Popular Event Canceled At Vineyard In Wallingford, Owners Announce

WALLINGFORD, CT — The popular annual grape harvest event at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford has been canceled this year due to “irreversible” crop damage from the recent hailstorm, the family announced Friday.

The Gouveia family and staff made the announcement in a letter that was posted on Facebook.

The family said they were on track to have their “most fruitful harvest” in the 20 years they’ve been open.

“However, in the matter of minutes, our crop suffered irreversible damage in August’s short but grueling hailstorm that significantly affected our area of the state,” the family wrote in the letter. “Our vines experienced extremely high gusts of wind with hail the size of marbles coming down from all directions. This withered our leaves instantly, which inhibited the ability for the fruit to ripen and the grapes that were almost ready to harvest were damaged from the hail. We understand that hundreds of you are expecting an announcement for the date of our Annual Harvest. However, we sadly will not be having a harvest this year.

“To the harvesters who wanted to join the celebration of our European heritage, we apologize. Devastation is putting this situation mildly.”

For more information, and for videos and photos from the 2023 Harvest Day, visit here.

Read the full letter to the community below: