Wine and Cheese Makers in Central Mass

Friday, July 13, 2012

GoLocalWorcester Features Team

You don’t need to take a trip to Napa to find great wine and cheese. If you’re looking for a little road trip and you’d like to support local agriculture, visit one (or more!) of these wineries and farms.

Nashoba Valley Spirits, Ltd.

100 Wattaquadock Hill Road, Bolton
978-779-5521

Nashoba Valley Winery is more than just a winery. The award-winning vintner also brews a variety of hand crafted beers and distilled spirits, and features a gourmet restaurant. There are over 20 varieties of wines, and the family owned winery remains dedicated to quality and is recognized as a premium producer.

Not sure which wine to buy because you can’t decide between the Blueberry Merlot, Plum and Baldwin Apple Wines? The tasting bar is open during all regular wine shoppe hours, and guests are encouraged to enjoy samples of our delicious and unique estate grape and fruit wines. A $5.00 fee includes a complimentary tasting glass plus five - 5/8 of an ounce tasting of any five of the standard wines.

Still River Winery

104 Bolton Road, Harvard
978-415-WINE (9463)

Unlike other wineries, the Still River Winery produces apple ice wine (Apfel Eis), which is made from a blend of apple varieties coming from Massachusetts orchards. Over 80 apples go into each bottle. Unlike most wines and ciders made from apples, Apfel Eis has absolutely no sugar added during fermentation.

Wade Holtzman, chief winemaker and co-founder of Still River Winery, produces apple ice wine year round via a pressing process that uses no preservatives. The wine is slowly fermented at very cold temperatures to preserve the delicate aromas and flavors. These complex flavors disappear if fermentation takes place quickly and at warmer temperatures.

Hardwick Vineyard & Winery

3305 Greenwich Road, Hardwick
413-967-7763

Hardwick Vineyard and Winery is located on a quiet country road that winds around the Quabbin Reservoir. With breathtaking floral gardens and mountain vistas surrounding you, our captivating setting adds a romantic mood for any special event or day trip.

Hardwick Vineyard & Winery hosts Sangria Sundays on their outdoor decking, with Red, White and Peach wines available. All six varieties of wine are available for tasting during the winery hours, Friday-Monday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Westfield Farm

28 Worcester Road, Hubbardston
978-928-5110

Award winning Westfield Farm has been handcrafting farmstead cheeses in Hubbardston, Mass., since 1971. The farm produces 1500 pounds of Capri (goat cheese) and two varieties of aged cow cheese each week. Capri offerings include both fresh and ripened varieties, flavored with peppercorns, chocolate, herbs or wasabi.

Crystal Brook Farm

192 Tuttle Road, Sterling
978-422-6646

In addition to producing fresh goat cheese, Crystal Brook Farm owners Ann & Eric Starbard produce 13 varieties of goat cheese, including two types of marinated of cheese. Honey, soap and goat milk are also available in the farm store.

Robinson Farm

42 Jackson Road, Hardwick
(413) 477-6988

Located in Hardwick, the Robinson Farm has been a family farm since 1892, and is now operated by the fourth generation. A diversified organic farm, Robinson Farm boasts four artisanal farmstead cheeses as well as grass fed beef, organic eggs, seasonal vegetables, yogurt and maple syrup. Cheese varieties include: Tekenink Tomme (tee-key-neek tum), Barndance, Robinson Family Swiss and Prescott