Take a tour of a thriving New England winery

When you think of the U.S. wine country you probably think of California's Napa Valley. The Nashoba Valley of central New England would never come to mind. Unless, of course, you are one of the thousands of lucky individuals who have visited Rich and Cindy Pelletier's Nashoba Valley Winery in Bolton, Mass.

Located in the heart of Massachusetts apple country, Nashoba Valley Winery is a stunning orchard-oasis, a mere 40 minutes outside of Boston. Originally discovered in 1983 as a 'sadly neglected orchard' in the charming town of Bolton, Nashoba Valley Winery is now home to a thriving business of tours and tastings, festivals, a wine store . . . complete with all our award-winning wines currently produced, regional specialty foods, and our new restaurant.

— From the Nashoba Valley Winery Web site

Winery, brewery, distillery, restaurant, "pick your own" The Pelletiers purchased the operation in 1995. At that point, it was no longer "sadly neglected," but had been revived into a successful orchard and winery operation. Today, the Pelletiers have dramatically expanded Nashoba Valley into a highly regarded, diversified enterprise that features the original orchard (which attracts thousands of "pick-your-own" enthusiasts each fall), an internationally renowned winery, a brewery, a distillery and a first-class restaurant. The 55-acre site is a popular setting for weddings, anniversaries, company outings, or, if you prefer, simply an hour or two of solitude in an incredibly peaceful rural setting.
Rich Pelletier: We were motivated to expand the winery and add a brewery, distillery and restaurant as a solution to pay off the debt we accumulated when we purchased the winery. In the near future, we plan to double the size of the winery. Right now, we attract more than 130,000 visitors annually.
Seasonal festivals The winery's bucolic setting is ideal for seasonal festivals. Annual on-site events include: ˇ Easter Egg Hunt (March or April) ˇ Music in the Orchard (June) ˇ Taste of Massachusetts (a gourmet food festival; August) ˇ Harvest Festival (September) ˇ Oktoberfest (October) ˇ Holiday Lighting Festival (December) All festivals are open to the public free of charge (except for food and beverage purchases).
Accolades Nashoba Valley Winery has earned more than 75 medals in national and international wine competitions, as well as recognition in Boston Magazine, Wine Enthusiast and Food & Wine. Notable awards include two State Championships at the 1996 and 1997 International Eastern Wine Competition, as well as medals at the 1996 and 1997 World Wine Championships. Nashoba Valley Winery was named "Best Place to Pick Apples" by the Boston Parent's Paper.	Menu sampling from J's Rustic Farmhouse Restaurant Breast of Lancaster turkey: Native turkey stuffed with tasso ham, Vermont cheddar, and smoked corn grits Braised red cabbage Sweet potato-pumpkin brűlé Orchard cran-apple chutney and old-fashioned turkey gravy Recommended Wine Pairing: Cranberry Apple
Rich Pelletier on Farm Credit: We use Farm Credit to help finance our expansion, for lines of credit and for major equipment purchases. They are awesome. They understand our business, and they are always available when we need them.

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Rich and Cindy Pelletier
Nashoba Valley Winery
100 Wattaquadoc Hill Road
Bolton, Massachusetts 01740
978.779.5521
Call 978.779.9816 for reservations
www.nashobawinery.com