Winvian: Understated Luxury in Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills

The Litchfield Hills have been attracting visitors for generations. Situated in Connecticut’s northwest corner, a patchwork of mountain lakes, laurel-covered glades and pine-scented woods act like a magnet for anyone craving an immersion in nature. The landscape is straight from the pages of a New England fairytale, with white clapboard houses, towering church steeples and gentleman farms dotting rolling hills. Fresh-air diversions include lake swimming in summer, snowshoeing in winter and river rafting in spring. And it’s hard to beat hiking in autumn, with the annual palette of crimson, gold and pumpkin-colored leaves adding eye candy. These bucolic hills are only 2 hours from both New York City and Boston, an easy weekend retreat that’s a counterbalance to the high-tech stress of urban living.

An Aristocratic Wilderness Experience

Effortlessly elegant Winvian Farm sits on 113 leafy acres of woods and tranquil meadows ringed by the Litchfield Hills. The 18th-century manor house is the resort’s centerpiece where you’ll find its top-notch restaurant and refined common spaces.
The 18 whimsically decorated guest cottages are spread across the rambling property, assuring privacy. Additionally, the Hadley Suite occupies the top floor of the manor house. If you’re looking for a discrete hideaway that offers a rustic setting with plenty of luxurious amenities, Winvian is a heavenly match.

Forget Cookie-Cutter Accommodations

Each cottage is a unique thematic adventure in luxury design without the predictable aspects of a traditional hotel room. Commune with nature in grand style when you book Beaver Lodge, a rustic fantasy of natural materials set in the forest on the edge of Beaver Pond. A dome of interlocking twigs embraces the master bed and the spiral staircase winds around a tree trunk.

Bibliophiles should book Library Cottage, with its fine collection of literary works and brass reading lamps. The screened porch is a cozy reading spot.

For the ultimate glamping experience reserve Camping Cottage. A king-size tented bed, forest murals and arched ceilings with a view of the night sky are a sensory tonic.

Sleeping in a tree house is a childhood dream reminiscent of Swiss Family Robinson. Treehouse is exactly that suspended 35 feet above the forest floor. You’ll hear the wind whisper and the birds sing while enjoying unblemished views.

Unifying amenities in all the cottages include heated floors, fireplaces, steam showers, Jacuzzi tubs and a pair of bicycles for cruising the grounds.

Fresh Flavors from the Garden

Meals are served in the fire-lit dining rooms, where imaginative menus are created using seasonal ingredients from Winvian’s three-acre organic garden. Executive Chef Chris Eddy is at the forefront of the seed-to-table movement, basing his menu on the herbs, fruit and vegetables he harvests daily. During colder months, honey from the apiary, eggs from the hen house, a robust root cellar and three greenhouses supplement the menu.

Guests dine on a multi-course tasting menu. Garden salads are as delicious as you would expect. Hand-rolled pasta is so ethereal it might as well levitate off the plate. The cheese course features farmhouse offerings from New England creameries. Desserts lean towards the classics with welcome infusions of just-picked produce.

The wine cellar is expertly curated and includes over 500 labels from 13 countries. There are numerous organic, sustainable and biodynamic bottles.

Spend Time in the Great Outdoors

Hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are popular options. For those who choose to venture off property, the neighboring 4,000-acre White Memorial Foundation presents additional wide-open space. Onsite cooking classes, private race car driving lessons at Lime Rock Race Park and kayaking excursions on nearby Bantam Lake are easy to arrange. Swim laps in the heated outdoor swimming pool before meandering through the gardens.

Winvian is ultra-romantic, so spending low-key time with your special someone is a perfectly acceptable activity.

Indulge at the Spa

For an extra dose of pampering, book a treatment at the 5,000-square-foot spa. Flooded with natural light, this oasis of calm is an excellent place to restore energy and equilibrium. The menu offers a variety of massages, facials and bodywork, with an emphasis on natural ingredients.