Our Story

Rooted in Family, Grown with Care

Anchor Rock Vineyards is a family-owned vineyard in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, founded by Steve and Kathryn Barwikowski. What began as a dream has become a thriving vineyard built on hard work, resilience, and a deep connection to the local community.

After a career in Boston’s financial services industry, Steve felt the pull to be closer to home and family. With Kathryn’s support—and their two children by their side—they set out to bring new life to a historic vineyard property less than a mile from the ocean and a short drive from the village of Padanaram.

Rebuilding the Land

Like other area farms, the property was originally a dairy farm with some of its barns dating back to 1840. Anne Webb originally planted the vineyard in 1980 under the name Apponagansett Bay Vineyard when it was a wholesale operation supplying grapes to wineries in New England for nearly four decades. Purchased in 2019, the property was in need of revitalization and miles of rusted wire and a worn trellis had to be replaced. The family and a small, dedicated crew led by Steve and Skott Rebello, rolled up their sleeves, clearing the land, restoring historic 19th-century barns, and planting more than 13,000 new vines.

Today, Anchor Rock Vineyards spans 28.5 acres, with 13 acres under vine. Half of the grapes are classic European vinifera varietals like Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Grigio while the other half are French-American hybrids, well-suited to New England’s climate. The result is a portfolio of crisp, aromatic wines that reflect both tradition and place.

Honoring History, Shaping the Future

The land itself has a long agricultural legacy and Anchor Rock Vineyards is writing the next chapter—one rooted in family, respect for the land, and a passion for sharing great wine with the community.

A family of four, two adults and two children, standing outdoors in a vineyard with grapevines in the background. They are all smiling and wearing casual clothing, with the adults and one child wearing matching sweatshirts that say 'Anchor Rock.'
A family of four, two adults and two children, standing outdoors in a vineyard with grapevines in the background. They are all smiling and wearing casual clothing, with the adults and one child wearing matching sweatshirts that say 'Anchor Rock.'
Two tractors are lifting a large boulder from a hole in the ground, with a person standing nearby observing.
Children and an adult walking across a plowed field on a farm, with farm buildings, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background.
A field with rows of blue plant protectors or tubes, extending toward the horizon under a partly cloudy sky.
A person wearing a white cap and green shirt using a tree spade to transplant a tree outdoors. The tree spade is attached to a red and black tractor, with a large wooden post leaning against it. The background shows a grassy field and some trees under a clear blue sky.
A glass of white wine and a bottle of Anchor Rock Padanaram White 2024 wine from Southeast New England, placed outdoors on a textured surface with a vineyard and a blue sky in the background.

Looking ahead

View of the inside of a building under construction with wooden beams, an unfinished roof, and construction materials and covered items on the floor.

Rebuilding a vineyard has been far more work than ever imagined. With the support of our local community and the dedication of a small team, we are excited to finally share our wines and the story behind them.

The back of a house with a white wall and a set of black metal stairs leading up to a door. The roof has three rusty metal chimney pipes. To the right, there's a satellite dish attached to the wall. In the background, a large leafy green tree and a clear blue sky are visible.
Two smiling men standing outdoors near a vineyard or grapevine trellis, crossing their arms, dressed casually in long sleeves, one in a hoodie and the other in a polo shirt, with trees in the background.
A wine glass filled with white wine and a bottle of Anchor Rock vineyards Cutthunk White 2024 estate grown wine on a round wooden surface outdoors with blurred green trees and a blue sky in the background.

“We’re really excited to show the local community what has been going on here. We haven’t had a chance to share our wine and have people smile and give us motivation to continue building. We’re dying to share what we’ve been doing.”

— Steve Barwikowski

Close-up of a yellow plastic crate filled with pinkish-purple grapes.
A smiling young boy wearing a black cap and a space-themed jacket stands behind a large yellow container filled with freshly picked dark purple grapes at a vineyard. In the background, two adults are seen among green grapevines, with a gray sky above.
Four people standing inside a wooden workshop, smiling at the camera. They are dressed casually, some in jackets and rubber boots, with shelves and various wooden materials in the background.
A woman operating a grape press outside surrounded by green trees on a sunny day.
A group of nine people, including children and adults, standing outdoors in a grassy field, smiling for a photo on a sunny day with a car, chairs, and trees in the background.
Three children and two adults riding an all-terrain vehicle through a vineyard with grapevines on both sides. The children are smiling, and one girl is gripping the side of the vehicle.
A rural landscape featuring a green field, a line of trees in the background, and a blue sky with scattered clouds. There is a small structure visible in the distance, possibly a barn or shed, on the right side of the image.