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    Valor Wines

    4.7 (15 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    So cool inside here
    Megan K.

    What an absolute hidden gem. I def mean hidden, because I circled the parking lot a few times to make sure I was in the right spot because I kept questioning myself because I was half paying attention to where I was going. Post work brain for the win. And I def mean gem because the wine and cider here are some of the best I've had in CT. For me, it's the flavor combos. It's not just red or white wine, there is FLAVOR. It's not a plain cider, they have flavor. I can't pick a favorite because I liked everything I tasted in its own individual way. I can't wait to come back and try more of what's in store here, because my taste buds are going to love the experience. Ambiance wise, it's beyond adorable in here, from the coach, to the twinkle lights, to the armor on the walls. And I'm sorry, Zelda the dog steals the show and is the cutest pup ever. The owner is hilarious and he knows how to make wine. I mean, he KNOWS how to make WINE. I'm so impressed and obsessed. I now need to move closer because this is going to be one of my new hangout places for sure.

    Emily G.

    Went to Valor Wines in North Haven last week and it was incredible. We sampled a list of wines and ciders and were excited for the unveiling of the new Apple Theory logo. We were greeted by the worlds best sommelier, Zelda. Her sweet demeanor was only matched by her rapid tail wagging... Her other alias is wind dog. The room has a natural wood feel and is lit with beautiful low lighting. All of the wines and ciders were absolutely wonderful. The stand outs in my world were the petite sirah and the peaches and cream cider. However, I would happily have seconds of them allllll. It's definitely a space that you can spend many hours. The owner is so kind and creative! He is constantly making new creations. His names are so fun. Any Mean Girls Dan would try "That's So Fetch" and Hot Mess is here fun. If you haven't gone to this little gem you are missing out!

    Back patio area
    Amy L.

    Great little place in North Haven for wines and ciders! Quiet for a Sunday...wish more people were there hanging out. Last Sunday of August so understandable. Inside or outside seating, bring some snacks and hang out!

    Tasting event!
    Matthew L.

    Valor Wines is a craft microwinery and cidery that opened in North Haven, Connecticut in September 2021. It was founded by Ray Iannucci. Born into a family of winemakers, Iannucci began working at his grandfather's make-your-own wine business which was named The Wine Press. After a while, he became completely consumed with a passion for winemaking. When his grandfather decided to retire, Iannucci decided to take the same space on Quinnipiac Avenue and repurpose it to house his own winery and tasting room. Although he creates traditional styles, he also experiments and puts a modern twist on his wines. Around the same time Valor Wines opened its doors, Iannucci also started the sister business Apple Theory Cider (located in the same space). His mission with the cidery is to locate "heirloom" apple varieties and craft traditional dry European-style ciders which became rare in the United States following Prohibition. I was recently invited to Valor Wines for an exclusive tasting event for food bloggers. The event also coinciding with the release of the new Apple Theory logo. The winery is just a short drive from my home. The tasting room was cozy with lots of medieval decor. Iannucci was a friendly host who made us all feel right at home. The wines that we sampled included the "Dry Riesling", "Hot Mess" (Petite Sirah Blend), and "That Is So Fetch" (Cayuga infused with black currant and spices). I'm partial to Petite Sirah, so "Hot Mess" was my favorite. The ciders that we tried included "House Blend Barrel Aged Off-Dry Cider" (made from a blend of 9 locally-grown apple varieties) and "Peaches & Cream" (Sweet Peach Cider made with Oak Milk). The House Blend was my favorite of the two. North Haven-based CT Chowder Company were on hand to cater the event. They brought along several finger foods such as their Bacon Jam Grilled Cheese. My favorite was easily their Connecticut Clam Chowder which they described as a hybrid between New England and Manhattan-style clam chowders. I had a great experience at Valor Wines and look forward to returning! Thanks to Elizabeth Miedsinksi for organizing the event, Ray Iannucci for the delicious libations, and CT Chowder Co for the delicious food!

    Cabs!

    Great atmosphere, comfortable and casual. We stopped by on a Saturday evening. Entertainment was great- Faye Green & Michael A. Ross. ! We got a flight to try a few different varieties, and a glass of two of the cabs. So glad we stopped in!

    Kim H.

    We've been to Valor Wines a handful of times now, and the wines and ciders are always on point. I am a die-hard fan of dry wines (never anything sweet) and Ray, the owner shocked me with the Dry Riesling... it's now my favorite white! All of the reds are thoroughly enjoyable - the Pinot Noir, the Zinfandel and the Malbec were all solid choices. We've seen some pretty good live music there on Friday nights... Valor Wines is a great destination for a date, a girls' night out, or a friends get-together. They also just added a bunch of board games to encourage people to come and linger. Note: This is a genuine winery, but it's not a vineyard. Don't expect to be strolling through the grapevines taking selfies. There is a nice spacious outdoor seating area with a gazebo and plenty of seating. You can take selfies with the wrought-iron carriage, the warrior helmets, or your flight of wine and cider. Oh, and don't forget to visit the #winedog - her name is Zelda. I'm pretty sure other people had dogs there, too. Plenty of tables and chairs - bring your own snacks or get DoorDash delivery. You won't be disappointed!

    Wines pairing well with the cheese we brought

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    Raymond I.

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    2 years ago

    Love this place! Fun decor and vibe. Lots of wine and cider selections. Love that you can bring food with you.

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    3 years ago

    Orange creamsicle and blue raspberry cotton candy are LOVELY and I don't LOVE sweet ciders

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    4 years ago

    Wonderful and creative wines in such a cute and welcoming space! And Zelda the dog completely stole our hearts!

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    Ask the Community - Valor Wines

    Review Highlights - Valor Wines

    And I'm sorry, Zelda the dog steals the show and is the cutest pup ever.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Vinas Wine & Tapas - Empanaditas flanked by calamares

    Vinas Wine & Tapas

    4.6(67 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    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.

    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.

    Photos
    Vinas Wine & Tapas
    Vinas Wine & Tapas - Chicken pimiento

    Chicken pimiento

    Vinas Wine & Tapas - Pork belly

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    Pork belly

    Aquila's Nest Vineyards - cheesecake and wine pairing

    Aquila's Nest Vineyards

    4.2(227 reviews)
    20.8 mi
    $$

    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!

    I saw this place on social media, and since I've been to vineyards before, I wanted to try it in…read morethe Fall. My friend and I booked an igloo (thankfully--we'll get to that). Aquila's gives a 30-minute grace period, which helped since the area gets very dark at night and the roads are narrow. I knew ahead of time there would be a lobster food truck and a live salsa band. When you arrive, you check in with the hostess, though there's no clear hostess stand since she's stationed at the end of the bar. The inside was crowded with no available seats, but we weren't there for the band anyway. Our igloo had a heater, but two would've been ideal. They recommend bringing a blanket, which I forgot, but it wasn't too cold--around the high 40s. We tried the "Sweet Wine Flight," which included Sparkling Rosé, Moscato, and white and red wine slushies. The white wine slushy was my favorite. It started raining while we were there, and everyone with fire pits cleared out, so I was extra glad we chose an igloo. They offered a cheese box, but it looked too small, so we stuck to drinks. Our server was polite and brought everything out quickly. Reservations give you two hours, and we had a great time. I like the variety of reservation options they offer. For suggestions: it would be nice to have a real charcuterie board instead of tiny cheese and veggie boxes. The indoor space could also be larger, especially for people coming for the live band, and there are no seats around the bar. Overall, though, it's a cozy spot, and I enjoyed the experience.

    Photos
    Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Entrance

    Entrance

    Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Tasting room with live band.

    Tasting room with live band.

    Aquila's Nest Vineyards - Outdoor seating overlooking the hills.

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    Outdoor seating overlooking the hills.

    Valor Wines - winetastingroom - Updated May 2026

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