With spring approaching, seasonal wineries and vineyards around Massachusetts will be open for business once more. Now, that’s something worth celebrating! Don’t just buy local; drink local too. Here are seven places close to Boston where you’ll find quality wine served in a stunning setting.
With its expansive picnic area and bucolic views, this winery is the ideal spot to unwind. Sit by the water, savor a meal at J's Restaurant (reservations required) or taste the wines. Nashoba Valley offers red, white, fruit wine, and dessert wine, and - to round out its repertoire of booze - there is also a distillery and brewery on-site. Visit this winery at 100 Wattaquadock Hill Road in Bolton.
Try handmade wine without having to leave the city at this welcoming winery. Using grapes from Chile, Italy, South Africa, and California, the wine is crafted on-site. Although the building itself doesn't look like much, the setting is beautifully rustic inside and the winery is next to the Neponset River. You'll find it at 26 Ericsson Street in Boston.
In addition to producing some of the best cider donuts on the planet, Russell Orchards also makes award-winning fruit wine from produce grown on the farm. The tasting room is tucked inside the barn on this charming farm and tastings are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., for very reasonable prices. Russell Orchards is located at 143 Argilla Road in Ipswich.
A popular spot for weddings, Willow Spring Vineyards is a lovely day trip or date destination. The views from the grounds are soothing and there's even a CSA for their wine! The winery is open to the public from April through December and you'll find it at 840 W Lowell Avenue in Haverhill.
What more could you ask of a winery than expansive water views over Plymouth Bay? The wine here comes from locally-grown fruit and grapes. Pair it with some of the winery's own jellies, available in entertainingly named flavors such as Crangasm and Wicked Pissah! Plymouth Bay Winery is located at 114 Water Street in Plymouth. The winery is open daily from March through December and on weekends only during January and February.
If you're in the market for apple ice wine, Still River is THE place to go, and it has the awards to prove it. Located inside a gorgeous Victorian house in the lovely town of Harvard, this winery is a delight to visit. Tours are available to help you learn more about how this unique wine is made. The winery is located at 104 Bolton Road in Harvard.
Beloved for its sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and Plum Island wines, this winery uses grapes from all over the world to craft wines you'll want to linger over. Visit the tasting room or take a tour of this winery from spring onwards. Also, keep an eye out for the many ongoing events hosted here. The winery is nestled in the peaceful town of Rowley (at 498 Newburyport Turnpike).
Which of these wineries is your favorite?
Can’t make it out of the city at the moment? Then check out this Boston market where you can load up on gourmet goodies.