Sampling Newport's Wine Vineyards

When it comes to the coastal, upscale resort town of Newport, Rhode Island, images of majestic mansions along Ocean Drive, sailing around Narragansett Bay, shopping chic boutiques, and dining on award-winning seafood dishes immediately come to mind. But a pleasant surprise about this City-By-The-Sea is its abundance of vineyards and family operated wineries. One could say Newport's best kept secret is the impressive array of wines that have won top national awards. In fact, the three vineyards located in the Newport area – Sakonnet, Newport, and Greenvale – have garnered numerous wine awards in prestigious national and international competitions.

Granted, vineyard owners in Newport recognize that they are limited in their ability to reach the grand scale of wine producing seen in California's wine region. But they are out to prove that grapes grown in rich soil conditions that are kissed by a cool climate of ocean breezes (similar to the maritime climate of northern France) are just as fine as the major players in the wine industry.

All the Newport vineyards welcome guests, with tastings and tours of their vineyards held year round. And since the vineyards are located within 20 miles from each other, you can make a day out of it while sightseeing along Newport's scenic coastline. Sakonnet Vineyards, which is located the furthest from Newport in Little Compton, is about a 30-minute ride west along the coast and through quaint seaside towns. Sakonnet, a producer of hand-crafted fine wines for more than 30 years, could be considered the most scenic of Newport's vineyards, with its vast open green fields and 50 acres of vineyards overlooking breathtaking water views. There's plenty of room to roam here, with many couples enjoying a picnic on the grounds with their favorite Sakonnet vintage, or singles cozying up to a good book with a glass of Cabernet Blanc. If time allows, hang around for the spectacular sunset over the bay.