Snow Farm Vineyard — Vermont’s Island Winery
Snow Farm Vineyard sits on 140 acres in South Hero, on the Champlain Islands, roughly 35 minutes from Shelburne. It was Vermont’s first commercial winery. The grapes are 95% estate-grown. The lake moderates the climate in ways that have surprised viticulturists who study it closely. The Thursday summer concerts are free. It is one of the most genuinely pleasant afternoons you can spend in this part of Vermont, and most people who visit Burlington have never heard of it.
A Burgundy Microclimate in the Middle of Lake Champlain
The Champlain Islands sit between Vermont and New York in the middle of one of the largest lakes in the eastern United States. That geographic fact produces a climate anomaly that viticulturists have documented carefully: the lake stores summer heat and releases it slowly through autumn, extending the growing season on the islands to lengths comparable to Burgundy, France.
This is not marketing language. The temperature moderating effect of a large freshwater body on surrounding land is well-documented meteorology, and Lake Champlain — the sixth-largest lake in the United States — moderates island temperatures dramatically enough to make commercial viticulture viable in a state where winter temperatures regularly reach –30°F. The grapes have to be able to survive those winters. They do, because they were bred for it.
Snow Farm grows Marquette, Frontenac, La Crescent, Seyval Blanc, Baco Noir, and Vidal Blanc — cold-hardy varieties engineered to withstand Vermont winters while still producing wines with genuine character. Ninety-five percent of what goes in the bottle was grown on the farm. That estate-grown commitment is rare anywhere; in Vermont, it is exceptional.
Founded 1996 — Vermont’s Commercial Wine Pioneer
Harrison and Molly Lebowitz founded Snow Farm in 1996, bringing in winemaker Patrick Barrelet — who had trained in Burgundy — to develop the cold-climate program. The decision to plant on the Champlain Islands rather than elsewhere in Vermont was deliberate: the lake microclimate gave them the best chance of consistent, quality fruit. The Lane family later purchased the vineyard and continues operating it with the same estate-grown philosophy.
The vineyard’s most prized production is its ice wine — made from Vidal Blanc grapes that are left on the vine until December and then hand-picked in freezing temperatures. The natural freeze concentrates the sugars and acids in the grape, producing a sweet, intensely flavored wine in very limited quantities. It is genuinely rare, and worth asking about when you visit.
Vermont wine culture has grown considerably since 1996, but Snow Farm’s head start — and its commitment to growing its own fruit on the islands — keeps it in a distinct category.
What to Know Before You Go
Hours and Tasting
The vineyard is open daily 11 AM – 5 PM from May through December. Winter hours shift to Friday noon – 9 PM and Saturday–Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM. Walk-in tastings are available throughout regular hours. The tasting room overlooks the vineyard rows, with the lake visible in the background on clear days.
Music in the Vineyard — Free Thursday Concerts
From June through September, Snow Farm hosts free live concerts on Thursday evenings in the vineyard. These are genuinely underattended by the tourism market — local families, couples, and the occasional fortunate visitor who knew to look for it. Bring a blanket, pick up a bottle, and settle in. It is one of the best-kept summer evenings in the Champlain Valley.
Fall Events
October brings the Harvest Festival and Spirit Fest — both celebrating the end of the growing season with food, music, and wine. These draw larger crowds than the regular season; book accommodations early if you plan to combine a fall foliage drive with an island winery day.
Winter Wine Down Series
From November through April, the Friday night Wine Down events pair snowshoeing on the 140-acre farm during the day with wine by the fire in the evening. It is a more intimate, quieter version of the vineyard — and one of the more unusual winter Vermont experiences available within an hour of Burlington.
Pair with Blue Paddle Bistro
Five minutes from Snow Farm, Blue Paddle Bistro (316 US-2, South Hero) offers farm-to-table lunch and dinner in a casual South Hero setting. The menu changes with the season and draws produce from island farms. A tasting at Snow Farm followed by lunch or dinner at Blue Paddle is the natural island day structure — morning drive up, tasting, lunch, a walk around South Hero village, and back to Shelburne in the late afternoon.
The Island Line Trail bike ferry lands in South Hero — making it possible to combine a morning ride from Burlington with an afternoon at the vineyard, if you’re willing to arrange a car shuttle or make the return trip on two wheels.
Staying at Heart of the Village Inn
Heart of the Village Inn is approximately 35 minutes from Snow Farm Vineyard in South Hero — a straightforward drive north on I-89 and across the causeway on US-2.
The adults-only (21+) bed and breakfast in Shelburne Village makes a quiet home base for a Champlain Islands day. Free on-site parking means your car is ready when you are. Custom-made breakfast is served every morning from 7:30 to 9:30 AM — a proper start before an island afternoon. Rose and Anatoly can share current vineyard hours, event schedules, and what else is worth stopping for on the South Hero drive.
A note on getting there: take I-89 North to Exit 17, then US-2 north across the causeway. The Burlington–Port Kent ferry service across Lake Champlain is discontinued and should not be planned as a crossing option.
What’s Nearby
Distances from the inn at 5347 Shelburne Rd.
- Snow Farm Vineyard (190 West Shore Rd, South Hero) — approximately 35 minutes via I-89 N and US-2
- Blue Paddle Bistro (316 US-2, South Hero) — approximately 35 minutes, 5 min from vineyard
- Island Line Trail bike ferry landing (South Hero) — same area as vineyard
- Shelburne Vineyard (6308 Shelburne Rd) — 1 mile from inn (a separate, entirely different winery)
- Burlington International Airport — approximately 8.2 miles
Last updated: May 2026
Snow Farm Vineyard FAQ
Is Snow Farm Vineyard worth visiting?
Yes — particularly for the estate-grown cold-climate wines and the free Thursday concerts in summer. Vermont’s first commercial winery has a relaxed island atmosphere that feels nothing like the Burlington tourist circuit.
What wine does Snow Farm Vineyard make?
Snow Farm grows cold-hardy varieties — Marquette, Frontenac, La Crescent, Seyval Blanc, Baco Noir, and Vidal Blanc — designed to survive Vermont winters. Their ice wine (Vidal Blanc, hand-picked in December) is a limited-production specialty worth asking about at the tasting room.
When is Snow Farm Vineyard open?
Daily 11 AM – 5 PM from May through December. Winter hours: Friday noon – 9 PM, Saturday–Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM. Free Thursday concerts run June through September; call ahead or check snowfarm.com for event dates.
How do you get to Snow Farm Vineyard from Shelburne?
Take I-89 North to Exit 17, then US-2 north across the causeway to South Hero — about 35 minutes from Heart of the Village Inn. Address: 190 West Shore Rd, South Hero, VT. The Burlington–Port Kent ferry is discontinued; do not plan a crossing that way.
Your Base for the Champlain Islands
Heart of the Village Inn is 35 minutes from Snow Farm Vineyard. Free parking, custom-made breakfast, and a quiet adults-only inn to return to after an island afternoon.