If you find yourself in Mystic, Connecticut, you’re already in one of New England’s most charming corners with maritime history, amazing restaurants, and lots of attractions. Within a 30-minute drive of Mystic, a remarkable collection of wineries and craft breweries has taken root, each with its own character, story, and pour. Whether you’re a devoted wine enthusiast, a craft beer devotee, or simply someone who appreciates a beautiful setting with a glass in hand, this stretch of coastal Connecticut and southern Rhode Island delivers in a big way. Here’s your guide to the best spots to raise a glass near Mystic.
Key Takeaways:
- Saltwater Farm Vineyard offers estate wines in a stunning repurposed WWII-era airplane hangar.
- Stonington Vineyards is one of Connecticut’s founding wineries, best known for its barrel-fermented Chardonnay and Seaport White blend.
- Maugle Sierra Vineyards is a weekend gem on a historic 1740 farm, famous for its fruit-forward wines and unique chocolate wine shooters.
- Preston Ridge Vineyard combines sweeping countryside views with wine tastings, live music, and a full 18-hole disc golf course on the property.
- Tapped Apple Winery and Cidery is the only spot on the list crafting all of its wines and ciders from local Rhode Island apples.
- Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington produces award-winning wines from both Connecticut and California grapes, with free weekend vineyard tours in season.
- Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard in North Stonington is a younger, architecturally striking property that shares DNA with Saltwater Farm.
- Beer’d Brewing Co. in Stonington is a beloved local microbrewery with a full taproom and beer garden tucked inside the historic American Velvet Mill.
- Grey Sail Brewing is a community institution housed in a beautifully renovated 1920s macaroni factory, offering beer, wine, and cocktails.
- Tox Brewing Company in New London doubles as a coffee bar and pizza spot, making it a one-stop destination from morning espresso to evening pints.
Saltwater Farm Vineyard earns its reputation as one of the most visually dramatic wine destinations in New England, with its estate wines poured inside a breathtaking converted WWII-era airplane hangar. There are no formal tastings here (wine is served by the glass or bottle) so it’s best approached as a leisurely afternoon rather than a structured stop. Live music rolls through most Fridays throughout spring 2026 and beyond, making weekends especially festive.
Stonington Vineyards holds the distinction of being one of Connecticut’s first wineries on the CT Wine Trail, and after nearly four decades it remains a cornerstone of the regional wine scene. Recently passed to new ownership, the beloved tasting room, wines, and warm atmosphere have carried on seamlessly, with the team promising an exciting new chapter. Their barrel-fermented Chardonnay and proprietary Seaport White are essential tries, and a summer concert series runs on Friday evenings in July and August.
Maugle Sierra Vineyards brings a laid-back, come-as-you-are energy to its 100-acre 1740 farm in the coastal reaches of Connecticut wine country. Co-founder and winemaker Dr. Maugle crafts wines that are intentionally chewy, jammy, and intensively fruit-forward. Don’t leave without trying the chocolate wine shooters: locally made chocolate cups filled with dessert wine.
Preston Ridge Vineyard sits 15 miles inland from the Long Island Sound atop a ridge with panoramic views stretching over 20 miles of Connecticut countryside, and the setting alone makes the trip worthwhile. The winery offers four-wine tasting flights and welcomes guests to bring their own food or pick up from food trucks on site during warmer months. What sets Preston Ridge apart beyond the views is its full 18-hole disc golf course which winds through the vineyard and into the surrounding woods.
Tapped Apple Winery and Cidery
Tapped Apple Winery and Cidery has built something genuinely distinctive: a tasting room where every wine and cider on the menu is crafted from local Rhode Island apples. The operation grew from a basement hobby that started in 2003 by John Wiedenheft III, who eventually partnered with his son Jay to develop an apple-forward approach to winemaking that’s both unique and deeply regional. The tasting room offers flights, glasses, carafes, and specialty cocktails, plus a full a la carte food menu.
Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington has been producing award-winning wine since 2001, with a philosophy that spans both coasts. They grow grapes in Connecticut while sourcing from California’s finest vineyards to expand the range and style. On weekends from May through October, free 20-to-30-minute vineyard tours start at noon and wind through the vines and into the cellar. Come on your birthday and you’ll receive a complimentary glass of wine or tasting.
Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard is the newest property on this list, with vines planted only after its 2018 purchase, but it arrives with strong pedigree as a sister property to Saltwater Farm Vineyard. Situated on 50 acres in North Stonington, the contemporary barn commands sweeping views of vines, forest, and wildlife, and like its sibling, it blends architectural ambition with genuine hospitality.
Beer’d Brewing Co. operates out of one of the area’s most architecturally interesting spaces, the historic American Velvet Mill. The brewery prides itself on accessibility, crafting a range of styles designed to meet drinkers wherever they are, whether they’re longtime craft beer devotees or newcomers to the scene. A full beer garden offers a more relaxed sit-down experience with food, while the original taproom keeps the bar energy alive.
Grey Sail Brewing found its home in Westerly’s beautifully renovated Westerly Macaroni Factory, a building with a history as layered as the beers brewed inside it. The brewery offers beer, wine, and cocktails in a taproom with both indoor and outdoor seating. The name itself is a love letter to coastal New England, inspired by the sight of grey sails on the horizon from a summer.
Tox Brewing Company rounds out the list with the most multifaceted identity of the group: part craft brewery, part coffee bar, part pizza spot. Founded by lifelong friends with a background in toxicology, Tox approaches each beer as a scientific experiment. Mornings bring espresso drinks, cold brew, and light food; evenings shift to inventive craft pints in a space that feels genuinely community-rooted.