Nashoba Valley Winery Review
Address: 100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd. Bolton,Massachusetts 01740.
Phone Number: 978-779-5521
Tasting Hours: Sat-Sun 11:00-4:00
Region: Massachusetts
Reviewer: Mark and Sonja
Review Date: 6/11/2014
Reviewer: Mark and Sonja
Rating: 4
The Review
As we entered the doors of Nashoba Valley Winery, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. Our first visit to a winery on the east coast, let alone in Massachusetts, would be a new adventure. We didn’t know what kind of grapes were grown in Massachusetts, and we were surprised to find so many wines similar to those found in Nebraska. St Croix, Marechal Foch, and Vignoles stood out as known varietals from our home state, but others would emerge as we paid other Massachusetts and New Hampshire wineries a visit.
When we entered, the tasting bar was full so we wandered for a bit until the party before us departed. As we bellied up to the tasting bar, we learned that tasting must be paid for in advance. Not customary where we’re from, but to each their own. More inconvenient for the tasting room attendant than the guest, is the fact that payments must be processed in the center of the room where the cash registers are located, forcing the attendant to leave the bar each time a new visitor arrives or if someone purchases a bottle at the end of their tasting. Seems like a simple problem to fix, and we hope they’ll get around to it soon.
The tasting room at Nashoba is large, and like many, houses rack after rack of wine for sale. Its large porch in the front is welcoming and lends itself to a bit of a country feel and the pergola covered patio on the side of the building gives a view of the vines and ample seating. In addition to the large selection of wines, Nashoba also has a variety of beer and spirits for sale that they also craft onsite. Nashoba offers tours of their facility on the weekends every hour. Unfortunately, we arrived on a Wednesday and did not get to participate in a tour although we would have liked to.
The wine list at Nashoba is about as diverse as that of any single winery we’ve been to; two pages of wine and an additional page of spirits from their very own still were rather daunting to say the least, but we did our best to navigate the pathways to imbibing. Nashoba Valley offers a lot of estate wines (harvested and processed on premises) as well as some truly unique selections. Among our favorites was a Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, and several blends. They also make a lot of fruit wine, in addition to four dessert wines that include plum, peach, raspberry, and Vidal ice wine. The selection alone makes Nashoba Valley worth a visit.
If you’re a spirits drinker, Nashoba Valley has a lot to offer you as well. Try the pear brandy or, if you’re feeling gutsy, the grappa.
We truly enjoyed our visit to Nashoba Valley Winery. We took a few bottles with us, including the Gewurztraminer, and the complimentary glasses from our tasting are proudly displayed in our case. A short drive from Boston on a lazy afternoon, Nashoba Valley is a place we’re likely to return on our next trip to the area.