Bishop’s Orchards Guilford Farm Market & Winery

This was our third stop on the winter CT wine trail. I had no idea that this was also a cute little market!!! They have an amazing selection of specialty items from cheese, to coffee, to jams and bakery items. My friend and I walked Around and got a great selection of sandwiches, salads, and different things for lunch. We had a great meal and went over to the wine tasting. Most of the wines were just okay. There were a couple that stood out. They were all fruity and very «frilly» wines (for lack of a better word). Walked around the store a second time after and grabbed a bunch of things to take home. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back.

I really love coming to bishops to pick fruit. They always have a fairly large fruit selection in a beautiful setting and they are reasonably priced. This time we were apple picking in mid autumn. Truth be told I recognized about two of the varieties but my friend seemed to suddenly be an apple connoisseur and was spouting information about each one, ten to the dozen.
Meanwhile I was just mindlessly gorging on the fruit, which is probably why I still don’t know anything other than the fact that the mccouns were delicious because they were crisp juicy and thin skinned.
For the best selection of ready to pick right now apples, bishops drive you out in a tractor, alternatively if you like the solitude and peacefulness of your own thoughts, the rustling of the trees and birds chirping, you can just wander up the hill until you find what you’re looking for.
On the way out I’m sure we paid into the sin bin bucket for all the apples I sampled whilst wandering, or at least I hope we did. We did also buy an awful lot though.
In the makeshift shop they were also selling apple juice and doughnuts. Which people were vouching for by buying them in their bucket loads.
On the drive out of the farm there also looked to be an amazingly large corn maze and if we weren’t in a rush we would have appeased my inner child and gone, cause there’s nothing I like more than a puzzle.

Love that this family owned local business sells an array of organic locally sourced meats & veggies. We love to pick fruit in the orchards & buy our ‘harvest/​Halloween’ décor in their barn every autumn. The owners are active members in community & Guilford is better off for this popular landmark. Prices are competitive with others stores of similar caliber.
I remember going as a child with my grandparents & being very excited to get the maple candy that they still offer at The register, nearly 40 years later!

In a few times quickly. But we went the Thursday before Halloween for their little parade & etc. that they have the kids so I went to see my niece and nephew… the kids Scott did tricker treat on the ground through a parade have a contest and do stuff.
And I really have time to explore the market. I purchase couple of different kinds of apples that were delicious Macon & Macintosh. Not some other fruits fresh vegetables. Join a shopper club card didn’t know they had one period was excited to get my Chobani yogurt and they have them on sale along with flavor they’ve never seen at Stop and Shop or other super market. I was excited to check out the wine selection especially since when I went to Jones farm they said that the shop carry some of theirs and Bishop’s is also Winery.
They actually had wine tasting that I and I was able to try some for free. I don’t mind spending $ 20 or more for bottle of wine but I don’t want to do that if its nasty. The one flavor that they didn’t have opened I took a gamble on that I absolutely love and is my favorite called Crimson Rose… it doesn’t have the sulfer aciditic aftertaste at all! Definitely my Fave the bottle is clear but gets tinted from the coloring of the fruits and such. It’s a mix of cranberry, strawberry, raspberry can basically be served w/​any appetizer or dessert. I did not get those red hot cheeks and I also didn’t wake up with a slight headache. The other flavors I got were Amazing Grace which is also delicious & the other is a Apple Raspberry Blush… all should be served chilled some definitely some suggested. Stay at a special that day if you bought 3 bottles of wine they cook $ 3 off. I honestly don’t think I will go back occupying other bottles of wine in the liquor store. These or in the price range of $ 19.99 — $ 25. They also do have some wine from Jones farm and other local CT farm. I also got lots of little healthy to eat snacks that are wanted to try and a lot of stuff you could bite individually before you went and bought a case or a box of to make sure you liked it. Very close to where I live so I’ll definitely be stopping often. Excellent delicious desserts, pies, breads & my favorite the apple cider donuts!

Ok let’s be honest here because I don’t like when companies fool people. Bishops is a great place and so a lot of good for the community and the family and store are amazing. But when it comes to pies it’s a lie. The pies are not home made made with their apples. They are frozen pies made from another company that you can buy yourself online or in your local store. They say made with their apples but again that’s not true. Save your money and buy the pie and bake it yourself. So 4 stars for bishops itself but. 1 star for the pies and other foods not made there. Sorry guys.

I love Bishops! Love love love them! They saved me from a bad trip at Lymans Orchards (literally). We left Lymans overpriced and ratchet items and headed over to Bishops for a half hour drive and it was so worth it. I got my beloved cupcake, we purchased our dinner there, the kids got their pumpkins and got to go inside of the hay maze FREE! It was such a beautiful evening there and the staff and people are always so pleasant. I love Guilford so much! I’ll never betray you again Bishops, never.

I go to Bishops pretty regularly to get specialty food items and fresh fruit over the course of the summer and fall. We used to «pick your own» when the kids were younger (strawberries, apples, pears, peaches are all great and well organized.) Now I just buy their peaches, which are NEVER mealy, and their apples (love the Macouns the best.)
I would give them five stars except for their ingredients in their private label foods. You think that a farm store would be wholesome? I used to. I bought their stuff all the time: pies, stuffed shells and wrap sandwiches are favorites in my household. Then one day I was looking at their «homemade» ice cream and I saw some pretty unbelievable ingredients — stuff like HFCS and carrageenan and artificial coloring — that kind of thing. So now I kind of feel that they’re trying to pull one over on customers. They can’t be that ill-​informed.

Bishop’s Orchard is one of the most badass local, seasonal grocery stores in the entire country, not just in Connecticut. The orchard encompasses rolling hills alongside I-​95 in Guilford, and on the lower, flatter fields adjacent the Bishops family grows other fruits and berries. These are sold in their natural form, and also transformed into award-​winning apple cider donuts, apple coffee cake, cinnamon bread, and more by Bishop’s magical bakers.
When I was feeling a little under the weather, due to seasonal changes, Bishop’s heirloom apple cider brought my health back up to 100%. When I am just feeling down, their small stable of alpacas and llamas never fails to brighten my day. Bishop’s is also a producer of wine and hard cider, and a must-​stop visit on the Connecticut wine trail. Just try to plan your visit during off hours, as the secret is clearly out!

Wine Tasting Review
This was our first stop on the CT wine trail. Compared to the other wineries we went to this one was just okay. I wouldn’t go back or recommend it. $ 9 for 7 pours. The wines you try are made from unique fruits like apples, peaches, blackberries, raspberries & strawberries.
PROS: friendly staff, you get to pick which ones you try, keep the wine glass
CONS: too sweet for me, there were flies everywhere (all over the bread croutons), wine tasting room feels like an afterthought — more like a bar in a grocery store
I will be back for the apples and cider donuts, but the wine tasting experience was lackluster.

I love Bishop’s. Why? Because they have a very large section of prepared foods with a lot of variety. It is so easy to pick out a couple of days worth of meals here. Sure they have a great regular grocery store but I can’t go to Guilford without bringing back food for the next couple of days. They have a great cranberry walnut chicken salad. You can buy just the salad or in a wrap. They have at least eight different types or wraps; four different kinds of chicken stuffed cordon bleus just as an example of the variety they offer. I really could go on forever but I think you can get the picture. I really wish there was a place like Bishop’s in Milford. It would make my life.

I called ahead to check if they were open for wine tasting on a Wednesday and they confirmed they would be doing tastings until 6:30pm. The wine trail passport says they are open until 7pm so I figured I would be okay. I got there though after an extensive drive and the wine bar had a closed sign with lights off at 6:26pm. Very disappointing.
The staff member who helped guide me to the wine bar area was very friendly, however. They clearly have some good people working for them at least in the shop. I greatly appreciated her help as there are no signs I saw from the outside or right in the door to show where it might be located.
My rating is based on the winery and not the market; they seemed to have an interesting, unique selections of foods and beverages. I left quickly though to make another area winery while it was still open. Hopefully I will get the chance to get back on a weekend because clearly a weekday will not work.

The wines were mostly ok, not great but not bad. The tasting was uninspired and the setting was kind of the corner of a grocery/​wine store. That’s ok, especially if you’re there to get a couple bottles of wine and some food for dinner but it takes away from the ambiance of a tasting room when some woman is going by with her kid in a cart talking on her cell phone while the kid is screaming that he wants something. Again, totally normal for a grocery, just not peaceful and relaxing the way I envision most tasting rooms to be.
I would say that the market is very nice, the selections are great and the prices don’t seem so bad. The wines are good enough. You really can’t go wrong here if you’re in the neighborhood, but I would not rank this as a destination.

We’ve stopped in this market a few times over the years, mostly either to get our annual Bishop’s stamp, or to buy food when going to other vineyards in the area. Their prepared food and bakery sections leave a lot to be desired. I always feel like I want to compare this market to the Apple Barrel at Lyman’s, and it just doesn’t compare. This is more of a «market» (e.g., milk, eggs, etc) and less of a specialty food store.
The fruit based wines at the winery are not that great, and the small counter can fill up fast if there are a lot of people there doing tastings. However the staff are very nice, and while you’re waiting, you can peruse their large section of CT wines (not just their own).
On our last visit we came home with some random purchases — dried pineapple, yogurt covered pretzels, fudge. I’m sure when you live closer it’s a great spot to buy all your local fresh produce.

This place is so cool. I’m pretty ADD when there’s a lot going on, and this place was so full of magic and wonder that my husband had to virtually drag me away from some of the displays. This place is like a culinary Disneyland, PLUS they have wine tasting inside the market! BRILLIANT!
Outside looks like a regular market, with ample parking and ease of access from either side. Entry area is set up in serpentine rows of fresh produce, piles of organics, and specialty items that you will not be able to find at your local stop and shop. If there’s a special fresh item that you need for your cooking adventure, chances are great that this place will have it.
Dairy, meat alternatives such as tempeh and tofu, and freezer sections are likewise well stocked and diverse with local, organic, vegan/​vegetarian, and gluten free among the conventional. The specialty deli items looked fresh and delicious, with cases of amazing pastries, pies, and cakes, with their not to miss apple cider doughnuts-​KILLER.
The big draw of course is the ability to do a wine tasting before, after, or during shopping, but just be prepared that this is not your average tasting. All the wines are alternative fruit based instead of grape, so you will sample wines from apples, pears, peaches, blueberries and more. Also among the winners were the ciders, with my favorite being the hard apple cider vinegar, which despite the sound, was quite delicious and reminded me of a sour beer like a Flemish red.
Staff were helpful, courteous, and plentiful, and everyone I spoke with really and truly seemed to enjoy working there, which was refreshing. Prices were reasonable for the diversity of product, including a vast array of Asian cooking mixes and spices, and a delightful selection of teas and chocolates. I wish this place was closer to me, but I will absolutely be returning next time in in the area. This market puts the well crafted products, exclusive items, and the generally unique, accessible at your fingertips.

I was banned from commenting on bishop orchards Facebook page from reading and exposing the multiple harmful chemical ingredients bishop orchards is selling to customers in their Fradiani Frenzy ice cream. It’s not my fault my deodorant has the same chemical in it (propylene glycol) that your ice cream does, have some integrity and respect for your customers health.

Overall, our apple-​picking experience in mid-​October was nice. There are tons of varieties of apples, and they give you a convenient flyer about the types of apples an what their flavors are. You can use your own bag, which is nice and environmental. (Everything is weighed at the end.)
The grounds are nice, but everywhere else I’ve gone to pick apples was prettier, had nicer land to gaze upon and admire.
Two stars for the apple cider donuts. Really underwhelming and dry.

My family has been going to Bishop’s for decades and it’s always a great PYO experience. They grow produce nearly year-​round so you can expect to find fresh seasonal fruits no matter what time of the year you come.
We traditionally visit in late September/​early October which is a time of tremendous activity. There’s apple, peach, pumpkin, pear picking and if you’re lucky you can catch the tail ends of the blueberry and raspberry harvests. Don’t forget to stop by the market for their amazing hot apple cider doughnuts. Nothing else quite compares to a warm cinnamon-​y apple cider doughnut whisked fresh out of the fryer on a New England fall day!

Bishop’s is an awesome market year round, but in the fall it’s just quintessential New England. There’s nothing better than picking some pumpkins, tasting some wine, and taking home some fresh cider donuts. I’m going to break this down into three parts — wine tasting, fruit picking, and the market.
I’ve never been here on one of the winery tours, so I can’t speak on that, but I have done a wine tasting here. The wines are okay, as a wine tasting destination it leaves much to be desired. I wasn’t overly impressed with any of the choices, a few of them were decent enough but nothing mind blowing. Their specialty seems to be fruit wines, so if that’s what you’re into this might be worth checking out. It was good enough to take a bottle home, but not good enough that I’ve repurchased it. You kind of just stand at a counter, taste the wine, and go on your way. I was only out $ 6 and got a wine glass to take home, so it wasn’t a terrible loss and I’m not upset about it, I just wouldn’t do it again.
Bishop’s is a great spot to pick pumpkins, apples, and various other seasonal fruits. Check their website for a list of what’s in season, and call the info line for current prices. Prices are typically on par or lower than grocery stores, so why not support local business, buy some fresh fruit, and take part in a New England tradition?
They also have a great little market stocked full of premade foods, sweet treats, and other goodies. I stop in Bishop’s fairly regularly to see what kind of treats they’ve whipped up that day. Are some of the items priced a little ridiculously? Sure, but this is a farm market. pick up some fresh made soups, breads, pies, cheeses, jams. leave the grocery shopping for a grocery store. Everything I’ve tried here has been absolutely awesome, but make sure you try the cider donuts, apple butter, and corn chowder.

What a wonderful, fresh market!
We stopped by hear on our CT Wineries tour, to do some wine tasting and earn our stamp. I had never heard of this place, and had no idea what to expect. I was surprised to find plants for sale outside, and a fun market inside, with great produce, a good selection of organic foods, and a great wine section.
At the wine bar, we were told that all of the wines were fruit-​based, and made from their own fruit. Many of them were apple-​based, but there was also pear and some berry blends as well. I’m not usually a fan of fruit wines, but these were fresh and fun, and we ended up purchasing two bottles to go (partly because we really wanted to support this great place). We couldn’t help but grab a few other items on the way out.
I’ll definitely swing by any time we’re in the area!

The wine tasting area isn’t great,
But I love local growers in this wonderful state.
Lots of fresh veggies and fruits,
With delicious desserts and sauces to boot.
Stopped by on the Connecticut Wine Trail to get stamped. The wine tasting counter was kind of in the middle of a grocery store and nobody was there, so we didn’t try any wine.
However, the market itself was a fun time. All types of locally grown produce and locally-​made sauces, relishes, etc. They had some serious cupcakes and pies, as well as some nice looking meats. Picked up a gallon of milk and some groceries while we were there.
Employees were helpful and it was easy to get to and easy to find a parking spot. Worth a stop if you’re driving through.