Making the Most of Wine Country

While it stands to reason that most vineyards provide pleasant views of vines, fields and surrounding hills, several truly stand out and are worth a look.

It has always been possible to find cheese, fruit and crackers or bread at most Connecticut vineyards, and a couple now offer fine dining and extensive menus as well.

The Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association’s blue signs help guide you to and among the wineries that now make up the Connecticut Wine Trail. Throughout the year, the Trail hosts tastings and events, as well as sample itineraries, to help you get the most of what Connecticut has to offer. Also of note is the Wine Country’s Passport Program, for which members get a chance to win prizes.

But what about the wine itself? A couple of years ago, Connecticut Magazine invited judges to sample Connecticut wines and judge them in six categories. Their favorite wines were:

• Priam Late Harvest Riesling and Late Harvest Gewurztraminer from Priam Vineyards in Colchester. Priam is also the state's only vegan winery.
• Jones Pinot Noir ’10 from Jones Winery in Shelton.
• Saltwater Farm Estate Chardonnay ’09 from Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington.
• Stonington Cabernet Franc ’08 from Stonington Vineyards in Stonington.
• Sharpe Hill Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Select Late Harvest from Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret.