By Kevin Staehly.
(May 6, 2019) East Haddam, CT – Staehly Farm Winery is pleased to announce that five of its signature wines and three hard ciders received medals at the 2019 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (FLIWC). The 2019 FLIWC received entries from over 600 wineries, representing all 50 states and 16 different countries. Staehly Farm Winery’s Rhubarb, a Riseling-style wine made from 100% Connecticut Grown rhubarb, was the highest-ranked Connecticut wine overall and received a gold medal. Among other noted winners was the winery’s Blueberry Breeze and Plum wines, which earned silver medals, and the nation’s only Pumpkin Wine being awarded a bronze medal.
The family owned farm and winery, located on sprawling acreage close to Gillette Castle State Park on Route 82, prides itself in producing high quality non-grape wines made from fruit grown on the farm in East Haddam. Opened in October 2014, Staehly Farm Winery is the first winery in Middlesex County to exclusively offer fruit wines made from apples and other fruit grown on the farm. The farm has previously been recognized by the Eastern States Exposition as the Best Wine in Connecticut and has also received “Best in Show” for its Christmas Trees for the last ten years of the Durham Fair. The farm also offers a greenhouse and garden center as well as 15 acres of choose-and-cut Christmas trees.
Yankee Cider Company, a brand of the Winery, received medals for three of its hard ciders including a silver medal for the new Rochambeau’s March Raspberry Hard Cider. The Winery is in the final stages of renovating a barn on adjacent property at 23 Petticoat Lane in East Haddam where hard ciders such as Rochambeau’s Raspberry will be available for tastings, by the glass, and for growler fills. More information on the cidery can be found at www.yankeeciders.com
The Tasting Room opened with regular hours on May 3, 2019 as part of the Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program. Please visit the website for current hours.
