CT Day Trippin- Mystic and Stonington

It’s been a minute since I’ve done a full blog post. Honestly, moving across the country was extremely draining on me both physically and mentally. I took a step back from writing and needed to engulf myself in my new reality. I appreciate you all following along and waiting patiently before writing about my experiences in Connecticut. The reason I started blogging in the first place was because I genuinely missed writing. I used to write short stories in my earlier years and it gives me such joy to put a well thought out story in my head on paper. I really wanted to wait for my first blog on something in CT to be special and Mystic, a place I’ve wanted to go since I was a little girl (because of the movie of course), is the perfect place to start.

Most of you know by now from following me that I am a HUGE wine lover. Not only am I Italian so I grew up on wine, but my parents live close to Temecula Wine Country in California so naturally, it was a weekend event often. Wine tasting was one aspect from California that I was sure I was going to miss. I actually had no idea that Connecticut even had as many wineries as they do. What I love the most is the scenery in CT. It really is the most beautiful state I’ve ever seen, and their vineyards are no exception!

When Alyssa (@glutenfree_fit_foodie) and I had a weekend to ourselves away from the boys, we wondered what could be the perfect short girlfriend getaway trip. Vineyards came up as we are both wine lovers and heard the Stonington area was a great place for a quick escape. Neither of us had been to any vineyards in the area nor Mystic, so after discussion we decided this would be a good one night trip for us. After over packing and picking a really cute Air B n B in downtown Mystic, we started off on our vineyard adventure! (See below for video of our day)

 

First stop: Saltwater Farm Vineyards

What a gorgeous place for a wedding or romantic picnic! Set in the heart of Stonington, this Saltwater Farm Vineyard is located on the Wequetequock Cove and has many instagramable opportunities with their spectacular views. During our visit, we learned that the tasting room was actually a World War II airplane hanger, which gave the venue a more modern and industrial presence. We did a full tasting including white, rose, and red wine. Each one was delicious and better than the following. Saltwater has very dry wines, however, if you like a little bit of sweetness, I’d suggest to try the rose. As it wasn’t our first rodeo at a vineyard, we packed a picnic bag full of snacks for us to munch on, so it was great to see that they have picnic tables, benches, and chairs to utilize during your stay.  You can view their tasting room hours and music schedule here.

Second Stop: Stonington Vineyard

As soon as we stepped onto Stonington Vineyard we instantly felt the energetic vibe. With an enormous grass area right outside the tasting room, this venue is host to many events and live music during the seasonal times. With so much space, you can assure that if you bring the family, there will be room. We saw many groups that were hosting a picnic and bringing in outside food, and even hung out with a Bachelorette party that ordered Pizza straight to the winery! Can we say Genius? We had an array of tastings here as well, red and white, but what I found most interesting was their Chardonnay. I am typically not a Chardonnay lover, however this white wine is barreled in stainless steel instead of oak, so it gives a much different flavor to the wine then I usually taste with California Chardonnays (usually oak barreled). It was crispy and clean, I highly suggest to get a bottle of it on a warm day! For Stonington’s event schedule and live music, please click here.

Third stop: M Bar

What can I say about this amazing gem? Not enough! Refurbished gas station turned into a retro bar and restaurant, need I say more? First off, the drinks at M Bar were killer and beautiful in presentation. The menu was an eclectic mix of farm to table like fair, that changes seasonally. The plating was just as fantastic as the food items tasted. Pictured here is the Duck entree as well as the Short Rib Polenta, which of course melted in your mouth (please note these items are no longer available). Aside form the fabulous food, cocktails, and service, I think my overall favorite aspect of M Bar is the atmosphere. With their open air restaurant and outdoor patio, it’s a perfect place to end your wine tasting day for dinner or a late lunch. It is also decorated beautifully for many picturesque moments! For their current menu and offerings please click here.

Last Stop: Mystic Pizza

Can you even say you went to Mystic without going to Mystic Pizza? It’s basically the place and movie that made this cute little town famous. If you are a woman reading this and have not seen the Julia Roberts movie before, shame on you! 80’s Chick flick to the max! Although the pizza was not amazing, you really go for the nostalgia of the restaurant and to see where the movie was filmed. I tried THE Mystic Pizza, what they are known for, which was basically a meat filled pie with veggies. It was OK, just not as amazing as the hype had always been. It was a great ending spot to a long day of drinking and to get some last carbohydrates into your system before sleep. However, if there was a long line to get in, I would say skip it and go across the marina to one of the beautiful waterfront restaurants instead. If you don’t want to travel all the way to Mystic to try it, you can also check out their frozen options to be sent to you here.

 

Thank you reading, and keep sippin!