Chamard Vineyards

Getting Mommy Sauced

Excerpt from Play : New Havens Arts & Entertainment Weekly
By Nicole D'Andrea, Senior Writer
May 8, 2008
Used by permission

There's nothing better than getting mommy a little tipsy for Mother's Day so we took the eastern tour of the Connecticut Wine Trail (ctwine.com) and selected one wine from each vineyard that matches the type of mom you've got. From the "High Society Lady" to the "Dark and Brooding," there's a wine for every mother and a place to take her to enjoy it. We call it an unconventional way to celebrate the day, and face it, what's better than getting mommy a little loopy?

Gossip Queen
Gouveia Vineyards
1339 Whirlwind Hill Road, Wallingford; 203-265-5526;
gouveiavineyards.com
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday , 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

If your mom likes to gab... a lot... may we recommend the fine Stone House Red, from Wallingford's Gouveia Vineyards. Vineyard owners Joe and Lucy Gouveia describe this vino as "A careful blend of both vinifera and hybrid red grapes varieties. The marriage brings together the unique assets of Villard Noir, Chambourcin, Rubiana, Merlot and Cabernet Franc." We picked this multifaceted wine for the chatty-cathy mom because everyone knows a mom with a healthy dialogue is, shall we say, complex.

If mom can stay quiet, she'll enjoy the 140 acres of vineyard which is home to more than 16,000 vines. The winery is reminiscent of Joe's villages in Portugal and of the beautiful vineyards his grandfather has here in America.

In addition to treating miss blabbermouth mommy to the Stone House Red, Joe and his wife offer about seven other varieties including the Oaked Chardonnay (a non traditional varietal aged 12 months in stainless steel. Notes of grapefruit, wild cherry and marshmallow come to mind). The wines are made from eight types of grapes including Seyval Blanc, Vignoles, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cayuga and St. Croix.

You can pack a lunch for you and mom to enjoy and if you're in the mood for live music, stop by the vineyard from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays.

Apple Pie Sweetie
Bishop's Orchards Winery
1355 Boston Post Road, Guilford, 866-2BISHOP;
bishopsorchardswinery.com
Open until 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and until 6 p.m. Sunday (wine sold at market on Sundays)

This family-run winery is an extension of the Bishop's already insanely successful produce business.

Feeding the Shoreline delicious apples since 1871, Bishop's is the perfect place to take your Apple Pie Sweetie mommy for Mother's Day.

Almost all 10 wines the orchard produces are made from the sweet apple cider that has made this market/winery an icon of New England.

For your candy-coated mom we suggest Faulkner's Spiced Apple Wine (Apple Wine made from Bishop's Sweet Apple Cider, aged semi-dry. Mulled spices add a delightful essence to the apple bouquet, to enjoy before or after dinner. Cheddar, brie and smoked cheeses are great companions. Also enjoy it heated).

Keith Bishop dreams up sweet and wholesome wines that create the fruit wine selection at Bishops. Once mommy gets a taste of the spiced vino, move onto something crazy and pour her a glass of Honey Peach Melba (apple wine with honey, peach & raspberry) or the Happely ImPeared (apple pear wine).

Bishop's Winery isn't a traditional "wine excursion." They operate their production facility within the market so try to help your mom resist the urge to buy their lovely variety of fresh baked pies and fresh-picked fruit (when in season).

Try to schedule a visit around the Shoreline Wine Festival taking place at Bishop's August 16 and 17.

Eccentric Cougar
Chamard Vineyards
115 Cow Hill Road, Clinton; 860-664-0299; chamard.com
Tasting Room open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday

If you've got a mom who is hellbent on wearing mix-matched clothes, talking flippantly about life and embracing her inner vixen, take her immediately to Chamard Vineyards and buy her a bottle- forget the glass- of Stone Cold White. Wine consultant Henry Ponzio describes the variety: "This new unoaked, non-malolatic or "naked" chardonnay pushes the limits of East Coast chardonnay to new heights of expression. A rich, vibrant blast of citrus and lemon flavors are framed by a seductive bracing acidity creating a new wine, which will change the way the world thinks of Connecticut wine."

Chamard Vineyards, opened in 1983 by the William R. Chaney family was originally 5.5 acres. Today it has expanded immensely and now produces 5,000 cases of wine annually.

Now spreading across 40 acres (only 20 used for production), Chamard produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in addition to its cornerstone chardonnay.

If mom likes the variety of wine and the sweeping view of this elegant vineyard be sure to take her back after Mother's Day for the Farmers Markets (12 to 3 p.m., Sundays, June to October). Also check out live music events posted on the website and the vineyard's Wine Seminars (5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 3rd Saturday of each month). Mom can learn a thing or two about tasting and paring and certainly teach her fellow seminar attendants the right way to swirl the glass.

Bad Ass Mommy
523 Taugwonk Road, Stonington, 860-535-1222; stoningtonvineyards.com
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Sunday, Daily tours at 2 p.m.

Stonington Vineyard makes the perfect wine for the mommy who is tough as nails. Their 2006 Cabernet Franc due out June or July is described as having "Abundant forward aromas of dark berries and currants with hints of tobacco and leather, a backbone of soft tannins and a clean lingering finish"- kind of like a night out with a crazy, bad mommy who makes a "clean lingering finish" by kicking some ass at the bar when the sound of last call rings.

Because this particular variety isn't quite ready yet, you can give mommy a taste of Vidal Blanc, Riesling or the Gewurztraminer.

Mike McAndrew is the wine mastermind and has been with the vineyard since Nick and Happy Smith opened the place in 1987. From their 58 acres, European-style table wines are produced and with the location so close to the Atlantic Ocean, you can anticipate a similar product to what is produced in Bordeaux, France. If you're thinking about taking your bad ass mom here, wait for the 2006 Cabernet Franc and schedule your visit around one of their two festivals, July 19 and 20 and September 20 and 21.

Smoking Hot Mommy
Jonathan Edwards Winery
74 Chester Maine Road, North Stonington; 860-535-0202; jedwardswinery.com
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday

If your friends and their dads can't stop checking your mother out, chances are she's a fox, and this Mother's Day embrace your mom's inner hottie. Take her to Jonathan Edwards Winery, just outside Mystic, and treat her to the 2004 Napa Valley Syrah. This relatively new vineyard (2001) has produced a wine that they claim has been aging two years. Jonathan Edwards, wine maker and general manager of the vineyard, says of this Syrah, "Upfront dark cherry aromas transition into dark chocolate and black raspberry on the palate." Like your mom, who has only gotten better-looking with age, the description continues, "Our bold Syrah is sure to please now, or improve over the next eight to ten years."

The winery overlooks Long Island Sound and is inside a converted barn circa 1880. This winery is also unique for Connecticut because the grapes are harvested in Napa Valley, Calif. When they are perfect for the Jonathan Edwards Winery, they are made into a young wine and sent to Connecticut where they are aged in barrels. Think of it as a taste of the West Coast in your own backyard; certainly mom deserves that.

Sparking Mum
Heritage Trail
291 N. Burnham Highway, Lisbon; 860-376-0659; heritagetrail.com
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, call for tasting.

A mother who is so sweet she practically oozes sugar, is deserving of the Heritage Trail's Sweet Reserve. This desert wine is the perfect aperitif to give mom before dinner or with her favorite slice of pie.

This type of wine is made with 100% Vignoles Blanc grapes and is described as having slight nuances of dried apricots and pineapple.

To treat your sweet mum to something more than just a bottle of this reserve, Heritage Trail also offers a vineyard experience like no other in the state.

Located in an area that they say is known as the "last gerrn valley" Lisbon plays host to this historic winery. Amidst rivers, woodlands, and small villages, the 39-acre winery makes an 18th century farm owned by Rev. John Palmer home.

Today, Diane M. Powell runs the winery, which reflects her California origins.

Dark and Brooding
Priam Vineyards
11 Shailor Hill Road, Colchester;
203-267-8520; priamvineyards.com
11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday to Sunday, tours and tasting available

Cynical mothers are annoying, depressing and oftentimes vindictive but at the heart of their brooding, these moms are honest and thank goodness for that.

If you've got a mom who tends to see the glass as half-empty, be sure to fill her up with Priam Vineyard's Essence of St. Croix, 375 ml.

The Essence of St. Croix is "triple fermented and aged two years in oak barrels to achieve the smoky flavor in a port style dessert wine," as stated on their website. "The rich cherry, chocolate overtones make this a delicious wine to sip with chocolate." Like the moments when your pessimistic mom is nice, the Essence of St. Croix is available in a very limited production, but don't fear, there are plenty of other dark, deep varieties available from Priam Vineyards- 13 varieties of wine in total.

Located just outside Long Island Sound, the Vineyard was founded by Gloria Priam and her husband Gary Crump. The 40-acre facility is just a hop away from Mohegan Sun Casino, so once you appease your crabby mommy's palate take her down the road to pacify her other vice.

High Society Lady
Sharpe Hill Vineyard
108 Wade Road, Pomfret; 860-974-3549; sharpehill.com
Tasting room 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday, Fireside Tavern is open for dinner and private events by reservation only.

Take your upper crust mom to Connecticut's largest winery in the historic and notable town of Pomfret. Though there is a large selection of divine wines to choose from, we suggest the Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay for your classy mother. The website describes, "An estate bottled, Burgundian style Chardonnay blended with Melon de Bourgonne aged in French oak. This elegant, dry wine is crisp, well-balanced and possesses a delicate, soft finish with a hint of apples. It is a superb complement for lighter foods, especially seafood and chicken."

Owners Steven and Catherine Vollweiler, with wine maker Howard Bursen, care for their 100-acre facility that they say shares the same latitude as Rome. This said, their 25 acres of grapes have an Italian influence but their Fireside Restaurant's small menu is anything but Italian inspired. You can treat your sophisticated-mother to a glass of this reserve chardonnay and either Creole shrimp or spicy Jamaican chicken (be sure to call for reservations of dining). Make a day of your excursion to Pomfret and be sure to take your mother to one of the antique shops in town and buy her a fancy and high society tea set.

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