Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz speaks at a gathering at Jones Family Farm in Shelton at a ceremony kicking of this year’s Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program. Also pictured, from left, are Jamie Jones, who owns Jones Winery; Bryan P. Hurlburt, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture; Dr. Michael O’Neill, associate dean for UConn Extension; and Dr. Theodore Andreadis, director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven.
SHELTON — Grapes grown for wine in the Finger Lakes Region of New York inspired a Cornell University plant science student to start a winery on his family’s farm in Shelton.
“I saw these farms growing grapes,” Jamie Jones recalled. “It made me think, ‘our climate isn’t much different than theirs. Why can’t we start a vineyard?’”
His family bought the equipment and he started Jones Winery on 10 acres at Jones Family Farm in 2004. It is among the 40 Connecticut wineries people can visit in this year’s passport program.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Bryan P. Hurlburt, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, were special guests earlier this month at a ceremony at Jones Winery touting this year’s event.
The 2019 Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program, which runs through Nov. 3, offers over 60 prizes to participants who visit a minimum of 12 state farm wineries and get a stamp in their booklet.
The grand prize is a two-week-trip for two to Spain.
December 5 drawings will be held for those collecting 18 stamps or more and 35 stamps or more.
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Connecticut Farm Wine Development Administrative Council oversee the passport program, which is meant to encourage tourism at Connecticut’s vineyards.
Bysiewicz told those at the gathering how Connecticut farm wineries’ sales increased by 120 percent from 2007 to 2015.
“This is a bourgeoning area in our state,” Bysiewicz said.
“This is one of the brightest spots,” Hurlburt said of vineyards’ impact on agriculture. “It’s the fastest growing segment of the industry. We’re hoping this will encourage Connecticut residents and their friends from out of state to see what Connecticut has to offer.”
Aside from Jones Winery, some other nearby vineyards include Bethlehem Vineyard and Winery, Savino Vineyards in Woodbridge and Walker Road Vineyards in Woodbury.
For a complete list of participating wineries, visit the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s website at ct.gov/doag.
Hurlburt said 65,000 passport booklets were printed and are available at the 40 participating wineries. Participants can also get a stamp by attending the Connecticut Wine Festival at Goshen Fairgrounds in July.
Dr. Michael O’Neill, associate dean for UConn Extension, said six computer science students created the framework for a Connecticut Farm Wine phone app as part of a Capstone Project a year ago and an intern recently finished the project.
The app will allow users to visit a winery and receive the stamp on their cellphone.
Rebecca Eddy, an ad marketing and impact representative for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, said a phone app for Android and Apple will be available soon.
Each participating winery donated two bottles of wine as prizes.
Among the other prizes for this year’s passport event are gas cards and a chance to win one of 15 one-night stays for two at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Danbury, and a hand-crafted wine backpack.
Those attending Last Friday’s ceremony include Jonathan Edwards, president of the Connecticut Vineyard Winery Association, and Dr. Theodore Andreadis, director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven.
The station serves as a research arm for the state wine industry.
Terry Jones, owner of Jones Family Farm, hosted the ceremony with several family members.
Jones Family Farm, 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road in Shelton, was started by Jamie Jones’ great, great, great grandfather, Philip James Jones, who emigrated from Ireland around 1850. It is more than 400 acres.
Jamie Jones uses his 10 acres to grow 14 varieties of grapes, strawberries, raspberries and blue berries for 19 varieties of wine that also include vintages made from apples grown at Beardsley Cider Mill & Orchard in Shelton and pears grown at Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market & Winery in Guilford.
The prizes are not funded from taxes.
