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Mon-Thu 10 am - 5 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 10 pm - 5 pm
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96 reviews for Nashoba Valley Winery
96 reviews in English
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Review from Angela A.
Somerville, MA
10/2/2011
We drove up on a Saturday of Welshish weather (foggy, drizzly, green) and were greeted with a pretty "Secret Garden"-esque idyll of fruit orchards, flower gardens and vineyards. (And mud. Lots of mud. Wear your wellies, my Chucks were SOAKED.)
Apple picking was $15 a pop (well, "peck"), and I now have enough apples to last me well into the tundra. I might have to make pie. The apple varieties were all fancy things: some of which this urban lady knows from her supermarket adventures (Macintosh, Gala) and some of which I have never heard of. It all reminded me of JL Carr's "A Month in the Country" - the bit when Natasha Richardson talks about how her dad taught her to know apples by their smells.
Okay, so I'm working on it.
Also: a mere 45 minutes from Boston/Cambridge, a chill drive, a generally chill and pleasant atmo, lots of prettiness. You will get LOADED on apples, both in your tummy and in your peck bag. Great weekend thing. -
Review from Amanda M.
Tiverton, RI
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Listen, I've tasted wine at wineries from here to Indiana, to Iowa, to Nebraska, to Colorado to California. My dog's name is Napa. Seriously.
But I must have missed what everyone else i getting here. I think the problem is that you get five tastings and there are about fifty things you can try and my winetender wasn't paying attention enough to recommend something I might like, so I'm not sure if all of their wines are sweet, fruit wines, or if they have something more red-winey.
They were out of the Renaissance, and the others I tried were a bit too puckery, sweet or tart for me. I'd recommend getting two tastings, because based on the reviews, there must be at least a couple good wines here.
The Blueberry Merlot was the only one I considered buying, because I didn't want to leave empty handed when I usually leave wineries with a case or more. But alas, I ended up putting it back before I left and opted for a bottle of Northern Comfort, which is actually very good.
The good news is that the pours are large (even the spirits) and the grounds are lovely. You can also build your own six pack of beers, and regardless of whether this wine is for you, there's something for everyone to enjoy when you come. -
Review from Lin G.
10/13/2011
Yes, it turns out that there are great wineries outside of California. Welcome to Nashoba Valley. On the most picturesque landscape in the most beautiful October New England weekend one can hope for, we drove out to Bolton for some wine tasting and apple picking. They only have wine tours ($7) on Saturdays and Sundays. I went on the tour years ago and truly enjoyed it, though there were definitely too many people. As it was a Monday holiday, the place had a lot of people but no tours. Still good though. Tastings are $4, very reasonable, and offer 5 tickets, that you can trade for a tasting on a variety of wine, red, white, dessert, and brandies. After 5 of these, you definitely feel it.
The tasting takes place at either a small counter in the store, or a separate room with a rectangular counter and pourers manning the counters. The servers were not that friendly, especially compared to California wine pourers, but they get the job done in an efficient way, which is key since the counters are so packed with people, there were hardly counter space for many. The best part is the wide selection of choices for the tastings, and the gift of a beautiful Nashoba Valley wine glass.
The worst thing about this place is the serious, dire, inexplicable lack of restroom facilities. Women lined up outside a tiny porter potty like,airplane bathroom type of a 3-stalled contraption. Only 2 stalls were working, and none had water in them. It was a dry flush. An airplane flush. No paper towels, crowded, disgusting. And that was better than the alternative, real porter potties! The only flushable bathrooms inside the store were for employee use only. That wasn't the case 2 years ago when I came here. Though the line for the bathroom then was even worse. Why not provide better facilities for a place that attracts so many guests?
We didn't end up picking apples, as the $15 per bag fee and the thought of lugging a heavy bag of apples that no one will eat did not appeal to us. But we did walk around he orchards and admire the beautiful views.
The restaurant looked closed at the time and a sign on the door indicated that reservations were mandatory, especially over the weekend. So don't even think about checking it out, unless you planned in advance. The outdoor seating area did look lovely though. At a nearby stand, they also sell some snacks, and we tried the hot dog, cider donut, cider, and water. The hot dog $3, was surprisingly good. The cider donut was the best though. At $1.5, it came glazed and hot, very delicious. Cider, $2, was also very tasty and had a hint of a cinnamony taste to it. Bottled waters were $1.
We got a bottle of Cyser (honey apple wine, $11) that we sipped on our complementary glasses on a picnic bench outside, enjoying the last warm afternoon of the season. Many families, couples, and dogs happily trampled about and it was truly a wholesome, American snapshot. -
Review from Amy S.
10/4/2011 8 photos
Just an hour's drive from Boston/Cambridge, Nashoba Valley Winery is a great half day trip on a sunny Autumn day. It was nice to get away from the city and enjoy the picturesque winery and orchard. We went a little early in the season and the foliage was only just starting to turn color, but if you go when the trees have changed into their Fall robes of fiery reds and vibrant oranges, even the drive to the winery is beautifully scenic.
Since we were there on a Friday, the winery wasn't crowded at all, but according to the staff it can get pretty hectic on the weekends in the Fall. If it's possible, I recommend planning your trip to Nashoba on a weekday. For apple picking, you have to pay for the bag inside before all else. It's $15 for a peck (regular bag) and $20 for a half bushel (large bag). From experience my friend knew that a peck would be enough for the two of us. Along with your bag, you also get a map indicating the areas you can pick from and the varieties of apples available. Even though it was early in the season a lot of the areas seemed to be over-picked with many apples scattered all over the ground, but we found out later that Nashoba Valley Winery lost 30% of their apple harvest to Hurricane Irene this year. Damn you Irene!
After we filled our bag with crisp Cortland apples, we headed inside for a little wine tasting. You also have to pay for this in advance before going over to the tasting counter. I was surprised at how inexpensive tasting is at Nashoba: $4 for 5 tastes. With orchards of apples, peaches, plums, and more, it's not surprising that they specialize in semisweet and sweet fruit dessert wines. Since I usually find dessert wine to be too sweet, we only tried the Riesling and the Dry Pear. Both were just OK in my opinion. Nashoba's reds were rather unimpressive, but their whites were better. My friend and I both agreed that the Pinot Gris was the standout in the bunch, and we picked up three bottles of it. We also got to keep our wine glasses as a souvenir (included in the tasting fee). Isn't that cool?
Nashoba also has a large picnic area that is perfect for enjoying lunch outdoors. We packed our own lunch but the winery has boxed lunches for purchase as well. And of course buying a bottle of wine to enjoy with lunch is never a bad idea. All in all, it was a fun, relaxing afternoon and a great way to usher in Autumn.Listed in: Adventures in Boston and…
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Review from Patrick H.
East Providence, RI
1/22/2012
Well, the wine is for girls. Wait, no, the wine here is for girls... who don't like real wine and prefer fruity alcohol. If you're into that, you'll find a great variety here. I don't, so that's why I'm giving a solid 2-star review. The good news is that they also make spirits. The Whiskey and Northern Comfort are worth a try. Grounds are nice too.
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Review from Christine E.
Tewksbury, MA
1/27/2012
The website states the winery is open until 6pm and we arrived at 5:45 looking to taste and purchase wine but was turned away. I know it was near closing time, however we had been there numerous times before and had a wine list and knew exactly what we wanted to taste and purchase. When we entered we were greeted with "hello kids" and told we could not be helped. While we may look young, we are both in our mid 30's and did not appreciate the sarcastic tone. I am part of their email club and was looking to buy a case to join their vinterners club but quickly changed my mind. We used to frequent here often but after tonight will look elsewhere for wine purchases.
Comment from Richard P. of Nashoba Valley Winery 2/1/2012
Within 10 hours of this review, I discussed the situation… More » -
Review from Jamie R.
Boston, MA
8/28/2011
My best friend lives fairly close to the winery, so we decided to check it out. It's a pretty good value for the tour, in which you have a couple options. You could take the tour itself, which has you go through the inner workings of winery, and I believe 5 tastes total. 3 during the tour, and then two additional tastes at their bar also. You can also opt to forgo the tour, and just buy tastes from the bar, 5 or 6 at a time.
My friends I decided to do both, and since we had a little less then a hour before their next tour, we decided to start with a tasting. You can try any of their wines, hard liquor, or beers.
I didn't find any of their wines too remarkable, but there were some solid ones. They have a ton of semi-sweet and dessert wine options, which is so far from my cup of tea, so I felt like my tasting options were a little limited.
The gin available is so aromatic, and delicious. I could sip swigs of that all day.
The tour was ok, pretty boring, not interactive (minus audience questions), and more like a high school presentation for class. To be honest, we were a little buzzed before the tour started, so perhaps that's why I heard the tour guide as Charlie Brown's teacher.
All-in-all it was a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. The staff was friendly, if a little overwhelmed by the large group. My friends both took home a bottle of wine, as they were bigger fans then me. It's nowhere I'd rush back too, but the tastings were a good bang for their buck. -
Review from Dawn E.
Updated - 8/2/2011
So here's the thing. I'm hesitant to call anything "as good as it gets" without comparative analysis.
WELL, after visiting some OTHER New England wineries, I'm proud to give Nashoba a bump to five stars.
You really get your money's worth with a visit to Nashoba. You get to taste along the way for your tour and then you can buy separate tasting tickets as well. For very little money. $10 will get you a LONG way here.
But then the prices on the wines and spirits are *very* reasonable as well. They're be good prices if this was just good product, but the fact is almost everything they put out is excellent. Even the things I don't like are things I know other people love, they just include flavors that aren't my thing.
If you've only got time to visit one winery in New England, skip the other places and come to Nashoba.Listed in: My Magnificient Marlborough…, Soooo Roooooomantic, Fresh Fresh Local Goodness
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/30/2011
There was a time when the beer was free and unlimited (outside of the tasting), but that day is no… Read more »
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Review from Nicole S.
Massapequa, NY
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Only $4 for 5 tastings and a free wine glass! Now that's a fantastic deal right there! The Nashoba Winery has a nice picturesque setting as well, including a gazebo, vineyard, ponds and picnic tables where you can eat and enjoy any Nashoba wines you've purchased. My favorites were the Vidal Dessert Wine, which everyone in my party loved, a dry red Renaissance and nice full bodied Azule, another group favorite. Great for a day out with family or friends.
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Review from Day Trips i.
Gales Ferry, CT
9/11/2011
The winery sits on a hilltop surrounded by an apple orchard and vineyard. You can take a wine tour to learn how they make wine, pick apples, eat at their restaurant and buy wine and beer in their store. If you visit in the Fall make sure to check out the Bluegrass Festival in October. Parking is free.
Read our full review with pictures of the wine tour and festival at: http://www.daytripsinn... -
Review from Lia K.
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Met up with some girlfriends for a wine tasting at Nashoba. The wine tasting won't break the bank and will allow you to taste anywhere from 4-6 drinks with the coupon system they have in place. I didn't love all of the wines but the strawberry rhubarb fruit wine was to die for. It was desert in a bottle! Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of their hard liquor nor beer-- the hard liquor tastes like moonshine and the beer needs some hop modifications.
If I'm in the nabe, I may stop in for a tasting, but I wouldn't make this a destination. Sorry! -
Review from Jacque M.
Watertown, MA
6/2/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Amazing place. We went for brunch and a winery tour. I found the brunch to be a little overpriced for what it was, but the atmosphere was darling.
The wines are so delicious! We bought 12 bottles on our way out.
Next time I'm going to bring a picnic basket and save that money to spend on more of the wines :) -
Review from Michele D.
Allston, MA
11/20/2011
Just left the winery after an amazing afternoon. Gorgeous scenery, romantic gazebo for some couple time, and amazing wine of course! We hand picked an assorted case of wine after tasting a dozen for $4. I highly recommend a visit!
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Review from Joann K.
Glendale, NY
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place was great. $4 for 5 tastings but you have to choose wisely. They offer wine, beer, cider and spirits. Wow! But beware, you can get in alot of trouble if you get 5 tastings of their spirits!
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Review from Kris N.
Boston, MA
10/31/2011
I really had a great time at their Oktoberfest. It was an amazing atmosphere and their prices are great. Got myself a growler (although I didn't get it filled.. probably a mistake because I've heard their beer is really good).
As for the wine.... I did the wine sampler with my mom and boyfriend. I couldn't find one wine that I enjoyed and neither could my boyfriend. My mom enjoyed the red Renaissance wine, which I thought was OK.
I may be too picky since I am from CA, but I wouldn't go there again for the wine. What I will do, is go back for the beer :) -
Review from Wayne L.
Westford, MA
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been to a lot of wineries. Napa, Sonoma, Fingerlakes, Maritimes, NH, RI, CT, MA, ME
This little winery was as nice as any I've been to ... absolutely top drawer.
Beautiful locations, excellent wines but have beer and distilled product too. Prices were good. Beautiful outdoor seating.
Only down side is $6 for crackers to go with the $16 bottle of wine. So bring your own snacks (people were picnicing on the grass) buy some product and enjoy the views. -
Review from Marc H.
Boston, MA
3/29/2011
In the fall, this place can become a zoo, but come any other time of year and it's a very pleasurable spot. Situated on a hillside overlooking the town of Bolton, the views from the wraparound porch are terrific, and there are tables where you can sit and feel all the stress fall away from you. Inside, you can find all kinds of beer, wine, spirits, jams, jellies, etc., and you can also do not only a wine tasting, but a beer tasting and a spirits tasting (their Northern Comfort cognac is really good).
If you can get here anytime before or after apple-picking season, don't miss this spot. -
Review from Mike D.
ATTLEBORO FLS, MA
10/23/2011
We went up for the blue grass festival. Well we really just wanted take a drive and the area is nice in the fall. If you enjoy hillbilly music, pretentious crowds and lines this place is for you. The beer is good and people seemed to like the wine. Would be a nice place to visit at less crowded times of the year.
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Review from Laura J.
10/26/2010
I came . I saw. I drank. (all in the name of charity).
What a BEAUTIFUL place! Only a 50 minute drive from Boston, Nashoba Valley Winery is a great spot to visit for a quick day trip, and of course to sample some of the delicious wines made on premise.
My friends charity hosted an excursion to raise money for there cause, so Laura K and I decided to partake and check out Nashoba. On the particular day our group visited, there was a festival in the works. Beer stands offering a selection of local brews, a blue grass group playing away for all the visitors and yummy grub being served in the pavilion behind the main building.
Being eager to sample the fruits of Nashoba Valley's labor, LK and I filled our bellies with pulled pork and cheeseburgers and bee-lined straight for the wine room to snag a bottle of red. The St.Croix was delish, much like a malbec only a bit lighter. The wine tour was very informative and added to our drunken haze (we sampled 6 wines) but hey, we did it for a good cause. Don't have to twist my arm;) -
Review from Laura K.
10/27/2010
In wineries, I generally prefer bicycle tours of the vineyards to walking tours of the processing facilities. Primarily, this preference is based on the ratio of fruit flies to humans in each respective location, which hovers around 1:1 in the field and swarms somewhere closer to 100:1 in the factory. If one ever wanted to put him- or herself in the putrid, decaying skin of a rotting peach, this would probably be the best way.
The Nashoba excursion is a walking tour of the processing facility; not ideal, but I'm not one to complain, so let's get to it! Our guide was friendly and informative, taking much more than her allotted 30-minute block to take us from vine to wine. I had consumed 1/2 a bottle of the winery's Saint Croix (full-bodied red with a tart finish) before the tour -- and I'm not much for dessert wines anyway -- so the six sweeter samples offered throughout our journey were tough to take, especially seeing as my P.I.C. Laura J was pawning all her samples off on moi.
We visited Nashoba Valley during its annual Bluegrass and Blues festival, which entailed a BBQ and several aging musical groups taking turns playing in a small gazebo, located in a grassy area in front of the winery. For the quality of the jams: if I had brought along my spoons and washboard, I probably could have joined in. In terms of the food: the apple BBQ pulled pork sandwich was one of the best I've had anywhere, ever and HUGE for only $7. Seriously, I would go back just for another sammy. And, while we're on the topic of things that are cheap: only $12-$36 for a bottle of wine! Wheeeeeee!
Added Bonus: As a skilled tree-climber from way back, I love visiting all places with climbable trees--I can amuse myself with just this one simple activity for hours. Therefore, I was elated to find that, among other amusements, Nashoba Valley Winery offers a small grove of stellar climbing trees.
There was apple-picking going on and I heard tales of apple cider donuts and donut holes, but I did not partake in either joy on this particular Sunday.
Despite the cold and wet weather, a great time was had by all! Friendly staff and fellow patrons -- in addition to the beautiful fall foliage splayed out over the hills of Bolton -- made Nashoba Valley Winery a great spot for a diverting day trip out of the city. -
Review from Eric F.
Boston, MA
3/1/2011
Wine: Check
Great weather: Check
Beautiful scenery: Check
Feeling like your at a packed nightclub when trying to sample fine wines?: Not so much
I went to Nashoba during what is apparently its busy season - late summer/early fall - and paid the price. We got there a little late for a Saturday, around 1:30 and every tour until 5 was sold out. However, management discounted the individual tastings to make up for it. Cool, I can get down with that. Problem was, so could everyone else. The main bar was just PACKED, at least 6 or 7 deep with only 3 bartenders, so the girl and I wandered over to the smaller, auxiliary bar where lines were slightly more manageable. We purchased double tastings and then went outside to explore, as it was a perfect Saturday to be at a winery (unfortunately for us, everyone else felt the same way).
The grounds here are expansive and well maintained and while some people took that relaxing vibe to an extreme (we're talking families of 6 and 7 spread out over two to three blankets with food and cases of beer) the place was big enough to find a nice spot to sit and enjoy the grounds.
Complaints aside, the wine was tasty and unique, after a few tastings we opted to split a bottle of Riesling (a wine I NEVER drink, but enjoyed Nashoba's fruity and sweet take on it while sampling) and bought some cheese and crackers. We found a nice spot to relax, drink and people watch (there was a wedding that day, people with their dogs, and kids running around, excited as hell about apples). This is the way to enjoy Nashoba when it's crowded. A quick tasting, take a bottle, and split outside...avoid the lines and people at the bars.
I also selected a mix pack of their craft beers to take home. There were mostly average, but I appreciate the sentiment of a winery making their own craft brews.
In principal, Nashoba is a great way to spend a spring, summer or fall day - a winery in MetroWest?...but next time I'll be sure to go when it's a little less crowded. That said, its tough the fault them for doing good business, and I'll be back....so 4 stars it is. -
Review from Steve B.
10/25/2010
UPDATE: Soon after posting this review, I got a message from a representative of the winery (owner? Im not sure.) It was a very nice message which basically laid it out that yes, Sept and Oct are busy months and the crowded-ness does somewhat take away from the family atmosphere they strive to provide, but the reality is that Sept and Oct pay the bills. I can appreciate this. The message also encouraged me to return sometime between November and August for a more lesirely experience.
I want to say how much I appreciate a responsive business that doesnt try to blow smoke up my ass. Knowing very little about the winery/farming business, it didnt occur to me that Sept and Oct would be the busiest times (I thought it would be summer since kids are our of school and people want to do outside activites). I appreciate and understand that like any business, they have to pay thier bills.
Richard P., thank you for your message. I probably would have returned to Nashoba Valley Winery anyways, but now its a definite!
Now My review:::::
So lately I've been a big fan of wine. This is just the way I am. If I get into something, it almost consumes me and I want to know as much as possible about it. As a result of this tendency, the princess and I (and 2 other couples) found ourselves at the Nashoba Valley Winery yesterday, which also happened to be the Bluegrass and Brews festival.
To say that the place was crowded was an understatement. I hate crowds, like really hate crowds. They make me nervous and claustrophobic, so we tried to stake out areas that werent super crowded and take in the scenery.
We did the $7 winery tour, which was ok. The woman leading the tour was a little flaky and all over the place. She was forgetting to let us know what wines we were sampling, etc. I probably wouldnt do the tour again.
The tasting was very good. We grabbed a place at the corner of the tasting bar and each tried 5 wines for $4, sharing each, so the princess and I each tried 10 while our friends were off picking what was left of the apples in the orchards.
We purchased a few bottles. Theyre very moderately priced, so I didnt feel too guilty about that.
Overall, I would probably go back on a day during the winter when it wasnt so crowded. I liked Truro Vineyards on the Cape better just because it seemed alot less businesslike and mechanical, and much more friendly. Nashoba was very "all-business", but that could have just been because they were doing thier best to keep order amid the chaos.
I hope it is more friendly there the next time I go. I feel like the attitude I felt yesterday can be typical when a business is the "only game in town", and I hope that isnt the case normally.
PS, for what its worth: My favorite wines were the Raspberry, Semi-sweet blueberry, cranberry-apple, and stawberry-rhubarb. My least favorite were the Azule and the Vignoles. -
Review from Keelin C.
10/6/2010
Being from the Western part of the U.S. I spent most of my day at Nashoba acting like I was 7 again. The apple picking here in quite awesome and novel. It's easy to pick and the apples are delicious. The orchard is simple to access and fun for all. But, if you go on the weekend get there early. The parking gets taken up fast!
After my experience as a 7-year-old I grew up a bit and enjoyed with winery tour. This is a really fun experience. The price as previously mentioned is 7 dollars and for this you get a souvenir glass and several tastes of the vineyard's fun and fruity wine. The tour was interesting and educational about wine and spirit making. Overall, a great experience! Try this place out this fall! -
Review from Alyssa J P.
Brighton, MA
10/17/2010
I came here for apple picking and wine tasting. As far as apple picking goes, the price is very reasonable (considering it is still within the Boston inflationary price zone) at about a dollar per pound with a half bushel bag. But it's not the price that I'm concerned about, it's the massive variety of apples that can be picked.
Screw Red Delicious apples, those things taste like cardboard anyway. I'm after the weird apples that nobody's heard of and you can't buy at Shaws. I picked Roxbury Russets (yes, as in Roxbury, MA), Winesaps, Winter Bananas and some others I can't even remember the names of. Each tree looks ancient and gnarled, and unlike other orchards I've been to, most are short and have their limbs within easy picking range. Even in mid-October the variety was amazing and easily tons of apples were still left to pick.
After spending an hour or so getting lost among the apple trees, it was time to try out the winery. I imagine most weekends see the inside of the winery at its fullest. It was simple to pay 4$ for a tasting, and non-trivial to get my glass filled at the bar. It was equally difficult to decide on 5 items to sample, given the choice of over a dozen wines, a dozen more spirits and half a dozen types of beer. I settled on gin and four wines. Delicious.
The store itself is huge and you could quickly max out your platinum card buying all of the wines, beers and spirits for sale; not that they're expensive, the wines are very reasonably priced, just that there are too many to pick from!! They also have some snack foods you can buy to take outside and enjoy on the picnic tables with a bottle of Bolton's finest.
I look forward to coming here again next year... and maybe some time in the dead of winter to try out the winery when the crowds are down to a more reasonable level. -
Review from Jayde B.
Marlborough, MA
11/2/2010
It depends what you are looking for. If you are looking for an old-fashioned New England pick-your-own apples, where you can climb trees and ladders, then try another orchard. If you are looking for a nice afternoon where you can meet friends, samples some delicious wines, and then have a lunch under the Autumnal sun in a lovely atmosphere, then you've hit your target.
Apples:
1. This place picks out fast, and it's not surprising, it's a popular place to have wine and then get your pick on.
2. No tree climbing. This is explicit, on the $18 per 1/2 peck bag, the sign on the apple shack and the map they give you of the orchard. Thank you for the dozen reminders - and climbing trees/ladders to get that beautiful fruit at the top of the tree is part of the fun.
3. Apple picking poles - $2 rental. While inexpensive, it is disappointing that they feel they need to charge at all since the explicitly state "No climbing allowed."
4. One apple sample per group - not one apple per bag. I understand why they have this rule, but give me a break, you're charging me enough for the bag.
5. Apples were pretty darn good, and I made a pretty good pie - so no complaints on quality at al.
6. Helpful staff - the owner came by to give reports of where the best apples were.
Wine:
1. $4 for 5 samples. Choose from wine, beer and spirits - and you get to keep the glass. That is a good deal in my book.
2. Mixed feelings on the wine. I can't really comment on the beer/spirits as I did not try them. I found a new favorite wine, so high-fives all around. (Oakless Chardonnay)
Other:
1. Buy your wine and take it outside. I love this - they supply boxed lunches or bring your own!
2. Outdoor seating - plentiful. Drink your wine, eat your apples, enjoy the live music from time to time, have a great time!
3. It never felt extremely packed, and I went at the start of October. The store is laid out well with two areas to sample wine and spirits.
4. Reasonably priced wine - average $15/bottle.
So yes, it's a yuppy winery/place to pick apples which are somewhat overpriced. But fortunately I had an overall very good experience and have been back since for more wine. I'm sure I'll make another trip next fall for a picnic and tasting. -
Review from Brandi G.
Alameda, CA
Reigning from the gorgeous and tasty wine country region of Northern California, I can be a little snooty at times when it comes to wine.
With that being said, Nashoba Valley Winery was a crisp and refreshing breath of fresh air! The moment you step into this country setting, you will be in absolute splendor taking in the rolling hills, vineyards, gardens, and rows upon rows of apple trees. Depending on the season, they also offer peaches and plums, in addition to the apples, for fruit picking with the fam.
The tasting room and wine shop has a beautiful and comforting, yet rustic feeling that invites you in as soon as you step foot on the large wraparound porch.
That comforting and content feeling remains with you as you begin tasting, and after, once you learn that it only costs $4.00 for five tastings, PLUS a souvenir tasting glass! Now, that's what I'm talking about! That kind of deal is almost unheard of in Napa and Sonoma wine regions.
One unique aspect of this winery is that they also have a brewery and create their own line of micro-beers. I have never heard such a thing anywhere else! A winery and brewery in one?! That is AWESOME!! But, what is more awesome is they even serve spirits!! Yes, I know!!! Their very own brandies and vodkas!!!! With their variety of brews, this spot would be a hit for all.
Being a big Merlot fan, I thought their Blueberry Merlot would hit the spot, but I found it to be a little dry for my taste. Nevertheless, I found plenty that aroused my taste buds and left with a bottle of Strawberry Rhubarb wine, a Cranberry-Apple wine, and a Raspberry Dessert wine. Fruit wines are pretty rare in Northern California, so finding such goodies were a treat. While I didn't purchase any spirits, I found that I really enjoyed the Foggy Bog, which is a cranberry and apple brandy, and the Pear Brandy. And for those who would like to grow hair on their chest, the Vidal Grappa was a kick!
While I can't recall their names, I was helped by two wonderful ladies who made my experience even more pleasant. They were friendly and were very knowledgeable about the wine and spirits they served. I thoroughly enjoyed the Nashoba Valley Winery, and for my mother who was tasting for her very first time, this was an excellent first-time experience. -
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
9/13/2010
A wonderful place to spend an afternoon with friends!
We ended up using our two free tastings (per person!) before the tour and got to try 10 different wines/spirits. The winery tour ($7) was fun and informative, and I learned a lot not only about making wine, but also about making spirits like cognac and brandy. The tour guide was friendly and our group was tons of fun. I also enjoyed the 4 tastings that were included, especially the After Dinner Peach Dessert Wine and the Port.
Nashoba Valley Winery definitely specializes in fruit wines, from apricots to peaches to pears to apples. So it's a real treat if you like sweet wines and non-traditional wines (though they do have them--I tried an interesting "American Chardonnay" (chardonnay made without oak) that I'm still thinking about). The area is also gorgeous, with acres of apple orchards and vineyards, other fruit gardens and old cottage-like buildings.
After the tour, my friends and I decided to buy a few "5 tastings for $4" coupon packages and pretty much spent the next hour tasting the rest of their inventory. Brandies, vodkas, and all the wines available--check, check, check! The staff were all friendly and informative, and were definitely patient with all our requests. The vodka is interesting, with a heavy chocolate aroma and chocolate taste. I enjoyed the peach brandy. The Elephant Heart tastes like cotton candy gin. And for the wines: the aforementioned Peach, the Cherry and the Strawberry Rhubarb were all memorable.
Finished off the excursion with some delicious cider donuts and took home my beautiful Nashoba Valley Winery glass. I'd say I had a perfect experience. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Boston, MA
9/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is the perfect spot for an afternoon visit!
The wine tour is so much fun- for $7 they take you to each of the different rooms and explain the wine making process with such pride, you can see they love their jobs. In each room, there is a new wine to try, which is an added bonus!
Then you also get tickets for two tastings after the tour at the tasting bar. You can taste the spirits, the beers, or the wines. Honestly, I could have spent hours tasting, though then I would have been sleeping in their vineyard.
You can pick apples too, which is a great fall activity! My advice, pack a lunch, take the tour, taste some wine, then buy a bottle and eat it on their porch with your lunch. You will not be disappointed (even if the wine is just okay)! -
Review from Lauren H.
Springfield, VA
2/22/2011
I'm new to Hudson and was happy to find a winery just 4 miles from my home! What a winery it is...
The main house is charming and full of wine that you simply can't wait to try. There's a bar for you to taste any wine of your choosing; I'm excited to pick up a bottle of their Bolton, Marion, and Chardonnay. You can't beat a $7 wine tasting and tour of this local gem. The tour guides are informative, knowledgeable, and good humored. Luckily for me when i went, the tour was also being hosted by the Slow Rise Nashoba Brook Bakery and a local cheese shop whose name escapes me. The winery paired their wines with fare from these stores which really made the afternoon special. I can't wait to visit throughout the upcoming year for the harvest each season brings. -
Review from Doris T.
Brookline, MA
2/2/2011 1 photo
My first apple-picking experience on a crispy New-England fall weekend- totally worth it! They have a wide selection of apples to choose from as well as the winery and the snack shack as a special attraction ;)
The wine tasting is only $4 for 5 tasting and you get to keep the glass. All my girl-friends especially liked the strawberry rhuburb. And, in case you don't drink, they also serve delicious apple cider that you can also purchase. The snack shack had mouth-watering cider donuts both with or with caramel for as little as $1.
The orchard itself is also quite beautiful and comes with a little chapel overlooking the greenery. They also have an elaborate website that posts the upcoming tours and events. The place is only an hour drive from Boston and not too difficult to locate. It can a be a great group outing! -
Review from soylinduh O.
Belmont, MA
9/27/2010
Recently, myself, a friend and my boyfriend headed over to Nashoba Valley Winery. All I knew about the area was that there was a ski resort around there somewhere. So I just assumed that the winery was at the bottom of the hill. Well I couldn't have been more wrong.
We arrived and saw that not only was it a winery but also a great place to pick some Macintosh and Gala apples!
But come on, m, first things first, we headed over and had ourselves a wine tasting. For $4 you get a chance to taste five different wines, or if you have a favorite already then use all five tickets and fill up your glass, which is what we opted to do the second time around. Our pourer, Pat, was great. She made wonderful suggestions and we all walked away with a favorite wine.
We decided to pick some apples before having a picnic on the lawn. Unfortunately, we were too late for peaches but the apples we did get made for some great apple strudel and dutch torte!
We went back indoors, tried some more wine and picked a favorite so we could get three pours to have for our lunch with the remaining tickets.
What were some of the faves? Well:
For white we have the the Vignoles and Riesling.
For red we had the Renaissance.
For cognac, you MUST try the Northern Comfort. Imagine yourself sipping it by a fire or pouring it over some vanilla ice cream.
Enjoy! -
Review from Angelina C.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2010
Bougie, boozy Saturday. It's not Napa or Sonoma, but I enjoyed this close-to-home day trip. My favorites from the mostly fruit wine tour were a blueberry concoction you could practically pour on ice cream and a rather dry, tasty cider.
Honest. It's wine with a side of leaf-peeping.
Now hop to it! -
Review from Charlotte L.
Brooklyn, NY
8/29/2007
Apples: yummy. Drive: beautiful. Vista: gorgeous. Wine: not so great.
I kinda hate to do this, because I honestly think Nashoba Valley is a great place to go, hang out, pick apples, sit in a gazebo, play cards, have a picnic, etc. But the wine is not so good, and pretty overpriced, which is always irritating when you're actually AT the winery. The wines we tasted--and we tasted quite a few, I assure you--were on the whole too sweet and pretty flat-tasting. There was very little depth of flavor, and in general not enough tannin or tartness/acidity, as the case may be, to balance it out. I know Mass is no Napa Valley, but, really, New England can do better.
So, just balance your expectations. I wouldn't tell you NOT to taste, but don't expect to walk away with cases of wines you love unless you're into sweet, simple tastes--in which case, more power to you.
But, by all means, DO got here with a picnic and a hankering for apple-picking. You'll find equally gorgeous places and tasty apples in New Hampshire, but considering Nashoba's proximity to the city, it's a pretty good bet for a weekend jaunt to get your PYO fix. (That's pick-your-own for the uninitiated.) Happy autumn! -
Review from diana y.
9/29/2007
I am a city dweller who has never seen an apple orchard in her life. When people say "nature," I think the tree in front of my house. When people say "farm," I think huhhh?
Today's mad romp through Nashoba's apple orchard was incredibly exhilarating. And educational. After first picking several mutated fruits, I quickly learned how to inspect my pickins before pulling them off the sagging trees-- burdened as they were by the weight of an abundance of ripe apples. Get these m***erf***ing apples off of me! I can't handle all these little bastards clinging onto me like this! Hearing nature's plea for help, we gladly filled our bags with its generous offerings, favoring the Galas in particular.
After running around trying to understand the difference between a McIntosh and a Cortland apple, I soon decided that I didn't care and left to load up our car with the fruits (pun intended) of our labor. I enjoy foraging very much. Even if it's not in the wild, even if it costs $12 for a small red plastic bagful, even if you have to step around overstimulated children.
We then skipped over and had an afternoon picnic in the sun. After stuffing our faces with sandwiches, crab spice chips and an assortment of fatty desserts we obtained at the fabulous Bolton Farms Market & Deli down the street, we cleaned ourselves up and headed into the winery to get sloshed.
Sadly, I did not get sloshed. Mainly because there was a huge mob of people clustered around the wine tasting area, pushing and shoving from every which way. When I want to go to a flea market, I'll go to a flea market. I'm certainly not going to get drunk with a bunch of clamoring strangers. So I picked up a bottle of wine at random so I could get trashed at home on my own.
In the end, I left Nashoba happy, with one arm carrying a bundle of fresh, sun-ripened fruit and another holding onto a bottle of Strawberry Rhubarb Wine.*
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UPDATE: The Strawberry Rhubarb Wine was god-f*ckin awful. Tasted like flavored puddle water. Minus one point.Listed in: Prepare To Be Impressed
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Review from Jenny N.
10/11/2009
Nashoba Valley is a beautiful winery but sadly, not the best spot for apple-picking. Or perhaps we just arrived too late in the season, as the orchards were nearly picked clean of apples and the ones that were left were clustered way up high, requiring the use of a pole picker (which costs an extra $1 per half hour*). We paid $20 for a 1/2 bushel bag (it's $15 for a peck) to share amongst 4 people, and headed into the orchards only to be disappointed by the selection--mostly Red Delicious, which aren't really all that tasty in my opinion. Boooo :( We should've checked the picking conditions online...
After we filled our bag with a random assortment of odds and ends apples, we headed inside the winery for a taste of the fruit wines ($4 for 5 samples, plus a wine glass to take home). There are 2 bars set up for tastings and multiple registers, but the inside of the winery was completely mobbed. There weren't enough sales associates to handle the crowd and the lines for both tours/tastings and registers were confusing and snaked around the store. There was also a line for the restrooms...oy. Note to self: don't come on a holiday weekend.
As for the tasting, it was fun but slightly overwhelming with all the choices of wines, spirits and beers. There must have been well over 25 different types! We ended up purchasing 2 bottles and then high-tailed it out of there to escape the crowd.
Next time, I will plan ahead and pack a picnic to enjoy on the expansive lawn with a bottle of their fantastic wine! It's a scenic spot and worth the 45 min. drive from Boston, but just plan to go early in the day/season if you prefer a more relaxed trip.
*Note: I was told by the business owner that the pole picker usage fee was lowered from $5/hr to $1 per half hour, so I've updated my review. Also, the fee was instituted to prevent customers from misusing/losing the poles, which makes sense. -
Review from David V.
9/12/2010 3 photos
My wife and I went here to visit the orchards for apple picking, and we had a great time! All of the staff that we encountered were very friendly, the restrooms are clean, the grounds are clean, and best of all: they do not charge an entry fee for "pick your own"! We hope to return to this place many more times in the future!
The only negative thing we have to share about the Nashoba Valley Winery is that their "wine" is not that great. We only sampled one wine (apple-cranberry), so we are basing our opinion on this. However, one of my colleagues did the wine tour and sampled several of the wines, and she informed me that none of them were very good. -
Review from Amanda L.
Brighton, MA
4/9/2008
I love apple picking.
I love peach picking.
I love pear picking.
I love blackberry picking.
Basically, I like to pick stuff, specifically fruit.
So, as soon as the weather was nice, I begged Joe to take me apple picking. Ok, technically I drove, so I was taking him apple picking, but we won't get too complicated about it.
We got there REALLY early; I think we might have gotten there before they opened. Oops? But it's alright; it gave Joe the opportunity to take some pretty pictures. Local photos to be updated when I'm not at work.
Anyway, the place is really beautiful. Unfortunately, the winery tours weren't being offered that day, so we missed out on that. However, we basically got to taste all of the wines they had. They offer some really interesting fruit wines, so they really know how to take advantage of their orchards and the fruit that they harvest. Not only do they make wine, but they make spirits as well, some of which included cherry brandy. I don't think I've ever had brandy before, but I would try it.
The staff was really friendly and accommodating. For fruit picking purposes, they lay out all the different bags that you can use. We opted to go apple and peach picking. Upon further reflection, we should have gone lighter on the peaches, since they were SO fresh, and we got SO many, we didn't use all of them in time, so many of them went rotten. (That's no fault of Nashoba however).
I had so much fun picking fruit. It really makes me feel like a kid again. We even saw some wild turkeys, which isn't that exciting, since I can see them at my parents house, but it was still funny. We managed to grab a TON of fruit, and I believe it was all for less than $30.00. That may seem like a lot, but it's worth it. We also left with a bottle or two of wine, along with some local beer that they make.
There is also a restaurant here, but we also didn't take advantage of that. Next time....Listed in: WOOOOOSTA
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Review from A D.
Quincy, MA
11/4/2008
Went here with the boyf on Saturday afternoon. We loved it!
Took the tour -- informative, chilly, and tasty.
Tasted this & that at the bar -- the woman who served us our samples was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. Beer samples were free! Chyeaaa!!
Walked out of there with a 6-pack, 4 bottles of wine, 4 free wine glasses, and a damn good buzz! -
Review from Laura B.
Worcester, MA
10/11/2010
Overall, I'm a fan. The tasting experience is leaving me with quite the collection of glassware. I think their wines are really nice, but some of them are not really my taste.
The real fun is in the tasting, buying the one you like, and then sitting outside with some wine, cheese and crackers.
The Reisling is not to be missed. Just excellent.
Apple picking is a blast, and decently priced. Worth it for a great afternoon of wine, apples, cheese and taking in the gorgeous scenery! -
Review from Trina K.
New Bedford, MA
9/28/2008
It was raining everywhere else today, but not while I was at Nashoba! They had a super deal on apple picking -- you could get a peck (10-12 lbs) for $5 (normally $12!) if you picked a bunch of the damaged Macoun and Cortland before picking your own. Done and done. Sweet deal!
My friend and I also did the wine tour and tasting. The only wine that we tried that I liked was the Baldwin. That after-dinner peach wine tastes like syrup, and the apple-cranberry wine was like medicine. Bah. We ran into some people my friend knew who had bought some of the beer, so we sampled a few of theirs (yummers), and then I went and bought a mess of beer for gifts. All in all a great time!
