Oh yes, there is wine to taste in Vermont.
There’s wine in Vermont that’s starting to grab the attention of sommeliers and other wine enthusiasts. While the scene is a far cry from the Napa Valleys and Finger Lakes of the world, that’s part of the draw.
In Vermont, you get the feeling you’re setting foot in unexplored wine country—a region still very much on the up and up.
The state is better known for its other exports, from award-winning cult beers like Heady Topper to groovy jam bands like Phish. This is, after all, the birthplace of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and its many delectable concoctions, from Wavy Gravy to Bovinity Divinity. Increasingly, the place is getting noticed for its fermented grapes. And given the context of climate change, Vermont’s wine future is actually pretty bright.
Vermont has a few things going for it from a wine growing perspective. The harsh winters are an issue but fortunately there are an ever-increasing number of hybrid varietals available to weather the offseason. Additionally, cool-climate traditional varietals like Chardonnay and Riesling are showing real promise. Couple that with a growing season that’s trending warmer and a rich agricultural history and you have the makings of an industry.
Presently, there are about two dozen wineries in Vermont but that number will surely go up as the newest generation of producers reveal the potential here. Revered wine regions take time to grow up but it’s safe to say Vermont is off to a nice start. And again, if you prefer to enjoy wine away from the crowds and traffic, this is your domain.
If wine exploration is something you subscribe to, do not overlook The Green Mountain State. Better still, check it out in the fall when you get both the bustle of the wine harvest and the many shades of early autumn foliage.
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Exceptional Wineries in Vermont to Explore & Why They’re Worth a Visit
| Winery | Town | Known for | Visiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelburne Vineyard | Shelburne | Barn tasting room; Iapetus natural label & Eden ciders | Open daily |
| La Garagista | Bethel | Cult alpine pét-nats and co-ferments | By appointment |
| Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits | Cambridge | Ice wine, ice cider and maple bourbon | Open Thu–Mon |
| Ellison Estate Vineyard | Grand Isle | Natural wines from Champlain-island fruit | Seasonal weekends |
| Stella14 | Jeffersonville | Master-sommelier-made organic wines | Open Thu–Sat |
| Fable Farm Fermentory | Barnard | Character-driven apple wines; Feast & Field events | Sat + Thu events |
| Due North Vineyard | Franklin | Vermont’s northernmost winery; estate hybrids | Summer Sundays |
| Snow Farm Vineyard | South Hero | The state’s first commercial winery; lake views & concerts | Open daily (seasonal) |
| ZAFA Wines | Isle La Motte | Inventive, no-additive hybrid wines | Not open for regular visits |
| Lincoln Peak Vineyard | New Haven | Vermont’s most-awarded cold-climate wines | Open most days |
Vermont’s producers are small and often seasonal — hours change, and several of the natural-wine makers are appointment-only, so always check before you drive.
Shelburne Vineyard
Winetraveler Pick6308 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482
The setting is hard to beat at Shelburne, home to a very bucolic, barn-inspired structure. It’s a popular hangout for those looking to unwind during a lazy afternoon. Like a lot of Vermont producers, Shelburne specializes in both cider and wine. Lookout for great offerings from the house label as well as their sibling natural wine label known as Iapetus (wild fermented).
Shelburne dabbles in refreshing white blends that combine grapes like Chardonnay and Cayuga and medium-bodied reds like Marquette. Check out the well-made Eden Ciders line while you’re at it, crafted from more than 50 heirloom apple varieties.
In addition to wines, the tasting room offers local snacks like cheeses and cured meats. The patio is not to be missed and Shelburne offers private educational tastings as well.
La Garagista Farm + Winery
Winetraveler Pick1834 Mt Hunger Rd, Bethel, VT 05032
Located in Bethel, La Garagista has been at it for more than a decade. The pop-up estate tasting room features sprightly pet-nats, co-ferments involving wine grapes and other fruit, rancio sec wines, and sparkling red wines. The land has been part of a small homestead farming community for more than two decades and the wines are self-described as “alpine,” grown in the cool, hilly terrain.
La Garagista also makes aperitifs inspired by Old World classics like Campari and Chartreuse. Four vineyards are responsible for the fruit, all unique in terms of soil makeup and microclimate and the farming approach is biodynamic and regenerative.
Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits
Winetraveler Pick64 VT Route 104, Cambridge, VT 05444
Combining a winery and distillery, Boyden Valley operates out of a fourth-generation farm in Cambridge. The tasting room is set in an old carriage barn, where you can enjoy not only wine but crème liqueurs and maple bourbon. There are ice wines, fruit wines made from blueberries and cranberries, and more traditional wines made from varieties like Marquette. Grab a glass or get a signature milkshake. They even produce a spiced winter wine called Glogg for chilly evening sipping. The setting is certifiably storybook, with a stone patio overlooking the nearby mountains.
Ellison Estate Vineyard
Winetraveler Pick69 E Shore N, Grand Isle, VT 05458
This Grand Isle outfit is quite new, having started in 2018. While the grapes are grown on the island in Lake Champlain, the winemaking happens at a small facility in Stowe. The seasonal tasting room is open during the day on the weekends. #Winetravelers can reserve indoor or outdoor seating or a place at the bar.
The wines are natural, featuring gorgeous labels and varietals like Marquette, Frontenac Noir, St. Croix, Prairie Star, La Crescent, and more. Here, you can feel the refreshing impact of the nearby lake and the many shades of green are as dazzling as the wines.
Stella14
Winetraveler Pick105 S Vermont 108, Jeffersonville, VT 05464 (Tasting Room)
Stella14 holds the distinction of being run by a Master Sommelier in David Keck. It’s young — founded in 2020 — but already turning heads. The tasting room, located in Jeffersonville, pours airy and organic wines ideal for summer sipping. There, you can taste their work alongside beers, ciders, and wines from fellow producers. Winetravelers can enjoy the many great liquids while playing lawn games in the yard. It feels a bit like tasting at the winemaker’s home, which is very much a compliment.
Fable Farm Fermentory
Winetraveler Pick22 Orchard Hill Rd, Barnard, VT 05031
This label encourages you to see cider as wine, making character-driven apple wines bursting with aromatics and complex flavors. The Barnard tasting room is set among the estate orchard and barn and features wine flights along with cheese boards, pizza, and other bites. You’ll leave with a greater respect for the history of apple farming in Vermont and the potential for great wines to be made out of sugar sources beyond just grapes.
What started as a local CSA produce venture is now making some of the most interesting aged ciders and herbal elixirs in the state.
Due North Vineyard
Winetraveler Pick206 Skunks Misery Rd, Franklin, VT 05457
Located in Franklin, Due North lives up to its name, the northernmost winery in Vermont. The family-run operation touts estate fruit and makes a variety of white and reds from the likes of Frontenac, Louise, Crimson Pearl, Petite Pearl, and Marquette.
Family-owned and operated since 2008, the label has a tasting room open on Sundays during the summer. Winetravelers are encouraged to pack in their own picnics to enjoy with the estate wines. It’s a small operation so be sure to pop in as the supply is limited and you’re not likely to find their bottles in other retail locations. Plus, you might even get an impromptu tour of the facility while there.
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Snow Farm Vineyard & Winery
Winetraveler Pick190 W Shore Rd, South Hero, VT 05486
The state’s first commercial winery, Snow Farm Vineyard, launched in the mid-1990s. Set on the shore of Lake Champlain, the 140-acre farm features amazing views and a relaxed atmosphere. There’s a tasting room as well, well-stocked with pink wine, Marquette, and other styles.
The place is popular on summer weekends when Snow Farm tends to host outdoor concerts. Look out for session-able pet-nat wines, citrusy Vidal Blanc, off-dry Riesling, beery-driven Baco Noir, and even some dessert wines.
The beauty of the Champlain Islands is abundant here and the label likens the cool growing season to what you’d find in Burgundy. Winetravelers can even stay at the nearby Snow Farm Inn, a beautiful farmhouse with views of Mount Mansfield.
ZAFA Wines
Winetraveler PickIsle La Motte, VT 05463
The wines at ZAFA are both playful and inventive, with no fining, filtering, or additives involved in the process. They tend to mix it up, combining wine grapes with orchard fruit for tasty hybrid wines, canned and ready for enjoyment. The place has a following and the releases sell fast, so order early and often.
While not yet visit-able, the plan is to have an onsite winery and tasting room in the near future. So for now, you’ll have to sniff around for wines in area eateries and shops. ZAFA sums up what so many Vermont producers are about, showcasing unique terroir in unique ways and honoring a past rich with growing your own food and drink.
Lincoln Peak Vineyard
Winetraveler Pick142 River Rd, New Haven, VT 05472
If Vermont has a flagship for cold-climate wine, it’s Lincoln Peak. The New Haven estate grows its own cold-hardy grapes on about a dozen acres and has collected best-in-show honors at the International Cold-Climate Wine Competition — rare recognition for the region. The Marquette-based reds and aromatic La Crescent whites are the calling cards, and between the tasting room, the front porch and the summer “Sunday Sessions” live music, it’s one of the most welcoming visits in the state.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Vermont Wineries?
Fall is the marquee season. From late September into October you get the energy of harvest and the Green Mountains at the peak of their foliage — hard to beat for a tasting-room road trip. Summer is lovely too, especially in the Champlain Islands, where lake breezes, patios and the outdoor concerts at Snow Farm make an easy day out.
One practical note: Vermont’s wine scene is small and seasonal. Many tasting rooms open only on weekends or during the warmer months, and several of the natural-wine producers — La Garagista, Ellison Estate, ZAFA — are appointment-only or not set up for walk-ins at all. Check hours and reserve ahead so you’re not left looking at a locked barn door.
Frequently Asked Questions about Visiting Vermont Wineries
Can I go wine tasting in Vermont?
Absolutely. Vermont is better known for maple syrup and craft beer, but it has a small, fast-improving wine scene built on cold-hardy hybrid grapes. Many wineries offer tastings and some run vineyard tours, and the state’s dessert and ice wines — made from grapes left to freeze on the vine — are a signature worth seeking out.
Does Vermont have vineyards?
Yes. Despite the cold, growers have made it work with hardy varieties like Marquette, La Crescent and Frontenac. Plantings cluster in the milder Lake Champlain Valley, where the lake tempers the climate, though vineyards reach from the islands down to the Mad River Valley and beyond.
Does Vermont produce ice wine?
It does. Ice wine is a sweet dessert wine pressed from grapes frozen on the vine, and Vermont’s hard winters are well suited to it — Boyden Valley in Cambridge is the best-known producer, and it also makes Vermont’s first ice cider. Snow Farm and others round out the state’s dessert-wine offerings.
Are there wineries near Burlington, VT?
Several. Shelburne Vineyard is just south of the city, and a short drive onto the Champlain Islands brings you to Snow Farm Vineyard in South Hero and Ellison Estate Vineyard in Grand Isle. For a longer scenic loop south, Lincoln Peak Vineyard in New Haven — about 40 minutes away — is one of the state’s most decorated wineries.
Are there wineries near Stowe, VT?
Yes. Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits in nearby Cambridge pours wines, cream liqueurs and ice cider, and Stella14’s tasting room is a short hop over in Jeffersonville. Also in Jeffersonville is Smugglers’ Notch Distillery, and the Stowe Cider tasting room in the village rounds out an easy drinks trail.
When is the best time to visit Vermont wineries?
Fall — late September through October — is the sweet spot, combining harvest season with the state’s famous foliage. Summer is great for lakeside tasting rooms and outdoor concerts. Because many wineries are seasonal or weekend-only and some are appointment-only, always check hours before you go.
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