Connecticut

On the Trail of Great Wineries in Connecticut

Whether you love a bold red, a crisp white, or a sweet dessert wine, these Connecticut wineries can really pour it on.

By Yankee Magazine|Jul 26 2022| Print icon

On the Trail of Great Wineries in CT

Stonington Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Stonington Vineyards
So you’ve finally gotten around to tasting wine from such far-flung places as New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa. Get your corkscrew back out: Connecticut wineries are vying for your attention and your taste buds. The Nutmeg State is one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the U.S. and today boasts nearly 40 wineries. That’s more than enough to justify having its own official “wine trail” program. Whether you take up that wine trail challenge or just focus on enjoying a visit to a single lovely vineyard, keep in mind this sampling of great wineries in CT.

Great Wineries in Connecticut

Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Great Wineries in CT

Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Sharpe Hill Vineyard
Sharpe Hill Vineyard | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Sharpe Hill Vineyard

SHARPE HILL VINEYARD | POMFRET

Connecticut’s largest and most award-winning winery — as well as one of its most venerable — Sharpe Hill is situated on more than 100 acres of rolling farmland. Pair your wine sampling (don’t miss the famed citrusy-floral Ballet of Angels) with a meal on the terrace or in the charming upstairs dining room, both overlooking the picture-book vineyard. Named a 2009 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Wine Tasting Venue.”
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Sunset Meadow Vineyards
Sunset Meadow Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Sunset Meadow Vineyards

SUNSET MEADOW VINEYARDS | GOSHEN

With roots going back to 2001, this estimable 50-acre vineyard is still in the hands of founders Judy and George Motel, with son George IV managing the operations. Fan favorites include the crisp Cayuga White and the fruity Sunset Blush, which you can sip alongside a variety of cheeses and chocolates from local artisans. Named a 2010 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Family Winery.”
Gouveia Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Gouveia Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Gouveia Vineyards
Gouveia Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Gouveia Vineyards

GOUVEIA VINEYARDS | WALLINGFORD

As you sip smooth seyval blanc, smoky cabernet franc, or Stone House Red — a blend starring the only zinfandel grapes grown on the East Coast north of Virginia — survey the 140-acre estate surrounding this fertile hilltop and give thanks for the hard work, dreams, and generosity of founder Joe Gouveia, who shined shoes when he arrived in New Haven from Portugal at age 15. A bring-your-own-food (but no beverages) policy makes this the rollicking gathering spot Gouveia and wife, Lucy, conceived: a place to converse, celebrate, and connect old-world-style. Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Vineyard.”
Jonathan Edwards Winery | Great Wineries in CT

Jonathan Edwards Winery | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Jonathan Edwards Winery
Jonathan Edwards Winery | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Jonathan Edwards Winery

JONATHAN EDWARDS WINERY | NORTH STONINGTON

A visit to Jonathan Edwards has been compared with visiting a winery in Napa or Sonoma — and for good reason. This 48-acre hilltop winery is proudly “bicoastal,” producing both Napa wines and “estate” wines made with Connecticut-grown grapes, all available for tasting in a restored 1880 dairy barn. Bonus: a robust lineup of summer music events.
Hopkins Vineyard | Great Wineries in CT

Hopkins Vineyard | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Hopkins Vineyard
Hopkins Vineyard | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Hopkins Vineyard

HOPKINS VINEYARD | NEW PRESTON

Location, location, location: Thanks to its next-door neighbor, Lake Waramaug, Hopkins Vineyard enjoys a special microclimate that extends its growing season and allows it to grow grapes that normally falter in the Northeast. It also enjoys spectacular lake views, which are almost as much of a draw for visitors as the lineup of top-shelf, small-batch vintages, including a much-heralded ice wine.
Chamard Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Chamard Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Chamard Vineyards
Chamard Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Chamard Vineyards

CHAMARD VINEYARDS | CLINTON

The fine wines here come from European wine grapes, ideal for Chamard’s gently sloping, rocky fields and proximity to Long Island Sound. Its leading wine is chardonnay, but the vineyard’s 20 established acres also include cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and cabernet franc. Bonus: The acclaimed Bistro at Chamard, opened in 2012, offers top-notch French-American cuisine with a farm-to-table ethos.
Jones Winery | Great Wineries in CT

Jones Winery | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Jones Winery
Jones Winery | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Jones Winery

JONES WINERY | SHELTON

Situated on some 400 acres of land that has been owned and worked by the Jones family for six generations, this winery is part of a thriving farm that grows everything from strawberries to Christmas trees, as well as offers cooking classes via its Harvest Kitchen. More than a dozen wines are on offer here, but be sure to look for the much-heralded dessert wines featuring local blueberries, raspberries, and black currants. 
Stonington Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Stonington Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Stonington Vineyards
Stonington Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Stonington Vineyards

STONINGTON VINEYARDS | STONINGTON

It was an article in, of all places, Yankee magazine that helped inspire Nick and Happy Smith to buy this picturesque 58-acre property and launch Stonington Vineyards in 1987. Winemaker Mike McAndrew presides over the production of Stonington’s European-style vintages, led by a terrific barrel-fermented chardonnay. Bonus: Visiting food trucks on summer weekends.
Bishop’s Orchards Winery | Great Wineries in CT

Bishop’s Orchards Winery | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Bishop’s Orchards Winery
Bishop’s Orchards Winery | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Bishop’s Orchards Winery

BISHOP’S ORCHARDS WINERY | GUILFORD

Though this farm has been a Guilford fixture since 1871, it didn’t branch out into the wine business until 2005 — and when it did, it drew on what it already had in abundance: top-quality, fresh-from-the-field fruit. Bishop’s produces a cornucopia of about a dozen fruit wines, plus hard cider, as well as entices visitors with a sizable farm market (with bakery and kitchen) and seasonal pick-your-own programs.
Haight-Brown Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Haight-Brown Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT

Credit: Haight-Brown Vineyards
Haight-Brown Vineyards | Great Wineries in CT
Credit: Haight-Brown Vineyards

HAIGHT-BROWN VINEYARDS | LITCHFIELD

Located just down the road from Litchfield’s classic-New-England town center, Haight-Brown has a special pedigree. It’s considered Connecticut’s first vineyard (c. 1975) and a pioneer in offering wine-education events and classes. Not to mention the fact that original owner Sherman Haight is credited with proposing that Connecticut create a wine trail. And as overseen by today’s owners, Amy Senew and Jacques Muratori, Haight-Brown has become one of the trail’s most popular stops. What are your favorite wineries in CT? Let us know! This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated. 

SEE MORE: 5 Favorite Breweries | Burlington, VT Best Connecticut Coastal Towns Best of Connecticut | 2017 Editors’ Choice Awards

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  1. You missed two of our favorites, Connecticut Valley Winery in New Hartford and Taylor Brook Winery in Woodstock. Both have excellent wines and beautiful locations.

    Reply

  4. Would love to see a map,,, moved to Ct. from LI and nany visits to the wineries there.. looking forward to see Connecticut’s wineries,,,

    Reply

  5. I agree about a map, but what I did was Google “wine trail” maps in CT, Maine, NY, North Fork, and I just refer to those maps as I read more descriptive articles about them.

    Reply
  6. Pingback: Four Reasons to Promote Connecticut to the Top of Your Travel List

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