By: Tyler R. Morrissey
When you think of vineyards filled with lush grapevines or wineries with beautiful tasting rooms stocked with a variety of different vintages and styles of wine, a few places come to mind. You might picture Napa Valley in California, or the Bordeaux region of France, but have you ever thought of Connecticut? You should, because the Nutmeg State’s wine industry has been booming over the last few years, thanks in part to initiatives like the Connecticut Wine Trail and the emphasis on locally grown agriculture.
Although the first winery was established in the late 1970s, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that wineries began to proliferate. Now there are more than 40 wineries in the state with a few more opening for business each year. Part of the reason for their success is the northern French-like climate, and the abundant access to water that makes the Connecticut area an excellent place to grow grapes and make wine.
The quality conditions and thus the wines of Connecticut have not gone unnoticed. In the last several years, gold medals have been won in Napa and Sonoma, California, New York and Connecticut, as well as internationally in Germany and other countries. The care and hand crafting of Connecticut wines at a time when many vineyards are turning to machines stands out in these competitions. Most wineries not only tend the vineyards by hand, but also they harvest and ferment by hand to oversee and create small batches of great wines.
Now is your chance to get into the wine business with this impressive Connecticut vineyard that is now on the market. The winery is one of the state’s leading makers of quality wines, as well as one where investment and care have been watch words for the business and the property. The entire property is listed for $3.8 million and includes grapevines, buildings and equipment for a business, which has been rapidly growing both in sales and profits.
“The Winery,” as it is called on William Pitt Sotheby International Realty‘s website, is both a vineyard and a winery. After years of success the current owners of the business are retiring and are ready to see a new generation prosper in this one of a kind industry. Documents show the business has doubled its sales in five years, growing through “agro-tourism,” award-winning wines served on premise, as well as through sales in a small number of package stores. The main house on the property can be used for the owner’s residence, housing for a professional vineyard and winery manager, or converted into a bed-and-breakfast.
The next time you find yourself on the Connecticut Wine Trail, sipping locally produced wine with friends or family, take some time to appreciate the ambiance of the vineyard because it may just be your next big business venture.
