Showcasing the spoils of local vines, eight regional wineries have banded together to form the Coastal Wine Trail that winds through the heart of Southeastern New England. Pick up your Coastal Wine Trail passport at any of the eight wineries and begin your savory journey this summer. Here is just a peek at what you’ll experience.

Truro Vineyards: Nestled on the outermost tip of Cape Cod, Truro Vineyards has been producing award-winning wines for more than 15 years, but the newly built winery and storage rooms have nearly tripled the size of the Roberts family operation. April through December, the vineyard welcomes wine lovers to sample everything from their classic varietals to new offerings in a pristine tasting pavilion. Working this land is hardly a new concept, however, as it has been farmed since 1813. This year, the vineyard will unveil three new wines: The Estate Chardonnay and red and white renditions of Truro 1709 in honor of the town of Truro's 300th birthday.

Running Brook Vineyard & Winery: Further inland, in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, you’ll find more than 20 sprawling acres that comprise Running Brook Vineyard & Winery (a second vineyard is located in nearby Westport). Founded just over ten years ago by Pedro Teixeira and Manual Morais, the vineyard produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Vidal Blanc, and their award-winning Chardonnay, which acquires its zest from a two-year aging process in old French oak barrels. “All of the grapes here are estate owned and bottled,” says Scott Ellms, director of sales. Three years ago, the founders erected a new barn to create a tasting area and to store the presses, winemaking vats, bottling area, and oak barrels. With fewer tours and more tastings, Running Brook will be one of the shorter visits along the trail, but its hard-working spirit is evident.

“We’re what I’d call a ‘boutique-type’ winery,” says Ellms, who notes that the winery churns out 2,400 to 2,500 cases yearly (a modest number compared to some other local wineries). But good varietals come in small packages, as evidenced by their crisp and memorable Vidal Blanc, which weighs in at a recession-friendly $10, and their 2005 Frost Wine. Ellms explains that the latter, a late harvest dessert wine made from Vidal grapes, is inspired by traditional ice wines. In lieu of harvesting ripe grapes that have frozen on the vine, the grapes are frozen post-harvest and pressed in such a way that the frozen water remains in the press, leaving juice that is highly concentrated in sweetness and acidity.

Travessia Winery: The black sheep in this mix of pastoral outposts is Travessia Winery, unexpectedly wedged in the urban setting of downtown New Bedford, Massachusetts. The brainchild of owner and winemaker Marco Montez, Travessia is a new kid on the block with Old World roots. Having learned the craft of winemaking in his native Portugal, the self-taught entrepreneur has his eyes set on a vineyard of his very own, but until then, he concentrates on the production process. Travessia’s Unoaked Chardonnay is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks, while the barrel-aged Chardonnay enjoys a more traditional process. The other two offerings from Travessia include a Vidal Blanc and a Sweet Vidal Blanc.

Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery: Just a short drive away is Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery, New England's largest vineyard. When the Russell family bought historic Long Acre Farm, an old dairy farm, in 1982, they didn’t foresee that it would one day grow to over 500 acres of working farmland, 80 of which are dedicated to winemaking. Today, sparkling wine makes up nearly half of what the vineyard produces, and given their ample vinifera grapevines, it is what Westport Rivers is perhaps best known for. Though scenic Horseneck Beach is nearby, the Andrew Wyeth-worthy panoramas at the vineyard invite visitors to take their time. A grapevine-covered pergola, with dangling fruit in-season, looks almost artificial in its perfection, while the farmhouse tasting room is spacious and inviting. Though their sons, Rob the grower and Bill the winemaker, are hands-on at the winery, Bob and Carol Russell host wine dinners at what is now dubbed the “Long Acre House Wine & Food Education Center.”

Sakonnet Vineyards: In the heart of the bucolic Little Compton countryside, Sakonnet Vineyards is where you might have to remind yourself that you are, in fact, in Rhode Island, not Napa. A long, windy, and dusty dirt road leads the way to the 115 acres lined with seemingly endless rows of picture perfect vines. With the Atlantic Ocean to the south, the Sakonnet River to the west, and reservoirs to the north and east, successful vines have grown here since 1975. Today, each yearly crop is carefully tended to, ensuring a perfect Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Vidal Blanc, Sakonnet’s most lauded wine, one of the French-American hybrids.

Greenvale Vineyards and Newport Vineyards: Two wineries call Aquidneck Island home: Greenvale Vineyards and Newport Vineyards. Greenvale, on the banks of the Sakonnet River in Portsmouth, is set on historic farmlands that have remained in the same family since 1863. Twenty-four acres of 24,000 vines yield Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Vidal Blanc, and their most renowned traditional white wine: Skipping Stone White. The tasting room, a preserved 19th century stable, allows plenty of room for group tastings and events. When planning your Coastal Wine Trail trek, do your best to plan your Greenvale visit for a Saturday afternoon when you can take in the sounds of live jazz (Memorial Day through October, 1pm-4pm) while tasting exceptional wines.

Though the first grapes were planted here in 1977, Middletown’s Newport Vineyards was officially established nearly 15 years ago. Today, 30 types of wines are produced from 50 acres of varietal and hybrid grapes. A tour will take you through the winemaking process, from the impressive vats to the barrel storage where wines are aged, wrapping up with a tasting where you can choose five wines to sniff, swish, and swirl. Don’t neglect to try the 2007 Riesling, recently awarded Best of Show in the Fourth Annual Atlantic Seaboard Wine Competition, beating out 458 wine entries from 100 wineries.

Langworthy Farm Winery: Less than half a mile from the Atlantic Ocean in scenic Westerly is Langworthy Farm Winery, a modest, rustic retreat far from the stresses of everyday life. Among the region’s newest producers, Joe and Gail Sharry found success in their first barrel of Chardonnay in 2002. The winery, a picturesque complement to their bed and breakfast operation, opened for its first season in 2005. Visitors overlook two acres of vines from the six guest rooms in the 1875 Victorian farmhouse (more acres are planted across the street). “All our wines are named for areas around us, like the Misquamicut Merlot and Weekapaug White,” says Joe Sharry. Other offerings include the Shelter Harbor Chardonnay, Watch Hill Merlot, and the Charlestown Cabernet Franc.

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Attempting to complete the Coastal Wine Trail in one day is an ambitious venture. Instead, plan for a weekend getaway. Wineries can be visited in any order and tasting and tour times are available on the Coastal Wine Trail website (www.coastalwinetrail.com). This year’s Coastal Wine Trail Kick-off soirée will be hosted on Sunday, June 7 at Sakonnet Vineyards, where you can enjoy wines from across the trail and provisions offered by local chefs.