A toast to these East Coast wineries and vineyards
Winemaking in New England is an innovative field, producing award-winning wines from hybrid and native grapes, locally grown berries and even rhubarb! These 10 wineries and vineyards welcome visitors year-round with tastings, tours and special events that vary by the season. Be sure to call ahead to see what’s on tap before you visit.
Averill House Vineyard – Brookline, New Hampshire
Averill House Vineyard is a family-run business in New Hampshire’s historic ice district of Brookline, once a major ice distributor before refrigeration. Surrounded by tall pines, Averill House Vineyard boasts two acres of more than 500 vines and 11 grape varietals. Enjoy a glass on the patio or at one of the bistro tables set amidst the rows of vines. The vineyard hosts farmers markets and tours throughout the year.
Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard – Little Compton, Rhode Island
Founded in 1975, Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard, a 150-acre property, produces wines from only its estate-grown grapes, which are hand-picked and barrel-aged in French, Hungarian, Russian and American oak barrels. Situated between two waterways, the soil at this vineyard is mineral-rich, producing wines with low sugar levels and high acidity. Choose from whites, reds, rosés and dessert wines.
Chamard Vineyards – Clinton, Connecticut
Come for a wine tasting and stay for dinner in Chamard Vineyards’ bistro, which also serves lunch and weekend brunch. Open since 1983, the 40-acre farm has 20 acres of established vines, yielding cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and pinot noir grapes. The vineyard is only two miles north of a lovely coastal drive along the northern edge of Long Island Sound.
Eighteen Twenty Wines – Portland, Maine
This small winery is off the beaten path in Portland’s southeast industrial zone – now home to several boutique businesses and artist studios. But Eighteen Twenty Wines’ location is not the most unusual thing about it. This is a rhubarb winery. Yes, rhubarb wine, which, as it turns out, is quite complex. Why rhubarb? It grows well in Maine, and Portland loves to keep it local. Make a day of it by exploring the nearby breweries and art galleries.
Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery – Meredith, New Hampshire
Founded in 2011, Hermit Woods has taken fruit winemaking from a cottage industry to a nationally recognized industry. Yet, nothing feels industrial about this Lakes Region winery, which serves up fruit wines, meads and ciders produced with mostly local and organic ingredients. Try wines in the tasting room bar or relax with a glass in The Loft, where musicians from around the world have been known to play. The eatery offers cheese and charcuterie boards and other savory plates.
Newport Vineyards – Middletown, Rhode Island
Newport Vineyards, on Aquidneck Island, makes for a wonderful day out. The 100-plus-acre vineyard is family-owned and operated by brothers John Jr. and Paul Nunes. Not a wine drinker? Not a problem. Enjoy a farm-to-table menu or a craft beer at Taproot Brewing, also located on-site. Newport Vineyards offers private tours and special events throughout the year.
Putney Mountain Winery & Spirits – Putney, Vermont
Putney Village, in the Greater Brattleboro area in southern Vermont, is home to Putney Mountain Winery and Spirits, which produces wines, liqueurs and sparkling ciders made from locally sourced berries, apples, pears, rhubarb and ginger. Not only does Putney Mountain source locally – this winery is 100% solar-powered and observes other environmentally friendly practices, such as recycling all waste and composting leavings from the winemaking process. There is a second tasting room inside the Cabot Cheese Store in Quechee Gorge Village, an hour’s drive north on Interstate 91.
Saltwater Farm Vineyard – Stonington, Connecticut
Saltwater Farm Vineyard gets special recognition for the most imaginative, adaptive repurposing. The property, formerly a WWII-era private airport, is living a second life as a French-style winemaking facility. Saltwater Farm concentrates on small-batch production of estate-barreled wines, aged in both steel and French oak. Enjoy wines by the glass or bottle inside the former airplane hangar that overlooks the vineyard and “grand allée,” formerly the landing strip. Depending on the season, the vineyard hosts an evolving lineup of live music, food trucks and wine dinners.
Truro Vineyards – Truro, Massachusetts
Cape wines are a funky bunch with individual charms, and the offerings at Truro Vineyards do not disappoint. Enjoy wine tastings on the patio during warmer weather and inside the adjacent tasting room during colder months. The shop is a delight, packed with wines and useful (and sometimes equally cute) gifts. Those in the mood for cocktail hour will be happy to find South Hollow Spirits distillery on-site.
Westport Rivers Winery – Westport, Massachusetts
Set on beautiful farmland in the quiet coastal town of Westport, some 70 miles due south of Boston, Westport Rivers Winery and its 80-acre sustainable vineyard first gained recognition for its sparkling white wine, a delicious brut to give any Champagne a run for its money. The Mayflower Special Club Rosé is another magnificent sparkler, with fragrant notes of orange marmalade, toast, strawberry jam and bread dough. Enjoy a tasting in the bar or on the patio, stock up in the shop or attend one of the winery’s special events, such as a hayride in the fall or a summer outdoor concert.
