Connecticut Wine Trail 

Western

Jones Winery - Shelton Connecticut

For over one hundred and fifty years, six generations of the Jones family have farmed their land in the White Hills of Shelton, Connecticut. The Jones Winery continues the family tradition of growing high quality crops that celebrate the great bounty of local farmlands. The farm's vineyard and famous berry harvests allow the winery to create a wonderful selection of traditional grape wines and specialty fruit wines.

MCLAUGHLIN VINEYARDS - Sandy Hook, wine tasting, hiking trails, Housatonic River

We invite you to experience the natural, New England charm of the McLaughlin farm. Hike our trails along the Housatonic River, picnic at the edge of the vineyards, browse through our selection of fine wines and our own maple products produced and bottled right here at our winery and sugarhouse. Our 160 acre family farm was purchased by our grandparents in the early 1940's. Today the farm is in the third generation and we are dedicated to preserving it for many generations to come.

DIGRAZIA VINEYARDS - Brookfield, Connecticut winery, table wine, dessert wine

DiGrazia Vineyards was founded in 1978 with a planting of a forty-five acre vineyard. The winery was founded in 1984, with an initial release of four brands of wine.

White Silo Winery

White Silo Winery is a small winery located in the Litchfield hills in the rural town of Sherman.

HOPKINS VINEYARD - Lake Waramaug, winery, wine bar, red table wine

Set on the northern shore of Lake Waramaug, Hopkins Vineyard, a family-owned Connecticut Century Farm, proudly maintains a tradition of making fine wines of award- winning quality. In 1787 Elijah Hopkins, returning from the Revolutionary War, chose this rich and fertile site on Lake Waramaug to settle his family and start the Hopkins Farm. Our farm has witnessed many diversified forms of agriculture over the years including the raising of sheep, race horses, grain crops, tobacco, and in the more recent past dairy farming. In 1979 the first vines were planted and our 19th century barn was converted into a state-of-the-art winery.

HAIGHT VINEYARD - Litchfield, winemaking, wine train, Chardonnay

More than two decades ago, Haight Vineyard planted Chardonnay and Riesling on the slopes of the Litchfield Hills, near the historic town of Litchfield. In 1978, the State Legislature passed a Farm Winery Act and Haight Vineyard became Connecticut's first established winery.

LAND OF NOD WINERY - Canaan, Connecticut wine tasting, Historic Canaan Railroad Days

Nationally recognized as a bicentennial farm, The Land of Nod Winery, situated in the northwest corner of Connecticut, has been serving the local community for over nine generations. Located on 200 acres of rolling farmland, we planted our first vines in 1994 and opened as a production winery in 1998.

JERRAM WINERY - New Hartford, Connecticut winery, table wine, dessert wine, White Frost Chardonnay

With the help of family, Jim Jerram opened his boutique winery on a ten acre section of a former dairy farm in 1999. It is located in the historic area of old Town Hill in New Hartford, the foothills of scenic Litchfield County. A new tasting room was opened in 2004 in a restored Arts & Crafts Creamery that was built in 1903 for making butter.

The Eastern Wine Trail 

GOUVEIA VINEYARDS - Wallingford, Connecticut winery, table wine, dessert wine

Welcome to Gouveia Vineyards. The winery is open to the public Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and is located at 1339 Whirlwind Hill Road in Wallingford, CT.

Bishop's Orchards Winery - Guilford Connecticut, Connecticut winery, table wine, dessert wine

Since 1871, six generations of Bishop's have been serving Connecticut with farm products. Bishop's Orchards Winery offers their own wine & other fine Connecticut wines 7 days a week. Bishop's Orchards Winery has taken the superb reputation and flavor of Bishop's Sweet Apple Cider and aged it into wine with a fresh, fruity bouquet. Other specialty wines created by Bishop's blend flavors of other fruits we grow: peaches, pears and raspberries, as well as honey and spices to delight the palette.

CHAMARD VINEYARDS - Clinton, Connecticut winery, day trip, Long Island Sound

Chamard Vineyards was founded in 1983 by the William R. Chaney family. The first vines were planted in the spring of 1984, a 5.5 acre vineyard consisting primarily of Chardonnay with a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. From 1986 through 1992 the remaining acreage was prepared and planted, for a combined total of 20 acres. In the summer of 1988, the winery was constructed and Chamard became a licensed farm winery. The first wine, a 1988 Chardonnay was released for sale in November of 1989. Current production is 5,000 cases annually.

STONINGTON VINEYARDS - Connecticut winery, seaport blush, Winery Tours

Stonington Vineyards was established by Nick and Happy Smith in 1987, when purchasing 58 acres in the Stonington Uplands on which winegrapes had been planted earlier in the decade. The winery was constructed in 1988/89 incorporating the latest in winemaking technology and the traditional methods of barrel fermentation. From the start, Mike McAndrew has been the Winemaker, garnering the reputation for producing quality, European-style table wines that have won numerous awards over the years. Stonington is best known for its barrel fermented Chardonnays and its proprietory blends. We also produce, as varietals, Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Cabernet Franc.

Jonathan Edwards Winery - winery, North Stonington, Connecticut

Located in the quaint town of North Stonington, Jonathan Edwards Winery is situated on a beautiful hilltop near Mystic Seaport and other coastal attractions. Established in January 2001 by the Edwards family, the winery, overlooking the Long Island Sound and Connecticut shoreline, is the ideal place to enjoy our premium Napa Valley wines. The winery is located inside of a converted 1880 dairy barn, and is adorned with an elegant stone patio. The patio, tasting room, deck, and picnic areas are all ideal places to spend an afternoon. Whether you are a family on a weekend getaway, or a serious wine connoisseur out to enjoy intricate wines crafted from select Napa Valley vineyards, you are sure to enjoy yourself. The Edwards family has put a tremendous amount of love into our wines, and we hope that this spills into any occasion in which our wines may grace your table.

Heritage Trail Vineyard - Lisbon, winemaking, wine train, Chardonnay

This family-run winery is just north of Norwich on Route 169, one of only two Connecticut roads identified as National Scenic Highways. In an area known as the "last green valley" in the Boston-Washington corridor, this artery takes the visitor through the Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor, a 32-mile long drive of picture-postcard New England villages between Lisbon and southern Massachusetts. In spite of the major economic and population growth of the last century, this region continues to have the attributes of a quieter past - pasture and woodland amidst rivers, ponds and lakes, small villages and towns with a rural lifestyle. Owned by Diane M. Powell, the 39-acre 18th century farm, fallow for many years, was transformed into vineyards and winery by 1996 to reflect her California origins. The tasting room is located inside an el on the back of the antique house where wines may be sampled before the fireplace in winter or on the adjoining deck in summer. A five-acre backyard with gardens, the vineyards a short walk in the distance, provides a beautiful view to accompany the special flavors of handcrafted wines.

Priam Vineyard - Colchester, Connecticut wine tasting, Chardonnay

Priam Vineyards was founded in 1998 in the historic town of Colchester, CT by Gloria Priam and her husband Gary Crump. The vineyard was named for Gloria's grandfather, Andrew, who had vineyards in Hungary in the early 1900's. They started with the intent of being growers, but quickly escalated to a winery as they realized the quality of product being produced from their land. In 2002, Priam Vineyards became a licensed farm winery, and opened to begin marketing their wines in April of 2003. Priam Vineyards is open every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and select holidays, 11am to 5 pm, March through December, for tastings and self-guided tours of the vineyard.

SHARPE HILL VINEYARD - Pomfret, Connecticut winery, day trips, wine garden

Sharpe Hill Vineyard is Connecticut's largest and most award winning winery located in the historic town of Pomfret-just minutes from scenic Route 169 and from the Putnam antiques district. Sharpe Hill is also centrally located from many points in New England-75 minutes from Boston, 45 minutes from Worcester, 55 minutes from Providence and 55 minutes from Hartford. The Tasting Room is open year round for wine tasting and purchase of wine every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11-5. The Fireside Tavern is open year round for dining and private events by reservation only. We recommend booking well in advance.

Wineries in Connecticut 

CONNECTICUT WINE TRAIL - WINERY TOURS - Connecticut wine tasting ...

The Connecticut Wine Trail offers wine tasting and tours at seven vineyards in Connecticut: Chamard Vineyard, Digrazia Vineyard, Haight Vineyard, ...

Connecticut Wineries CT

Connecticut wineries including directions, winery reviews, Connecticut wine tasting events, and contact information for all wineries in Connecticut.

Winery Index - Connecticut

Connecticut Winery Index, from Lisa Shea. Interested in wineries in Connecticut? Look no further!

Connecticut Wineries Vineyards Guide - Tours, Tastings, Sales of ...

Connecticut has one of the New England region's best climates for grape growing and wine production. Here's your guide to wineries and vineyards throughout ...

Great Stuff on Amazon 

A geography of vineyards and wineries in Connecticut

by Darlene Boynton

Amazon Price: (as of 10/13/2008)

A taste from the state's wine trail.(Brief Article): An article from: Fairfield County Business Journal

by R. Protomastro

Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 10/13/2008)

New Guestbook 

KimGiancaterino Very interesting. I love to visit wineries around the country. Congratulations on becoming a Giant Squid! Posted July 03, 2008