In much need of some relaxed girl time, I took a day off and Sheila, Jill and I went off on a quest to fill our Connecticut Wine Trail Passport. (Obviously we couldn't possibly make it to all of them in one day hence the Part I in the title)
It was a perfect summer day. Sunny, warm, slight breeze and low humidity. Our mission was to visit the vineyards on the southeastern corner of the state.
First stop was Heritage Trail Vineyard in Lisbon. This was a quaint little place nestled on a road I've passed for years but never have stopped. We chose a table outside and had a very pleasant waitress. She was helpful in explaining the wines we were sampling. They had a little menu so we ordered a cheese plate along with a Mediterranean plate of hummus, taziki and tapenade. The wines were all very delishious as were the snacks. Not knowing what lay ahead I refrained from making any purchases here but could have easily bought several bottles here.
From there we stopped at Dalice Elizabeth Vineyard in Preston. It was a small little building with an odd server who was wearing a grungy tshirt and cargo shorts. We learned mid way through that they had no running water. Ick. All set with here, we got our stamp and moved along.
Next stop was Saltwater Farm Vineyard in Stonington. I loved the feel of this winery. There were beautiful views of the saltwater marshes beyond the grape vines. The building itself was a converted airplane hanger. It was so warm and cozy feeling. It almost felt like being on the inside of a wine barrel. The tastings closed at 3:00 for a wedding which was being set up for as we had our tasting. I bought a bottle of Chardonnay from here. I really enjoyed the whole experience of this vineyard. The staff were incredibly friendly. The views spectacular and wines delishious What else do you need??
Next up was Jonathan Edwards Vineyard in North Stonington. This was a beautiful building, gorgeous patios and gardens all about. The wine was fantastic, by far my favorite of all the places we visited. Unfortunately the service was poor and we had no explanation of what we were being served. I didn't need much explanation any way. I knew what I liked and purchased a few bottles to enjoy at home. A nice crisp white wine perfect for a summer night.
Our last stop was at Stonington Vineyards. They were closing soon after we arrived. We opted to have a single glass on the patio rather then a tasting. It was good, nothing spectacular and nothing bad. Just good.
At this point all of the vineyards in the area were closed. They all seem to close at 5:00, unless they serve food then they seem to be open later.
After all the fun it was time to eat! Mohegan Sun was near by so we went there and continued with our samplings. We went to Michael Jordan's and had the most delicious garlic bread that I've ever had. The bread was light and flaky, almost layered like a puff pastry. It came with a decedent blue cheese fondue. Oh so good!! We contemplated tiring Bar American for salads but opted to go try the new Italian restaurant Ballo. It felt like an Italian castle inside. Huge vaulted ceilings with pillars. Dark rich colors. Plush seating. Dramatic arches. Here we had salads, bread, roasted Brussels sprouts and arancini. Everything was very good and I would definitely come back for a whole meal.
After a stop for coffee and donuts at Krispy Kreme it was time to call it a day. We had such a great time and I can't wait to fill up our passports over the summer!
