Create Your Own Tour of Wineries in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is home to many things: picturesque waterfalls, mountain vistas, beautiful beaches, amazing breweries, micro-breweries and brew-pubs. But did you know there are many wineries in New Hampshire?

Many people don’t realize that New Hampshire is home to more than a dozen vineyards. Take the ultimate adult field trip this summer and hop on a wine trail with this list of just a few of New Hampshire’s vineyard touring and tasting options.

Sandown

Zorvino Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery on 80 acres in Sandown that originally started as a retirement hobby. In the first years, 150 cold climate vines, mostly hybrids, were planted. To date, there are roughly 2,000 vines on site. The bulk of their grapes are brought in from Italy, California and South America. They are known for “off dry” fruit wines, blends, and unusual 100% fruit or vegetable wines like pumpkin, beet and rhubarb to name a few. New favorites include red wines and white wines aged in American White Oak.

Walpole

Walpole Mountain View Winery at Barnett Hill Vineyard makes a wide variety of wines with a delicious selection of 28 French-American hybrid and cold-climate grape varieties. Wine tasting is a learning experience, and they have just begun exploring varieties that have become available for cold-climate areas. You can be on the cutting edge with the many new wines that are now possible in a place that was formerly deemed too cold and harsh for such activity.

Meredith

Hermit Woods Winery is making a name for itself. The winery was recently honored by Food and Wine Magazine, which included them on their 2017 wine guide of “500 Best Wineries in America” Stop by for tour and a tasting, and you can view their wine cellar, get a detailed description of how their wine is made, sample a young wine out of a barrel or fermenter, and enjoy a premium tasting of a selection of their wines with tips on pairing with food.

Lee

Established in 1990, Flag Hill Vineyard and Winery has grown from a family operated business to the largest vineyard in NH with an established winery that produces distinguished wines from their own vineyard. Located inside the Tasting Room & Gift Store is their Tasting Bar.  This is the place you want to belly up to when you first come in to try up to 6 Flag Hill products. Reservations are not needed to enjoy tasting (though a valid ID is).  There is no need to have any knowledge of wine, since their philosophy on enjoying wine is simple: Try it.  If you like it, it’s good wine for you.  If you don’t like it, try another one.

Candia

Candia Vineyards is an award winning vineyard in Candia, New Hampshire. They have won numerous awards, including New Hampshire Magazine’s Best of NH 2008. The vineyard has Frontenac, Lacrosse, Noiret and Diamond Varietals. They are the first vineyards in the United States to sign the Business Ethics Pledge.

South Hampton

Jewell Towne Vineyards is NH’s oldest and most awarded winery. They have been making the finest red, white and rose wines since 1994. The vineyards have won awards for their Seyval, Cayuga White, Chardonnay, Marechal, Foch and Vidal Ice Wine. The winemaker for Jewell Vineyards, Dr. Peter Oldak, has won the vineyards over 100 medals in international competitions. At the winery, you can enjoy complimentary wine tasting and learn about how wine is made.

Hampstead

Sweet Baby Vineyards was established in 2008.  They offer fruit wines such strawberry and white peach, red wines such as Amarone, and white wines such as Niagara. Sweet Baby Vineyards can be purchased from several places in NH such as The Freetown Yankee Market in Raymond, Riverworks Tavern in Newmarket and Tobacco Depot in Seabrook. Complimentary tastings as well as sales of the wine are available at their winery.