What to Expect When Visiting a Winery or Vineyard in CT

Often times people who attend my wineries talks ask, “What can I expect the first time I go to a vineyard?” And, as I’ve been to many of the wineries in the Nutmeg State, I thought it would prove beneficial to share some of my experiences to help those of you who haven’t ventured through our CT Wine Country yet.

First things first, prepare for your visit. I have a blog post here that you should read to give you some ideas to consider before you head to a winery. Once you have those things in mind, now we’ll talk about what it’s like once you arrive at a vineyard.

Terrain

Depending on the vineyard, some have gravel; some have pavement, some grass, and almost all have a combination of those surfaces – so keep that in mind as you drive up, as you may have to park on uneven ground or in some cases, at an angle and then walk on the same area to head to the building. I have a blog post here that talks about what to wear to a winery, so be sure to check that out as well.

Tasting Room

If you’ve never been to a winery before, or haven’t been in a long time to a particular winery, I suggest that you will want to head to the tasting room. That will give you the opportunity to try a variety of wines – whether at a tasting bar (if the winery is doing such types of tastings) or at a table with wine samples and details on each of the wines. Then, if you like a specific wine from those tastes, you can order a glass or bottle of that one. And, if you have questions about the wine, be sure to ask. Sometimes, the winery staff are able to let you try a wine outside of the ones that were part of the tasting (or that you chose to taste) if you are still curious about other offerings they have.

Rules

Some wineries have rules to follow. This may mean they don’t allow dogs on their site or ask that you don’t bring outside food onsite. It could be because they have a restaurant or serve food at their winery, or they have food trucks to provide you food when you visit. Some can be seasonal rules due to their limited inside seating space in winter or their hours for when they have “last call” for wine purchases. Some rules, for instance, are to save glasses at a winery, i.e. they will ask that if you want to carry a glass of wine around the property, to please pour your wine into a plastic cup before you venture outside. This is why I recommend checking ahead on a winery’s website to see if they have certain rules for their location. Many of these rules stem from the specific property’s location, protocols or the town they reside in. Do be respectful of their rules or find another winery to visit.

Winery Staff/Great Service

As I always emphasize in my talks, please be nice to the winery staff. They are there to make sure you enjoy yourself, learn about their wine and property and really get acquainted with the ins and outs that make their location different from others you will visit. They want you to tell everyone you know that you had a great time at their vineyard and encourage others to take a trip to their property. Therefore, remember that while you are “sipping wine and feeling fine” these wonderful hard working staff, are, well, working. So, be patient when it’s busy or if there is a delay (i.e.  You have to wait your turn for a tasting or glass at the tasting bar on a weekend or you are attending the winery when there’s an event so it’s more crowded than usual.) Trust me, they notice, and appreciate when you treat them kindly and with respect. I am sure everyone reading that does this, but it’s just something you can expect – great service – when you visit a Nutmeg State winery.

Beautiful Views

One thing I just can’t get enough of when I visit a Connecticut vineyard or winery is… the view. These properties are gorgeous and the people who take care of the vines, the lawns, the entire location, really put pride into making it a destination vs. just a place to stop and try some wine. I always encourage people who are not drinkers to visit with a friend who is and pack a picnic (or enjoy the food at the location) and then the friend who drinks can have a glass or buy a bottle to take home. Maybe go and buy a bottle at a location you know a friend of yours loves and give them the bottle as a gift, but spend some time at the winery when you are picking up that bottle. Wineries are not just for wine lovers, they are for everyone!  The sunsets, the fall foliage, the greenery in spring, and even the wineries blanketed in snow are a sight to see!

I hope these tips really inspire you to take a trip to one of the over 40 wineries in our state. To learn more about the CT Wine Trail’s wineries visit www.ctwine.com or any of our CT Farm Wineries at https://ctgrown.org/ct-farm-wine/.

And, if you have tips on what people can expect when they visit a vineyard from your own travels, feel free to leave those in the comments.