The Connecticut Wine Trail: Tenth Stop
When we left Stonington Vineyards, we headed north for about 4.5 miles until we came to the tenth stop on our tour of the Connecticut Wine Trail, Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington. As you pull into the parking area, you're greeted by a charming New England farmhouse on 48 acres situated only 9 miles from Long Island Sound.
The Edwards family purchased the former Crosswoods Vineyards, removed all the old vines and planted new ones, and incorporated the latest technology into their winery. While Stonington Vineyards uses the French Burgundian method of winemaking, Jonathan Edwards opted to use Napa Valley grapes in some of the extraordinary wines they produce. The grapes are pressed in California, then shipped to Connecticut in refrigerated trucks to be barrel aged and bottled. They also produce 3 estate wines, including a Gewurztraminer, a Chardonnay, and a Cabernet Franc, which are harvested and processed on site.
We entered the restored barn that houses the tasting room and settled in at the end of the attractive oak bar to begin our tasting ($10 for a full tasting of 8 wines, and includes a wine glass with engraved logo). The first wine up was a 2008 estate Gewurztraminer ("gewurz" is the German word for "spice"), which proved to be our favorite. It emitted nice aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest and spice, and finished cleanly in what the barrista said was a dry manner, but which I would describe as off-dry. Definitely a nice wine with any spicy food or just to sip chilled on a warm day. Next up was a 2009 estate Chadonnay, aged in oak which gave it some hints of vanilla, and showed lemon and green apple on the palate. Next was the first of the Napa Valley wines, a 2008 Chardonnay. It was very fruity on the nose and oaky on the palate, thanks to the aging it got in large French oak barrels.
Moving out of the white wines into the realm of reds, we next tried the last of the estate wines, the 2008 Cabernet Franc. Lots of cherry and blackberry notes were evident here, as well as some light oak finish provided by a year of barrel aging. Next was a 2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel, with all the spice you could want, big and jammy in the mouth and a smooth, peppery finish. A 2008 Napa Valley Merlot was next, with lots of berry aromas and oak and fruit on the palate, just right for a savory pork roast. We then sampled a 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which just begged for a nice, juicy steak! Very earthy flavors, tobacco and chocolate dominated this big wine. The last wine we tried was a 2007 Napa Valley Petite Sirah. Sourced from grapes grown in Calistoga, CA, it was a very dark color and smelled like plums and spice. Another great grilled meat wine!
Jonathan Edwards Winery has a great stone patio in the back where you can enjoy a bottle of your favorite wine. In addition, they hold several events throuhout the year for their fans, including Celebtate CT!, where they offer their estate wines and food samples from local artisanal vendors. This event takes place on September 24th from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, and tickets are $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Another great event is the Annual Harvest Festival, on October 2nd & 3rd from Noon to 6 PM each day. Tickets are $20 if pre-purchased and $25 at the door, and include a free wine glass and a voucher to sample the latest vintages. All in all, a great time for the entire family!
Jonathan Edwards hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM, and they are closed most major holidays. They are located at 74 Chester Maine Road in North Stonington, just minutes away from Mystic Seaport, the casinos and the beaches of Rhode Island. If you're planning to be in the Stonington area soon, make Jonathan Edwards Winery a part of your itinerary!
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