THE BERKSHIRE WINE TRAIL

DRINK IN ALL THE BERKSHIRES HAS TO OFFER

Spend a sunny afternoon at one of these 6 Berkshire wineries

Balderdash Cellars in Richmond offers wine tasting with a view for those looking for a bucolic Berkshires experience.

Guests at Balderdash are welcome to bring their own picnics to enjoy while wine tasting, or stop by one of the food trucks often parked on the property on weekends.

PHOTOS BY GILLIAN JONES

Take a tour along the Berkshires wine trail this fall.

It’s the perfect time to sip local wines, enjoy breathtaking views and find your new favorite hidden gem along the trail.

Name: Balderdash Cellars

Address: 81 State Road, Richmond

Contact information:

balderdashcellars.com, 413-464-4629

The details: Winery owners Christian and Donna Hanson started this winery in 2011, moving from a downtown Pittsfield location to a more rural and bucolic setting overlooking Richmond Pond.

The vibe: Locals spend weekends here, perched on one of the red Adirondack chairs the winery provides, listening to live music with Richmond Pond as a natural backdrop. You’ll be treated like family here, at a winery that knows its regulars and quickly befriends new visitors. In addition to local musicians playing, weekends also mean food trucks on the property. If you don’t like what they’re selling, bringing in your own picnic is encouraged.

Sip worthy: Balderdash lovers like a pour of Giraffa, a bright and fresh Chardonnay, or a medium-bodied Pinot Noir named Joyride. Sold by the glasses or the bottle to enjoy all afternoon. A not-too-sweet Riesling called Tollbooth is perfect for an autumn afternoon. 

The Sunset Meadow tasting room in Sheffield is the latest expansion of Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, Conn.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER HUBERDEAU

Name: Sunset Meadow of Massachusetts

Address: 296 South Main St., Sheffield

Contact information:

sunsetmeadowvineyards.com, 413-248-1330

The details: Opened in 2022, the Sheffield tasting room is the latest expansion of Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen, Conn., just 30 minutes south. The vineyard was originally a working farm, dating back to the 1800s, which produced beef cattle and hay. In 2001, the Motel family established the vineyard, using their longstanding farm experience to transition to grape growing. They now grow 15 varieties of grapes on 50 acres of their 160-acre farm.

The vibe: The Sheffield location offers table-side tasting flights of five samples or wine by the glass, as well as small plates of local meats, cheeses, spreads and crackers. On Saturdays, you can sip wine to the tunes of local talent outdoors. While at the tasting room, be sure to pick up a bag of mulled spices or other wine-themed treats. Head south to Goshen to pick up a bottle of the winery’s ice wine.

Sip worthy: Fill a table-side flight with wines other than your typical cabernet, chardonnay and rose.

Two to try: Shades, a pomegranate-hued sparkling wine bursting with bright berry notes, and Pyrrah’s Decadence, a port-style dessert wine with hints of chocolate and caramel.

Name: Hilltop Orchards Home of Furnace Brook Winery

Address: 508 Canaan Road / Route 295, Richmond

Contact information:

hilltoporchards.com, 413-344-6817

The details: Part apple orchard and part winery, this family-owned business sits just next to the border of New York State. The 187-acre working farm grows 27 varieties of apples, which are used to produce the property’s artisanal ciders and wines. The vibe: Grab your flannel shawl and floppy hat, this winery hidden in a picture-perfect apple orchard screams Instagram opportunities. After strolling through the rows and rows of apple trees, stop by the store where co-owner Wendy Vittori is sure to be there to help you decide which wines or hard ciders you’ll want to try. Also, you may be there for the wine, but trust us, don’t skip the freshly made apple cider doughnuts. Sip worthy: Furnace Brook winery makes wines that range from sweet – like a strawberry rose – to your more traditional varieties like a Chardonnay or Merlot. We know this is a wine trail, but if you happen to be traveling with those who prefer a different drink, try one of the hard ciders in the Johnny Mash Cider collection.

At Hilltop Orchards Home of Furnace Brook Winery, guests can sip wines, pick apples or enjoy a freshly made apple cider doughnut.

PHOTOT BY GILLIAN JONES

Name: Hilltop Orchards Home of Furnace Brook Winery

Address: 508 Canaan Road / Route 295, Richmond

Contact information:

hilltoporchards.com, 413-344-6817

The details: Part apple orchard and part winery, this family-owned business sits just next to the border of New York State. The 187-acre working farm grows 27 varieties of apples, which are used to produce the property’s artisanal ciders and wines.

The vibe: Grab your flannel shawl and floppy hat, this winery hidden in a picture-perfect apple orchard screams Instagram opportunities. After strolling through the rows and rows of apple trees, stop by the store where co-owner Wendy Vittori is sure to be there to help you decide which wines or hard ciders you’ll want to try. Also, you may be there for the wine, but trust us, don’t skip the freshly made apple cider doughnuts.

Sip worthy: Furnace Brook winery makes wines that range from sweet – like a strawberry rose – to your more traditional varieties like a Chardonnay or Merlot. We know this is a wine trail, but if you happen to be traveling with those who prefer a different drink, try one of the hard ciders in the Johnny Mash Cider collection.

Les Trois Emme Vineyard & Winery in New Marlborough is operated by Wayne Eline, who spent 19 of his 34 years in education as a chemistry teacher.

PHOTO BY NINA COCHRAN

Name: Les Trois Emme Vineyard & Winery

Address: 8 Knight Road, New Marlborough

Contact information: ltewinery.com, 413-528-1015

The details: Owner Wayne Eline spent 19 of his 34 years in education as a chemistry teacher. These days, he’s traded his classroom for his family’s quaint winery, where they produce 13 types of wines.

The vibe: Patrons sip wines on the front lawn of the winery as local musicians play most weekends. During the summer, wine slushies are popular with locals. If it’s rainy when you stop, don’t skip the fun, vibrant tasting room.

Sip worthy: Pumpkin spice lovers have found their next favorite spice vice: Stingy Jack’s Pumpkin wine is the winery’s award-winning Cayuga White infused with pumpkin and spices. Don’t worry, for those pumpkin-spice averse, Stingy Jack also has a red blend or a sweet white.

Name: Home Range Winery

Address: 146 Flints Crossing Road, Canaan, N.Y.

Contact information: homerangewinery. com, 518-610-6821

The details: Just over the New York border, this winery’s roots are firmly planted in the heritage of four generations of the Bartlett family and the family farm. Raspberries, blueberries and grapes grown on the farm are used in the wines, and all products used are New York grown.

The vibe: This hidden gem is part outdoor music venue on the weekends and always part working farm. The old barn now houses the tasting room, where antiques are on display. And there’s always a farm animal nearby for the perfect photo opp. There are tables outside and visitors are encouraged to bring their own picnics.

Sip worthy: This is a small-batch winery that offers samplers of four options for $12, glasses for $10 and bottles between $23-$25.

Name: Hudson Chatham Winery

Address: 1900 NY-66, Ghent, N.Y.

Contact information: hudsonchathamwinery.com, 518-392-9463

The details: Wine enthusiasts of the Berkshires have been making the short trek to the Hudson Valley for this small, yet utterly charming, winery since it opened in 2016. In 2020, the winery was purchased by Steven Rosario and Justen Nickell, both graduates of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.

The vibe: Come taste some wines, or book an experience for a guided wine tasting with a curated menu. You’ll love spending an afternoon under the swaying trees on the property perfectly lit with bistro lights. And, the wine labels are just as pretty as the setting.

Sip worthy: Fall is here but there’s still time to enjoy some of their pink and orange wines, including a Rose Cider made with Ghent-grown apples. ■

– Lindsey Hollenbaugh and Jennifer Huberdeau