Melissophobia is an intense, irrational fear of bees — and though not everyone trembles at the sound of “bzzz,” it often stirs unease. Yet honeybees closely resemble humans, with multiple generations living together in one hive, working in harmony to build something greater than themselves. At Sakonnet Vineyard, three honeybee nests were recently installed overlooking the vines — their gentle hum now a quiet symbol of the vineyard’s new direction under new management. 

The vineyard is approaching its 50th anniversary this year, and it’s not just the oldest in the state. “It’s actually the oldest vineyard in all of New England, and that’s one of the coolest things about it,” said Marissa Stashenko, the new director of operations. She spoke while driving one of the farm’s electric carts down the winding dirt road toward the newly installed beehives, all the while keeping an eye out for her husband, James Davids, who was busy working in the fields — and carefully avoiding the photographer’s camera. 

The couple, who developed a relationship with vineyard owner Carolyn Rafaelian over the years, took over operations in January of 2024. They’ve taken their commitment to the vineyard one step further by relocating to Little Compton — a move that Marissa was relieved to say “finished up (only two days ago) on Tuesday.” The move brings them closer to the vineyard so their vision can more easily come to life — a vision that not only returns the vineyard to its roots, but also gives people new reasons to visit. 

“All the customers that come have stories about, you know, having been to a wedding here years ago or having worked in the tasting room or in the vineyard when they were kids. So it’s really cool to hear all the stories about this place and know that it has that kind of history with the people in the community,” Marissa said. The vision is to create more of these stories for multiple generations in the area to share in the years to come. 

Solving a mystery, one bend at a time

“The local community is like the bread and butter here, especially through the off-season. There’s a big off-season, and because we’re off the beaten path, you know, we’re not getting people that drive by. It’s very intentional to come here,” Marissa said. 

The local community plays a huge role in allowing the vineyard to stay in business. “That’s really the strategy behind hosting so many different community events — to make sure we stay on the map and on people’s radar, not just during this time of year but in the off-season as well,” she added. 

Marissa spoke about the recent addition of the Sakonnet Green Market — a weekly farmers market made possible through a partnership with Tiverton Farmers Market and open to the public every Thursday. She pointed to the grassy area where the market will take place, adjacent to the picnic tables being set up with umbrellas by Matt Gant, the tasting room lead at Sakonnet Vineyard, for people to linger, take in the view, and, hopefully, enjoy some nice weather. 

This event, along with a summer concert series beginning on July 5, is one way to bring the vineyard back to its community roots. As Marissa pointed toward the courtyard where the concerts will take place, the all-too-familiar question about the mysterious animal sculptures — like the hippo family sitting beside the barn — was asked. 

Her answer came easily, as she repeats it often: “The animal sculptures that are found throughout the grounds of the farm were a gift to Carolyn, the owner.” As soon as that mystery was solved so was the “where is James?” one — as Marissa drove past her husband tilling the field. They both smiled and waved at each other — with James heading in the opposite direction as soon as the photographer pulled out his camera. 

Marissa also mentioned another mystery at the vineyard: the upcoming “Whodunit?” event debuting on July 12 — a murder mystery experience she hopes will become an annual tradition. It's another opportunity to showcase the gorgeous grounds of Sakonnet Vineyard and help put it back on the map. 

During peak summer months, the vineyard will offer many attractions to entice visitors, but Marissa, James, and their team are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure there’s something happening during the off-season, too.

The large tasting room has been renovated to include a much larger bar top for food service — chef-made and, when possible, using locally sourced ingredients — accompanied by live music to create a lively atmosphere and encourage guests to linger. There are also plans to insulate the barn for year-round use and a renewed focus on the culinary side of the farm, which once served as a hub for food classes and more. 

The vineyards tips on pairing wine with summer foods

Marissa and James are taking things slowly, incorporating these new (yet old) elements into the vineyard and building deeper connections with the community — organically. They’ve also taken steps to make their farming practices more organic by adding the three beehives to the property. 

The smell of fresh flowers might be the first thing visitors notice when walking up the stone path to the tasting room — almost like a tribute to the honeybee pollinators that remain mostly out of sight, much like the vineyard itself (and James) — mysteriously tucked away from the road, but with many new reasons to visit.