Enjoying the Beautiful Views (and Yummy Wine) at Lost Acres Vineyard

PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2014, and while it should still give you a good overview of the experience, it is also possible that it may contain some outdated information. Please check their website and Facebook page for the most current information, especially about things like hours and pricing.

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2014 Post

Cut to the chase. Take me to the Momsense.

A few weeks ago I mentioned on Facebook that I was taking the kids to Granby for the town’s open farm day.  It was a fun afternoon spent visiting new-to-me farms in the area and getting a taste of the Granby farm scene.  As we planned our itinerary for the day, I was intrigued to see that one of the farms listed was a vineyard located in North Granby, Lost Acres Vineyard.  I wasn’t quite sure if this destination was the best place for me to visit with my crew of little munchkins, so I decided to just drive by the venue and make a trip to the nearby Lost Acres Orchard instead.

While at the orchard (which was a fun destination in itself) another mom and I were chatting about farm day and the various places we had visited.  She asked if I had checked out the vineyard and I said “no”.  She told me that she had actually just taken her little ones there and they had a great time.  The vineyard was hosting a sheep farm that day and the kids could make a wool necklace and watch a sheep be sheared.  Plus, they were offering a wine sample for adults and a grape juice sample for the little ones.  Well okay.  That sounded family-friendly to me, so our next stop was Lost Acres Vineyard.

The kids had a great time checking out the activities offered at the vineyard that afternoon, but I knew I wanted to make a return trip soon for a more lengthy visit.  So a few weeks later, I suggested to my husband that we take a family day trip up to the vineyard and enjoy the beautiful views and, of course, a glass of wine.

So on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, we made the drive from West Hartford to North Granby (which took about 40 minutes).  I packed some snacks for the kids (you are welcome to bring your own food to the vineyard) and enjoyed the pretty views as we made our way there.

The vineyard opens at noon on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and closes at 6:0o pm on Friday and Saturday and 5:00 pm on Sunday.

We arrived right around noon and easily found a parking space, but it wasn’t long until the parking area filled up with other visitors.

My kids knew that there were horses on the property, so as soon as we exited the car, that was the first place they wanted to visit.  I actually learned later that the vineyard offers a horseback tour which includes an hour-long ride, private lunch, and bottle of wine.  Not an activity for the kids, but maybe a fun daytime date?

Next we made our way over to check out the inside of the main building and place our order for a glass of wine.

I noticed that the front of the building had a ramp leading inside, which would make it easy to access with a stroller. If I was visiting here when my twins were babies, it would have been fun to bring them inside in their stroller and enjoy a wine tasting while they hung out or took a little nap.  Oh why didn’t I think of a vineyard as a perfect baby outing then!

Inside was a cute sitting area with a fireplace (a fun destination for a chilly fall or winter day), the bar where you could place your order or enjoy a wine tasting, and a nice art display.  The vineyard is actually hosting the The Granby Land Trust Art Show November 6 – December 8 and are planning to include a scavenger hunt for kids as part of the exhibit.  Ask for details if you visit during that time.

Restrooms were also located inside.

For those interested in doing the wine tasting, it was $6 per person and included your choice of 5 wines plus a souvenir tasting glass.  Note that wine tastings are only done inside at the bar.  If you prefer to enjoy the outside area during your visit (like us) then you should choose a glass or a bottle of wine instead.

I took a look at the menu and found several wines to choose from plus they offered both a cheese and antipasto platter as well.

I decided to try a glass of the wedge white and my husband got the chardonnay (I believe they were $7 each). We also ordered a small cheese platter to try.

The friendly bartender poured our drinks and handed me a placard to place on our table for our cheese platter order.

We then headed out back to check out the deck and outdoor seating areas.

My kids discovered that the vineyard had a fun collection of yard games and were excited to find corn hole, horseshoes, and croquet available.

They played while my husband and I enjoyed our glass of wine and cheese platter.  But soon we got in on the game action as well 🙂

It was a relaxing afternoon filled with beautiful views, entertainment for the whole family, and a delicious glass of wine.

I had always wanted to visit one of the Connecticut vineyards with our kids and was so happy to discover the family-friendly atmosphere at Lost Acres Vineyard.  It was really an outing for my husband and I, but one that the kids could enjoy as well.

Did you know that Connecticut has quite a few wineries to explore?  Check out the Connecticut Wine Trail for more information.  And if you have a favorite winery to share, leave a comment below with all the details.  Thanks!

 

 

 

Lost Acres Vineyard

80 Lost Acres Road, North Granby, Connecticut

Phone: (860) 324-9481

Email:  LostAcresVineyard@gmail.com

You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!

Hours:

• Friday and Saturday from noon to 6:00 pm
• Sunday from noon to 5:00 pm

Pricing:

• Free to visit
• Wine tasting is $6 per person and includes five wines of your choice plus a souvenir glass.  Wine tastings can only be done at the bar.
• Wine bottles range in price from $12.99 – $21.99
• Wine is also available by the glass for $7
• Cheese and antipasto platters are also available for $10 – $16

Details:

• Stroller Friendly: YES. The front entrance has a ramp which allows for easy stroller access.  There are steps that lead from the back to the back deck, but plenty of seating is available in the grass area as well.
• Coffee Mug Friendly: YES. The only item not allowed is outside alcohol.
• Restroom: YES. Two restrooms are located in the main building near the front entrance.
• Baby Changing Station:  NO.
• Parking: YES.  Parking is free and it is conveniently located right next to the main building.
• Food for Sale: YES. Cheese and antipasto platters are available for $10 – $16.
• Outside Food Allowed: YES. Outside food is welcome and encouraged.  The only thing they ask is that you take your garbage with you when you leave.  If you didn’t bring your own food and want a little more than a cheese or antipasto platter, head up the road to the Lost Acres Orchard and get some lunch food to go.  Check their website before visiting, though.  They are open for lunch every day in September and October, but they have a different schedule the remainder of the year.
• Cash Required:  NO. Credit cards are accepted (though I believe American Express was not accepted).
• Dress Code: None.
• Evening/Weekend Hours: YES.

• 4D Vision Gym – A vision training center located in Cromwell, CT where Dr. Juanita Collier, MS, OD and her staff show members how to utilize Vision Therapy to correct visual issues and make learning and playing easier and more fun.
• The Independent Day School – Located on a rural campus in Middlefield, CT this private pre-school, elementary and middle school serves families from over 20 communities.
• Mandell JCC – The Mandell JCC, Zachs Campus, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT, welcomes and serves families and individuals of all ages, stages, backgrounds and faiths. Our fitness, wellness and recreation, arts and culture, camp, early childhood education programs, classes, clubs and services are open to all. You Belong Here!

Are you interested in becoming an Out and About Mom sponsor? Click here for more info.

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