THROUGH THE
GRAPEVINE
There’s no time like summertime to tour through some of
New England’s world-class vineyards and wineries.
FOSTER
Specializing in small-scale and high-quality winemaking, Nickle Creek
Vineyard is a picturesque, family-owned-and-operated winery known
for its inviting atmosphere and flavorful pours. Since opening in 2012,
Nickle Creek has produced a variety of unique strains that you can
sample during a complimentary tasting and self-guided tour through
the vineyard.
TRY: The 2-Dog White wine is a fan-favorite not only for its rich, tropical
aroma, but also because a portion of the proceeds go to canine charities
in honor of the vineyard’s two rescue dogs, Bodie and Z. LITTLE COMPTON
Founded in 1975, Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard takes advantage of
its 150 acres of unique agricultural climate in Rhode Island’s East Bay
region to grow grapes that produce striking and fresh flavors. Take a
tour and visit the tasting room where you can sample several of the
vineyard’s estate wines, then grab lunch at the onsite Bar and Board
Vineyard Bistro for some fresh, locally sourced eats.
TRY: Pair your summer barbecues with a glass of Carolyn’s Sakonnet
Vineyard’s Rhode Island Red, an award-winning, full-bodied red wine
with notes of blackberry, jam and spice.
WEST GREENWICH
You may know the farm for its Christmas trees, but Leyden Farm
Vineyard and Winery has been producing its own wines since 2010.
Using sweet and tangy fruits like strawberries and blueberries, Leyden
creates eclectic flavors for every palate, from light and sweet to bold
and sophisticated.
TRY: The new Strawberry Fields, a sweet white wine blend of riesling
grapes and fresh strawberries, will be the perfect refresher on a hot
summer’s day. NORTH STONINGTON, CT
Jonathan Edwards Winery was established with a simple goal: make
great wine and enjoy life more often. Lucky for New England, Jonathan
Edwards has been making good on that promise for twenty years with
its tucked away twenty acres of vineyards. Visitors can expect to delight
in yummy wines, serene farm country surroundings and thrilling events
throughout the summer season.
TRY: Each bottle of the winery’s Stone Table White is uniquely blended
and aged, always striving for a fruity taste with a smooth and soft
finish, while its Stone Table Red is known for its easy drinkability and
dark-chocolate-meets-red-berry flavors.
JOHNSTON
Overlooking Moswansicut Lake, Verde Vineyards is a quaint place to
enjoy a picnic and learn about local winemaking. Using traditional
techniques of open fermentation and oak-barrel aging, the Verde team
is committed to sustainable farming as well as producing complex
wines that are reminiscent of those produced in southern France.
TRY: The award-winning St. Croix, a smooth, medium-bodied red wine
that is known to suit a variety of tastes.
CUMBERLAND
Nestled on thirty acres of sprawling vineyards, gardens and woodlands,
the charming, family-run Diamond Hill Vineyards has been making
fresh and fruity wines since 1976 when it first planted its bountiful
pinot noir vines.
TRY: The classic pinot noir is a must, but don’t shy away from following
up with a glass of Scarlet Run, a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon.
58 YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMER GUIDE 2020
STONINGTON, CT
Converted from a World War II-era airplane hangar and airfield to a
beautiful vineyard and winery, Saltwater Farm Vineyard was founded
by Rhode Islander Michael Connery in 2001 with the vision of preserving
the site’s history while providing a functional tasting room and vineyard.
TRY: Aged in stainless steel tanks, its 2018 cabernet rosé is a dry,
French-style rosé with soft notes of rose hip, hibiscus and stone fruit
complemented by a hint of sweet bell pepper and flint.
❱❱
NO TIME FOR A TOUR?
Sit down at the Tapped Apple
Winery and Cidery in Westerly for an
exclusive pour, look out for Anchor
and Hope wines on local menus or
head to the Savory Grape in East
Greenwich or Campus Fine Wines in
Providence for a bottle to go.
MIDDLETOWN
Coastal New England meets Napa Valley at Newport Vineyards, a
family-owned vineyard and winery (and brewery in the form of TapRoot
Brewing) dedicated to both preserving agricultural land and developing
high-quality wines. Pop in for a tasting and tour to learn about all of
the steps that go into crafting the perfect wine. Afterwards, you can
head to the vineyard’s Brix Restaurant for enticing farm-to-table fare
and a glass of your favorite pour from the day.
TRY: You can’t go wrong with the un-oaked, fruit-forward In The Buff
chardonnay; the earthy, pomegranate- and raspberry-flavored pinot
noir or the sweet Bellevue Blush rosé.