Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 6/30/2021
ENFIELD, CT – R Dee Winery in Enfield, CT is a family owned business that has been delivering customers various different kinds of wine and getting the grapes from regions that grow them best since September of 2018.
R Dee Winery first started out with owners and wine makers, Michele McAuliffe and Mark McAuliffe, making wine in the basement for fun to share with their friends and family. Michele said, “we were inspired by my late grandfather who made wine in upstate New York for many years.”
Michele explained how much of an opportunity it was to move from their basement to a tasting room. “Powder Hollow Brewery came when we least expected it but we realized it was a great opportunity to take that next step into owning a business. We jumped and have been so glad with no regrets. She said. R Dee Winery shares a building with Powder Hollow Brewery which is owned by Michele’s brother, Michael McManus.
R Dee Winery receives their grapes from numerous locations. The dry red grapes come from California, and sweet white grapes from the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. They purchase their grapes mostly from these two locations.
In the future, the owners hope to own a small vineyard where they can grow some of their own grapes.
Currently the winery offers several white and red wine options which include blended wines.
According to Michele, the winery ferments wines in stainless steel tanks and utilizes oak chips for flavor and tannins for their reds. “We name our wines so that they have a connection to our family. Many of the labels on our bottles have pictures that we took,” she stated.
The winery offers sweet and dry white wine, dry red wine, several sangrias on tap and seasonal rotating frozen wine slushies. Michele said, “We have been trying smaller batches of wines but overall our guests favorite has been The Falls White Blend.”
Michele described how to find the perfect wine, “Start with a flight of wine which gives you the ability to try multiple flavors and varieties of wines. Some customers are surprised that they like certain kinds of wine that they would never have tried without a flight.”
She added, “Wine tasting can open your palette to wines from many regions which produce many different kinds based on soil, climate, and elevation. Also ask the bartender questions about the wines. It is fun to learn about the wine labels, food pairings, and the making of the wines.”
This summer the winery is planning to host classes that include painting classes with Painted by the Shore, charcuterie boards with Make Food Lovely, wreath making with Wood and Word Blooms and Succulents by The Flower Shed. Music will also be provided twice a month along with R Dee Winery’s Open Air Market twice a month through October.
R Dee Winery’s hours of operation are Thursdays 4-9 p.m., Fridays 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Currently, the winery is selling wine flights at pick any four for $10, wine by the glass in both 6 ounce or 9 ounce options and wine bottles available to consume on premise.
During the beginning of the pandemic the business were closed for about three months and then were able to open with only outdoor seating in June of 2020. She said, “We were fortunate to be able to put up some outdoor seating to get our business going again.” McAuliffe expressed that she is excited to see what this summer brings after the state mandates opening up. A completed permanent outdoor patio has recently been created for seasonal events and customers.
She closed, “We put this on our glasses - ‘Pour your glass and create your story.’ We want people to be able to sit down, relax and have a conversation with their friends and family.”