In 1975, Rhode Island’s modern wine industry was born when Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards was founded near Little Compton, in Newport County. Today, the tiny state of Rhode Island is a budding wine region that’s home to 15 wineries and one American Viticultural Area.
With only 15 wineries in Rhode Island, sipping them all in very achievable. Don’t try it in one day…but rather a few weekend wine getaways. To help you discover Rhode Island wineries, we’ve mapped them out for you here, if you want to sip in more make sure to see Carpe Travel’s detailed guide on Rhode Island wine country.
Top Three Rhode Island Wineries
Carolyn’s Sakonnet in Little Compton
Carolyn’s Sakonnet was founded in 1975 and spans 150 acres, with thirty under vine. It is officially New England’s oldest modern vineyard and winery. Vineyard plantings include Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Gerwürztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, Merlot, Chancellor, and Lemberger. Carolyn’s crafts stainless steel and barrel-aged white, red, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines in French, Hungarian, Russian, and American oak. The tasting room is open Friday through Monday in the afternoon. With limited seating indoors and outdoors, reservations are recommended for parties of eight or more. Picnics are welcome but fur babies are not.
Diamond Hill Vineyards in Cumberland
Diamond Hill Vineyard was founded in 1976 It is a small, family-run operation that is famous for its barrel-aged Pinot Noir. Diamond Hill produces wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, and a variety of other fruits. In the colder months, indulge in a traditional European-style mulled wine. Enjoy a garden party, picnic, or delicious flight of wines in the tasting room. Thursday through Sunday, call ahead as hours may fluctuate with the seasons.
Newport Vineyards in Middletown
Set on a 100-acre historic farm, Newport Vineyards produces estate-grown wines. Owned by the Nunes family since 1917, the first grape vines were planted in the late 1980s. Fast forward 40 years and Newport Vineyards produces award-winning wines from estate-grown red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines from European varietals, hybrids, native grapes, and other fruit. Newport boasts a state-of-the-art winery, Taproot brewery, farm-to-table kitchen, events center, and daily tastings on the patio (weather permitting) or in the tasting or tap rooms.
Rhode Island Wines You Will Sip
Rhode Island boasts a temperate climate due to its low elevation and oceanic influences. Cool-climate vitis vinifera grapes such as Chardonna, Pinot Noir and Riesling do well alongside hybrids and native grapes including the cold-hardy Vidal Blanc, Itasca, St. Croix, Chambourcin and Cayuga Blanc.
Rhode Island Wine Producing Sub Regions & Wineries
Warwick and West Bay
Verde Vineyards in Johnston
Verde Vineyards in Johnston is an award-winning fan favorite vineyard and winery overlooking Moswansicut Lake in Scituate. Focusing on international varietals, French-American hybrids, and native grapes, like Itasca, Cayuga White, St. Croix, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Blaufränkisch. Verde Vineyards is open for tastings from Friday through Sunday. It is best to call ahead.
Nickle Creek Vineyard in Foster
Nickle Creek has 10 acres under vine with European and hybrid grapes including cayuga white, noiret, riesling, and chambourcin. Founded in 2008 with the aim of crafting world-class wines, Nickel Creek now produces 2000 cases annually. Try the Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and red and white blends. Nickel Creek offers weekend tastings that include their range of fruit wines.
South Counties
WinterHawk Vineyard, South Kingstown
WinterHawk Vineyard has a small vineyard and also imports juice from Chile to craft its range of wines. WinterHawk is a working farm with new vineyard plantings that should bear fruit soon. Call ahead and visit on the weekends.
Gooseneck Vineyard in Wickford
Gooseneck Vineyard was founded by a pair of cousins. Gooseneck imports wine grapes and juice from the best regions in the world to produce their sparkling and still wines. The winery is closed for renovations but wines can be ordered online and found in specialty wine shops across the state.
Rhode Island is part of the Southeastern New England AVA (American Viticultural Area), which includes Massachusetts and Connecticut. The AVA runs 120 miles south from Boston, Massachusetts to New Haven, Connecticut, and encompasses 1.8 million acres in all. The entire stretch is within 15 miles of the Atlantic coast.
Leyden Farm Vineyard 7 Winery
Leyden Farm’s fourth-generation Christmas tree farmers expanded into wines and fruit essences in 2010. They craft wines from European varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Merlot, alongside fruit and berry-infused wines. Look for Strawberry Fields, American Cranberry, Siberian Blue (blueberries), Cranapple, and Peach-infused white and red wines. Tastings daily from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Dogs are welcome.
As with most wine regions across the United States, European vitis vinifera grapes thrived and wine production was an important part of Rhode Island’s economy for 250 years. When Prohibition became the law of the land, Rhode Island’s wine business was decimated.
Langworthy Farm Winery, Westerly
Built in 1875 on the historic homestead owned by Governor Samuel Ward, the Langworthy Farm Winery and Bed & Breakfast planted its vineyard in 2002 and opened its winery and tasting room to the public in 2005. The winery focuses on French varietals sold online and in the tasting room. Book a tasting and stay overnight in the B&B. Adults only.
Shepherd’s Run
New on the wine scene, Shepherd’s Run is a picturesque manor and guest house with space for weddings, parties, and gatherings. The 36-acre estate grows its wine grapes and imports grapes from other states and countries to produce its range of wines. Book a wine and Hauser chocolate tasting and take home a bottle of the North Fork red blend, rosé, or Sauvignon Blanc.
Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery
Hobbyist John Wiedenheft III started making wine from California-grown grapes in 2003 in his basement. He turned to apples, planting an orchard and honing his cider brewing craft. A family affair, by 2017, John III, John IV, and John V, opened Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery. Opened each weekend, the spacious tasting room offers fruit-infused wines and ciders in a wide range of styles. Look for Watch Hill white, Respect the Elder red, Cerise Noir, Prohibition wines, and Gravenstein cider to quench your thirst.
Newport County Wineries
Newport Vineyards in Middletown
Set on a 100-acre historic farm, Newport Vineyards produces estate-grown wines. Owned by the Nunes family since 1917, the first grape vines were planted in the late 1980s. Fast forward 40 years and Newport Vineyards produces award-winning wines from estate-grown red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines from European varietals, hybrids, native grapes, and other fruit. Newport boasts a state-of-the-art winery, Taproot brewery, farm-to-table kitchen, events center, and daily tastings on the patio (weather permitting) or in the tasting or tap rooms.
Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth
Greenvale Vineyards is a sixth-generation farm on the banks of the Sakonnet river. Alongside its other crops, the property has a small-production estate winery focused on upscale expressions of Vidal, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc. Enjoy outdoor wine tastings, afternoon picnics, and live jazz. Days and hours vary so call ahead.
Carolyn’s Sakonnet in Little Compton
Carolyn’s Sakonnet was founded in 1975 and spans 150 acres, with thirty under vine. It is officially New England’s oldest modern vineyard and winery. Vineyard plantings include Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Gerwürztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon, Merlot, Chancellor, and Lemberger. Carolyn’s crafts stainless steel and barrel-aged white, red, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines in French, Hungarian, Russian, and American oak. The tasting room is open Friday through Monday in the afternoon. With limited seating indoors and outdoors, reservations are recommended for parties of eight or more. Picnics are welcome but fur babies are not.
Blackstone Valley Wineries
Mulberry Vineyards in Chepachet
Mulberry Vineyards was founded in 2011 on the original Andrew Brown estate, circa 1730 A.D. Focusing on European varietals like Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Merlot, the estate grows black muscat too. Aside from wine, they brew beer and craft hard ciders. The tasting room is open from 11 am to 4 pm on the weekends and offers live music from local musicians.
Diamond Hill Vineyards in Cumberland
Diamond Hill Vineyard was founded in 1976 It is a small, family-run operation that is famous for its barrel-aged Pinot Noir. Diamond Hill produces wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, and a variety of other fruits. In the colder months, indulge in a traditional European-style mulled wine. Enjoy a garden party, picnic, or delicious flight of wines in the tasting room of this Rhode Island winery. Thursday through Sunday, call ahead as hours may fluctuate with the seasons.
Providence Wineries
Anchor & Hope Winery, Rumford
Anchor & Hope is an urban winery that imports single-origin, organic fruit and juice from Europe, the Pacific coastal states, Rhode Island, and New York. They aim to make beautiful, eco-friendly wines with an eye on sustainability, family, and affordability. With a promise to the environment, Anchor & Hope is packaging its wines in cans and kegs, alongside its traditional bottles. Look for single varietal Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Noir, Grenache, and a few red, white, and rosé blends. Anchor & Hope also produces a Riesling pétillant natural fizzy wine and a Chardonnay piquette. The craft Rhode Island winery doesn’t have a tasting room yet but its wines are available across New England in restaurants and wine shops.
Sip in more…
Simone FM Spinner, CWS MH
Simone FM Spinner is a wine writer, consultant, judge, speaker, and published author. She is a certified sommelier with 13 advanced wine certifications, a bachelor’s and master’s degree in wine studies, and is pursuing her doctorate researching wine, climate change, and legacy. She is the Women of the Vine & Spirits 2020 WSET Diploma scholar.