Connecticut wine

Connecticut (wine region)
Official name State of Connecticut
Type U.S. state
Year established 1788
Country USA
Sub-regions Southeastern New England AVA, Western Connecticut Highlands AVA
Total area 5,543 square miles (14,356 km2)
Grapes produced Aurore, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cayuga, Chambourcin, Chardonel, Chardonnay, Frontenac, Gewurztraminer, Marechal Foch, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Seyval Blanc, St. Croix, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles[1]
No. of wineries 18

Connecticut wine refers to wine made from grapes and other fruit grown in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The modern wine industry in Connecticut began with the passage of the Connecticut Winery Act in 1978. The wineries in Connecticut are located throughout the state, including in the two designated American Viticultural Areas in the state. The climate in the coastal region near Long Island Sound and the Connecticut River valley tends to be warmer than the highlands in the eastern and western sides of the state.[1] Wineries such as Bishop's Orchards are found on the Connecticut Wine Trail.

Contents

Connecticut Wine Trail

The Connecticut Wine Trail is route linking approved wineries located in the state of Connecticut. As of 2011, there are 23 wineries on the trail.[2]

The wineries are divided into two groups, the Western Trail and the Eastern Trail.[3][4] The wineries comprising each group are "connected" by a route that is signed on major state highways, though there is no signage connecting the two trails to each other. The roads used by the wine trail travel through some of the more scenic portions of the state. The Western Trail is mostly located in the Litchfield Hills region while the Eastern Trail is in the Southeastern and Quiet Corner regions. The wine trail is a significant tourist attraction that is featured in most tour guides for Connecticut.

Sherman P. Haight Jr. of Haight Vineyard in Litchfield conceived of the idea of the wine trail in 1988. It was officially dedicated by the state in 1992 with five wineries.[5][6] The trail has grown over time[7][8][9] to its current roster of 23 wineries as of 2011.[2]

Western Trail

Generally follows Rt.25 – Rt.7 – Rt.202 – Rt.63 – Rt.7 – Rt.44 – Rt.8 – Rt.25

Eastern Trail

Generally follows Rt.17 – Rt.66 – Rt.6 – Rt.97 – Rt.169 – Rt.2 – I-95 – Rt.1 – Rt.22 – Rt.17

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Appellation America (2007). "Connecticut: Appellation Description". Retrieved Nov. 27, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Albanese, Ellen (25 July 2010). Finding a variety of wines off the beaten path, The Boston Globe
  3. ^ Bodnarchuk, Kari J. (4 October 2006). Connecticut vintner's contentment grows along with his vines, The Boston Globe ("Stonington Vineyards is now one of 19 wineries located along Connecticut's Wine Trail, which is marketed as two easy-to-drive loops that take people along back roads and scenic byways to vineyards in eastern and western Connecticut.")
  4. ^ Brooks, Patricia (28 October 2007). Connecticut: Touring the State and Sampling Its Wines, The New York Times (article details writer's weekend trip to five wineries on the Trail)
  5. ^ Giuca, Linda (14 October 1992). It's Harvest Time On The Wine Trai, The Hartford Courant ("This year, there is something new along with the annual grape harvest. At the end of August, Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. helped to dedicate the Connecticut Wine Trail, a tour from Stonington to the Litchfield Hills that links five vineyards. The wine trail was an idea that Sherman P. Haight Jr., owner of Haight Vineyard in Litchfield, tried to bring to some state officials nearly five years ago.")
  6. ^ (18 January 2008). Weekend, Republican-American ("No matter where one is in the Nutmeg State, at least one winery is within a 45-minute drive.The region's heavy concentration of vineyards and wineries prompted the state to create a wine trail in 1988.")
  7. ^ Maxwell, Stacy Lytwyn (3 August 1999). The grape escape, The Hour (newspaper) (reporting 8 wineries on the Trail in 1999)
  8. ^ McNamara, Eileen (31 March 2004). Lisbon vineyard on market for $1.2M, The Day (New London) (reporting 10 members in 2004)
  9. ^ Wong, Shelley K. (4 November 2006). No grapes in the vineyard at this fruit winery in Connecticut, The Press-Enterprise (California) (Associated Press) (reporting 16 members as of November 2006)