Erin Hepinstall, Wine & Cheese Manager her at the Farm. You know her, you love her, and your missing out if you haven’t tried one of her artisanal cheese or wine selections. Erin first joined the team in 2016 and has since risen to the heading up one of our tastiest departments, a role examining the beauty & art of wine and cheese.
After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, and as she prepared for the years of adulthood ahead of her, she wanted one more summer of island fun, reminiscing on childhood memories.
“I grew up coming to the island with my family every summer as a little kid”.
As a senior in college, she began thinking about spending one last summer working on the island before getting a ‘real job’, and here she is seven years later! Starting in the Deli, making the island’s best breakfast sandwiches, she returned the next two summers and finally signed on as a year-rounder in the fall of 2019. First as our cheesemonger, slicing artisan cheeses all day and taking over the whole department in 2020. The wine and cheese departments have always been closely tied together so she was able to learn a ton on both fronts, eventually taking on the title of Wine & Cheese manager at the beginning of 2023!
“After Summer ’16, I spent some time as a barista in my hometown for awhile. Did my first full year-round Nantucket from fall ’17 through ’18. The following summer, I came back for a brief stint at Glidden’s Seafood (if you haven’t tried Sharon’s stuffed quahogs, you’re really missing out), and found my way back to the farm that fall and the rest is history, as they say.”
Originally from Upton, MA. Erin said living in Nantucket fulfills a childhood dream, and we see her gratitude for every day!
“it’s fulfilling a childhood dream of mine to live out here, so that’s definitely one reason I came. I’ve stayed because the community I found & built in my time out here. It’s pretty special stuff!”
When asked why she decided to stay, Erin had a lot to say about the farmily, and the island community.
“The farm is where I’ve found some of my closest and dearest friends. I love working with new people every summer and being able to help them out or introduce them to something new—wine, cheese, or otherwise! It’s been a very supportive environment for me over the years. Plus working for and with Mj Mojer is icing on the cake, really,”
Like many things in life, Erin’s role as Wine & Cheese Manager happened randomly.
“It was almost an accident, really. I was really great at wrapping cheese and was asked to help out, it took off from there! My love for food and dining has definitely informed my positions here. Learning about the world of wine – particularly our small production, natural wines – is always challenging and fascinating to me. And being able to marry my love of food and well-farmed produce with the wine industry has been so much fun.”
When asked how she spends her time outside the walls of the Farm Market, Erin said she enjoys long walks, reading and cooking for friends – spaces where she continues to learn and her personality thrives.
“I’ve always been a big reader. I love to cook and bake for my friends and I also LOVE a good walk! I’ll walk all over this place any day.”
On her favorite parts of Nantucket Erin had to say Fishermen’s is the best beach and the seasonality is great.
It can be tricky to get used to the ebbs and flows of the island’s seasonality. I think regardless of season, there’s always something to look forward to in the upcoming one. I love how lucky we are to have so many local farms providing us with good food. Using seasonal and local ingredients when I cook is huge for me, and it’s such a treat to have so many options.
if you ask for her favorite wine & cheese you’ll always get a new answer.
“This is like asking me to pick a favorite child, but right now I am really into a chillable red and I’m always a sucker for the Kaltbach cheese.”
And when asked for her favorite farm grown produce, she told us she cant resist the watermelons.
“Everyone who knows me, knows I’m a nut for the watermelons – especially the Orange Crushes”
Find Erin in the Wine section most days, and at the Farm Stand on fridays after 4pm for Wines & Rinds where she picks her favorite wine and cheese pairing of the week and talks all things in the wine & cheese world!