Lyme — When Matt Caruso and Donna Moore started going to wine tastings together in California, the vineyards they enjoyed most weren't the large, well-known establishments, but the small vineyards they found off the beaten path.

Rather than being in a packed tasting room, the married couple enjoyed speaking directly with the vineyard owner and asking questions about the wine.

That’s the kind of experience they said they are bringing to Lyme, with Sunset Hill Vineyard.

"Here, it's a very welcoming place, and you really get the feel of a small, family vineyard," Caruso said.

Moore, Caruso, and his parents, Sal and Mary Ellen Caruso run the vineyard, which is at 5 Ely's Ferry Road.

Starting Saturday, the winery will begin hosting appointment-only weekend wine tastings for up to eight people at a time.

The vineyard, which began in 2007 and is situated on a 12-acre property with two-and-a-half acres of planted vines, produces Chardonnay, St. Croix, and Cab Franc wines. Rows of vines grow on a hill, and wine is produced and bottled in a wooden barn on the property.

Sal Caruso, a co-owner in the vineyard business, had bought the land where the vineyard now stands in 1974 and called it Sunset Hill Farm. The property was part of a larger parcel once farmed by Will Sawyer, a farmer who never switched from oxen to a tractor and whose hay rake still stands there today, the Carusos said.

When Sal Caruso wasn't flying as an international pilot for Delta Airlines, he spent time on the farm. He baled hay and sold the hay to local farmers. Over the years, the farm was home to gardens, a strawberry patch, and animals, including cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, they said.

The Carusos' acreage also includes a smaller parcel where a one-room schoolhouse once stood, they said.

The idea to open a vineyard was sparked a decade ago when Matt Caruso was home from California visiting his parents in Lyme. He had been introduced to wine tastings on a date with Moore and noted to his father that the hill on the property would be ideal for a vineyard.

Sal Caruso offered the land, which had fallen into a quieter period as he pursued activities like playing in the Laid Back Jazz Quartet.

"I was excited," said Moore, who always wanted to open a vineyard. "We were both excited. We had no idea how much work it was."

Neither Moore, with a background in sports production and sales, nor Matt Caruso, who was pursuing an acting career, had gone to school for winemaking, but they had helped out at a vineyard in California. They jumped at the opportunity, said Moore.

After vines were planted in 2007, the vineyard saw its first small harvest in 2009. The vineyard now produces about 250 to 350 cases of wine a year.

Along the way, friends helped with the harvest or shared their expertise, said Matt Caruso. He gained hands-on experience by working for a summer at the vineyard of his friend, Bruce Elfstrom.

Larry McCulloch, previously of Chamard Vineyards and now of Jones Winery, helped as a vineyard and wine consultant, while winemaking consultant Wayne Stitzer helped with establishing the vineyard.

One of their big supporters, Gary Weed, had helped out in his youth on Sawyer's farm, said Matt Caruso.

Despite an allergy to bees and grass, Moore said she puts on her boots and brings her EpiPen and helps out each year with the harvest. Moore, who also works as an advertising director in New York City, said the vineyard is a "love." She enjoys every aspect of it, from making their own wine to seeing the beauty of the vineyard to meeting people.

The vineyard sells bottles at the Lyme Farmers Market and SeaSide Wine and Spirits in Old Saybrook, said Matt Caruso. Eventually, the vineyard wants to have its wine in a few local inns or restaurants and produce up to 800 or 1,000 cases per year by importing some grapes from local vineyards or Hartford. But the vineyard will remain small, he said.

Last month, the vineyard got approval to offer appointment-only wine tastings through November, after a year-and-a-half process that included the town's crafting of townwide regulations for farm wineries. Some residents supported the vineyard, but others raised concerns over the possibility the vineyard could expand too much and the potential for more traffic and car accidents at the corner of Ely's Ferry and Route 156, among other issues.

Matt Caruso said he grew up on the land, so the beautiful landscape holds a special place in his heart. He said he would never jeopardize either the land or the community by expanding the vineyard beyond what is appropriate for the spot.

He said he is happy the town recognized the importance of supporting agriculture.

Sal Caruso said he had offered the land for a vineyard, because it was a means to make the property viable and use agriculture. He said the results have been beyond his expectations.

The wine tastings are the next step to make the business really viable, he said.

Beginning this weekend, Moore and Caruso will host the tastings at a wooden counter, held up by two barrels, near the Winehouse, the barn where the wine is produced.

The tastings include half-ounce pours of four wines and local pre-packaged cheese and crackers. People then have the option to purchase a glass of wine and sit on a deck overlooking the vineyard, said Matt Caruso.

Beyond the Chardonnay, St. Croix, and Cab Franc wines, the vineyard also offers more experimental varieties, such as "Rebelgria," a mix of St. Croix and Cab Franc, with a recipe on the label to make sangria.

Artist Angie Falstrom designed the bottle's labels which depict the property's barn and Sawyer's rake, as well as a "Sunset" and "Vine" sign post on the property.

In addition, an artist series calls for a local artist to design the wine label, with $2 from each bottle going toward charity. Bottles with a painting of Selden Creek by Chester artist Leif Nilsson benefit the Lyme Art Association. Next year a bottle featuring artist Michael DesRosiers is slated to benefit the art department at Lyme Consolidated School, followed by a label the next year by artist Addie Dahlke, said Matt Caruso.

The vineyard plans to eventually sell items, such as T-shirts, hats, and an upcoming children's book by Mary Ellen Caruso called "The Vineyard Dog of Lyme" about the vineyard's dog, Nica. 

Moore said she hopes people will enjoy the vineyard and the wines as much as they do.

"We hope people come in and enjoy their experience and hope they enjoy talking with the winemakers and touring the vineyard with the winemakers," said Moore. "They can ask us any questions."

Tastings, which cost $10 and include a logo glass, are available by appointment from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through November. Bottles or cases of wine can be purchased by appointment from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday-Sunday.

More information on the vineyard is available at sunsethillvineyard.com or @sunsethillvineyard on Instagram. Appointments can be made on the website or by contacting (860) 598-9427 or matt@sunsethillvineyard.com.

k.drelich@theday.com