The ultimate wine tasting itinerary in Connecticut. Where to stay, wineries in Connecticut and things to do.
If you’re coming to Connecticut for a wine weekend, any one of the three American Viticultural Area (AVA) would make enjoyable destinations, but one of them also includes the charming village of Mystic—located along both sides of the Mystic River (and also of the famed movie centered around pizza). There’s plenty to do in the region so you can get your wine on, plus savor the bounty the Southern New England AVA has to offer. So let’s start there.
Friday Night in Connecticut Wine Country
Before checking into your accommodations, head to one of Connecticut’s newest wineries, Kingdom of the Hawk for a quick stop before it closes at 7 p.m. Music starts at 5 p.m. to enjoy while you can sip on rosé or Cabernet Franc and nibble on cheese and charcuterie or treats from the occasional food truck. Hit the right time of year, and you may be able to enjoy the sunset over the vines.
Head to your hotel before going out for dinner. The historic boutique Whaler’s Inn in the heart of Mystic has 47 rooms over five buildings. You can dine in the Shipwright’s Daughter restaurant in the main hotel or head out for a casual dinner at nearby Friar Tuck’s Tavern for pub food and live music.
If you’re simply looking for a place to sleep and shower, the Hampton Inn & Suites Mystic or the Holiday Inn Express Mystic are great options, and they both offer free breakfasts.
GETTING AROUND & WHEN TO VISIT CONNECTICUT’S WINE REGION
Once you’re in Connecticut, if you’d rather forgo having a designated driver, Gateway Limousine is well familiar with the state’s vineyards and can safely get your small or large group to and from the wineries on the Connecticut Wine Trail.
The best time to visit Connecticut’s vineyards depends on what you want out of your visit, but many wine lovers time their visits to see the state’s famous fall foliage at the same time—which is typically at its height of beauty between October 3 and November 8.
Saturday in Connecticut Wine Country
Grab a hearty breakfast—pancakes, waffles, eggs, breakfast tacos, and more—to fuel your day of wine tasting at Kitchen Little with views of the Mystic River Marina. The restaurant serves until 1 p.m., just in case you sleep in a little late.
After breakfast, you have two choices for your first stop. Head directly to Saltwater Farm Vineyard, grab a table that overlooks the acres of wines, and start your Saturday wine adventure with a glass of Pinot Noir Rosé. Or, if the fall, make a stop at B.F. Clyde’s Cyder Mill – the oldest steam powered cider mill in the U.S.—in Mystic which sells cider, hard cider, and renowned cider donuts. Both of these wineries in Connecticut make for a fabulous experience.
Your next stop should be Jonathan Edwards Winery where you’ve made a reservation for a classic tasting of five wines where you’ll be guided through the wines and the history of the winery. Local cheese and charcuterie sold at the winery make for a great snack while you’re sipping.
End your day of wine tasting at Stonington Vineyards, open until 7 p.m. June through September and 5 p.m. the rest of the year. You can bring your own picnics and snacks to enjoy while you taste through the winery’s reds, whites, and rosés.
Grab a pizza at Stonington Pizza Palace before heading back to your hotel (or take it to your hotel) or dinner at Stonington’s Walnut Street Cafe, making sure to start with local oysters.
Sunday in Connecticut Wine Country
Hit Mystic’s best Sunday Brunch at Engine Room with a creative brunch cocktail and food menu. Then head out to one more winery before you head home from the weekend.
Make Holmberg Orchards your last stop before you go. You can pick your own fruits or pumpkins when they’re in season, shop at the farm market for local foods, and purchase hard cider and wine from more wineries in Connecticut to take home. The farm grows Pinot Blanc and turns it into dry, semi sweet, and sparkling wines. It also crafts fruit wines from apples, cranberries, peaches, raspberries, and blueberries.
Robin Shreeves is a drinks journalist and lifestyle features writer. Her wine writing has appeared in dozens of print and online publications including Wine Enthusiast, VinePair, Courier Post, Spirited magazine, Edible Philly, Edible Jersey, USA Today, and Drink Philly. A champion of wines from the mid-Atlantic region, she co-hosts an East Coast Wine chat on the Clubhouse app Sunday nights at 7pm. Her writer’s website Wine & Wonder has a weekly roundup of East Coast Wine News posted each Monday.