On our way home from a mini vacation we were not quite ready to end we found Chamard Vineyards. A nice surprise to find a quaint bistro tucked inside a vineyard in Clinton. It was a quiet afternoon and the hostess was pleasant and recommended not sitting in the sun outside. Instead we were seated in a nice dining room overlooking vineyards. The ambiance was soft, with a wonderful array of local art for browsing or purchase. We enjoyed a light, tasty lunch served in perfect portions for road weary travelers. We left there satisfied and happy with our purchase of their locally produced wine. A pleasant finish before heading home to wrap a perfect outing. I would recommend Chamard Vineyards to family and friends. read more

How incredibly disappointing. My husband and I came here on a beautiful Friday afternoon after a lunch of lobstah rolls at Lobster Landing down the street. We figured it would be a nice way to kick off my birthday weekend and enjoy the weather. We were pleasantly surprised at how gorgeous the winery was, both outside and in their tasting room. The inside space was warm and inviting, and not at all crowded. We walked up to the bar and found ourselves to be the only ones there. The bartender seemed incredibly disinterested in us. We grabbed the menus ourselves to try to figure out what we were doing and which wines we wanted to try. Eventually, she came over and begrudgingly asked which wines we wanted. She then proceeded to pour us three glasses each, all at one time, without once making an effort to welcome us, go into the history of the vineyard or describe any of the wines we were trying. My husband did try to ask some questions, which she answered, to get the conversation going, but to no avail. Eventually, we sucked down our wine an paid, and left to go to one of our favorite wineries (Gouveia in Wallingford) where we knew we would have a much more enjoyable time. For the tasting, we paid $12 each for three pours, although they did seem to be larger than normal pours. Though this is more expensive than other wineries I've been to, and we didn't get to keep the glass, this wasn't such a big deal to me. Also, be warned, if you plan to buy a bottle to drink afterwards, they are expensive, to me at least. Prices ranged from $28 to $44+. Again, other wineries I have been to typically range from $18-$25 per bottle. Really, the poor customer service ruined my experience here. I expected someone to show a little more interest in me as a customer on a lazy Friday afternoon. Our receipt listed the bartender's name as Blair V. I hope this was just a fluke. read more

Went in for a wine tasting on a holiday. Great service from to person doing the tasting. We ordered the grilled cheese and salad to share with the sangria of the week. All solid choices. Our bill was very reasonable in my opinion for 2 tastings, 2 glasses of sangria, and a meal (that we shared $11). But the tasting was $12 for 3 two oz tastings, a bit on the pricier side. The serving girl (Alyssa, Olivia don't remember her name) was really nice and knowledgeable about what she was serving us. Definitely would consider going back for a meal at their tavern or an afternoon with friends to try some more wine. Very good experience considering we usually just do the tasting a move on. read more

Beautiful Location! Excellent farm to table food. We love this place and have been there many times. I haven't had anything there that I didn't love. Staff is friendly and more than accommodating. We love the bar area as a perfect place for a late lunch. Fun to to go with friends. Should make reservations for dinner. They have expanded food service into the tasting room and I hear it will be out on the deck which is lovely. If you are looking for fine wine, this is not going to compare to a tasting at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but they have very good wines that pair nicely with their food. CT has come a long way with their wineries over the years, and Chamard has certainly improved their quality and offerings. But Chamard is not just about the wine. Wine is not just about the wine. It's the experience of great food, good wine, a perfect location, happy staff, good friends and making memories. If you are looking for this combination, Chamard has it. read more

Beautiful scenery , great food. The best burgers, yummy wines. Definitely recommend.

This was my third visit to Chamard Vineyards. While the vineyard is beautiful and the food is delicious, I will not be returning. Last month, I decided to bring my family who was visiting from another country to Chamard. Not only was I disappointed with the increased prices, but also by the man who served us. He was unwelcoming and seemed completely disinterested. We were the only group wine tasting. He gave us a two second overview/description of the wine, stopped the wine even before the "wine stopper" stopped the pour (don't know the technical name for it), then walked away. I only mention the shortened pour because of the cost of the tasting and I think they can afford .5 of an ounce of wine in each glass. My relative asked a few genuine questions about the grapes and the wine making process. His response to why a certain wine was put in steel barrels was, "well, that's how its supposed to be made." I have been to about 15 CT wineries and this is the only place I've had a bad experience. In the past, there was a young man that gave us a wine tour and has been our waiter who was pleasant and seemed like he loved his job and being there. This older man should take a page out of his book and interact and be kind and courteous to paying customers. read more

As a wine lover, I have gone to at least another 10 wineries in CT and I must say this place is expensive and among the white wines they offered, none were great. The red one full bodied was great, however for the price and chasing a server and the 30 minutes wait time, not the best experience. read more

Great tasting experience! The bartender was super friendly, informative, cheerful, and attentive even when she got busier. I stopped by on a Wednesday evening for a passport stamp and enjoyed the experience. They have a very smooth red currently in the middle of their tasting set that I was pleasantly surprised by. The atmosphere in the wine bar area has a homey wood decor and plenty of space for guests both inside and on the patio. They had a couple events going on so I had to park further down which was a little tight, but worth it in my opinion. I will be back with friends if possible next time! read more

An outing off the beaten path as it is a winery/restaurant, and slightly out of the way from a downtown area.. Close to the outlets and I'm sure there are many shoppers who would be interested, but it was not crowded with shoppers. This was a midday weekday towards the end of the CT Wine Trail season. Wine is incredibly improved over 2 years ago which is when I last visited. In fact, I had my doubts about revisiting here, but because of the lunch offerings, I wanted to take a second shot at it and am very happy I did. They did not have fancy crackers or some other food item to clear the palate between the individual wines which to me seems like a no brainer. They sell apps so maybe they could offer apps and a tasting? I didn't have any apps. Bistro Burger was above and beyond what you'd expect as were the fries and the salad along the side. Hope to go there again. read more

You drive through the gates & you feel like you're in France or Napa a short drive through the Vineyards and you arrive at the Bistro and Tasting Room. Everywhere spectacular views of vineyards & the Pond. The Tasting Room great the staff is well versed in the offerings and they give generous pours & once again great views after that you have to have a meal in the Bistro a wonderful experience lovely room great views and fabulous food & views Carrie Ann does a spectacular job with service and menu description we had the Parisian Gnocchi perfectly prepared & the Pork Chop with farm fresh carrots and string beans excellent! Make it a point to visit you won't regret it you'll love the memorable day read more

We enjoy having a light dinner and listening to music at this nicely decorated tasting room. We have eaten in the dining room, but the tasting bar area is more to our liking. The food is ok, the ambience is good and the wine is ok. I'd say it's the combination of things and not any one thing in particular that brings us back. read more

Typically love love love this vineyard. However, went with a friend this past Saturday and the service was terrible from the outside server. We understood it was very busy, but when we asked the inside server if we could seat ourselves outside he said not a problem. The outside server NEVER came to our table once the entire time we were there. Wouldn't even make eye contact with us but was serving every other table on the patio. Had to clean our table off from the previous customers ourselves and went inside to order a bottle of wine. The only person who came over was who I assume was a manager, he was checking in on the surrounding tables. We were able to order food from him, which was delicious. Had to go back inside to ask for our check. As a server, I know what it's like to be busy, but at least acknowledge a table sitting in your section! read more

Wow!! Phenomenal food and unbelievable views!! Everything is fresh and is beautifully plated!!

This is a great place for an afternoon bite with some great wine! It's a beautiful setting and great service! Recommend it highly!

Had a great day with my mom at Chamard! We came down after a day of outlet shopping and the staff was awesome! The atmosphere was inviting and everyone was very friendly. I would definitely recommend!!! Greg Larson was an AWESOME host! read more

One of our favorite places! Like a world away from anything else on the shoreline. Very special!

Loved the Riesling and '06 Chardonnay. As nice a vineyard experience as you could have in ct!

Really lovely spot for a glass of wine and some small bites. Beautiful seating area overlooking pond with fountain. The rose is delicious!

Im so sorry to update to one star. We have hit just about CT winery twice now...and we hit a bunch of LI wineries. I'm sorry to say Chamard wines taste awful this year! What a shame. The views are great. The wines tasted sour....and they charge 15 a tasting. If you are doing the CT wine passport program, do yourself a favor and just make them stamp the passport. SKIP THE TASTING. SAVE YOURSELF! read more

Gorgeous location and the brunch was unbelievable. Started with the cheese plate and had the eggs Benedict special for brunch. The mimosa was the cherry on top! Will definitely be back. read more

I have been to the vineyard many many times and have NEVER had a bad experience. The staff are all awesome and so friendly! The food is out of this world and the atmosphere is classy, rustic and beautiful!! One of my favorite places in CT! read more

My husband and I had a lovely winter visit here. We've been to many of the CT wineries, and both agreed that Chamard had the best wine. Their riesling is especially delicious. We also sampled some snacks (just the marinated olives with a baguette and pommes frites) and those were delicious as well - I'd really like to try the bistro next time. The grounds were pretty - I look forward to coming back in warmer weather! Their tasting room is on the small side, so I'm curious about how crowded it gets in the nicer weather... but then again, maybe they do outdoor tastings or something to accommodate crowds? I'll definitely be back to find out! read more

Hidden gem behind the outlets. Beautiful location, great wine & great food!

Beautiful and pleasant atmosphere. Restaurant with nice decor and view. Good wine and food. Clam chowder was so delicious we order it go also. Cheese platter, grilled cheese , Berger and fries all Was very good. read more

By far some of the best wines, great atmosphere, amazing foods, and great service!!! I became a member and its my favorite place to go!!!

Great to go to a winery with food. An extensive menu with a bistro next door. The wines were good and at a reasonable price. Good hours throughout the week as well. read more

Loved this place the best wines, great help and fantastic bar snacks . mmmm mmm

Finally had the chance to visit yesterday after many positive reviews from friends, and was not disappointed!! Made a reservation via open table (reservations required) and the food was delicious (get the Pom frittes!)it was raining while my girlfriends and I were there, and so it was packed in the Bistro as well as wine tasting area- the noise level was very loud, and I couldn't hear the girls very well, but since the patio was closed I imagine it's not normally that loud (plus it was a Saturday), so I won't hold it against 'em. The Stone Cold White wine was by far my favorite from the tasting (and lunch)! I was impressed with how many people were there, and we saw 2 wedding parties during our 3 hours there! The location was gorgeous, will be back. read more

The wine is great! The Riesling is my favorite. If you come here, definitely eat at the Bistro. Wow! Great food. Also wouldn't hurt to have some great company as well. It's very pretty out there too. read more

Went there for lunch when we were picking up some of my wife's artwork from an exhibit. The food was quite good.

Had a good time at Chamard recently, though I imagine the grounds are much better explored during warmer months. The service was outstanding and unpretentious. We weren't rushed, although the servers ensured that we were promptly served our next wine. The flight itself was a bit disappointing overall; there were 2 standout wines well worth a purchase: the smooth and smokey 2010 Merlot and their sweet and limited edition Gewuztraminer. Would have enjoyed a more thorough explanation of the wines, grounds and history. I do recommend a visit to Chamard and I will be back. read more

My favorite place! The wine is good, not mind blowing, the setting is fantastic, they often have great music and are very reasonably priced.

Came here once and was turned off by the snooty attitudes. Never went back until a few years later since we were in the area and my friends and I were pleasantly surprised. It was a very lively and welcoming atmosphere. The tasting was informative and delicious. They make very good white wines, not just by Connecticut standards. Also ordered some food after our tasting and purchased a bottle to be eaten and drank out on the patio overlooking the vineyard. Very pretty and can't wait to go back! read more

The wine here is really not that great, especially considering the price. The food is also a bit subpar though the atmosphere slightly makes up for it. The view is beautiful and they have live music on the weekends while none of the other vineyards in the area are allowed to. read more

Enjoyed a singer songwriter evening here. The vineyard grounds were beautiful and the music was fun! We spent our time in 'the barn' and out side. We actually didn't realize there was a wine bar building until the end of the evening! Not sure if you would consider this vineyard kid-friendly but there were many couples with future wine lovers in strollers this afternoon! We did partake in the tasting before the music. We enjoyed ourselves, but would have enjoyed the white wines more if they had been chilled properly. The barn does not have the proper equipment to keep the wines chilled and the tasting suffered for this reason! I still bought one bottle of their unoaked Chardonnay "Stone Cold White". I broght the bottle with me to visit family and we all LOVED it! Properly chilled this has become my new favorite white wine! I'm heading back for a case! Maybe I will share some! read more

Fantastic food with very nice wines considering. The ambience is very warm and homey as well. Highly recommend.

Great atmosphere for a tasting. Not a fan of Connecticut white wines - not Chamard's fault. But Kayla did a great job describing each pour. The reds were quite good (they bring in the grapes, but press & age them on site). Heritage Cab was really good! We'll be back for sure! read more

Beautiful vineyard. Also has great food selection and restaurant connected to the tasting room. Great wines! Overlooks a nice pond. Has some outside seating as well. read more

Chamard Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Clinton, Connecticut

Chamard Vineyard (and its events coordinator, Alexis) did a phenomenal job with our rehearsal dinner in June 2015! We rented out the barn area which was perfect and seperate from the restaurant and tasting room (and has its own bathroom) making it the perfect spot for a private function. It overlooks the vineyard and pond/fountain and made for amazing photos as the sun set. Not to mention that the food is amazing- thanks Chef Matt! (frites are a must, cheese boards cannot be missed). There are some different options and prices to choose from and everything is delicious. Loved the fun and different sides options like black rice instead of your average mashed potatoes. After dinner we invited additional guests to come and join from wine a cheese and Alexis and her staff built us bonfires at dusk which made the night very romantic and cozy. Lots of charm, great food & wine, courteous staff, and relaxing atmosphere. Easy to work with and a great place to create memorable moments. read more

Went here with some friends over the weekend. We got there early and went directly to the tasting room. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Loved the tasting, but not not all of the wines but I will say better than expected. Had lunch in the restaurant and loved it! Can't wait to return. read more