If you’ve never been to Massachusetts, you’re missing out on some of our country’s greatest scenery and history. Boston alone holds so many of the traditions we all learned about in school, and there’s so much to explore.
However, the wine tasting scene is often overlooked in this state. The state is home to some of the best wine in the country, and there are plenty of places to go to experience the best wine tasting in Massachusetts.
Where to Go for Wine Tasting in Massachusetts
- Plymouth Bay Winery
- Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery
- Cape Cod Winery
- Willow Springs Vineyards
- Balderdash Cellars
- Les Trois Emme Winery
- Hardwick Vineyard and Winery
- Raven Hollow Winery
- Black Birch Vineyard
- Echo Hill Orchards Winery & Distillery
1. Plymouth Bay Winery
In 1620, my ancestors landed in Plymouth on the Mayflower. It was a pretty rough winter for all, and only about half survived. Today, the community of Plymouth looks much different. It’s thriving, and so are the wineries.
Plymouth Bay Winery specializes in fruit wines and other products that they make on-site from the fruit they purchase locally. This winery is so much more than just fun wine tastings, fine dining, and great company.
This husband and wife team opened the winery in 1994 and they’re still thriving. They offer a shop full of their wines, jellies, sauces, etched glasses, and other Plymouth Bay souvenirs. They also take their wares to the Plymouth Farmer’s Market!
While you’re in town, visit the cranberry bogs (Massachusetts is one of the world’s leading producers of cranberries), tour a lighthouse or two, and learn more about some of the history.
2. Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery
Westport Rivers is one of the stops on the Coastal Wine Trail. I don’t know about you, but combining wine with the gorgeous New England coast sounds like something I would do any day of the week. So I did.
This expansive vineyard and winery on the south coast of Massachusetts produce some of the most aromatic and delightfully crisp wines you’ll find in the state.
It’s owned by a couple that purchased the land in Westport in 1982 in hopes of following in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. They spent nearly 10 years growing and perfecting their vines and finally opened to the public in 1991.
Today, they have over 80 acres of the vineyard but they believe strongly in preservation and education, so they’ve permanently preserved more than 400 acres of farmland to date.
3. Cape Cod Winery
I absolutely cannot get enough of this little place. It’s serene, adorable, and truly one of a kind. Pictures don’t do the traditional Cape Cod architecture or the gorgeous beach setting justice. This historic town has 68 miles of white sandy beaches and plenty of history.
This winery is family-owned and you’ll often find the husband and wife team out working the tastings and greeting customers personally. They specialize in bright whites and sparkling roses with a different beach-themed image on every bottle.
If you plan to visit, check out the events calendar for live music, food trucks, oyster bars, yoga sessions, paint and sips, and festivals.
4. Willow Springs Vineyards
The remarkable thing about this vineyard is the century-old barn. Back in 2000, they purchased the old barn as it was falling apart.
Piece by piece, they took it apart and labeled everything for reassembly. As they put it back together, they created a green building with geothermal heating and cooling as well as solar panels.
Today, they use the space for wine tastings, events, and gatherings. You can sip on the wrap-around porch while you observe the 25 acres or stay inside.
They also host paint workshops, Friday night fires, artisan chef wine pairing dinners, and more.
5. Balderdash Cellars
With a name like this one, it’s hard to drive by and not stop. When the owners first told their friends that they were going to transition from buying wine to making it, everyone said they were crazy.
They responded, “Balderdash!” and the name stuck. Truthfully, buying wine is much easier than making it, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
They focus on ultra-wicked (premium, for us non-New Englanders) wines made from grapes they purchase from only the best California vineyards.
They run on volunteers who spend countless hours pressing grapes, bottling, and running the tasting room.
In addition to wine tastings, they have beers on top for the spouse who isn’t a wine drinker, and they allow you to bring your own food anytime. Check their calendar before you visit, because they also host release parties and other events.
6. Les Trois Emme Winery
Les Trois Emme means “The Three Ms” and is named for the first three granddaughters of owners Wayne and Mary Jane Eline.
It’s a quaint little estate decorated in a rainbow of bright colors. They offer tastings at the bar, in the dining room, on the lawn, or in the bottling room.
They occasionally have events like live music, but their true claim to fame is Stingy Jack wine, which is white wine infused with pumpkin spices. It’s available all year long and it’s an Eline family tradition.
7. Hardwick Vineyard and Winery
The Quabbin Reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts. There’s a small country road that wraps around it, and on the north side, nestled back in the country, sits Hardwick Winery.
This winery features a 200-year-old mansion that had long been abandoned in 1997 when the Samek family bought it.
They specialize in fruit wines and hold tastings in their barn. They also have a maple syrup-infused wine that you won’t find anywhere else.
The pumpkin wine is available year-round and the asparagus wine is an unusual treat.
8. Raven Hollow Winery
Raven Hollow and the next-door Kosinski Farms work together to produce world-class wines. Kosinski Farms is an integrated pest management certified farm. They use pollinators strategically to get the most out of their crops.
Raven Hollow takes this fruit and combines them with scientific techniques to produce the absolute best wines they can.
Their popular fruit wines include Blueberry Explosion, Strawberry Rhubarb, and Ginger Spiced Candied Apple.
Located just outside of Springfield, you’ll find plenty of things to do in the area, like the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (near and dear to my Jayhawk heart), Springfield Science Museum, or the Titanic Museum.
9. Black Birch Vineyard
The winemakers at Black Birch Vineyard first fell in love with winemaking in 1990, on a trip to France’s Loire Valley. Since then, they’ve taken many winemaking tours to places like Ahr, Burgundy, Napa, Sonoma, Champagne, Tuscany, and more.
They combine Old and New World techniques along with a high-density planting technique to create award-winning wines from their 12-acre vineyard.
Visiting this winery consists of tours and tastings, but you can also book Private Barrel Room reservations. Check out their calendar of events for things like Doggie and Me photo sessions, concerts, and food trucks.
10. Echo Hill Orchards Winery & Distillery
Echo Hill is only open during the summer months, but it’s a picturesque destination for any summer vacation. They have signature summer drinks, summer tractor rides, and plenty of wine to enjoy.
They also serve moonshine, whiskey, vodka, and other liqueurs.
Most weekends during the summer bring food trucks to the winery so you can enjoy wine or spirit flights, mixed signature drinks, and a meal on the premises. Enjoy these things inside the tasting room or out on the cabana.
