Do not write me when I tell you I found a very good Connecticut wine. Even I was shocked after the tasting. Chamard Vineyards invited me to dinner and a tasting on my last night in Connecticut. The general manager Jeff Vernon offered to pick me up and return me to Old Saybrook since the inn was half way between his house and the winery in Clinton. I knew that name because the Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets are down the road from the winery and I had stopped to shop there several times on the way to and from Boston. They were established in 1983 with the winery being built in 1988, and have 20 acres of grapes used for their estate-bottled line. They also buy grapes from Washington State, California, New York and Chile for their non-estate wines. They produce around 20 different wines. Selling for $28-$42 the Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Cabernet Blend (adds Cab Franc & Merlot) and Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon (100% California grapes) had me believing I was tasting a fine French wine. BRAVO! I am ambivalent about writing this part of the article since you can only buy their wines at the winery or by belonging to their wine club. They can not increase their capacity and are limited to the Bistro hours (out by 9PM) as well as the total number of outdoor weddings allowed (4) that also must be done by 8PM. Remember they are surrounded by residences. Chamard benefits from a unique micro climate influenced by Long Island Sound. They are two miles from the sound and six miles from the mouth of the Connecticut River. This maritime climate produces mild winter temperatures and a long, warm growing season, very similar to Central France or the Burgundy region. Connecticut regulations require that at least 25% of the wineries' production must contain Connecticut grapes. Their farm gardens provide fruit, vegetable, and herb harvests used in their bistro, which is a table-to-farm, take on a French-American menu. You know business is good when the GM can’t get a reservation for the two of us to have dinner. Finally, they found a spot for us but we had to be gone within ½ hour (we beat that). The 35 seat Bistro served over 100 meals that night. www.chamard.com
