My husband Rich and I recently had the pleasure of visiting Hermit Woods Winery, a delightful spot in Meredith, NH, known for its unique approach to winemaking using locally sourced fruits and ingredients. The highlight of our visit was a wine-tasting session conducted by none other than one of the owners, Ken Hardcastle, who not only shared the fascinating history of the winery but also detailed their distinctive winemaking process.Ken’s passion for crafting wines from non-traditional ingredients was evident as he guided us through the tasting. Each wine had its own story, but the standout for us was the "Red Scare," a rich, flavorful red that perfectly encapsulated the innovative spirit of Hermit Woods.Ken’s engaging storytelling made us appreciate the complexities of each wine we tasted, enhancing the overall experience.Following the tasting, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at the winery’s eatery, which prides itself on its farm-to-table approach. I opted for the meatball sandwich, which was hearty and perfectly seasoned, while Rich savored the oyster appetizer, topped with apple and salt water, which he described as fresh and flavorful without needing any additional seasoning. He also had the pork belly sandwich with aioli sauce, which was equally tasty.The atmosphere at Hermit Woods was friendly and welcoming. The combination of delicious wine, excellent food, and the warm, rustic ambiance made our visit truly special.For anyone looking for a unique wine-tasting experience coupled with tasty, locally sourced food, Hermit Woods Winery is a must-visit. It’s not just about the wine; it’s about the experience, the passion, and the community. Thank you, Ken and the Hermit Woods team, for a memorable day. We left not only with 6 bottles of our favorite wines but also with great memories!
Jason B.
We did the wine tour followed by the wine tasting. The owners provided an excellent story of how they got into the business and how they make the wine. The vibe there is relaxed and has a nice clean modern look to the place. We sampled 10 different wines, and we had some excellent wines. Everyone was super nice. Bought some wines. Fun times.
Zachariah R.
Absolutely incredible service from Josiah during our wine tasting. Outstanding and original wines using anything but grapes. Beautiful scenery of Meredith, NH. surrounding you in a gorgeous area AND they do live music upstairs? It's perfect. I stand by my recommendation that a Vermouth made from this place would be outstanding and would be awesome paired with a Barr Hill Gin. But I digress. Just go already. We bought two bottles and plan to buy more. Red Scare is a must.
Jessica H.
Amazing experience! Josiah was so sweet and extremely knowledgeable. He exceeded our expectations! My party of 5 is from out of state and it was so worth the 4 hour drive! He even let me gaslight him and accepted responsibility with no problems.. he really knew the costumer is always right rule!!! I wish I could give 6 stars
Samara Gagne
The cranberry with mulling spices is so damn tasty. Keep it up!
Hannah Sussman
This place is fantastic for both food and drinks. I was here for lunch and dinner with my boyfriend and we loved it both times. He can't eat gluten and most of the menu was accessible to him and he had no problems after. The food is absolutely incredible and the wine is fantastic. The staff was incredibly kind and knowledgeable. The venue is beautiful and we were lucky enough to have dinner while they had a live pianist. Overall a fantastic experience (both times!) and an amazing option for those who are gluten-free (celiac safe).
Lucia M.
Absolutely amazing ciders and above and beyond customer service! Don't miss this absolute gem of a winery!!
Zane Leadley
Delicious wine and great hospitality. We got a free tour from Bob, co-owner and had a great chat during our tasting with Matt, our bartender. Anyone who is in the area would be missing out if they skipped Hermit Woods! We’ll be back!
Devin E.
This place is easily one of the best restaurants in Meredith, if not the Lakes Region. Centrally located with outdoor seating, their flatbreads and salads (however pricey) have never disappointed. It's been a long while since I've sampled their wine selection (jumped back on the wagon as a 2024 new year's resolution), but I do remember each glass being quite good (coming from a non-connoisseur...) All in all, a great place to stop at whenever I visit the area.
Melissa W.
The wine, service and ambiance were great, and the food was even better!! One of the best meals we've had in a long time- definitely recommend.
INCREDIBLE FRUIT WINE. Best we have ever had, hands down. I enjoyed everything they had served us during the tasting. The service was incredible. We even go a tour from Ben. Matt was an amazing server. Would highly recommend the overall experience.
Maria D.
Great wine tasting experience on a Saturday in November, also had a tour of the winery, will be back!
Mick O.
Wine day with the girls. Wine, wine, wine, yummy! The husbands were out skiing so we decided to visit our friend Malbec out in Meredith. Can't recommend enough. Go Bruins!
Monica Keeley
My family and I went for the tour and tasting. Very affordable at $25/ticket and included 6 wines to taste from a selection of 10. This was a great experience. We met Bob and Ken, two of the three co-founders and they were very personable and happy to share their story and knowledge. The whole staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, they helped us find favorites and we brought many home! The wines offered are a unique take on traditional wines made of local pesticide free fruits! Great place for small meals and events as well as they offer shows!
Kathy M
Loved this winery. Very classy space. Bar area for tastings on the first floor along with gifts and cheeses to purchase. The second floor houses tables in case you want to order food. We had just stopped by for a tasting and were pleasantly surprised that their fruit wines were not all sweet! They paired the wine with some local cheese and chocolate. Would definitely return here. Cheers!
My husband Rich and I recently had the pleasure of visiting Hermit Woods Winery, a delightful spot in Meredith, NH, known for its unique approach to winemaking using locally sourced fruits and ingredients. The highlight of our visit was a wine-tasting session conducted by none other than one of the owners, Ken Hardcastle, who not only shared the fascinating history of the winery but also detailed their distinctive winemaking process.Ken’s passion for crafting wines from non-traditional ingredients was evident as he guided us through the tasting. Each wine had its own story, but the standout for us was the "Red Scare," a rich, flavorful red that perfectly encapsulated the innovative spirit of Hermit Woods.Ken’s engaging storytelling made us appreciate the complexities of each wine we tasted, enhancing the overall experience.Following the tasting, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at the winery’s eatery, which prides itself on its farm-to-table approach. I opted for the meatball sandwich, which was hearty and perfectly seasoned, while Rich savored the oyster appetizer, topped with apple and salt water, which he described as fresh and flavorful without needing any additional seasoning. He also had the pork belly sandwich with aioli sauce, which was equally tasty.The atmosphere at Hermit Woods was friendly and welcoming. The combination of delicious wine, excellent food, and the warm, rustic ambiance made our visit truly special.For anyone looking for a unique wine-tasting experience coupled with tasty, locally sourced food, Hermit Woods Winery is a must-visit. It’s not just about the wine; it’s about the experience, the passion, and the community. Thank you, Ken and the Hermit Woods team, for a memorable day. We left not only with 6 bottles of our favorite wines but also with great memories!
We did the wine tour followed by the wine tasting. The owners provided an excellent story of how they got into the business and how they make the wine. The vibe there is relaxed and has a nice clean modern look to the place. We sampled 10 different wines, and we had some excellent wines. Everyone was super nice. Bought some wines. Fun times.
Absolutely incredible service from Josiah during our wine tasting. Outstanding and original wines using anything but grapes. Beautiful scenery of Meredith, NH. surrounding you in a gorgeous area AND they do live music upstairs? It's perfect. I stand by my recommendation that a Vermouth made from this place would be outstanding and would be awesome paired with a Barr Hill Gin. But I digress. Just go already. We bought two bottles and plan to buy more. Red Scare is a must.
Amazing experience! Josiah was so sweet and extremely knowledgeable. He exceeded our expectations! My party of 5 is from out of state and it was so worth the 4 hour drive! He even let me gaslight him and accepted responsibility with no problems.. he really knew the costumer is always right rule!!! I wish I could give 6 stars
The cranberry with mulling spices is so damn tasty. Keep it up!
This place is fantastic for both food and drinks. I was here for lunch and dinner with my boyfriend and we loved it both times. He can't eat gluten and most of the menu was accessible to him and he had no problems after. The food is absolutely incredible and the wine is fantastic. The staff was incredibly kind and knowledgeable. The venue is beautiful and we were lucky enough to have dinner while they had a live pianist. Overall a fantastic experience (both times!) and an amazing option for those who are gluten-free (celiac safe).
Absolutely amazing ciders and above and beyond customer service! Don't miss this absolute gem of a winery!!
Delicious wine and great hospitality. We got a free tour from Bob, co-owner and had a great chat during our tasting with Matt, our bartender. Anyone who is in the area would be missing out if they skipped Hermit Woods! We’ll be back!
This place is easily one of the best restaurants in Meredith, if not the Lakes Region. Centrally located with outdoor seating, their flatbreads and salads (however pricey) have never disappointed. It's been a long while since I've sampled their wine selection (jumped back on the wagon as a 2024 new year's resolution), but I do remember each glass being quite good (coming from a non-connoisseur...) All in all, a great place to stop at whenever I visit the area.
The wine, service and ambiance were great, and the food was even better!! One of the best meals we've had in a long time- definitely recommend.
Restaurantji Recommends
INCREDIBLE FRUIT WINE. Best we have ever had, hands down. I enjoyed everything they had served us during the tasting. The service was incredible. We even go a tour from Ben. Matt was an amazing server. Would highly recommend the overall experience.
Great wine tasting experience on a Saturday in November, also had a tour of the winery, will be back!
Wine day with the girls. Wine, wine, wine, yummy! The husbands were out skiing so we decided to visit our friend Malbec out in Meredith. Can't recommend enough. Go Bruins!
My family and I went for the tour and tasting. Very affordable at $25/ticket and included 6 wines to taste from a selection of 10. This was a great experience. We met Bob and Ken, two of the three co-founders and they were very personable and happy to share their story and knowledge. The whole staff was incredibly helpful and friendly, they helped us find favorites and we brought many home! The wines offered are a unique take on traditional wines made of local pesticide free fruits! Great place for small meals and events as well as they offer shows!
Loved this winery. Very classy space. Bar area for tastings on the first floor along with gifts and cheeses to purchase. The second floor houses tables in case you want to order food. We had just stopped by for a tasting and were pleasantly surprised that their fruit wines were not all sweet! They paired the wine with some local cheese and chocolate. Would definitely return here. Cheers!