Once there was a time oh so long ago that I was privy to almost every winery and brewery in the state of Connecticut and could proudly say that I had checked many off the proverbial list. In terms of craft beverage years, that was an eternity ago. Even though I was quite out of the game, when my mother mentioned the idea of heading to Arrowhead Acres Winery in Franklin, I was shocked!
Franklin is a VERY small agricultural town in Eastern Connecticut located right next to my hometown of Norwich. With good friends from Franklin, including Jim, our podcast co-host, I felt that I should have heard of a winery in Franklin before. The fact that I practically drove by it each time we recorded the podcast in Willimantic made it even more surprising. (And it’s so close to Jim’s house that one can literally walk from one to the other without reaching a street.)
I figured this must be brand new! Wrong again. Arrowhead Acres, a former dairy farm that has been repurposed into a farm market store and winery, has been open as a winery since 2018 (which in craft beverage terms is about 15 years in normal-person years).
Visiting Arrowhead Acres
I was familiar with the location of Arrowhead Acres but never could I have imagined how beautiful the landscape is. At 519 Pond Road in Franklin, which is also Route 207, it is close to very busy Route 32 which connects Norwich and Willimantic. This junction has always been synonymous with junkyards and tractor stores, not lush, rolling countryside.
Arrowhead Acres is located in a large white barn dating from 1970 after the original burned. Entering the farm store, this spot is like stepping back in time. County fairs and a slower pace come to mind. It was chock full of goodies, from desserts and sandwiches made to order to local dairy products and produce.
Wine Time
The winery is located beyond the market area. It’s a large space that can accommodate a good number of people. I thought the smaller room I first entered was it. This must be used for overflow since beyond this is a spacious tasting room. On this unusually warm sunny weekday, we were one of two sets of people there.
I’ve always enjoyed flights and was happy to see that wine flights are offered here. In talking to the employee, she said that the flight is equal to roughly two glasses of wine. This seemed like a little much for one in the afternoon, so my mom and I split the flight.
Four small bottles are filled and then you are able to pour them into a glass to enjoy. We chose a white wine, a red, a rose, and a sangria. I’m not much of a wine-o but was happy to try. Each wine was very enjoyable. The white and rose were my personal favorites. The sangria was very good as well. I liked the red, but unless I’m in Italy, I tend to stay away from reds.
The Experience at Arrowhead Acres
We brought our flight to a table and chairs outside overlooking a gorgeous country scene. The warmth of the sun, the sweetness of the wine, and the view were a perfect combination. A barnyard cat came to say hello too, joining us on our table and on my lap at times. I even took a bottle of the rose home with me (along with many sweets for the whole family). Altogether Arrowhead Acres is a truly authentic rural New England experience, with a friendly staff, local products, and exceptional Connecticut wine. Our weather was perfect for outdoor seating, but the cozy atmosphere inside, often with musical entertainment, provides a memorable time. A trip to Arrowhead Acres LLC will be one that I would like to make again soon.
For more CT wineries, check out A Weekend in the Litchfield Hills.
