We stopped in for apps on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered a glass of wine, ceviche, and skewers…read more We sat at the bar and the bartender was very friendly, full of energy, and efficient. The ceviche was excellent, everything was cooked throughout by the citrus. The portion size is small for $19 and it could have used a side of bread or tortillas to soak up the delicious citrus based broth. The skewers were also excellent. They were cooked perfectly, super tender, juicy and flavorful. They cooked them with a seasoning and had a delicious chimi on top.

On a recent visit to New Haven to see an exhibition at the Yale Center for British Art, we hoped to…read morehave dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (Barcelona Wine Bar), but they were fully booked with a Yale event. In a display of restaurant solidarity , they recommended that we try Vinas Wine & Tapas. As it turned out, we have a NEW favorite in New Haven! We arrived a bit early and were cheerfully greeted by Mike G, our server. The atmosphere was welcoming and relatively quiet, since their musical offering does not start as early as our 5:00-7:00 PM time slot on a Tuesday. We had asked for the waiter Christian because he had been mentioned in several of the Yelp reviews, but Mike proved that the service compliments should go to everyone. First, the tapas: We enjoyed all five of the tapas we chose. The "Calamares" were lightly battered and crispy. The Vinas salad was fresh, with tomatoes, cheese, corn, and croutons. The pork belly was delicious and more meaty than expected . The oyster mushrooms were presented with onion crisps. The baked birria empanada was stuffed with brisket style beef. Each of these "courses" was a unique delight to the palate, and for me and my partner, it was completely satisfying. In keeping with the spirit of a "wine bar," Vinas offered a flight of 4 wines in 3 ounce glasses, and after hearing about our food choices and wine preferences, Mike chose the wines for us, giving us a chance to taste some less familiar offerings. We had the Felino Malbec 2024 (Argentina), which became our favorite for its full-bodied and deep flavor. Our second wine was a unique Don Abel (private label) from Wallingford CT, made by one of the relatives of the owner, specially for Vinas. This one reminded us of the local wines one might receive in a B&B in the Loire Valley in France. The final two wines were both from Chile: Reserva Carmenere 2023 and Cabernet Sauvignon Marques de Casa Concha 2022. Both were excellent wines. It was great fun to have Mike choose the wines for us, and we really enjoyed the variety that the flight offerings gave to us. Of course, we had to try a dessert, and Mike recommended the Toffee Cake. We had heard that the owner claimed that some people cried with joy after eating it. Although we restrained ourselves, we had to agree that this was an extraordinary conclusion to a fabulous meal. Overall, this was a great experience for us, and we heartily recommend Vinas Wine Bar and Tapas for a relaxing and welcoming dinner. Some reviews I had read suggested that the portions were too small for the price. I have to disagree. My partner and I love food, and this was plenty. And the price was reasonable. Including tip and tax, we spent about $75 each.

My friends and I checked out a winery while visiting New Haven. This was a nice spot that had ample…read moreselection. We ordered the wine at the cash register and found a spot outside. There were a lot of tables out in the sun or under the tent (for a hot day under the tent was best!) We also bought snacks of crackers and cheese that they had, although they were a bit pricey altogether. There was also a selection of chocolate and cigars at the front. Depending where your facing, there are nice views of the vineyard. There was also a graduation party that reserved half the tent space. This vineyard had humble views and hands-off service (every time we wanted a new bottle we went inside to ring it up, and we brought our bottle back outside with us). Come here for no-frills winery and good wine. I'd recommend bringing your own snacks to accompany their wine!

First time trying a Connecticut winery and I was pleasantly surprised. The winery initially seems…read moreoddly placed because you enter it in a subdivision but when you arrive to the winery it feels very secluded and peaceful. Very good vibe at Paradise Hills; tranquil is the right word. My husband and I accidentally arrived on a day where they were also having a craft fair which was super cool! The winery was busy but not so busy we couldn't sit down. We got to sip wine under the shade of the grape vines. The winery was also very enjoyable! I was skeptical having only been to vineyards in Illinois where the wine is subpar but this wine was really good! The whites are a bit stronger than the reds but the reds were honestly pretty good too! Overall, I really loved everything about the experience!!

This is the 3rd time I have selected beer from the shelf and it's been a higher price at the…read moreregister. Next time it happens I'm reporting them to ABC and the BBB. This time Stella $9.99 on the shelf, $14.99 at the register!

Their wine, spirits and sake section is best. They always get me hard to get items and of all they…read moreoffer the best customer services in the area.

I've been here once before for a painting class and it was amazing…read more Since then, there have been many updates to the menu, including wine mixers, and different ciders. We got a flight of ciders this time, and tried to 8 different flavors. This has to be one of my favorite places for cider as there are about 20 different flavors ranging from sweet, sour, and even spicy!! There is an outdoor seating area and a bunch of seating inside. There are a ton of games to choose from. What's even better as this place this dog friendly!

I came to Valor Wines for an event, and trust your GPS! I thought I was being directed to a random…read moreconstruction company, but Valor Wines has a door in the "elbow" of another building. There are signs and arrows. There is parking, but not a huge amount. The inside is indescribable in a few words. Elvis is on a balcony, theres a carousel horse, and the lights on what may be barrels are changing periodically. They also have their own merchandise. The seating includes plush velvet couches, a really long table, and outdoors with lights. There are two restrooms. The drinks themselves were fun. For non-drinkers, they are a Coke spot. I had a blueberry lemonade sangria, and could feel the antioxidants. It was something I actually enjoyed, and it's rare for me to say. The star was the adorable puppy. I hope she was tipped well.

Aquila's Nest is absolutely worth a visit. We sat in one of their cozy geodesic dome igloos which…read moremakes it such a fun and relaxed experience. The wine flight did not disappoint -- we tried the red, white & a combination, all solid pours. The cheese box is necessary if you're trying the flight ( or you can bring your own food). Highly recommend booking an igloo and making a night of it!

Beautiful outdoor spot to have some slushy wine. Come on a day with live music or a comedian or…read morewhatever. It can get crowded.

Prompt & timely delivery, good prices and selection, good people. My go-to from now on.read more

If you love wine, you'll love Mt. Carmel Wine & Spirits. Incomparable selections, great prices and…read moreknowledgeable and super nice people. Saturday wine tastings are an added bonus.

My family and I came to Tranquility and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon! We're big fans of Vyne (the…read morerestaurant they own), so we knew we would love their vineyard too. The rustic vibe inside is beautiful, and they did a great job of maintaining the charm of the former Whittemore estate. My family enjoys their wine a lot more than other CT wineries, and the Adirondack chairs at the fire pits made for a relaxing spot to sit. Looking forward to many more future visits!

First time visiting. Friendly staff, nice atmosphere. Only thing that I was disappointed in is that…read morethey threw out our food that we brought from Vyne as we were taking pics outside. The older man that worked there told us to leave our food we had left over on the table and when we came back in to get it it was gone? Checked with same man and he said it was thrown out! Did comp a bottle of wine