To All Oysters

Wellfleet Oyster

Wellfleet, MA
Wellfleet Oysters are likely the most popular and well-known of all New England oysters. The harbor’s richness supports both wild oysters and farmed oysters. Brine hounds love the oyster’s intense, but clean brine, and if put in a line up, they will choose a Wellfleet every time.

Oysterology

Product Specifications
  • Specie:
    Crassostrea virginica
  • Origin:
    Wellfleet, MA
    (USA)
  • Farmed & Wild: 2 to 3 years
  • Average Size:
    3.5 inches
  • Available:
    Year-round
Flavor Profile
Sharp brine with plump meats and a rounded seaweed finish.
Suggested Pairing:
Bourbon
Brine Intensity
Growout method
For wild Wellfleets, naturally setting spat attach to rocks or shells. Fisherman pick the oysters at low tide. For farmed Wellfleets, oyster seed is placed in fine mesh bags on racks, then moved to larger bags as they grow.
Site Details
  • Tides:
    Wellfleet Harbor; large 12-foot tides and several freshwater creeks.
  • Bottom:
    Clean, pebbled sand and rock with seaweed.
the Grower

Ian Holmes has been working with oysters for a long time. He started at fifteen years old as a farm hand for a family friend during the summer in high school. When Ian finished school, he decided to make his living on the water. It’s gratifying for him to be carrying on the legacy of the people that taught him how to farm and he’s energized by the prospect of passing down the craft to future generations. Ian also loves being surrounded by nature and the slower pace that farming affords.