Hopkins Vineyard:
The first 100 years

Meet Our People

BILL HOPKINS

BILL HOPKINS

Founder

JUDITH HOPKINS

JUDITH HOPKINS

Founder

JORGE “GEORGE” Criollo

JORGE “GEORGE” Criollo

Owner

Hilary Hopkins Criollo

Hilary Hopkins Criollo

Owner

JIM BAKER

JIM BAKER

Winemaker

We are the oldest family-owned and operated winery in Connecticut. Quality is the key word at Hopkins: in the vineyards, in our winemaking, and in our friendly staff. We warmly invite you to visit our winery to sample our wines and experience the great hospitality of Hopkins Vineyard.

A Rich History

The Mayflower 1620 The Hopkins Family is descendant of Stephen Hopkins,
a passenger on the Mayflower voyage. 2020 1787 ELIJAH HOPKINS 1787 Elijah Hopkins purchased the Hopkins Farm in 1787
after returning from the Revolutionary War. 1620 1956 BILL HOPKINS 1956 William L. Hopkins took over the running of the family dairy farm in 1956. 1787 1979 THE START OF HOPKINS VINEYARD 1979 William and Judith Hopkins filed for the farm Winery permit in 1979. The dairy herd was sold and the vineyard and winery were started. 1956 1980 BARN RESTORATION 1980 Restoration on the 19th century barn began. 1979 1988 HONORED AS A BICENTENNIAL FARM 1988 The U.S. Department of Agriculture honors the Hopkins Farm as a Bicentennial Farm, having been in the same family since the birth of the U.S. Constitution.

The appellation Western Connecticut Highlands was granted by the United States Treasury Department. The Western Connecticut Highlands AVA is an American Viticultural Area that includes all of Litchfield and parts of Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties in Connecticut. 1980 2005 HILARY BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE VINEYARD 2005 William and Judith Hopkins appointed their daughter Hilary as president of Hopkins Vineyard. 1988 2012 225TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 2012 Hopkins Vineyard hosted a colonial themed event to celebrate
225 years of family farming. 2005 2012 HONORED BY GOVERNOR 2012 Received proclamation from Governor Dannel Malloy honoring Elijah Hopkins on July 7, 2012 as an American patriot, family man and farmer for his contribution to our country. 2012 2017 HILARY AND GEORGE BECOME OWNERS OF THE VINEYARD 2017 Hilary and her husband Jorge purchase Hopkins Vineyard from Hilary’s parents William & Judith Hopkins. Carrying on the Hopkins Family farm legacy at 230 years. 2012 2020 PALOMA CRIOLLO 2020 Our daughter Paloma Criollo uses her talents as a cinematographer and designer to help market the vineyard through photography and video production. 2017 1620