Did you know that Connecticut is home to a large number of wineries? The Connecticut Wine Trail is one of the most exciting and fastest growing wine regions in the United States. Additionally, during the winter, there are wineries that are specifically open for a winter wine tour. The Litchfield Hills Winter Wine Trail is made up of 6 Connecticut Vineyards in Litchfield County.
Nestled in the Northwest corner of Connecticut lie wineries that have become a destination for local and national travelers. Rolling hills and serene beauty make Northwest Connecticut a tranquil escape as a day-trip or a weekend getaway. Furthermore, you can enjoy a tremendous variety of wine styles as you meander throughout our beautiful state during your winter wine tour.
Planning your Winter Wine Tour
Invite your significant other, your best friends, your co-workers or business partners, to join you on your winter wine tour. Enjoy a memorable experience touring beautiful scenery, majestic Connecticut mountain views and world class wineries. Whether you want to taste the most delicious wines, or you just want to be treated to the sights, discover Connecticut’s fascinating wine culture. Don’t want to worry about the drive home? Then select our hourly car service to reserve a car for 4, 6 or 8 hours to enjoy the area’s vineyards and wines on your winter wine tour. Above all, when you hire Drivers Unlimited car service, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your wine.
If you want to extend your trip or make it a couple’s weekend, there are antiques shops, art galleries, historic homes and gardens throughout the region. In addition, there are B&Bs and romantic inns which are perfect places to set the stage for your romantic stay. And of course you will want to hire Driver Unlimited’s Point to Point car service to drive you to and from your weekend retreat.
Wineries along the Litchfield Hills Winter Wine Tour
Be sure to check the website and Facebook page of each winery for any closings or updated hours throughout the wine trail. Or prior to reserving your car service, you may want to contact the winery to reserve your tasting and tour time.
Images courtesy of Litchfield Hills Wine Trail
Brignole Vineyards
103 Hartford Avenue, East Granby, CT
Timothy Brignole
860-653-9463
brignolevineyardsllc@gmail.com
Tasting Hours: Open year-round: Monday/Tuesday: closed. Wednesday-Friday: 1-7. Saturday: 12-7. Sunday: 12-5.
Brignole Vineyards, a family owned and operated winery, has been producing grapes and making wine for over ten years. This Italian style winery grows unique Connecticut varietal grapes that make exceptional wines. By blending California grapes with locally grown Connecticut grapes, they give a Napa experience while still making you feel like you’re at home. From sweet white wines to full bodied, bold reds, Brignole Vineyards offers a wide variety of different wines through their large selection. Come by and grab a glass of your favorite wine and enjoy their scenic back deck where you can sit among the vines.
DiGrazia Vineyards
131 Tower Road, Brookfield, CT 06804, United States
Mark Langford
(203) 775-1616
wine@prodigy.net
Tasting Hours: Jan-Apr: Sat-Sun 11-5. May-Dec: Open from 11–5. Closed on Tuesday/Wednesday.
Tour Hours: Sat-Sun in 20-min intervals
DiGrazia Vineyards was founded in 1978 with a planting of a forty-five-acre vineyard. The winery had an initial release of four brands of wine. Today, over 15 wines use estate grown grapes, local fruit and honey, ranging from dry to sweet wines.
DiGrazia Vineyards grows premium French Hybrid grape varieties exclusively. The two vineyard sites are established on high sloping hills to maximize growing potential which leads to crisp, flavorful wines. In total, there are nine varieties of premium hybrid and native American wine grapes planted.
The winery makes a full range of estate bottled table wines. Winemaker Paul DiGrazia has become known for his unusual and innovative wine-making flair. His wines range from dry to sweet, no sulfite, late harvest, ice wines, dessert wines, pumpkin wines, white and ruby ports as well as Connecticut grown blueberry and pear dessert wines.
Visitors can enjoy a guided winery tour and wine tasting, country gift shop and picnic area on the arbor patio.
Haight-Brown Vineyards
29 Chestnut Hill Road, Litchfield, CT 06759, United States
Carrie Du Pont-Roy, General Manager
(860) 567-4045
manager@haightvineyards.com
Tasting Hours: Open Year-Round Friday 12-5, Saturday 12-6 & Sunday 12-5:30
Tour Hours by appointment only.
In 1975, Haight Vineyard was established and planted Chardonnay and Riesling on the slopes of the Litchfield Hills. When the State Legislature passed a Farm Winery Act in 1978, Haight Vineyard became Connecticut’s first established winery.
Today, the tradition at Haight continues under new ownership. Courtney Brown & Amy Senew purchased Haight Vineyard from its founder, Sherman Haight Jr, in March 2007. They maintain the family-run winery appeal while also providing some much-needed love and care to the vineyards and winery.
The Haight-Brown Vineyard and Winery is situated on ten pastoral acres, representative of a New England farm winery. The Tasting Room includes a custom-built wine bar for tasting each of the nine vintages. Guided by the knowledge of educated and friendly staff, an upstairs patio and downstairs terrace is available for sipping wine on lazy summer days. Additionally, there are two stone fireplaces for lingering during chilly days. There is also a picnic grove for enjoying your own food with Haight-Brown wines, a cheese nook and retail area as well as several private rooms (Vine Room, Cask Room, etc) for a more intimate tasting or private party affair.
Hopkins Vineyard
25 Hopkins Road, Warren, CT 06777, United States
Hilary Criollo
(860) 868-7954
contact@hopkinsvineyard.com
Tasting Hours: Jan-Feb: Fri-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5. Mar-Apr: Wed-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-6. May-Oct: Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-7, Sun 11-6. Nov-Dec: Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5.
Closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
Tour Hours: Visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour at any time during open hours.
In 1787 Elijah Hopkins, returning from the Revolutionary War, chose the northern shore of Lake Waramaug to settle his family and start the Hopkins Farm. Hopkins Vineyard proudly maintains a tradition of making fine wines of award-winning quality.
The farm has witnessed many diversified forms of agriculture over the years including the raising of sheep, race horses, grain crops, tobacco, and in the more recent past dairy farming. In 1979 the first vines were planted and their 19th century barn was converted into a state-of-the-art winery.
The unique location of Hopkins Vineyard makes it the only vineyard in Connecticut with a micro-climate influenced by an inland lake; this allows an extended growing season and successful growing of grape varieties which ordinarily would not thrive in our northeastern climate. Classic grape varieties are grown on 30 acres adjacent to the winery.
The Hayloft Wine Bar: Serving wines by the glass, artisan cheese platters and fine teas. Fri 12-4, Sat 12-6, Sun 12-5. Wine tasting costs $8.50 per person and includes a Hopkins wine glass. If your group is larger than 10 people, please call ahead for availability.
Jerram Winery
535 Town Hill Rd, New Hartford, CT 06057, United States
Jim Jerram
(860) 379-8749
jerramwinery@hotmail.com
Tasting Hours: Jan-Mar: 1st & 4th Weekends, Sat-Sun, 12-4. Closed April. May-Dec: Fri-Sun, 11-5. Open most Monday Holidays (call first).
A small vineyard planted in 1982, a conversion of an old horse barn and an impossible dream led to the opening of the winery in 1998. Located in the historic Town Hill section of New Hartford at an elevation of 1000 feet, the vineyards enjoy a longer growing season that enables the vines to produce well-matured grapes and wines of complexity and enjoyment.
The winery is situated among vineyards and gardens with patios and decks for guests to relax and enjoy a glass of wine with a picnic lunch. Tasting and tours are available. Currently, eleven wines are in production, both white and red ranging from very dry to sweet; pure varietals and a variety of blends.
A new tasting room was opened in 2004 in a restored 1903 Arts & Crafts Creamery. There is a deck to sit outside in warm weather and enjoy a picnic lunch with a bottle of wine. Daylily and shade plantings fill the gardens in summer.
Sunset Meadow Vineyards
599 Old Middle Street Rte. 63 Goshen, CT 06756
Judy Motel
(860) 201-4654
sunsetmeadowvineyards@yahoo.com
Tasting Hours: Open year-round. Jan-Apr: Fri-Sun 11-5. May-Dec: Sun, Mon, Thurs 11-5; Fri-Sat 11-6
Open Most Holidays. Open additional days/hours Thanksgiving Week and Christmas Week until New Year’s Day.
Tour Hours: Tours of the vineyards and production room are available on weekends. Groups of 6 or more require a reservation; please call ahead.
Located in the scenic town of Goshen, CT and originally a working farm purchased in 1996 by George and Judy Motel, Sunset Meadow Farm raised beef cattle and hay. In 2003 Sunset Meadow Vineyards was established. Applying years of farming experience to make the transition to grape growing led to the production of award-winning wines. Today Sunset Meadow Vineyards is among New England’s largest producing vineyards.
Overlooking the captivating sunsets of the Litchfield Hills, the vineyards lie on 50 acres of rich and fertile soil. in essence, the area has a long tradition of agriculture dating back to the 1800’s. Sunset Meadow Vineyards has a great deal of respect for the beauty of nature and the health of the environment. Therefore, they pride themselves on practicing sustainable methods of farming while growing and harvesting their grapes. The vines are hand pruned, hand harvested and maintained with extreme precision by their staff.
Visitors can take a step into the past while enjoying the warm and friendly atmosphere of their historic tasting room. The winery is located inside a 1800s German Bank Barn. The tasting room, crafted using estate antiques and original hand-hewed beams, along with the rich history and picturesque landscape of the beautiful Western Connecticut Highlands, provides a breathtaking ambiance to all customers.
Sunset Meadow Vineyards was voted New England’s Best Family Winery by Yankee Magazine and has been featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. 7 different wines have won Gold Medals including our 2010 Chardonnay which took home the Gold in the 2012 International Eastern Wine competition.
Let Drivers Unlimited Plan Your Winter Wine Tour
Give us a call and let us know when you want to go on your winter wine tour, which wineries you want to tour and how many people will be in your group. We can provide you with a price for transportation, as well as assist with arranging your tours.
Call us today!
203-656-8400
