Toad Hollow Vineyards - Wine Tasting

Join Us This Friday Night

August 10 - 5-8 PM - No Charge

Francine Williams

The owner of

Toad Hollow Vineyards

Returns Home To New London

Under her maiden name of Francine Smith, "Frankie" graduated from New London High School in 1966 and worked at Electric Boat before moving to California.

Though she loves her work and the wine country, there are definitely things besides family and friends Frankie looks forward to in her trips back to Connecticut.
"The two things I miss the most are fried clams and pizza," she says. "In California, everyone's hot on fancy designer pizza."

We are honored once again to host an evening with one of wine's most recognizable stars.

Francine will be here to share a glass of wine, sign bottles, takes photos and recount her adventures west of the Mississippi. If you can make it to just one of our events this month - make it this one.

Wine and Cheese 5-8 PM - No Charge.

BACKGROUND:
How it All Began - The name Toad Hollow conjures nostalgic images of pastoral scenery: a winding country road and a gently flowing river with big oak trees and grasses swaying in the summer breeze. This is a place where you can relax and enjoy a sip or two of wine while gazing out on a pond hopping with Toad Hollow friends.

Toad Hollow is the collaboration of two old friends who retired, more or less, to an existence of peace and quiet in the Hollow, after a life of whirlwind world travel. Neither of these two gentlemen believed in self-denial.

Todd Williams and Rodney Strong - Dr. Toad and The Dancing Badger (as they were fondly called) were sitting on the veranda one day gazing out over Mr. Badger's beautiful hillside vineyards that ran from the banks of the Russian River clear up to the house. During their conversation they decided they wanted to find a way to repay the warmth and friendship shown them along the way. The two old friends had in common a love of good food and fine wine, so they made a decision. "We'll make fine wines!"

Toad Hollow as a boutique winery in 1993. 
Through Todd's relentlessly infectious personality and a damned fine product, the winery went from moving 300 annual cases of unoaked chardonnay to a hugely successful company with several types of wine and yearly sales of over 200,000 cases - without ever sacrificing quality or the sense of joy. 

Frankie says adherence to the founding principles is not only good business sense but perpetuates the spirit of Toad Hollow. Just the way she speaks in casual conversation is indicative of her pride and enjoyment.  "We try and produce wonderful wines at reasonable prices," she says. "We think you should be able to enjoy wonderful wines on a daily basis and not worry about the cost. If you want a $50 or $100 bottle of wine for special occasions, that's excellent." She laughs. "But you can afford to drink Toad Hollow Monday through Thursday."

Please Join Us On Friday Night.
It Is Fun Informal And A Great Way To Start Your Weekend.

Wine & Cheese Tasting Every Friday 5-8 PM - No Charge

70 State Street New London, CT 06320