Connecticut wine
Encyclopedia
Connecticut wine refers to wine
made from grape
s 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 Area
s 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. Wineries such as Bishop's Orchards
are found on the Connecticut Wine Trail.
. As of 2011, there are 23 wineries on the trail.
The wineries are divided into two groups, the Western Trail and the Eastern Trail. 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. The trail has grown over time to its current roster of 23 wineries as of 2011.
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
made from grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
s and other fruit grown in the U.S. state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. 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 Area
American Viticultural Area
An American Viticultural Area is a designated wine grape-growing region in the United States distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau , United States Department of the Treasury....
s in the state. The climate in the coastal region near Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
valley tends to be warmer than the highlands in the eastern and western sides of the state. Wineries such as Bishop's Orchards
Bishop's Orchards
Bishop's Orchards is an agricultural operation in Guilford, Connecticut, that serves as a farm, retail market, tourist attraction and winery.Bishop's Orchards began operating as a family farm in 1871...
are found on the Connecticut Wine Trail.
Connecticut Wine Trail
The Connecticut Wine Trail is route linking approved wineries located in the state of ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. As of 2011, there are 23 wineries on the trail.
The wineries are divided into two groups, the Western Trail and the Eastern Trail. 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
Litchfield Hills
The Litchfield Hills is a geographic region of the U.S. state of Connecticut located in the northwestern corner of the state. It is a term that is roughly coterminous with the boundaries of Litchfield County, for which it is named...
region while the Eastern Trail is in the Southeastern
Southeastern Connecticut
The Southeastern Connecticut region comprises, as the name suggests, the southeastern corner of the state of Connecticut. It is sometimes referred to as Greater New London or by the tourist slogan Mystic and More....
and Quiet Corner
Quiet Corner
The Quiet Corner, also known as Northeastern Connecticut, is a region of the state of Connecticut, located in the northeastern corner of the state. It is generally associated with Windham County, but also incorporates eastern sections of Tolland County and the northern portion of New London County...
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
Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in and former county seat of Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is known as an affluent summer resort. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census. The boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield are located within the town...
conceived of the idea of the wine trail in 1988. It was officially dedicated by the state in 1992 with five wineries. The trail has grown over time to its current roster of 23 wineries as of 2011.