TASTE OF UHART MARSHALL EPSTEIN ’74 co-owner of Rosedale Farms & Vineyards rosedale1920.com
Marshall Epstein can remember growing up on his family’s farm when it was just 40 acres. The farm had a hen house, a vegetable plot, and a dairy herd, and the family ran a milk route throughout the local area of Simsbury, Connecticut. But when Epstein and his wife, Lynn, took over in 1983, they began to change the farm’s business model. Over the years, they have added another 70 acres and a winery. Today, the 102-year-old farm is known for high-quality produce such as sweet corn and heirloom tomatoes, and they offer everything from CSA subscriptions and farm-totable dinners, to corn mazes and spaces for weddings and corporate events.
H / UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD MAGAZINE
“We’re always trying to be very innovative,” Epstein says. “We were one of 12 wineries in Connecticut when we opened ours. Now there are 65. There’s so much competition that you always have to be moving forward.” In addition to his farming duties, Epstein teaches at American International College, where he incorporates lessons he has learned on the farm into his classes. “There are a hundred restaurants but very few farms in our area,” Epstein says. “People don’t know where their food comes from, and our farm is a place where people can learn about that. We are a third-generation farm that has met all challenges successfully, and I’m looking forward to future generations upholding our tradition of serving the local community.”
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People don’t know where their food comes from, and our farm is a place where people can learn about that.”
Reprinted with permission of The Valley Book. Photography: Walt Jedziniak
