Sharpe HIll Vineyard in Pomfret

Sharpe Hill Vineyard is a craft winery that opened in Pomfret, Connecticut in 1996. It was founded by husband and wife Steven and Catherine Vollweiler. The couple purchased the 25 acres of vines in 1991. They later hired Howard Bursen to become their head winemaker. Sharpe Hill's wines have earned hundreds of awards for excellence in international and national competitions. One of their white wines, Ballet of Angels, is the best-selling New England-produced wine in New England. One of their other notable wines is 'Red Seraph': a Cabernet Franc. The winery and tasting room are housed in a historic house from 1750, as well as a barn that is even older. Sharpe Hill also has an adjoining Zagat-rated restaurant called the Fireside Tavern. My wife and I have visited both the winery and the restaurant multiple times. Fireside Tavern does not accept walk-in diners, as they have limited tables and seatings per day. Reservations must be made weeks in advance, especially during the Autumn season. Eating at the Fireside Tavern feels like being invited to an intimate dinner party during the Colonial Times. My wife and I always start off with their Fruit and Cheese Plate, which includes goat cheese, Jarlsberg, Brie, Stilton, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, green apple slices, dates & prunes, walnuts and fig jam. The entrees are also excellent. I always order the Filet Mignon  (which is the best Filet Mignon I've ever tasted!) My wife usually orders a seafood dish such as the fresh sea scallops or the lobster. For dessert, their pumpkin cheesecake is to die for! And of course, they have excellent wine pairings for every course. Sharpe Hill Vineyard...

Beautiful setting. Great place for a quiet tasting, glass or bottle. Friendly staff and plenty of seats outside to enjoy

I took a long journey on a wild goose chase. My perspective let's take the opportunity to make the most of it; where is the closest winery? I scored big time by finding this quaint winery in a part of Connecticut that is unfamiliar to me.  The main building is over 300 years old! Our servers were very personable and accommodating. They made us feel right at home. We had a wonderful experience.  We choose the 6 tastings only because we arrived an hour before closing and had a long drive home.  I have to say of all of the winery's I have visited in Connecticut, this winery had my favorite selection of wines. Totally worth the trip and I am willing to go back. The grounds are beautiful!  The outdoor seating was beautiful with all of the seating spaced so you feel like you have some privacy.  I really enjoyed the spot it was the highlight of my day!