Connecticut is home to one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the country. With the Connecticut Winter Wine Trail Passport, you can enjoy what is has to offer even during the off-season. Now through April 2nd, twelve select locations along the Trail have opened the doors of their wineries so visitors can sample delicious wines and win up to $6000 worth of prizes. Some of these vineyards will also host special events, such as cheese or chocolate pairing nights, paint & sips, live music, trivia, workshops and more. Pick up a passport at any participating winery and start collecting stamps. Try new wines, explore new vineyards, and go on an adventure through Connecticut.
Aquila’s Nest focuses on a fun, environmentally-friendly experience. This climate neutral vineyard sits on 40 beautiful acres in Sandy Hook. It offers nine seasonal wines, each inspired by ancient myths of powerful women and astrology. They offer a full slate of reds, roses, whites, and sangrias.
This vineyard is located inside a barn built in 1928. They offer a unique selection of award-winning semi-dry and semi-sweet fruit wines, similar to white and blush wines, as well as hard ciders crafted from fruit grown on the farm itself.
Gouveia was founded by Joe Gouveia, who is originally from Portugal. This wine tasting room has an incredible hilltop view and a rustic, cozy atmosphere. They grow 17 grape varietals, all hand-picked, and produce a selection of reds and whites.
Hawk Ridge Winery is family owned and operated, and it offers more than twenty different wines, including reds, whites, and roses that range from sweet to dry. They also serve beer and food from a large menu.
At Hopkins Vineyard, enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Waramaug from its location on a hilltop. It has been a family-run farm since 1787, and they started growing grapes for wine in 1979. They serve wine by the glass or bottle as well as assorted cheese and small plates.
This vineyard offers a large selection of wines, including some from California as well as Eastern Connecticut, allowing samplers to experience the difference between the growing climates on the east and west coasts. They also serve cheese and charcuterie in their cozy tasting room.
This vineyard is owned and run by the Ruggiero family, and it offers a cozy, Tuscan-style tasting room with views overlooking the vineyard. Some of the varietals grown here include Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles, Chambourcin, Tramenet and Cayuga. They serve charcuterie platters as well.
Priam has been voted the best vineyard in the state of Connecticut for the last five years. They produce 15 vegan-certified wines in the style of northern France and Germany, and practice environmentally-stable farming on their beautiful vineyard.
Sharpe Hill Vineyard has won more than 450 medals in international tastings. They offer a selection of reds, whites, and roses in a beautiful setting of over 100 acres that stretch all the way to Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Stonington was one of the founding members of the CT Wine Trail and one of the first farm wineries in Connecticut. They are known for European style table wines, including a delicious barrel-fermented Chardonnay and their proprietary blends, Seaport White and Triad Rose.
Sunset Meadow is located in the picturesque, sloping highlands of western Connecticut. They have won many medals and were named one of the best 101 Wineries in America by the Daily Meal. They also offer fun chocolate and wine pairings, as well as locally-made cheeses.
Taylor Brooke Winery produces sparkling wines, dry whites, semi-sweet whites, red, still rose, and dessert wines, as well as a brandy aged like bourbon. They offer food, music, and a busy events calendar (including yoga with the winemaker) and also recently opened a brewery adjacent to the winery.
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