If you love shopping, wine and the Connecticut coast, gather up some friends and plan to make a day of it. The trip will take you from the 70 premium outlet stores at Clinton Crossing to nearby wineries that are part of the Eastern Wine trail. Finish your day with a tour and tastings at the wineries or start early at the wineries and end up shopping. Planning to bring the children? Stop at the playground at nearby Cedar Island Marina, about 2 miles south on the coast. Bring bathing suits and towels as the marina has an inground heated pool.
DESTINATION 1 – Clinton Premium Outlets, 0.5 miles
START: from: I-95 – Exit 63 near Clinton, CT
(Google map shows exit on the eastbound side of I-95)
70 OUTLET STORES – Find impressive savings at Banana Republic, Barneys New York Outlet, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Dooney & Bourke, J.Crew, Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and more.
For more info and outlet hours: www.premiumoutlets.com
DESTINATION 2 – to Charmard Vineyards, 1 mile approx
The elegant tasting room features a large fieldstone fireplace, natural wood surfaces and antiques. The deck offers a panoramic view of the vineyard with its rolling acres of lush vines, hand built stone walls lining the fields and a beautiful pond with a cascading fountain. The winery was completed in 1988. Its classic New England design features finely crafted stonework using fieldstones from the property. The staff is both friendly and knowledgeable.
Chamard Vineyards
115 Cow Hill Road, Clinton, CT 06413
Phone: (860)664-0299
Visit the website for hours: www.chamard.com
TIP: Take a trip break at the Marina (see below) for lunch before continuing on your winery visits.
DESTINATION 3 – Bishop’s Orchards Winery, 11.1 miles
Bishop's Wine Bar
“Winery Tours Every Saturday at 2 pm: We have added a guided winery tour every Saturday at 2 pm. to give you a look behind the scenes at how wine is made at Bishop’s Orchards. The tour concludes with a wine tasting and Q&A period. The $10 fee includes our regular wine tasting flight of 6 wines, a free souvenier wine glass, and the guided tour. No reservations are required.”
Bishop’s Orchards Winery
1355 Boston Post Rd. US Rte 1 (I-95 Exit 57)
Guilford, CT 06437
Phone: (866) 2BISHOP
Visit the website for hours: www.bishopsorchardswinery.com
DESTINATION 4 – Gouveia Vineyards, 15.2 miles
From the vineyard website:
“…the vineyard and the winery have become a place people visit to get away from the stress of everyday life. Often visitors like to sit back and enjoy a glass of wine by the double-sided fireplace or outside on the patios to take in the spectacular setting sun. Sometimes three or four generations of families will sit at a table by the window and play Monopoly while sharing cheese and crackers. Sometimes friends will sit together on the dock and watch the fish swim beneath their feet. Sometimes a person will come in alone and sit at a corner table to read a book, but while there, strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, and when they leave, they leave knowing they made a new friend and wonderful memories. No matter what each visitor comes to the winery for, they leave with a lighter step and the chance to dream their own impossible dreams.”
Gouveia Vineyards
1339 Whirlwind Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
Phone: (203) 265-5526
Visit the website for hours: www.gouveiavineyards.com
Travel to Clinton, CT:
- 37.5 miles or 55 minu from Hartford, CT
- 130 mi or 2 1/4 hrs south of Boston
- 81 mi or 1 1/2 hrs south of Providence, RI
- 125 mi or 2 1/2 hrs south of Brattleboro, VT
- 2.0 mi or 7 mins south to Cedar Island Marina
- Total trip miles from Clinton Outlets
to 3 wineries, ending at
Gouveia Vineyards: 28 mi approx
ADDITIONAL SIGHTS IN REGION
- Cedar Island Marina – 2 miles south of Clinton Outlets
- heated swimming pool
- recreational areas
- whirlpool
- picnic grounds
- shopping arcade
- restaurants on the water
- FREE shuttle bus to
Clinton Crossing Outlet & Center of Town In-Season - Live entertainment poolside on Saturday afternoons (1-5pm) from July 4 thru Sept. 13
- Aqua Restaurant, 34 Riverside Dr, Clinton, CT 06413-2625
- Visit the marina website: www.cedarislandmarina.com
- Marina phone: (860) 669-8681
