Litchfield Connecticut's new Winvian resort accommodates 38 guests in 18 cottages and one suite surrounded by 113 acres of pasture and forest.
The main and private dining rooms, wine cellar, games room, cigar / brandy lounge and fireplaces are in the Seth Bird House, which dates back to 1775. Chef Chris Eddy, who has worked with Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse, creates surprise tasting menus, impromptu dinner parties and meals by the fireplace. A communal wine cellar has 125 selections, from which guests can select bottles for each meal. They can also choose from an extensive private reserve list.
A real beaver den tops Beaver Lodge. Helicopter Cottage houses a fully restored 1968 Sikorsky HH37 Sea King Pelican, the Coast Guard helicopter filmed in the ocean rescue scene in Top Gun. Artist Cottage contains easels, canvases and paint for creative guests. Treehouse Cottage features a steam shower, two fireplaces and a bar. In Camping Cottage, guests sleep under the stars. Golf Cottage allows guests to putter around the house.
Winvian spa treatments
At Winvian's 5,000-square-foot spa, British-trained clinicians pamper guests in six treatment rooms. The Forty Winks Suite has a circular wood burning fireplace. Another treatment room has an Ayoura Chromatherapy tub large enough for couples. Guests can enjoy private hot yoga classes by the fire and personal training sessions indoors and outside. A Play Room has cardio equipment, weights and stretching machines.
Winvian's boardroom, adjacent to the Seth Bird House, has state-of-the-art A/V equipment and a private bar for high-end corporate retreats. Gordon Brown House has a large special events room with cathedral ceilings, a private kitchen and lounge for weddings, movie screenings and fashion shows.
Things to do at Winvian and the Litchfield Hills region
Guests can enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, wine and cheese tastings and croquet on Winvian property. Golf, shopping, antique hunting, horseback riding, Lime Rock race track, canoeing, kayaking and fly-fishing are available nearby in the Litchfield Hills.
Winvian Cooking School offers culinary classes for up to a dozen people. Cooking lessons feature recipes made with local meat and fish, Winvian's garden vegetables and honey from its hives.
Groups can take over the entire Winvian resort.
Winvian rates include all meals (continental breakfast nook, full breakfast, room service, lunch, picnics, spa snacks, afternoon tea, cocktails, dinner), and accompanying beverages, carte blanche at all Winvian Resort's 24-hour bars, open wine cellar and unlimited use of all facilities and activities. A 13 per cent gratuity and 9 per cent CT State tax is added to room rates.
