Stonington Vineyards of New London

Stonington Vineyards of New London is a winery in New London, Connecticut, situated on Taugwonk Road in the southeastern corner of the state. A founding member of the Connecticut Wine Trail and one of the first wineries established along it, the property sits roughly midway between New York and Boston and produces wines shaped by the influence of the nearby Atlantic. Visitors can stop in year-round for tours and tastings, and the tasting room runs on a seasonal schedule, open from noon to six Sunday through Thursday, noon to five on Fridays during the summer concert series, and noon to seven on Saturdays, closing only on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The winery also hosts private events, a summer evening concert series on Fridays in July and August, and recurring seasonal pop-ups with local food and craft vendors.

The vineyard was founded in 1987 by Nick and Happy Smith on a rolling 58-acre landscape in the Stonington Uplands, land that already hosted young wine grapes planted earlier in the decade. Mike McAndrew joined as winemaker in 1988, and his European-influenced focus on elegance and balance has defined the house style ever since. Stonington Vineyards is best known for its barrel-fermented Chardonnay and its proprietary blends Seaport White and Triad Rose, alongside Riesling and Cabernet Franc. The winery operates with a focus on quality over quantity, which has earned its wines recognition over four decades of production.

The current owner and president, Ann Houston, came to the winery after more than thirty years in pharmaceuticals and biotech. A Rhode Island native who serves on the Goodspeed Board of Trustees, she continues the founder's emphasis on community and the land while guiding the property into a new era. Stonington Vineyards holds a rating of 4.30 from its customers, reflecting an experience that pairs coastal New England setting with a long-standing commitment to handcrafted, food-friendly wines.