Summertime wine is a state of mind. In New Hampshire, you can find it in the mountains, along the lakes, through the valleys, and by the ocean. It is the story of what is in your glass and how you experience it. Our member wineries have so many stories to pour for you. From new wine releases to wine slushies and wine cocktails, your summertime wine is waiting for you. Here are highlights of all these offerings, along with ideas for nearby happenings. Use them for your travel itinerary to visit our wonderful member wineries and to explore all the attractions and events across the Granite State this summer.
WHITE MOUNTAIN REGION
Summer activity options stretch the full season long in the White Mountains. You can enjoy gentle walks and invigorating hikes, panoramic gondola and train rides, park and aquarium experiences, gorge and cave explorations, live theater events, and more. Read on for the summer lineup of our 3 wineries in this region.
The bright, welcoming tasting house at Alpine Garden Winery in Bartlett, NH, reflects the beauty that will fill your glass when you visit. Owners Ryan Classen and Jamie Robinson craft their all-natural wines and ciders from grapes and fruits that are grown, sourced, and wild foraged in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.
From their artisan menu, Ryan and Jamie easily select their Helios and Daybreak pét nat ciders as their perfect summer offerings.
These zero-intervention ciders are made with all-native yeast fermentation, meaning nothing is added and nothing is taken away. They are dry, bubbly, refreshing, and – in a pair of words from the pair who makes them – “Pure delight!”
This summer, experience Ryan and Jamie’s pét nats in their lovely two-story winery space, located at their family-owned Alpine Garden Glamping Village.
Visit them for the day, or have an adventure in the White Mountains and book a cabin, treehouse, or tent site before you end your day at the winery and take a dip in the heated pool.
For outdoor adventures and cleaner, fresher air, head north to Lincoln, NH, where the Seven Birches Winery team has proudly crafted and poured in the mountains since 2010. Their grand new 10,000 square foot facility, complete with winery, tasting room, and club lounge, is located inside the RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain.
Their wine of the season is Solstice White, an unoaked chardonnay from the Chilean harvest. Named for the summer solstice, this warm weather sipper is a dry wine with a bright acidity, light body, and a balanced texture so smooth that owner and winemaker Mark LaClair has nicknamed it the “porch rocker” – perfect for rocking a hot day into a cool evening.
Unlike a more typically heavy-bodied, high alcohol, and oaky chardonnay, Solstice White pairs beautifully with summer fare, like salads and light proteins, especially from the grill.
When you plan your visit to Seven Birches this summer, be sure to check out Rhythm Tap & Grille, the resort’s new restaurant. It features the winery’s sister brand, Rhythm Cider, including Rhythm Cider slushies, which are back for the season. Before you leave, take a peek at the resort’s new Grand Ballroom, perfect for when you need more space for gathering your whole family or party in the mountains.
At White Mountain Winery, Ali and Bryon Gil are welcoming back their happening of the season – wine slushies! They are also looking forward to an exciting lineup of fruit flavored wines, aged in bourbon barrels, that will be ready for release this summer.
Fun fact: Ali and Bryon offer the largest selection of dessert wines available in the state, including port style wines and sweet, refreshing ice style wines.
With so many wines to choose from, their slushie season stays fresh all summer long as they unveil a new flavor each week.
Their wines are perfect for this fun summer treat because of how Ali and Bryon approach their craft. With 60% less sulfites than most processed wines, and no added tannins, their wines are super smooth, featuring more flavor from each fruit that goes into a vintage.
Whether you order by glass, slushie, or bottle, Ali and Bryon have a special wine experience waiting for you at their tasting room. When you visit, be sure to say hello to Doc and Goose, their four-legged companion dog and cat, and as you toast their motto, “Paws & Wine Make Everything Fine,” you can feel good knowing that all bar tips are donated to local humane societies in honor of the winery’s rescue animals.
DARTMOUTH-LAKE SUNAPEE REGION
This breathtaking region is packed with summer happenings. In the Dartmouth area, you can choose from outdoor recreation, museums, live entertainment, and markets galore. The offerings in the Lake Sunapee area range from a beautiful lake cruise to equally special activity and entertainment options for all ages. Here is the summer news from our 2 wineries in this region.
Ted Jarvis grew up loving creamsicle ice cream, especially during a hot summer day. To incorporate this childhood memory with his current passion for wine making, Ted made a specialty wine called Dreamzicle, an award-winning white wine with hints of orange and vanilla.
You can find Dreamzicle at Black Bear Vineyard in Salisbury, NH, where Ted, his wife, and his sons started their family vineyard in 2007.
With both indoor and outdoor seating, including deck and lawn seating, the 18 acre vineyard offers beautiful views of surrounding hills and trees.
The vista itself is worth the visit, though it pairs wonderfully with the Jarvis family’s hospitality, their exceptional wines, and the Black Bear Bites menu.
Starting at the end of June, the vineyard will also offer live music every Saturday from 2-4pm, and dates are coming soon for other summer events, including murder mystery dinners, comedy nights, and more.
Be sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram for all the updates. And when you plan your visit to Black Bear this summer, remember to mark your calendars for their annual Harvest Weekend this coming October 5th and 6th, an experience of wine, food, music, and local artisans that Black Bear fans look forward to and new visitors will surely be glad to discover.
At NOK Vino, owner and winemaker Nicholas (Nico) Kimberly says that his favorite summer wine is Pomme Pink. A fun, zingy rosé perfect for warm days, Pomme Pink is a delightful dance of apples & grapes that shines with grilled food, cheese boards, and good company.
Based in Concord, NH, Nico and his team specialize in growing natural wines with regenerative farming practices. Along with growing their own wines, they collaborate with vineyards up and down the Granite State to help new and transitioning growers revitalize their wines and move away from conventional farming techniques. The wines they offer, like Pomme Pink, are a reflection of their winemaking philosophy and of the joy it brings them to practice it.
The NOK Vino crew looks forward to seeing you and their fellow farmers at three NH farmers’ markets this summer. Visit them May through September at the Lebanon Market (Thursdays 4-7pm) and May through August at the Sunapee Market (Saturdays 9am-12pm). New this year, you can also catch them down in the Seacoast Region, May through October, at the Portsmouth Market (Saturdays 8am-12pm).
LAKES REGION
This exceptionally scenic area is infused with the character of its water. From the lively to the placid, you will find something for everyone, including water sports galore, hiking and biking, scenic gondola and train rides, live entertainment, dining, and the largest arcade in the world – not to mention our 2 wineries in this region.
At their Meredith, NH, winery and eatery, owners Ken Hardcastle, Bob Manley, and Chuck Lawrence think that the perfect summer wine is the one in your glass. With so many of their craft wines and ciders to choose from, they would not want to narrow your options to just one. Recommendations aside, they admit they are very excited about reintroducing their wine slushies this summer!
They also recently got their liquor license and are proud to offer specialty cocktails made with their own wines, including their version of a Negroni, a strawberry Aperol, and a modern Old Fashioned inspired by berries and walnuts. Visit Hermit Woods this season to discover your own favorite and to experience Sweet Mercy, the winery’s farm-to-table eatery, newly imagined by Chef Kaylon Sweet, former Chef-owner of Osteria Poggio in Center Harbor.
While planning your visit, be sure to check out the winery’s summer calendar of events, including live music from 3-6 every Saturday in their Wine & Beer Garden, where you can also enjoy farm-to-truck tacos from their new food truck. Experience Hermit Woods for the wine and food, enjoy the entertainment and community, and come back again – Chef Sweet and the three friend-owners look forward to seeing you.
Summer at Whippletree Winery is as unique as the names that owner and winemaker Lauren Barrett gives to her favorite recommendations of the season, including Aloha, Boozy Pink Lemonade, Sex on the Beach, Watermelon, Lime Coconut, and her new Orchard Rose Sangria.
These are just a few of Whippletree’s many creative and classic wines, all of which are minimally processed for especially smooth results, making the winery’s tasting house a welcoming place for visitors of every palate.
Tucked into the woods of Tamworth, NH, Whippletree offers an enchanting cottage escape. Its building is a relocated lake house originally owned by Virgil D. White, the inventor of the snowmobile. Alongside the ambience and fun awaiting you at Whippletree, Tamworth’s own local theater offers live entertainment just 10 minutes from the winery, all summer long.
From its plays and musicals to live musical performances and more, the stage at The Barnstormers Theater has been open since 1931, another reason to plan a special getaway to Whippletree Winery this summer. In fact, Whippletree donates all the wine that Barnstormers sells by the glass each season in order to fundraise for the historic theater. So visit Whippletree this summer for a tasting, head over to the theater for a show, and enjoy another glass of Whippletree for the arts!
MONADNOCK REGION
Nothing says summer quite like an outdoor movie, and this lovely region does not disappoint. From cinema in the open air to fairs, festivals, museums, dining of all kinds, and live entertainment, discover this area for all it has to offer this season. And of course, be sure to visit our feature winery of the region.
The warm weather has welcomed back The Summit Winery’s sought-after rosé wine slushie. This lovely summer cooler is a seasonal hit at the Westmoreland, NH, winery, where owners Darren and Judy Horn have 3 acres of their own under vine. They pride themselves on offering guests a taste of Granite State viticulture with locally-grown and hand-picked grapes while also sourcing grapes from all over the world, fulfilling their goal to provide “a world of good wine in your local winery”.
This summer, Darren and Judy are releasing their 2021 Pinotage. Made of grapes that originated in South Africa, this wine is fruity and smooth, with body like Pinot Noir. Before vintages like the Pinotage, Darren’s interest in winemaking began when he was a teenager with a bottle of grape juice and a packet of yeast from the kitchen. Today, his passion and skill are well worth a visit to the winery, both for the grapes he sources and for his dedication to the craft itself.
Darren and Judy welcome you to enjoy all their menu offerings in their historic and beautifully renovated tasting barn. Alongside ample indoor seating, a large deck offers the perfect space for soaking in the sun and enjoying a beautiful view. They also offer tent seating for those who want to be outside while in the shade. Just minutes from all there is to explore in Keene, NH, The Summit Winery also offers its own schedule of events, updated frequently. Darren and Judy look forward to meeting you!
MERRIMACK VALLEY REGION
Both New Hampshire and Massachusetts boast a ‘Merrimack Valley’. To differentiate, NH includes the ‘Upper Merrimack Valley’ (not to be confused with the ‘Upper Valley’ in its Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region), while MA includes the ‘Lower Merrimack Valley’. Whether on this or that side of the state border, your valley options in NH and those in MA both afford something for everyone, including proximity to our 2 wineries in the region.
Averill House Vineyard is embracing the spirit of summer with Fronteanna, one of their exciting limited release wines. Bursting with flavor, Fronteanna is the ultimate white wine blend of Brianna and Frontenac Blanc grapes, cultivated naturally on Averill House vines.
The Brianna bring floral bouquets and luscious notes of caramelized pineapple and mango, while the Frontenac Blanc add a zesty acidity for the perfect balance. Fronteanna’s refreshing flavors are lovely to sip solo or alongside a fresh fruit platter, and they charmingly elevate an array of summer fare, from Mediterranean and seafood specialties to grilled chicken and pork.
Visit Averill House to try this special wine on its own, as part of their award-winning Tour, Tasting, & Glass, or during any of their year-round events – including their Summer Music series on weekends and their Comedy Night every second Saturday, July through October. Summer is also the perfect time to grab a bottle of wine and the Averill House ‘charcuterie in a box’ to discover the Andres Institute of Art. Just 4 minutes away, its art and sculptures are seamlessly integrated into 140 acres of accessible grounds, where visitors are welcome free of charge, dawn to dusk, year-round.
And don’t forget about the Averill House red, white, and Zebra wine slushies that are as carefree as winemaker Bob Waite and his son and daughters hope you feel at their family vineyard. Whether you bask in the sun by the vines, find shade under the gazebo or big tent, or relax in the beautifully renovated tasting barn, grab your loved ones, furry companions included, and make it a summer to remember at Averill House Vineyard.
Summer at LaBelle Winery just wouldn't be complete without a glass of one of its wonderful rosés in hand. Founder and winemaker Amy LaBelle personally recommends LaBelle rosé wines for their delightful flavors and perfect balance.
Whether it is the classic LaBelle Rosé, the fruity Sangria Rosé, or the crisp Amherst Vineyard Rosé, each bottle is a testament to Amy’s passion for crafting exceptional wines.
Made with a blend of grenache and syrah grapes, these rosé wines are perfect for summer sipping, which you can do on tours and tastings at either of LaBelle’s stunning locations.
In Amherst, you will find a gift and wine shop and The Bistro eatery. In Derry, you can explore another gift and wine shop, LaBelle Market, Americus Restaurant, seasonal golf and mini golf, and the annual LaBelle Lights winter extravaganza.
Both locations also present a year-round lineup of events, and this summer’s offerings are no exception, including hands-on mixology and cooking classes, live music and concerts, and themed and interactive events.
A few of LaBelle’s special dinner events to look forward to include their Taste of the Mediterranean Wine Pairing Dinner (June 15th), Lemon Love Wine Dinner (July 13th), and Great Gatsby Wine Dinner (August 3rd).
Be sure to visit LaBelle Winery this summer for a season of fun, flavors, and these fantastic event experiences!
SEACOAST REGION
Named for its miles of coastline, the Seacoast has summer events to match. The 50th annual Prescott Park Arts Festival is famous for its free outdoor music and theater events in Portsmouth, NH (June through August). Also in Portsmouth, you can enjoy the Black Heritage Trail’s Juneteenth Festival (June 7th-19th). The Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic is always entertaining (June 20th-22nd). And coming to various Seacoast docks is the popular Tall Ships Festival (July 26th-28th). Our following 4 wineries in the region look forward to seeing you amidst all these happenings.
One way to tell when it is summer in Lee, NH, is that Flag Hill Winery & Distillery puts its special wine smoothies back on the menu. They use frozen fruit and blend it with their wines for a delicious and refreshing drink you can enjoy while sitting inside or soaking up the sun on their patio, which offers a lovely view of the vineyard. Set on conservation acreage with a backdrop of impressive pines, Flag Hill is a beautiful venue for everything from impromptu and elevated tasting experiences to planned gatherings and weddings.
Open every day, all summer long, the winery marks the pinnacle of its sunny season just a few miles down the road, where it collaborates with Coppal House Farm and its amazing annual Sunflower Festival. Flag Hill is sure that nothing pairs better with stunning fields of sunflowers than wine, and in this spirit, it has a festival station every year to serve drinks and food. So mark your calendar for July 27th to August 4th to visit Flag Hill’s table at the festival, and be sure to head just down the road to experience all there is at the winery itself.
At Squamscott Vineyard & Winery, the perfect summer wine is one of two rosés, the Seven Rivers Rosé and Seacoast Rosé. A chilled glass of either of these rosés is delightful on its own and also pairs wonderfully with appetizers, fresh fish, garden-ripe vegetables, and with the warm weather itself.
Both rosés make a lovely toast to summer, including to the foliage stretching open on the vine after a long winter nap and an invigorating spring.
Owners Bob Elliot and Bill Meserve welcome you to try their beautiful rosés and all their Blue Heron Wines that they grow and make at their Newfields, NH, vineyard.
Visit this winegrowing and winemaking duo this summer just because or for one of their upcoming events, including “Local Wine & Local Oysters” and “Yoga in the Vineyard”.
Open for tastings by the glass and bottles-to-go, Bob and Bill’s tucked-away, river-side location awaits you, as does their warm hospitality. They love sharing their wines and answering any questions you might have about their vintages and the stories behind them. Whether you are a wine connoisseur or newly wine-interested, you will be heartily welcomed.
At Lewis and Stacey Eaton’s family vineyard in Hampstead, NH, summer ushers in another season of ripening for their 100% NH-grown fruit wines. In total, Lewis crafts 27 different locally-grown grape and fruit wines, all inspired by his wine hobby turned full-time winemaking passion.
While any of Sweet Baby’s fruit and white wines are perfect for the summer weather, their all time summer favorite is their 100% NH-grown Farm Stand White.
A blend of LaCrescent, Petite Amie’, Niagara, and Aromella grapes, this off-dry, crisp, aromatic wine goes with anything from the grill and makes a beautiful glass on its own.
Lewis and Stacey also offer a revolving selection of wine slushie creations made from their fruit wines, which you can enjoy in their spacious tasting room or at any of their ample outdoor seating options.
In addition to the beauty of their vineyard and their adorable new donkey companions awaiting your visit, Sweet Baby Vineyard is a quick 20 mile trip to both the NH and ME coasts and a short 8 miles from Canobie Lake Park.
This summer, the crew at Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, NH, wants to introduce you to your new favorite wine of the season – Pineapple Mango! Sweet and zippy, this 100% pineapple wine, infused with mango, is perfect for serving chilled on its own or with tequila and a splash of club soda. Its tropical vibes are one of the many special offerings that Zorvino’s winemaking team dreams up for its Z Labs line – their inventive, small batch, craft wines.
Another Z Labs creation you won’t want to miss this summer is Field Day, made from 100% watermelon. This crisp, unadulterated wine has a true, vibrant flavor reminiscent of watermelon Jolly Rancher. It makes a beautifully refreshing glass on a hot summer day, and if you are feeling adventurous, you can try it in a glass of Watermelon Chili High – a Zorvino special made from their Watermelon Chili Lime seltzer mixed with Field Day and topped with mango slushie.
Back on their shelves for the first time in 2 years is another lovely summertime wine, Strawberry Rhubarb. 300lbs of strawberries and 150lbs of rhubarb were co-fermented to create this sweet, tart wine that is so easy to enjoy. And, of course, their always popular White and Red Sangrias will be available all summer long.
The only thing better than viewing their full list of available wines is visiting Zorvino’s tasting room and Bistro in person. With fun happenings added to its event calendar all the time, the family vineyard looks forward to welcoming and toasting you all year long as they celebrate their 20th anniversary.
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