When my wife Monica and I received an invitation from a friend to visit a winery and hear her friend play in a band, there was no hesitation, we went. Her friend Corky Ballard plays in a band called the Gerst Lite. It was a grey day but the music, the wine and the people made it seem much brighter. McLaughlin Vineyards is familiar to us since we live near by. It has an impressive setting due to the backdrop of trees it’s nestled among. This seclusion makes it feel special, a lush green soon to be eclipsed by the fall colors.

We like visiting the local wineries to support them and to see what they’ve been able to create in the northeast. One thing I found surprising was that there are 33 wineries and vineyards on the Connecticut Wine Trail! While quantity and quality are two different things, there are plenty of fans of these wines. Because of the short growing season and climate, there are lesser known grapes used in many wines in Connecticut, some of which were pioneered by Cornell University’s viticulture and enology program. International grapes are also grown at the vineyards and sometimes blended with the local varietals. In the end there are many to enjoy and even fall in love with. As for McLaughlin, my wife and I walked away fans of their Chardonnay and of course the band.

A yellow jacket inspects a bottle of McLaughlin Vineyards “Red Fox” rosé. © Gonzalo Santos 2013

Shades of green looking out on the vineyard. © Gonzalo Santos 2013

A McLaughlin tasting glass with their Vista Reposa bottle serving as a back drop. © Gonzalo Santos 2013

Grapes in late August looking forward to the harvest in a few short weeks. © Gonzalo Santos 2013

The label of the Vista Reposa 100% Cabernet Franc reflects the vineyard and a bit of Connecticut. © Gonzalo Santos 2013

Part of our stroll on the path that cuts through to the shade tree. © Gonzalo Santos 2013

A special thanks to my friend Lisa who loaned me her amazing Nikon D7100 camera. All photos were taken with her equipment. A gentleman who sat next to me also had a Nikon and was kind enough to show me a few tricks. He said he’s looking to teach photography so I was very fortunate to learn from a pro.

McLaughlin Vineyards
14 Alberts Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, CT 06482
(203) 426-1533
www.mclaughlinvineyards.com