Newport Vineyards

The family-owned Newport Vineyards promise to bring the Napa Valley wine experience to New England. They deliver with a thoughtfully laid out tasting room that features a large tasting bar and features an indoor-outdoor feel during the warm months.

Planted in the late 1970s in a unique micro-climate on the Aquidneck Island, today this vineyard extends over 75 acres of preserved farmland, which makes it the largest grower of wine grapes in the region. Much of that land used to be planted with potatoes used by Frito-Lay for chips. 

The long and cool growing season enables the winemakers here to develop some of the most complex flavors that you can find in any New England wines. The Newport Vineyards include the Nunes and Perry Farm and the Brix Restaurant, which offers pleasant views over the vineyards.

As with most cool climate growing regions, the white wines in Rhode Island tend to outshine the reds. This is no knock on the winemaker, but a simple fact of geography. At Newport Vineyards we really enjoyed the Riesling and the un-oaked Chardonnay.

You generally don’t need a reservation to take the 30-minute tour through the heart of the vineyards and stop by the tasting room.

To learn more about visiting one of the best New England wineries, click here.

Truro Vineyards

Truro Vineyards occupy an estate that is nearly two centuries old, and they are perched on the sandy soil between Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, in the ruggedly beautiful town of Truro. This is the only vinifera vineyard in the region, growing Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. That makes it a must visit Cape Cod winery. 

In addition to featuring pavilion and beach wine tastings, Truro Vineyards also house the Blackfish Restaurant’s Crush Pad Food Truck. A visit to this vineyard is likely to bring you into contact with the Roberts family, the hands-on owners who run wine tastings and guide visitors. Tastings and free tours are available daily.

Find out more details about visiting the Truro Vineyards here.

Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard

Founded over forty years ago, the Sakonnet Vineyard spreads over 150 acres of land and produces barrel-aged white, red, rosé, and dessert wine. Located between two waterways, this vineyard is refreshed by salty breezes and rolling fog.

The slowly-developing grapes grown here are known for their freshness and deep flavor. Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard offers daily afternoon tastings that feature samples of seven estate wines, including sparkling white wine, juicy rosé, and the award-winning, fruity blend of the NV Rhode Island Red. On the estate, you’ll also find the delicious Vineyard Bistro.

There is a lovely tasting room with plenty of room to spread out on the lawn in front during the warmer months. Find a nice wooden chair and bring your bottle of chilled Rosé with you. This is a perfect way to spend a sunny New England day.

Learn more about wine tastings and tours at Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard here.

 

Jonathan Edwards Winery

The Jonathan Edwards Winery grows grapes not only in New England but also in the Napa Valley on the West Coast. While grapes are being harvested from this vineyard, the harvest brought in from the Napa Valley is fermented, aged, and bottled here. The winery stretches over 20 acres of vineyards and offers one of the most authentic vineyard experiences in New England.

Located on the former Chester Maine Farm in North Stonington, Connecticut, this vineyard preserves the historic farmhouse and the fertile fields where cattle were raised centuries ago. A family-run vineyard and winery, the Jonathan Edwards Winery offers tastings and tours every day of the week.

The catalog of wines includes the 2017 Estate Chardonnay, 2016 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, and the inky dark Petite Sirah.

Learn more about this winery here.

 

Maugle Sierra Vineyards

Another highlight vineyard on the Coastal Wine Trail, the Maugle Sierra has been producing premium, locally-grown, hand-crafted wines since 2002. Using the coastal micro-climate to impart rich flavors to the wine, this vineyard covers 11 acres and offers visitors a wine patio, outdoor tasting areas, and picnic spaces.

The catalog of wines includes the chewy, fruit-forward wines created by co-founder Dr. Maugle, including the Estate St. Croix Wine, alongside a dozen more wines. The beautiful Maugle Sierra Vineyards are open to visitors Thursday through Monday, as well as Friday from noon until evening.

To learn more about Maugle Sierra, check out the vineyard’s official website.

 

Seven Birches Winery

Located within the 5-star Riverwalk Resort at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, the Seven Birches Winery blends famed European grape varietals with locally sourced fruits to create wines with a distinctive fruity flavor. This winery captures the New Hampshire spirit and provides a rich experience for wine lovers.

If you arrive on a Wednesday or Saturday, you can go on an informative Meet the Winemakers tour that showcases the winemaking process at Seven Birches. The winery offers two tasting rooms located within close proximity of each other, both of them highlighting the Seven Birches’ RiverWalk label, made and bottled in the White Mountains.

Overall, Seven Birches provide a memorable tasting experience for both connoisseurs and people who are only beginning their journey of discovery into the startlingly rich world of New England wines.

Learn more about Seven Birchers Winery on their website.

 

Boyden Valley Winery

The Boyden Valley Winery carries on into the 21st century the rich tradition of one of the first wineries in Vermont. Located on a fourth-generation family farm tucked beneath the Green Mountains, the winery is well-known for its cold-weather varieties. The highlight wine is the Marquette Reserve, made entirely from Vermont grapes aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels.

A wine tour at this winery includes a visit to the recently renovated tank and barrel room, offering you the chance to taste a dozen different wines in an authentic carriage barn. Tastings are available Tuesdays to Saturdays and allow you to sample up to seven wines.

Book a tour or tasting at one of the best New England wineries.

 

Lincoln Peak Vineyard Winery

This 12-acre vineyard was initially a strawberry farm. But the rising popularity of winter-hardy grape varieties in the early 2000s caught on here, and the family who owns the estate – the Granstroms – never looked back.

The vineyard today produces around 25,000 bottles of locally grown grapes every year and has been a notable participant in cold-climate wine competitions. In 2016, the Lincoln Peak Vineyard Winery was named Winery of the Year at the International Cold Climate Competition. Highlight wines are made from Marquette, Frontenac, and Le Crescent grape varieties.

The Granstroms’ winery captures the spirit of the new generation of winemakers in Vermont, and it is one of the most memorable wineries in New England.

You can taste the wine produced here on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, as well as during the other days by appointment.

Click here to learn more about visiting Lincoln Peak Vineyard Winery.

 

Cellardoor Winery & Vineyard

If you thought Maine is too cold to produce a distinctive wine, think again. Visiting the Cellardoor Winery & Vineyard in Lincolnville, Maine is a noteworthy experience for every wine lover. Open to visitors daily, the 200-year-old barn that hosts tastings is the perfect setting for the rich catalog of wines available.

Comparatively small in size, this vineyard produces a variety of hand-crafted wines from cold-hardy hybrids. While visiting this winery, you’ll have the opportunity to see the fabled hand carving behind the Cellardoor logo and learn the interesting story behind it.

Tasting highlights include the estate vintages, Blanc de Blancs and Vendange, which are produced using traditional methods of fermentation.

To learn more about visiting this winery and vineyard, click here.

 

Breakwater Vineyards

Big wineries have their appeal, but so do small farm wineries like Breakwater Vineyards. Located in Owls Head, Maine, this charming winery produces Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and popular fruit wines, such as the Breakwater Blues with blueberries.

The beautiful scenery and quiet surroundings make this vineyard a restful place for sipping a glass of wine on a bright summer day. Adding to the appeal of the vineyards are the goats and other animals roaming through the grounds of the estate, with Pinot Noir, the lead goat, at their head. Wine tastings and tours at the Breakwater Vineyards are available only in summer.

Find out more about visiting Breakwater Vineyards.

 

Westport Rivers

The home of an old family of local winegrowers, Westport Rivers is a key stop for many wine lovers exploring the best Massachusetts wineries along the Coastal Wine Trail. The vineyard’s rich and dark soils, together with the cool climate tempered by the gulf stream, help to produce the highly aromatic and crisp wine that helped Westport Rivers build a good reputation.

Wine tastings at this vineyard include highlights such as the Methode Champenoise sparkling wine, as well as a selection of apéritif wine and table wine. You can visit Westport Rivers Monday through Saturday, enjoying the wine at the Wine Bar or outside in classic vineyard surroundings.

Click here to learn more about visiting Westport Rivers.

 

Nashoba Valley Winery

Nashoba Valley Winery produces over 37 varietals of wine using fruits grown entirely in the USA. A pioneering winery orchard, Nashoba Valley spreads over 52 acres and features a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, a winery, and a gourmet restaurant.

This beautiful hilltop orchard has as its center point a rustic farmhouse that hosts the popular J’s Restaurant. But if you arrive at this winery on a sunny day, you can take a bottle of wine to the picnic area and enjoy it with friends and family.

Tours at the Nashoba Valley Winery offer a glimpse into the winemaking process and are available on most days.

To learn more about tastings and tours on the Nashoba Valley Winery, click here.

Ready for a Vineyard Visit?

Wineries and vineyards in New England offer a rich selection of wine which you can enjoy in authentic settings. As we mentioned above, the best New England wines tend to be white varietals. We still encourage you to taste the reds, but they tend to be more acidic and a bit thinner than most reds you are used to drinking. 

Before you plan your visit to the New England wineries, check out a few of our winery travel resources. You can start with our guide to travel in wine country. Then find out how many wineries you should visit in a day.

Whether you plan on visiting them with your partner, with friends, or in a group, they are bound to stick in your memory. The only question is – which will you visit first?