Vermont Grape and Wine Council

WELCOME

The Vermont Grape and Wine Council is made up of vineyards and wineries all dedicated to providing our customers with high quality Vermont wines.  This site is intended to educate people on types of grapes and wines Vermont has to offer - from grape and fruit wines to mead and ice cider.

We invite you to: 

• Attend our annual Cold-Climate Winegrowing Conference and VGWC Annual Meeting on June 18, 2013.  Down the registration form here.  See details below.
• Participate in our Wine Passport Program.  Pick up a 2013 Passport at any of the 21 participating wineries around the state.   ** Congratulations to our 2012 passport drawing winners: Laura L of Montpelier, VT won the VT B&B getaway; Dawn K of Bellows Falls, VT won the case of VT wine; and Michael S of Richmond, VT won the gift basket of VT products. **
• Plan a visit: Explore our map (just to the right) and our site to find the growers and producers who all help make the excellent wines that Vermont has to offer.
• Join us:  If you are involved in growing, making, or promoting Vermont wines, consider becoming a member of the council

• Jun. 18, 2013

  VT Grape & Wine Council Annual Conference

  Our annual conference will be held at the Red School House at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, Vt on Tues, June 18, 2013, 8:30 am - 5:00 or 6:00 pm. --------------------- Speakers include: Mark Chien of Penn State Cooperative Extension, Kevin Ker of Brock University and Applied Research and Consulting Inc, & Art Hunt of Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport, NY. ----------------- Full schedule and more details out soon. For more information, please contact John McCann at North Branch Vineyards at jmccann (at) northbranchvineyards (dot) com.

  Download 2013 Registration Form

• Aug. 17 - 18, 2013

  Vermont Vineyard and Winery Open House Weekend

  Join members of the VT Grape and Wine Council for the annual Vermont Winery and Vineyard Open House Weekend. The Open House Weekend is a great way for you to taste wine made from grapes such as Marquette and La Crescent, delicious ice ciders, honey mead, and fruit wines; tour vineyards not usually open to the public; and learn about wine making in cold climates directly from the winemakers. Activities during Open House Weekend will be different at each vineyard or winery, so check full details on each winery's website. In addition to wine tastings and tours, highlights at various wineries include: live music; picnic in the vineyard; local cheese pairings; seafood pairings; gourmet wine-tasting lunch; wood-fired flatbread pizza; book readings, vineyard educational tours; winemaking demonstrations; homemade ice cream; craft brews; and pick-your-own orchard fruit.

• Sep. 20 - 22, 2013

  Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival at Mount Snow

  The 6th Annual Vermont Life Wine & Harvest Festival is a weekend showcase for Vermont wines, Vermont specialty foods and artisans of all types celebrating the rich uniqueness, quality and ingenuity of Vermont producers. With stunning Vermont fall foliage as the backdrop; discover and enjoy Vermont vintners, small specialty food producers, painters, publishers, cheese makers, potters, jewelers, chefs, photographers and farmers and musicians. Visit the festival website at http://www.thevermontfestival.com

• Feb. 8 - 9, 2014

  Wine & Chocolate Weekend

  Vermont winemakers host the annual statewide Wine and Chocolate Weekend on February 8 and 9, 2014 to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Wineries around Vermont pair at least one of their wines with a local chocolate confection or other Vermont dessert product. Many partner with Vermont chocolate makers to put a local twist on the classic combination. The full range of Vermont wines are on display during the Wine and Chocolate weekend, including black currant cassis, honey mead, ice cider and grape wines made from varieties like Marquette, La Crescent, and Louise. Some of the sweets are homemade, some made by chocolate makers specifically for the wine pairing, and some are quite surprising. Spicy chocolate popcorn has been featured with one of Huntington River Vineyard’s red wines. Visitors find many different approaches to pairing wine with treats, from sweet to spicy. Champlain Orchards often serves their own apple pie with their ice cider, an apple-upon-apple dessert special. All participating wineries are open from noon to 5 p.m. during the Wine and Chocolate weekend. Wine and chocolate tastings are free. Visitors can also purchase a bottle of the featured wine with the accompanying chocolates for Valentine’s Day gifts.