New England Sports Network Highlights Winning Hospitality
A recent segment on New England Sports Network gives viewers a behind the scenes look at the Winvian playbook for 18 years of trophy-worthy hospitality. From our welcoming gate to the outwardly unassuming trio of cottages that greet you—suggesting a New England farm but concealing a wealth of luxury within—the video showcases the scope and natural beauty of our 113-acre estate.
If you’ve ever wondered what our one-of-a-kind Cottage Collection looks like on the inside, the segment opens the door on some of our most popular cottages, including the recently renovated Golf, which features soft green tones and blends laid-back clubhouse and opulent retreat. Secret Society gets some attention as well, with a beautiful view of its signature skylight, allowing natural light to warm the moody interior while providing a level of for-your-eyes-only privacy.
A Mother-Daughter Team
Managing Director Heather Smith-Winkelmann describes the longstanding connection that she and her mother, owner Maggie Smith, feel to Winvian. The estate has been in the family since the 1940s, offering close to a century of memories, tradition, and love for the surrounding area. It’s that love of Connecticut that led Maggie to commission 15 architects to design Winvian’s 18 cottages with a mission of reflecting the Connecticut experience. That experience is delightfully wide-ranging—from Helicopter’s interior, built around a Connecticut-made Sikorsky helicopter retrofitted for cocktail hour, to lighthouse-lookalike Maritime’s celebration of coastal living, and Charter Oak’s tribute to the overlap of Connecticut history and legend.
Heather notes the abundance of fireplaces at Winvian. Each cottage includes at least one hearth to spark romance and encourage relaxation. The segment offers a view of some of our favorites, including the stone stunner in our award-winning Spa at Winvian, the perfect backdrop for a couples massage with a little added glow. By firelight or skylight, one thing is clear: when it comes to luxury hospitality centered on providing guests with every amenity for a memorably welcoming stay, this mother and daughter make a winning team.
From Plate to Palate, a Culinary Delight
One of our favorite elements of the NESN segment is the way it captures the Winvian dining experience. Rich colors, gorgeous plating, and a chef’s eye view of the kitchen will have you reaching for your phone to reserve a meal like no other in one of our recently updated dining rooms. Watch Chef Chris Eddy at work, searing duck and adding finishing touches like edible flowers and seasonal herbs, and your mouth will water. Drinks, as pretty as they are refreshing, change with the seasons, always perfectly paired with our award-winning food. Chef Eddy invites viewers to join him for a dinner that combines a European sensibility and craft with the abundance of the New England garden visible from some of the dining spaces. Join us and taste for yourself.
A Commitment to Community
Whether you hop a flight or take a scenic ten-minute drive, Winvian is ready to welcome you. As a Relais & Châteaux hotel, we’re an international destination for some. But our guests from New England love to press pause on day-to-day demands and experience European hospitality close to home. And, as part of our immediate community, Litchfield locals have a special place in our hearts.
Area residents enjoy visiting the spa midweek, when it feels like a private oasis reserved only for those lucky enough to live close by. Couples love to sneak away for a date night at the restaurant, or an elevated lunch break at the tavern. Visit more than once, and odds are our sommelier Stefano Middei will know you by name and dining preference. Whether you’re looking to stay and play for a few days, or relax and Relais for a few hours, Winvian is ready to welcome you.