The property at 217 North Bigelow Road has served several functions throughout its history. The 18th century beginnings were agricultural; it was a dairy farm, and through many years, and still, there have been horses. The barn once served as a stage for the Consolidated School’s production of “Rumpelstiltskin”, as the setting for a wedding reception, and the yard, with its view at the time of the Little River valley and Hampton Hill, as one of the scenes for a film on our town. While embracing the property’s history, agricultural roots, and value as a venue, its new enterprise is unique to the property and to Hampton.
Owner David Paine has recently opened a winery. With wines which have already put Hampton “on the map”. In its first appearance at the Big E, “Quiet Corner Winery” earned silver medals for Woodhill Savignon Blanc, 2024 and Tekton Mal Bec American, 2023.
“We make awesome wine,” Dave says, and if the silver medal doesn’t speak for itself, the wine I sampled surely does. “I love to cook,” he explains, “I love the creation.” Having worked in kitchens in German restaurants and Irish pubs, his own was jokingly referred to as “Dave’s Bistro” when he lived in Indianapolis and fed so many people at his place. It is not unusual for the Paines to invite several guests for plated, seven course, gourmet meals. For years, he’s been making wines with friends for fun, and after spending hours and hours, reading and reading, and purchasing equipment, last spring he decided he wanted to build a winery here.
Along with culinary delights, Dave is also familiar with the area, having grown up in neighboring Andover. He spent eight years in the military and lived in Germany for a time prior to arriving in Hampton with his wife, Meagen, an Advanced Placement teacher of Science and Forensics at Ellington High School, and their daughter, Berlin, (named for the band – as in “Take My Breath Away” — not the capital). Two dogs and five horses complete the family.
What separates this winery from most others is that there are no vineyards on the 30 acre property. Instead, the grapes are grown and imported from vineyards in California, Chili, Italy and South Africa with the wine produced here. Dave has been to the California vineyards, and is planning a trip next year to Italy’s. “Every wine maker creates their unique flair,” he says, and every region’s grapes are unique. Quiet Corner Winery affords customers an opportunity to sample wines from the different regions. Dave’s goal is to have three to five wines from each of them. Next spring he hopes to expand his offerings and add six to nine more wines to his portfolio. He is also working on different sized wine bottles, noting that sometimes people want a smaller bottle to bring to the beach or on a picnic.
Quiet Corner Winery is open Sundays, from noon to five. Here you are treated to wine tastings, or a five, or seven, ounce glass of wine. There is also soda available and snack boxes. Customers can enjoy the ambience of the old building, part of the old farm house, complete with the original rafters, walls, and counter. Stools surround oak barrels serving as tables, and white lights along the ceiling supply a mellow glow. It’s a comfortable space. The Planning and Zoning Commission recently approved entertainment here in the form of music provided by a guitar player.
Customers can also relax outdoors where a patio hosts Adirondack chairs and picnic tables and a view of the beautiful horses this summer, and what must be a magnificent blaze of foliage from the maples descending to the valley this fall. There is also a play scape for children; it’s a child-friendly place. A poster Berlin created for the winery greets visitors at the entrance.
In another building, which replaced a garage and sets on its footprint, the wine is produced. The various spaces are temperature controlled depending on their function. One room contains stainless steel tanks for the fermentation process. Laboratory equipment fills another area designated for testing. Another room houses French oak barrels in which the wine is stored for a minimum of 12 months. Every one of the several barrels contains 59 gallons, or 280 bottles, of wine. Bottling is another process. Wine suffers “bottle shock” if this stage is not completed properly. Red wine needs to spend three months in the bottle; white wine only one.
What I sense as I sit in its realm, is that the history of this place is respected, acknowledges what came before. The old barn still stands, a landmark on North Bigelow, horses still graze in the fields, a new barn built on the footprint of another produces the wine, and a portion of the old farm house is where it’s poured for customers. While the name of the property was changed to “Open Door Farm”, from the original “Ha’ Penny” and the more recent, Windbrush”, Dave recognizes a time-honored Hampton tradition and understands, as the Johnsons who lived here for several years prior to selling the property to the Paines, that we who have lived here even longer still refer to it as “the Milners”.
“We’re temporary stewards of this place,” says Dave.
And I sense a respect for Hampton, for the rural roots of the town they’ve settled in.
After I leave, I notice that the picture on the wine bottle I brought home is of a cow, and the label on the back reads: “Why a cow on a wine bottle? Quiet Corner Winery is nestled in a part of Connecticut rich in farming history. We chose to feature a cow on our Sauvignon Blanc label as a tribute to the hardworking farming community, particularly honoring the dairy farmers of Hampton. Our goal is to craft a wine that not only stands the test of time but also celebrates the heritage and dedication of this agricultural region.” The essence of the place captures exactly that.
I’m far from a connoisseur, but I’ve learned a lot about the process, and the owners, and the intent. I’m treated to a glass of white wine, delicious, neither too dry nor too sweet, a perfect balance even for this untrained palate, and I know I’ll return for more of the wine, and the ambience, and the company. Treat yourself to Quiet Corner Winery this summer.
Next month’s issue will feature the property’s history.