Southeastern New England AVA
The Southeastern New England AVA is an American Viticultural Area that includes portions of thirteen counties in three New England states: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The boundaries of the wine appellation include parts of New Haven, New London, and Middlesex counties in Connecticut; Bristol, Newport, Providence, and Washington counties in Rhode Island; and Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties in Massachusetts. The area stretches from just south of Boston, Massachusetts in the east to New London, Connecticut in the west, and includes all of the coastal islands and coastal plain within of Long  Island Sound, Cape Cod, or Massachusetts Bay. The climate in the area is heavily influenced by the nearby presence of the oceanic waters, which moderate the range of temperatures in the vineyards. Most vintners in the area have had the best success with cold-climate "Vitis vinifera" and French hybrid grape varietals. The region is located in hardiness zones 7a and 6b, with 7b found in Chatham on Cape Cod and areas of the north and east coasts of Nantucket.