Rhode Island’s Local Vineyards

As the spring settles in, the weather will become perfect for outdoor dining. And what goes better with outdoor dining than a good bottle of wine? If you know where to look, you’ll find a number of vineyards that produce a quality bottle of wine right here in Rhode Island. Many of these vineyards are located on Aquidneck Island, which has farmland favorable to growing wine grapes.

For a start, check out the offerings from Greenvale Vineyards out of Portsmouth. Greenvale farm has been in family hands since the 1860s, and produces a limited run of 3,500 cases of wine yearly. Harvesting is done by hand, and many of their wines are produced using the old basket press method. They produce Merlots and Chardonnays, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Gris, and have public tours of the vineyard seven days a week. And, starting in May and running through November, there will be afternoon tastings at the vineyard, including live jazz, seven different wines, and a Greenvale Vineyards wine glass.

There is also the award-winning Newport Vineyards, located in Middletown, which has been operating since 1977. They produce white and reds, reserve wines, blushes, sparkling wines and even hard apple cider. If you’re looking for a great custom gift for the wine aficionado in your life, order a bottle of wine with a custom-printed label. Coming up in May, Newport Vineyards will be hosting a Mother’s Day brunch.

Outside of Aquidneck Island, there’s Nickle Creek Vineyard in Foster. Although they only produce a few hundred cases per varietal, their wines are both delicious and affordable, and made right here in RI. Get a hold of a bottle of Foster Nights, for example, and you’ll enjoy a rich, sweet dessert wine. Crack open a bottle of their light, sharp Pino Grigio, or their deep, rich Foster Red.