had his camera in hand and was taking pictures of interesting details. Jamie was so flattered at his appreciation and his obvious relaxed and at-home demeanor. We know we’re doing a good job when guests wear the bathrobes around the house!
The first year of the Winthrop Estate CSA has already yielded a delicious and ample crop of all sorts of leafy greens. Lettuce, spinach, leeks, potatoes, beets, turnips, chives, basil, peas, garlic and more are apart of the regular deliveries made to neighbors and one of our favorite local restaurants, NUDEL. We started the garden three years ago after being introduced to a wonderful gardner who helped us plant the first year, and were hooked ever since. Fresh, organic, local produce is a luxury that becomes quickly addictive. The veggies taste great and are full on energy! Sharing the season’s crop among the program members will consume most of the harvest, but there will still always be some for the guests of the Winthrop Estate to enjoy over the course of their summer. Come to the estate and experience it for yourself! There is no shortage of good wine, good food or good company here.
We just got a great review on Wedding Wire from a couple who was recently at the Winthrop Estate for their lovely weekend wedding. See their comments on their mansion wedding weekend.
Here’s another appreciative bride and groom expressing their satisfaction for a fabulous wedding weekend. I love getting these notes and love posting them!
As secluded as the Winthrop Estate may seem when you’re on the property, we are still a large contributor to our community. Hosting an annual neighborhood summer solstice barbecue at the mansion is one way in which we like to stay involved. Last Friday, the residents of Yokun Avenue, family and friends gathered on the verandah and great lawn to enjoy an extraordinarily scrumptious potluck meal. Dish after dish, the buffet table began to run out of space as guests arrived. Only a half-hour into the festivities I became tempted to snap a photo of the plentiful bounty of food before me. Each dish was equally exquisite as the last. Robust salads, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, organic grass-fed burgers, fantastic vegetarian options, and delectable desserts awaited consumption. It was obvious; our guests had been competing to see who would prepare the best dish for the barbecue. It seems that free market competition works in business and potluck parties.
The full swing of summer is upon us. Preparing the estate for weddings, family reunions and even neighborhood barbecues has kept the entire staff quite busy. Manicuring the gardens, grounds, and interior of the estate is not an easy task, but that’s not to say their work goes unnoticed. Watching the arrivals of guests is one gratifying experience for many who work here. Exclamations of praise for the estate’s beauty, tasteful decorations and elegance have become a regular occurrence. One wedding guest in particular, a concert pianist who has traveled to many old estates across the U.S and Europe, praised Jamie for her unparalleled ability to maintain and manage “one of the most elegant, well staffed, and classy estates he had ever visited.” Going above and beyond the status quo to ensure an outstanding experience for all of our guests is our primary objective. From the perfectly arranged table setting to the well-manicured garden and lawn, our home is your home, and we take pride in that.
One of the busiest days of the year in Lenox is undoubtedly Independence Day. With James Taylor performing at Tanglewood 4 times in the last 5 days, it’s no wonder our little town has turned into one big traffic jam. As hectic as it may seem, there are some clever ways to avoid the overwhelming masses of visitors. For example, sitting on the verandah of the estate and watching the Boston Pops Firework show shoot straight out of the trees is one way the staff of the estate likes to celebrate. A secluded birthday party for America with sparklers, s’mores and great company seemed fitting after a few busy weeks at work.
This photo montage on the Winthrop Estate shows, in about 30 seconds, a glimpse of the property, as it has been restored to its original use as a Gilded Age mansion for hosting and entertaining guests over that last seven years by the owners.
Guests are welcome to enjoy the produce from the organic vegetable gardens at the Winthrop Estate. We have three varieties of lettuce this year in the lower garden, and another three exotic lettuce varieties in the lawn garden. They are much stronger tasting that the kind we get at the store– more lettuce-y tasting! Guests are welcome to pick their own for lunch, and sometime the chefs incorporate the produce into the celebratory meals. The weather has been good for the garden lately. The peas are shooting up their climbing fence and the garlic we planted last fall is coming in strong. Almost everything has started to visibly grow, and it’s not even June yet!
Late at night, after the wedding reception and dancing, as they stand on the verandah, they pose, this fun group of friends of the bride, for a picture of their hands.
The Winthrop Estate was originally created as a summer home in 1875 for Henri Braem, U.S. Ambassador to Denmark.
In 2003, the property was bought by Ethan and Jamie Berg who embarked on a five-year restoration of the buildings and grounds in order to return the estate to its original purpose- a beautiful retreat in the country.
The Winthrop Estate is open year-round and hosts elegant weddings, private parties, corporate retreats, celebrations, distinctive getaways, reunions and extraordinary family vacations.
For more information, visit The Winthrop Estate. Contact us at WinthropEstate @ gmail . com
As secluded as the Winthrop Estate may seem when you’re on the property, we are still a large contributor to our community. Hosting an annual neighborhood summer solstice barbecue at the mansion is one way in which we like to stay involved. Last Friday, the residents of Yokun Avenue, family and friends gathered on the verandah and great lawn to enjoy an extraordinarily scrumptious potluck meal. Dish after dish, the buffet table began to run out of space as guests arrived. Only a half-hour into the festivities I became tempted to snap a photo of the plentiful bounty of food before me. Each dish was equally exquisite as the last. Robust salads, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, organic grass-fed burgers, fantastic vegetarian options, and delectable desserts awaited consumption. It was obvious; our guests had been competing to see who would prepare the best dish for the barbecue. It seems that free market competition works in business and potluck parties.
