Langworthy Farm Vineyard

A tiny winery run by the owners of the Langworthy Farm Bed & Breakfast on Route 1A has just gotten a little bit bigger, and a lot more energy efficient.

The Langworthy Farm Winery Inc. officially opened last May at 308 Shore Road, where a small vineyard and a five-bay garage used for storage abuts the B&B, an 1875 Victorian farmhouse, as well as a barn.

Last year, Joe and Gail Sharry produced 10,000 bottles of varietals ranging from a spicy Misquamicut Merlot to a Weekapaug Chardonnay.

The grapes come from the farm as well as Massachusetts and Long Island vineyards.

The 2005 batch came out to 4,000 more bottles than the year before, enough to force an expansion of the winery.

Instead of renovating the barn, the Sharrys decided to move it to a neighbor's property and build a new, 1,100-square-foot winery and tasting room in its place.

The couple added a 12-kilowatt solar power system to the five-bay garage that will provide enough electricity for the entire winery and half that consumed by the bed-and-breakfast, Joe Sharry said.

About three-quarters of the cost of installing the system was covered by state subsidies, he said, though he declined to reveal that cost.

The winery itself cost approximately $275,000 to build and outfit with three stainless steel wine tanks, racks for French or American oak barrels, furniture for the tasting room and other equipment.

Climate control is built into the very walls, which are made of "structured insulated panels" of foam that were assembled on site.

Gail Sharry, who runs the school lunch program in New London, met Joe while they were both doing similar work providing food to school children. He was also a manager at the Marriot for 15 years.

They traveled extensively together, and have sampled wines from vineyards all over the world. Four years ago, they began to turn their hobby into an occupation.

"We thought the winery would complement the B&B business and maybe promote it more year-round," Gail Sharry said. "It has worked out.

People who come to the winery book a room and people who come to the B&B enjoy the wine. And it's been enjoyable for us to produce something we like that our customers and guests like too."

This year, the fledgling winery won an Editor's Pick award from Yankee Magazine's travel edition.

What started with two white chardonnays now includes two merlots, a Riesling, and a rosy white merlot. Eventually, the Sharrys could sell up to seven types of wine, possibly trying their hand at a blend like cabernet merlot, Joe Sharry said.

Prices run from $12.15 to $17.95 a bottle.

Before expanding, Joe Sharry scouted the area and found virtually no competition, save the wineries in nearby Stonington and North Stonington. His business plan calls for production of up to 2,000 cases of wine within five years, he said.

The winery was supposed to open Friday, but 58 mph winds knocked a huge tree limb onto the bed-and-breakfast's porch. As he waited for a fire official to show up and sign off on his certificate of occupancy, Sharry contemplated the possibility of cutting down the entire tree, an august Norway maple that currently graces his wine label and bed-and-breakfast sign out front.

"We're going to be able to save it," he said late Friday. "I'm happy, since it's (part of) our logo."

While the Sharrys plan to open as soon as they get their certificate of occupancy, they've scheduled a grand opening for Veterans Day weekend. For more information, call 888-355-7083.