Sipping Connecticut’s Finest
The Connecticut Wine Trail carries a tremendous variety of wine styles and stunning scenery as you meander through this beautiful state at any given time of the year. The trail has a collection of over 40 vineyards and wineries statewide. And while I wish I could visit them all during my time here in New England, it simply was not doable. Yet, that didn’t stop me from trying to visit as many as possible! Because there’s nothing better than relaxing and sipping a glass of one of Connecticut’s fine local wines with a countryside or coastal view. Here are a few of my favorites or ones that I have been to multiple times.
Saltwater Farm Vineyard
I think this is my favorite vineyard to date! Located in beautiful Stonington, Saltwater Farm is bordered by the tidal marshes of Wequetequock Cove. This property began as an airfield in the early 1900’s and was later converted into a vineyard. The WWII-era vintage hangar was preserved and reimagined as a winery. The building now showcases a vaulting roof, a milled aluminum exterior, original wood sheathing, and massive timber trusses.
https://www.saltwaterfarmvineyard.com/
Holmberg Orchards and Winery
One of the closest wineries to us, Holmberg Orchards is located in Gales Ferry. They produce both grape and fruit wines, as well as hard ciders on-site in their farm winery. Holmberg’s is also a great place for apple and pumpkin picking!
https://www.holmbergwinery.com
Stonington Vineyards
Best known for its barrel fermented Chardonnay and its proprietory blends Seaport White and Triad Rose, Stonington Vineyards has been around since the late 1980’s. Their wines convey a kind of European-style and their attitude conveys importance on quality not quantity. Obviously located in Stonington, Stonington Vineyards was one of the first Connecticut wineries on the Connecticut Wine Trail. One of my favorite things about this vineyard is the view looking out from the building- the rows of grape vines that seem to extend towards you from a hilly tree landscape… it’s especially stunning to take in during the fall!
Jonathan Edwards Winery
Jonathan Edwards is a unique winery because they merged a west coast operation with living on the east coast, creating a bi-coastal winery. As they say: “New England Charm. Napa Style.” They settled in North Stonington, an area with a rich history in both agriculture and industry. Although the milling industry is long gone, you can see that the agricultural nature still thrives as you travel through the area.
Staehly Tree Farm & Winery
East Haddem holds one of the cutest wineries that carries an abundance of excellent fruit wines, as well as New England hard ciders made from locally grown apples. Family-owned since 1985, Staehly’s also sells an array of things from their tree farm, greenhouse, and farm in general.
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Our roots will forever be from here, America, born and raised. Yet, life requires us to move more frequently than we care to count. Whether living stateside or abroad, you can always find us traveling somewhere. We scout out places that you only think you can dream of one day seeing and we seek out those that aren’t found in guidebooks. We then bring them to life here in our travel memos, so hopefully, one day you too can visit them or at least be able to live vicariously through us. This blog isn’t just about crossing off places from a bucket list. It’s about absorbing and learning how other cultures grow and fit into the same world that we do. Life is short and the world is big. Enjoy and get out there!
American Roots. Traveling Boots. 