Going Local With Stonington Vineyards

Eating and drinking locally produced products is just one way to add a little green into everyday life. And this Earth Day wine lovers and local foodies should raise their glasses to —a glass full of the vineyard’s award winning Cabernet Franc.

The vineyard’s 2007 Cabernet Franc is a winner of the 2011 Connecticut Product Awards. The red wine took first place in the “best red wine produced in Connecticut” category.

For the past several years the Connecticut Specialty Food Association has celebrated locally produced food with the Connecticut Product Awards.

“The goal of the awards is to help the producer gain recognition for their product at the store and consumer level,” said Tricia Levesque of the Connecticut Food association.

Something Nick Smith, who with his wife Happy owns Stonington Vineyards, hope will be true for the vineyard and for Connecticut red wines in general.

“Connecticut wineries are not known for their red wines...it shows quality red wines can be produced in Connecticut,” Smith said.

Stonington Vineyards describes the 2007 Cabernet Franc as “abundant forward aromas of dark berries and currants with hints of tobacco and leather, a backbone of soft tannins and a clean lingering finish.”

The 2011 awards marked the 10th Product Awards Competition and the first year in which wines and spirits were included. Levesque said wine is only eligible for the awards if produced from 100 percent Connecticut grown grapes.

“I was confident it would do well, but a little surprised it was number one,” Smith said.

There are 38 categories and a panel of judges including food writers and chefs scored over 329 products on a scale of 1-10. Levesque said the association averages the totals and the top scores in each category receive the award.

"It is always amazing to see the diversity and quality of the foods and beverages made by producers right here in Connecticut," Levesque said.

Established in 1987, Stonington Vineyards is going into its 25th year of business. Smith said the winery sells 99 percent of its wine in Connecticut, the majority out of the winery, but some wholesale to Connecticut stores and restaurants.

While the Connecticut Product Award isn’t the first award the winery has won, or likely the last, Smith was hopeful the award would help the vineyard make headway in promoting Stonington Vineyards and Connecticut wine in general.

One of those promotions may be the outcome of a bill in Connecticut General Assembly that would allow Connecticut vineyards to sell wine at farmers market. Something Smith said he and Stonington Vineyards strongly support even though he didn’t think it would expand their sales.

“It would be an major step for Connecticut wines,” Smith said.

Tours of Stonington Vineyards are free and held daily at 2 p.m., and the wine can be purchased at the vineyard or through their website.

Toast the environment this Earth Day with a glass full of Stonington Vineyard’s Cabernet Franc.