This is the first installation of Passport to Connecticut Wineries, or Sophie and Cecelia’s adventures tasting their way through Connecticut wineries!
On Saturday, June 28, 2009, we visited DiGrazia Vineyards and McLaughlin Vineyards.
DiGrazia Vineyards
131 Tower Rd., Brookfield, CT 06804, (203)775-1616I was immediately impressed with the grotto at the entrance. Once inside, the tasting consists of your choice of six of their 15 wines. Matt was our tasting guide and explained the whole process to us.
I tasted Anastasia Blush, Honey Blush, Blacksmith Port, Wild Blue, Wild Blue Too, Fieldstone Reserve, and Newbury. (I know that’s seven—I tasted some of Cecelia’s choices too!) I’m a red wine lover and don’t care much for white wines, rosés, or dessert wines and was pleasantly surprised with the Anastasia Blush, the Honey Blush, and the blueberry wines. I felt their reds were a little lacking: the Fieldstone Reserve had strong hints of iodine and the Newbury didn’t have much of a finish. Still, I have friends for whom the Newbury would be a good glass of wine. The blueberry wines were the surprise of the day since I am somewhat biased towards wine made with grapes. These delicious wines are also very high in antioxidants.
The staff is delightful and make for a fun tasting, but are new to the business and could not tell us much about the composition of the wines. Perhaps we’ll have to come back at the end of the season when they are more, well, seasoned.
I left with bottles of Anastasia Blush, Honey Blush, Wild Blue, Wild Blue Too, and Newbury.
McLaughlin Vineyards
14 Albert’s Hill Road, Sandy Hook, CT 06482, (203)426-1533I have been to McLaughlin’s tastings numerous times before, but this was the official Passport visit.
McLaughlin tastings are a tour though each of ther six wines: Chardonnay, Coyote, Snow Goose, Red Fox Rosé, Merlot, and Vista Reposa. Liz (our tasting guide) recounted the details and highlights of each of the wines as she poured. The McLaughlin tasting includes the etched McLaughlin wine tasting glass.
Vista Reposa is a particular favorite of mine. It goes with nearly everything I cook and each person I introduce to it enjoys it. The Red Fox Rosé is new this season and is quite refreshing. The Merlot goes particularly well with dark chocolate. I don’t generally like Merlot or dark chocolate, but together, I do!
- Up close
I left with bottles of Merlot, Red Fox, and (of course) Vista Reposa. My apologies to Liz for leaving the camera in the car. I’ll catch you next time and make an update.)