Gouveia Vineyards: A Unique Wine-Tasting Experience

Gouveia Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery in Wallingford, Connecticut. The scenic trip to the winery is priceless. There are endless lots of farm land, fields of trees and a color palate that only mother nature could create. When you arrive at the vineyard, you will park your car and walk to the winery. There are two buildings. The larger is the family's home. The smaller is the winery, but I wouldn't call it small by any means.

Once inside, there is a fireplace to warm yourself, and a bar where you can begin sampling wines. For $5.00, you get a sample of many of the wines they create, and a souvenir glass, etched with the name of the vineyard. After you have sampled your wines, you can purchase more wine by the glass or the bottle.

I'm not a wine snob, and this is only the second wine tasting I've been to. What I enjoyed was that most of the people there seemed like me. They were there because they enjoy wine, not because they were there to impress others. The wine pourers gave a brief description of the wine, and there was a wine list and pens available for you to take notes. I tasted numerous wines and enjoyed them all.

What I think makes Gouveia Vineyard special is the atmosphere. There was a live band performing. Their website lists the performers and the dates and times when they will be there. In addition to the live music and the wine, there were a great number of tables spread throughout the rooms of the winery, for you to sit and chat with your friends. They allow you to bring in whatever food you would like. I saw people with a traditional spread of cheeses and crackers, people who brought in shrimp cocktail and chocolate dipped strawberries, and even people bringing in pizzas.

The place was absolutely packed when I arrived at four in the afternoon, and it got busier as the night progressed. A tour bus even pulled up, and more people joined in the celebration.