Bethlehem Vineyard ~ Christmas Town’s own quaint vineyard offers unforgettable wine and a slew of fun activities

Bethlehem Vineyard Winery Review

From the moment my wife and I turned into the awesome pine tree driveway, there was a sense of wonder that hit us. The sun beamed between the impeccably spaced giants. As we moved slowly past them the air became softer and cooler from their overarching canopy, and with our windows down the scent of cedar hit our nostrils. These are the wonderful first moments of Christmas Town's Bethlehem Vineyard at 46 Town Line Road. 

After making our way down the dirt path, we realized that this winery has a very modest appearance and seems very unassuming at first. It is situated in the back property of a large yellow house. Parking is open in the front yard along the grass and there were many vehicles already there. After finding a space for us, all we had to do was to follow the sign. 

For those who are experienced wine-goers, Bethlehem Vineyard may feel like a different vibe. Its pop-up tent setup isn't to scoff at though, because the owners make sure to treat you like family. During the changing seasons, they offer a plethora of fun events and activities to keep you entertained and engaged. As we walked up to the sales counter, the women were very friendly and easy to strike up conversation with. Their flights and bottles are very reasonably priced for the area, and they also offer some light snacks to enjoy with your glass. 

This particular day was a Halloween-themed weekend. On a whim, we drove in on a very cute dog costume contest, which gave us a chuckle and some joy to meet the various large, medium, and small sized dogs that were competing. If you look closely at the following photo there is a Great Dane pair with their owner who was dressed as Cruella Deville. As she described to us, the pair were half siblings, and their Dalmatian-like spots are a rare genetic defect that has no rhyme or reason to it. The other hounds and small dogs were also very cute in their dragon, shark, and ballerina costumes. 

Fun events like this are just an example of the activities that Bethlehem Vineyard offers its visitors. Some of the other notable events include live music, movie nights, pet adoption events, and painting classes. Other than their rotation of activities, Bethlehem Vineyard usually includes a free-standing fire pit, beanbag tossing, frisbee, and of course their rows of grape vines to walk and enjoy. Interestingly, most of their wine is made on site with a couple of their options utilizing grapes grown in California. 

The Wine

The wine that we decided to enjoy during this visit was their red blend The Crèche, which is made from their estate grown Saint Croix and has dry, but fruity full-bodied taste to it. Delicious! 

Lastly, a major feature of Bethlehem Vineyard that really drew our eye was their keeping with the Little Town of Bethlehem tradition of Christmas themed wine labels. These labels in the following photo, not including their Town Line Cider using March Farms apples, are featured year-round, and each red and white are distinctly unique. 

Notably, the Cayuga White, made from estate grown Cayuga grapes, was our first foray into white wine of the Cayuga variety, and we can't stress it enough that it simply blew us away with its soft aroma and sweet, mixed fruit taste. It was a perfect chilled companion for our hot summer days, and we've had difficulty finding a better Cayuga white in our area of the state. The Christmas Town Red, also known as Santa's Helper, is made in a traditional Cabernet style and uses a blend of California Cabernet and Merlot grapes. It has a cherry finish and is recommended for lovers of Merlot or Cab. Holiday Cheer is the only other California wine and is a Zinfandel that is dry and medium-bodied. Lastly, Old St. Nicholas features the German depiction of Santa Claus and is made from estate grown Traminette grapes. It is a distinctly tasty and spicy white wine and one of my favorites! Not pictured here is a Rosé wine, which they also sell.

Final Thoughts

Bethlehem Vineyard has all the charm of a small-town winery with unbelievably tasty wine to match. Between its beautiful entryway, friendly staff, holiday themed labels, awesome blends, and fun events in its backyard setup, it is a wonderful, possibly overlooked vineyard in the Litchfield Hills. My wife and I have visited Bethlehem Vineyard many times since when looking for a nice relaxing afternoon to sit with some tasty wine. Based on our first impression and subsequent visits, we would highly recommend Bethlehem Vineyard to any local or visiting wine enthusiasts.

Bethlehem Vineyard's seasonal hours and events can be viewed on their website where wine can be ordered online for pick-up or delivery.