Following the Trail…. The CT Winter Wine Trail that Is!
It’s that time of year again. Twelve of the vineyards on the CT Wine Trail gather to be part of a special physical passport program that starts in January and ends in April. Last year I participated and it was so much fun! I actually made it to all of the locations in the time frame to collect all my stamps and turn in my passport. Alas, spoiler alert, I didn’t win any prizes for my submission, but it was an accomplishment for me to fill the book and surrender it at Aquila’s Nest, my last stop on the trail, and fun to get to visit so many wonderful places in the Nutmeg State.
I profiled each of the wineries and vineyards in more detail in Instagram posts last year but for those of you who are not on Instagram, I will be featuring blog posts on each of these locations soon.
Here’s the recap of my adventure in 2022:
I was participating in “Dry January” and for those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, it means drinking no alcohol during the first month of the calendar year. So, since the Winter Wine Trail begins in January, it meant I wouldn’t be able to start my journey until February. But I’ll let you in on a little secret… I actually visited Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen on Monday, January 31, as I was partnering with another CT vineyard (not on the Winter Wine Trail) for a giveaway. I decided since I was already nearby, I would make the trip over since it’s a bit of haul to head back that way just because it wasn’t February until the next day. And… what a lucky situation that was because…
Enjoying both a glass of wine and a beautiful view at Sunset Meadow Vineyards, winter 2022
Not only did I have the vineyard to myself (it was a Monday – and I was unemployed at the time) I got to chat with the two women working behind the tasting room bar, try a little “extra” wine and until two very nice teachers (I learned that by overhearing them talk about the school they worked at) joined me on the enclosed porch, as I sipped a glass of wine, it was such an intimate visit; I got to see the most gorgeous sunset.
Oh, and side note: the next day after my visit to Sunset Meadow Vineyards, I was offered a job I really wanted!
For the remainder of the 11 vineyards participating in the winter passport program, I based my visits on these criteria, in terms of planning:
· Whether I had been to them before or not – there were two new to me
· If they had events going on that I could partake in while getting a stamp
· Proximity – if visiting one that is near another, aim to go to two in one day
Given the fact I had two weeks before I started my new job on Valentine’s Day of 2022, provided me the ability to visit some of the wineries during the week when it is less busy and you get a more one-on-one experience.
I always tell people when I give my talks, if you can visit a winery during the week – say on a PTO day or if you have a holiday off and the winery is open – definitely consider it!
I was lucky enough to be able to venture to two wineries in one afternoon during the week. I made a stop in at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford to enjoy a glass of wine and chat with the tasting room employee who was manning the area on a pretty quiet Tuesday in February. The only other people in the room were a small group who had brought their lunch and were sitting at one of the tables by the windows to chat, look out at the vines and have some wine with their food.
One of the two inside tasting bars at Gouveia Vineyards
I then headed to Paradise Hills Vineyard, also in Wallingford, to meet my friend Kim. We decided to get some of the mini cupcakes and a flight of their sparkling wine as part of the Valentine’s Day special. With a cozy fire burning in the wood stove, we toasted my new job and tried the cupcakes paired with the bubbles. It was a delicious and fun way to get a stamp in our passports!
Toasting to my new job with some bubbles at Paradise Hills Vineyards
Before I started my new work gig, I made a Friday afternoon trip to Priam Vineyards in Colchester and while the tasting bar was busy, I got to know the two people working behind it very well. They were great at recommending wines to try and giving me some information on upcoming events they had as well. After I tasted, I took a glass of wine into their very large and newly renovated seating area and sipped my wine while people watching. After I’d finished my wine, Alaina from the tasting room area brought me the bottle of rose I purchased to take home and enjoy another time.
A cute Valentine’s Day saying on the chalkboard at Priam Vineyards
Once I started my gig, I was limited to weekend visits, so my next stops on a wintry weekend were to the quiet corner of Connecticut! I was excited to venture to two vineyards I had never been to before – Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret and Taylor Brooke Winery in Woodstock. Both vineyards provided me with unique atmospheres and friendly staff. It was so great to finally make the trip to each of these locations and get to try their wine! And, as I left Sharpe Hill to head to Taylor Brooke, it started to snow which added to the experience of it being the winter wine trail!
After a little snowfall outside Sharpe Hill Vineyard last winter, 2022
Just some of the many wines at Taylor Brooke Winery
Two more vineyards I have frequented over the years who participate in the Winter Wine Trail – Stonington Vineyards and Jonathan Edwards Winery are in Stonington and North Stonington and are about 15 min from each other so I went to spend some time at each of these beautiful coastal Connecticut establishments and thoroughly enjoyed chatting up some of my friends at each place while sipping on some great wine.
Enjoying a glass at Stonington Vineyards
Raising a glass at Jonathan Edwards Winery
Visiting Hopkins Vineyard during the Winter Wine Trail, 2022
I did the same thing when I visited Hopkins Vineyard in New Preston and Hawk Ridge Winery in Watertown – they are about 20 min from each other so I spent some time at Hopkins for a Sip and Shop event where I made some new friends who were also there for the event and learned about new vendors who I now follow on Instagram. After sipping and shopping, I made my way to Hawk Ridge as I wanted to try their slushie of the month (at that time) which was minty and chocolate and I think even Oreo flavored and I HAD to have it. And, it didn’t disappoint! So, tying in the event and the slushie treat were just two ways to make these locations more of a destination for me, and not just to get a stamp in my passport!
The awesome Mint Oreo Slushie that I HAD to have at Hawk Ridge Winery
Some of the wines at Bishop’s Orchards at the wine bar, last winter, 2022
I had been to Bishop’s Orchards Winery in Guilford before and during the winter it’s a little quieter—which is not a bad thing if you want to try some wine—so I had the tasting area (which is part of their grocery store and they have a whole section of not only Bishop’s Orchards’ wines but also various wines from other CT wineries and vineyards there) primarily to myself. The gentleman behind the tasting bar, Rich, was very friendly, knowledgeable and as it was rather quiet, he let me have small tastes of a few wines more than the designated amount on the tasting sheet. That’s another benefit to going to a location when it’s quieter (this was on a Sunday) as you can get more tailored service (and sometimes nice surprises too!)
A cozy fireplace set up in the pergola at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards
My last stop on the 2022 Winter Wine Trail was to Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Newtown. They are over an hour away from where I live so I usually don’t plan to visit other wineries when I go see them. I’ve gotten to know the owner, Neviana, well and I am really impressed with all that she and her husband have done to grow the vineyard, expand their wines and support their community. It is unlike any other vineyard I have visited thus far and highly recommend you check them out, even if you are unable to go during the Winter Wine Trail. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten all 12 stamps, but I took a picture of my passport and handed it in. I did keep a blank one just to remember the experience (and to use during my wineries talks at local libraries – of course!)
When you do go pick up your passport at any of the participating CT Winter Wine Trail vineyards, I hope you keep some of these ideas in mind – go during the week if you can, try to visit a winery you haven’t been to before or in a long time, plan out your trips to visit wineries that are near to one another so you can perhaps visit more than one at a time, and look for events at these wineries to expand your experience!
If you do visit any of the wineries during the CT Winter Wine Trail, I’d love to hear your experiences this year. Please don’t hesitate to drop a comment below and let me know how your journey went. Cheers to supporting small businesses and local wine!