Marguerite Barrett
Contributing Writer

Tucked away in the farmlands and hills northwest of New Haven, Connecticut sits Savino Vineyards, one of Connecticut’s newest – and smallest – wineries.  Open for just over two years, Savino Vineyards is family-owned and operated and, like many of their sister wineries throughout Connecticut and the Northeast, specializes in wines made from American Hybrids such as Seyval Blanc, Frontenac, Cabernet Franc and St. Croix.

Despite being situated so close to New Haven, one of Connecticut’s largest cities and home to Yale University, the area surrounding Savino Vineyards is very rural with small farms and orchards lining the roads as you make your way into Woodridge from either Route 8 or the Merritt Parkway.  The terrain is not as hilly or wooded as the Litchfield Hills or the Northeast corner of the state, and also not as open as the farmland of the Southeast.  This is actually one of the things I love about Connecticut, the diversity in terrain.  There’s a “flavor” that’s all Connecticut, but there’s enough difference between different areas of the state that you feel as if you are discovering something new each time you head out.

Be careful as you head up to the winery – blink and you’ll miss it – I almost did.  Following the instructions from my GPS (which my wine trail buddies Deb Shaw-Esteves and Cheryl Grayson for some inexplicable reason call Shirley), you quickly come upon the house and the vineyards just beyond, which run right up to the large New England stone fence that lines the roadway.  The GPS was informing me that I was at the right location, but I couldn’t see any signs, and the house, while charming, certainly didn’t have the look of a winery tasting room open to visitors.

I had made up my mind that I must have missed something and decided to pull into the next driveway and turn around when I found the tasting room – in fact, it WAS the next driveway!  Just past the house and vineyards, set back from the road in a small cleared field, sits Savino’s Tasting Room.  There’s a Tasting Room sign at the end of the driveway, but it’s easy to miss if you’re looking, as I was, for the “Open” flags and large winery signs of the bigger wineries elsewhere throughout the state.

The Tasting Room is a small shed-like structure set back several hundred feet from the road.  Painted barn red on the outside and a warm and inviting creamy yellow on the inside, the room is probably 20′x30′ total.  As you enter, the Tasting Bar is on your left, starting just inside the door and running the width of the Tasting Room.  Altogether, the bar could probably hold 5-6 people.  The rest of the space is open, with space for small groups of people to stand as they complete their tasting.  As one of the newer and smaller wineries, Savino is not set up for visitors who want to come and spend a leisurely afternoon, but they are welcoming and inviting, and on the day I stopped by in early November one of the neighbors had stopped by to hang out with the staff for awhile and regaled us with stories of her dogs, her ex-husband and general neighborhood chatter.

Savino Vineyards produces five wines, a Seyval Blanc, a Frontenac, a Cabernet Franc, a St. Croix and a Merlot; all of the grapes, with the exception of the Merlot which are brought in from California, are grown locally.  Because I stopped by so late in the season, I missed the Frontenac and Cabernet Franc, which had already sold out, but was able to taste the other three.

2008 Seyval Blanc The only white Savino produces, the Seyval Blanc is a very pale straw color, with a lovely citrus nose with strong notes of grapefruit.  In the mouth the wine is crisp and dry, with grapefruit again being the predominant note.

2007 St. Croix This was my favorite of the three Savino wines, although it was a tough call between this and the Seyval Blanc.  A deep plum color, the nose is soft and fruity, and in the mouth the wine is more complex than I anticipated.  I tasted notes of both plum and cherry, and while a drier wine, there’s a light touch of sweetness which gives the wine sweetness.  The finish is smooth, and this wine would pair well with meat dishes such a s beef, pork, lamb or veal.

In 2009, Savino won their first medal, a bronze, for the 2007 St. Croix in the Amenti Del Vino International Wine Competition.  Congratulations!

2007 Merlot Produced from grapes that are brought in from California, the Merlot is both spicy and earthy.  A medium garnet color, the nose is sharp, with notes of spice, including pepper, and earthy.  In the mouth, there are notes of cherry combined with spices, again I tasted pepper, and a smoky earthiness.  The finish had slightly bitter notes, which when tasted on it’s own is a bit off-putting, but when paired with food may smooth out and add a depth and complexity that could be very interesting.

Despite it’s size, Savino Vineyards produces some very nice, very interesting wines.  I will definitely be returning early in the Season in 2010 (the winery opens to the public again in May) to sample the Frontenac and Cabernet Franc.   Don’t be deterred by the fact that the tasting room isn’t large enough to settle in and hang out all day, it’s definitely worth a stop.

Savino Vineyards
125 Ford Road
Woodridge, Connecticut 06525
203-387-1573
savinovineyards@sbcglobalnet
Savino Vineyards does not yet have a website

Open Saturdays & Sundays, 12:00-5:00
May 15th – December 15th

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Marguerite Barrett
Contributing Writer

White Silo has been producing wines for 8 years, and has taken an interesting approach to their wines, creating both a dry and a semi-sweet, which they label “dessert” wines, version of four farm-grown fruits: Rhubarb, Blackberry, Raspberry and Black Currant.  This is the first time I’ve seen any winery create contrasting pairs of all their wines, and it makes for an interesting tasting.

A tasting includes your choice of 5 of the wines.   And, while I had missed Christy’s presence on the drive over, I found myself really regretting that she had been unable to make the trip once I saw the tasting menu.  If she had been with me, we could have coordinated a full tasting menu tasting all pairs (except the Raspberry as they were out of the sweet Raspberry wine that day).  As it was, I settled for a tasting of four of the wines (2 dry, 2 sweet) and a tasting of their Blackberry Sangria.

Dry Wines

Rhubarb I wasn’t sure what to expect from a Rhubarb wine, but this was a pleasant surprise.  The nose is light and floral, and the wine while definitely dry has a light sweetness from the rhubarb which provides some character to the wine.  Both the aroma and taste of the rhubarb are subtle, although there is a very slightly bitter finish to the wine.  I’m not sure if that’s from the fruit or from the dryness of the wine.  It’s not off-putting, but it was present.

Raspberry The first thing I noticed about this wine is the color, a lovely rosy pink color which sparkles in the glass.  The nose has definite notes of raspberry but, like the rhubarb wine, is not overpowering.  In the mouth, the wine has a hint of sweetness from the raspberry, which, again like the rhubarb, is definitely present but not overpowering.  The wine finishes with a light touch of acid, and again, just a slight bitterness.  Having experienced this a second time, I suspect it’s a result of the dryness.

Semi-Sweet (Dessert) Wines

Blackberry A pale ruby color, with a soft nose with light notes of blackberry, the semi-sweet Blackberry is a crisp, pleasant, drinkable wine.  The notes of blackberry are noticeable but not overpowering, and the sweetness is balanced by a nice touch of acid.  I don’t know that I would call this a “dessert” wine, however; it doesn’t have the rich silkiness that I associate with sauternes, late harvest or ice wines, and while sweeter than the dry wines, it is not so sweet that it precludes it from being paired with food.  This would be a great sipping wine for a hot summer afternoon, and I wasn’t surprised to hear that White Silo uses this as the base for their Sangria.

Cassis This is the semi-sweet version of White Silo’s Black Currant wine.  A light garnet color, the nose is soft with notes of black currant and plum.  In the mouth the wine is soft, velvety and rich with notes of black currant and a hint of raspberry, interestingly.  This, more than the Blackberry, struck me as being a dessert wine – the black currants provide a depth and a richness that is very satisfying and would make a great finish to a meal.  White Silo also suggests combining this with Vodka for a Black Currant Martini.

Blackberry Sangria Billed as the “House Specialty” on the tasting notes, White Silo’s Blackberry Sangria is “1 part Dry Rhubarb and 1 part Sweet Blackberry Wine.”  The result was my favorite of the White Silo offerings that afternoon.  An interesting cloudy rose color, the Sangria is a nice blend of both the rhubarb and the blackberry with neither fruit overpowering the other.  Served chilled, this is a very refreshing wine and perfect for a summer afternoon.  White Silo bottles and sells their Blackberry Sangria in a special two-bottle gift pack.

White Silo sells all their wines through their website, and offers a 10% case discount and 1 cent shipping on purchases of 3 or more bottles.

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Marguerite Barrett
Contributing Writer

The White Silo Farm & Winery in Sherman, Connecticut is one that my wine-trail-buddy, Christy Sherard, had been saying she wanted to visit.  The pictures in the Connecticut Wine Trail brochure present a lovely vista of a traditional red barn nestled in among farmland dominated by a large white grain silo, the inspiration for the name.  There was something in the picture that seemed to call to Christy…

Unfortunately the weekend I managed to get out to Sherman, which is pretty much on the New York border in the far west of the state, Christy had other plans.  She’s actually been pretty busy most weekends this Fall and what wine trips she has made are often with her fiancé, Jeff.  We have the best of intentions of heading out together, but it just hasn’t worked out that way.

So one sunny Saturday afternoon I set off for the White Silo Winery – and their annual raspberry festival (my favorite fruit) – alone.

The winery lives up to it’s name – and it’s pictures.  The tasting room is housed in a red barn that sits right next to the namesake white grain silo at the entrance to the property.  The silo is painted a brilliant white and practically sparkles in the sunshine.  Both are situated at the base of a small hill which has tables and benches for picnicking.

All of White Silo’s wines are fruit based, made from the four fruits grown on the farm: raspberry, rhubarb, blackberry and black currant.   The property is surrounded by the fruit fields and raspberry bushes grow right up to the edge of the parking area.

The barn-cum-winery serves as both the tasting room and a gallery for the work of local artists.  The space is open and inviting, and organized to maximize the wall space for the gallery.  A large open bar sits on your left as you enter; the bar should hold between 10 and 12 people comfortably and there is space for tables and chairs for special events or large crowds.  A small gift area in the back features gift boxes of White Silo wines as well as local foods and crafts.

The staff is very welcoming and friendly and go out of their way to make the atmosphere comfortable and inviting for the winery’s guests.   They do a great job of keeping an eye on the guests at the bar and making sure that everyone’s tastings keep moving along, but they are also more than happy to stop and chat about the winery, the area, or whatever you feel like talking about.  When I arrived I was placed next to a small group from New York who were weekending in the area.  One of them manages a gallery in one of the nearby towns, and the conversation quickly turned to some of the local events that weekend, the upcoming opening of a new exhibit at his gallery and general news and gossip about the area.  Everyone was in a relaxed mood and generally enjoying themselves.

White Silo produces eight wines, a dry and a sweet version of wines made from four fruits: rhubarb, blackberry, raspberry and black currant.  A tasting includes your choice of five of the eight wines and as an added bonus, the tasting menu includes recipes for White Silo’s locally famous Blackberry Sangria and “Martini Madness.”

For a review of the wines, check back here at Vino Verve next Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

White Silo is open May through December 11 am – 6 pm on weekends (Fri-Sun) and holidays only or by appointment.

White Silo Winery
32 Route 37 East
Sherman, Connecticut 06784
860-355-0271

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Marguerite Barrett
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Shortly after I heard about the New Jersey Thanksgiving Wine Trail weekend, I received an email from Haight-Brown Winery in Connecticut announcing their participation in the
1st Annual Litchfield Hills Winter Wine Trail
The winter wine trail is comprised of six participating wineries all clustered around Litchfield, Connecticut.  Visit any of the wineries between December 1st and March 15th and pick up a Winter Wine Trail registration card.  Get your card stamped at all six wineries by March 15th, and you’ll be eligible for the grand prize drawing of an overnight stay at a Litchfield County Bed & Breakfast with second and third prizes being a a family 4-pack of passes for Ski Sundown and dinner at a Litchfield County Restaurant.

The participating wineries include:
CT Valley Winery ~ New Hartford, CT
Jerram Winery ~ New Hartford, CT       **Vino Verve Visited**
Haight-Brown Vineyard ~ Litchfield, CT     **Vino Verve Visited**
Hopkins Vineyard ~ New Preston, CT     **Vino Verve Visited**
Miranda Vineyard ~ Goshen, CT       **Vino Verve Visited**
Sunset Meadow Vineyards ~ Goshen, CT      **Vino Verve Visited**

The Litchfield Hills are lovely any time of the year and the towns scattered throughout the region often feature charming 18th and 19th century farmhouses and Queen Annes (or newer houses styled like more historic buildings), local farms and vineyards with a wide area of fresh produce and wines  and picturesque town squares (particularly in the town of Litchfied).  Decked out for Christmas, especially if there’s snow on the ground, the area is practically a Currier & Ives lithograph come to life.

Combine all that with the chance to win some great prizes, and you’ve got a new Locapour Holiday Tradition.

I’ll be hitting the trail on Saturday December 5th with three of my newest wine-trail buddies, Cheryl Grayson and sisters Deb Shaw-Esteves and Melissa Shaw.   It will also give me the chance to check off one more winery in my quest to complete the entire Connecticut Wine Trail.   Hope to see you there!

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Marguerite Barrett
Contributing Writer

This isn’t a post about wines or wineries – although I did first discover this while on my way to a winery.  So, I suppose you could say this is about wine country, or more specifically, the interesting things you stumble across in wine country.

In the far northwest corner of Connecticut, just outside the town of Canaan, sits the first Connecticut winery I visited, Land of Nod.  I really like the winery, particularly their Blueberry-Raspberry wine (which makes a great Sangria) as well as their Chocolate-Raspberry Dessert wine, and their location, nestled in the foothills of the Berkshires, is one of the prettiest and most picturesque in the state.  I’ve taken friends there and have gone back several times for the views as much as for the wines.

Coming from the east, as I do, the turn off to the winery takes you past the Blackberry River and the Beckley Iron Furnace.  Each time I’d head down Lower Road towards the Land of Nod, I would see the historic markers as well as the top of the furnace and think about stopping or at the very least googling it when I got home.  But inevitably I’d have forgotten all about it by the time I’d left the winery, and the next trip would find me stumbling across it again and thinking, “oh yes, I should find out what that is.”  So, finally, one day a few weeks ago I stopped.

The Beckley Furnace is Connecticut’s only designated Industrial Monument.  Built in 1847, it operated until 1919 producing pig iron (so named because the molds used for producing the iron ingots resembled “piglets suckling on a sow”), which is the result of smelting iron ore with coke.  The pig iron is later refined into wrought iron or steel.

Beckley is a traditional blast furnace: a hearth at the bottom to collect the molten ore and slag; the “bosh” or middle zone (the hottest part of the furnace) where the combustion occurs; the vertical shaft and the the furnace top.   Fuel and raw materials are dropped in from the furnace top while air is pumped in from the bottom.  The air helps fuel the combustion in the “bosh,” melting the iron ore which then flows down through the furnace where it collects in the hearth.  Two holes in the hearth help separate the molten ore from the slag.

The furnace was closed in 1919 and over the next several decades was allowed to fall into disrepair.  In 1946, The State of Connecticut purchased the furnace designating it “Connecticut’s Industrial Monument,” and in 1978, the furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Today the furnace has been carefully restored and sits proudly on the banks of the Blackberry River.

The furnace is smaller than I expected, particularly the hearth area, and looking at it I was struck with just how unpleasant the working conditions had to be for the men operating the furnace.   The heat had to have been intense, particularly in the hearth area as the molten iron is oozing down through the furnace and out the tap hole.   Note: the cut-away section of the hearth was added during reconstruction to give visitors the ability to see the hearth; in an operating blast furnace, this area would have been a continuous wall with just air, slag and tap holes.

But I also found myself fascinated by this glimpse into our industrial past which I knew nothing about.  And that, of course, made me wish I could share this with Gretchen, who loves this kind of stuff as much as I do.

So Gretchen, when we are finally able to schedule a day (or two) on the Connecticut Wine Trail together, I promise the Beckley Iron Furnace will be on the agenda.

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Marguerite Barrett
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First up for the Reds was Jones Winery’s

Ripton Red This is the driest of the Jones Reds, made in a Chianti style from a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot grapes, both brought in from California.  The color is a lovely purply-red, and the color changes slightly from light to dark as it catches the light.  The nose is earthy with with a strong tanginess.  The wine is medium-bodied, smooth, with earthy, slightly smoky notes and a hint of dark cherry which provides light touch of sweetness to balance out the earthiness.  There’s a slight note of spice on the finish.  This is a very versatile red and would pair nicely with a broad range of food.

Next up was Group #5 and my choice of either the First Blush, described as a “pleasingly sweet blush wine created from a blend of CT apples, pears and black currants” or the 2007 Cabernet Franc.  Not being a huge fan of blush wines, I selected the

2007 Cabernet Franc An estate-grown wine, the Cabernet Franc is barrel aged for 12 months in American Oak.  The result is a medium-bodied wine with a bright nose and notes of cherry in both the nose and on the palate.  There’s a nice acid balance to the finish, and the finish lingers pleasantly in the mouth.  An interesting wine, but not as strong a Cab Franc as ones I’ve found at Chamard or Gouveia.  That being said, I suspect the wine will grow more interesting if cellared for a year or two.

After the Cabernet Franc I had my choice of the Strawberry Serenade or the Merlot.  The Strawberry Serenade was described as one of Jones Winery’s signature wines, made from locally grown strawberries; given this, and despite not being a fan of sweet fruit wines, I opted to give the Strawberry Serenade a try.

Strawberry Serenade This is a sparkling wine, with very strong effervescence.  A pale, salmon color, the nose is that lovely, deep, rich strawberry smell you get from fresh-picked strawberries.  Surprisingly, the wine is neither too sweet or too “strawberry.”  The strawberry notes are certainly detectable, but not overpowering, and the wine is drier than I anticipated.  While not one of my favorites, I was pleasantly surprised by this wine.  It would be a great brunch wine for a late spring or summer brunch, and would pair well with fruit and light desserts.

With that I was left with a final choice – this time among the three dessert wines, Blueberry Bliss, Raspberry Rhapsody and Black Currant Bouquet.  I had a tough time deciding.  The Raspberry Rhapsody is an award-winning wine, and this year’s winery logo-glass features a raspberry in honor of the wine.  But the Black Currant Bouquet is more in the style of a Port, which I prefer, and had the added attraction of being a Black Currant Wine, which is not something I come across every day.  I must admit the Blueberry Bliss didn’t make the first cut.

As I was trying to decide, my host for the afternoon took the decision out of my hands and offered to let me try a taste of both the Raspberry Rhapsody and the Black Currant Bouquet.  Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I quickly accepted.

Raspberry Rhapsody This is a lovely and interesting wine, and I understand why it won so many medals.  The Raspberry notes are very strong in both the nose and in the mouth, but the rich sweetness of a dessert wine balances those out.  The Raspberry adds a very slight tartness that gives the wine depth and keeps it from becoming cloyingly sweet.  The tasting is paired with a piece of dark chocolate, and the wine changes, getting deeper and more complex with the chocolate.

Black Currant Bouquet This is a full-bodied wine in a Port style, not as sweet as the Raspberry Rhapsody.  The color is a deep plum.  The nose is full but subtle – the black currant is prevalent but there are notes of sweet berries as well.  In the mouth, the wine is smooth and rich, with a soft mouth-feel.  On the palate, the flavors blend nicely, just enough sweetness to satisfy but not enough to be overpowering.  This is also paired with chocolate during the tasting, and the chocolate emphasizes the depth and richness of the wine.

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Marguerite Barrett
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Jones Winery currently has 12 wines available, 3 whites, 2 rosés/blushes, 3 reds, and 4 fruit/dessert wines.   The tasting menu, which is $6, includes 7 wines, three of which are pre-selected by the winery, the other four are your choice.

The tasting begins with one of the pre-selected whites, the

2008 Pinot Gris A dry, crisp wine, this is an estate wine, produced from grapes grown on Pumpinkseed Hill behind the main farmhouse and winery.  The driest of the Jones Winery whites, the Pinot Gris is a very pale yellow, almost straw color and has a dry grassy nose.  The wine is smooth and crisp, with light notes of citrus, and a slightly acidic tang at the end which gives the wine a bit of depth.  Overall an interesting wine, and a promising start to tasting.

For the next wine, I was presented with a choice, either the Stonewall White, a blend of Seyval Blanc and Cayuga grapes, or the Woodlands White, which is primarily a Cayuga white.  I opted for the Stonewall, partially because it was described as being a drier wine than the Woodlands, and partially because Connecticut produces a lot of Cayuga wines, so I thought the blend might be more interesting.

Stonewall White This wine didn’t disappoint.  Like the Pinot Gris, the color is a pale yellow, but the Stonewall White was slightly deeper in color.  The nose is fruity with notes of berries and light citrus notes, perhaps grapefruit.  In the mouth, the citrus and berries blend nicely together, with some light notes of tartness from the citrus and a touch of acid to help balance out the wine.  The finish is smooth and the wine has a pleasant lingering.  This would pair well with fruit and cheese, seafood, and light pasta dishes.

Next up was another wine pre-selected by the winery, the

Pure Rosé This is a drier Rosé than one usually finds, and I liked it the more because of it.  A light pink rose color, the nose is light with pretty floral notes.  The wine becomes more interesting in the mouth, with an earthiness and grassiness that I wasn’t expecting.  The wine is a blend of Seyval Blanc, Cayuga, and Cabernet Franc, and in addition to providing the color, the Cab Franc gives it that earthy depth that is both unexpected and intriguing.  This is the first year Jones has produced this wine, but I suspect it will not be the last.

With that, we rinsed glasses, cleansed the palate and moved on to the Reds and Sweet wines.

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Marguerite Barrett
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In the spirit of honesty, I must admit I don’t know what I was expecting as I headed over to Shelton, CT and the Jones Winery.  Despite the write-up in the Connecticut Wine Trail Guide, a perusal of their website left me with the impression that this was primarily a working farm, focused on berry and vegetable production, with wine as a sideline.  What I found was a delightful balance of both – good wines and even better strawberries.

One of the first things that struck me as I pulled into the winery grounds was the more than ample parking – somewhat unusual for our local wineries, particularly those on the Western Trail, which tend to be smaller than their Eastern Trail countparts such as Jonathan Edwards, Stonington, Chamard, and Gouveia.  As I walked up the slope from the parking area, I was next struck by how extensive the grounds of the winery/farm are.  The main house, winery and farm buildings are all built at the base of Pumpkinseed Hill.  The path leads you past the main house and into a large open courtyard-like setting with the farm house, sheds and a beautiful old red barn arrayed around the perimeter.  Child-sized versions of farm buildings dot the courtyard creating a play-yard for children visiting with their parents.  And weathered oak barrels line the pathway and courtyard, serving as signposts to help you find your way back to the winery and tasting room.

The winery is housed in the 100-year old dairy barn, converted to provide one of the largest Tasting Room spaces I have found to date in any winery anywhere.  The space encompasses the entire ground floor of the barn and is divided into two regions: the Tasting Bar, a large rectangular shaped bar that dominates one-half of the space, and the Winery/Farm Gift Shop.  The Tasting Bar could easily hold 30 people comfortably, and there’s plenty of space to mill around when larger crowds are present.  The staff are welcoming and friendly – and very knowledgeable about their wines.

The Jones Family has been farming in the Shelton area for more than 150 years.  Philip James “Jamie” Jones, a sixth-generation Jones, is the vineyard manager and principal winemaker.  He attended Cornell University’s Enology and Viticultural Program and has been guiding Jones Winery since he planted the first vineyards in 1999.  The winery opened five years later in 2004, and in 2008 welcomed a second winemaker, Larry McCulloch, formerly winemaker for Chamard Vineyards.

Jones Winery currently has 6 acres of grapes, primarily Cauyga, Cabernet Franc, Seyval Blanc, and Vidal Blanc, under cultivation and 25 acres of fruit.  In addition to the Connecticut vineyards, they also import grapes from California.   In addition to the grapes for wine, the farm also produces table grapes, strawberries, blueberries (primarily “pick-your-own” although they will occasionally have pints and quarts of fresh berries available in the winery gift shop), pumpkins and Christmas Trees.  On the day I stopped by they had a few quarts of freshly picked strawberries that quite literally melted in your mouth; one bite and I was transported back to childhood summers spent in Northern Michigan with my grandparents.

Other Jones Winery/Farm offerings include hands-on cooking classes through their Harvest Kitchen, a Fall Children’s Festival supporting UNICEF, and the annual Christmas Holiday Gift Shop, featuring ornaments, candles, arts & crafts and fresh baked goods.

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Marguerite Barrett
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Saturday 8.15.09 (12-7 pm) and Sunday 8.16.09 (12-6 pm),
Bishop’s Orchards in Guilford, Connecticut is hosting the
3rd Annual SHORELINE WINE FESTIVAL
Featured wineries include the host winery, Bishop’s Orchard, Chamard, Jonathan Edwards, White Silo, Jones Family, and Hopkins.

In addition to the wines, the festival will feature food and produce from local restaurants and farms, arts & crafts, and live music.
Bishop’s Orchards & Winery is located in Guilford, Connecticut, just minutes from I-95 off exit 57.  15 miles east of New Haven, Guildford is an easy day trip from New York (90 miles) and Southern New England.

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Marguerite Barrett
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To date, Summer ‘09 has been a cool and soggy one here in New England.  Despite that, there have been moments of glorious weather, perfect for hitting the Win(e)ding Roads of Connecticut, New Jersey, and as of yesterday, Rhode Island.   But the summer’s not over, and August promises even more great days – so if you haven’t hit the trails yet, come and join us!

All pictures by Marguerite Barrett, July – August 2009

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