Wine Club Release Spring 2021 - Hermit Woods Winery & Deli
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W INE T EC H NOT E S
2019 Heirloom Crabapple
Winemaker: Ken Hardcastle | 740 Cases Produced - 12.7 Alc By Vol.
A Story in Every Bottle
We discovered the delightful “Dolgo” crabapple years ago when I took a bite of one of the little red
apples growing on a tree in Bob’s front yard. The resulting experimental wine was outstanding, and
it has quickly become our signature wine. Further research revealed that the Dolgo crabapple was
brought to this country from Kazakhstan in the 1800s to add flavor to the hard cider being made at the
time. Our biggest problem now is sourcing enough of these apples to make more of this very popular
wine. Fortunately, local Stone Mountain Farm has planted many more of these trees for us and they are
starting to really produce.
Wine Notes
Produced from Dolgo crabapples and wild, low-bush blueberries. Bright, fresh apple aromas precede a
lively, mouth-watering, cranberry-like and apple-flavored tang; reminiscent of a cranberry rosé. Drink
2020-2022.
Pairing Suggestions
Enjoy this wine at all occasions, and with many different foods. This wine pairs well with just about any
food and especially well with roast turkey (Thanksgiving!) or chicken.
Farmers Notes
Three farms - Allison’s Orchard, Saxton, and Stone Mountain - supplied us with Dolgo crabapples
for this vintage. These farms grow a wide variety of heirloom apples and other fruit, and follow best
management practices ensuring the highest quality fruit. Chuck, our partner, has developed a close
relationship with the orchard managers over the years and enjoys the time of harvest. Our blueberries
come from Merrill’s Wild Blueberries in Ellsworth, Maine; a three generation family blueberry harvester.
Todd Merrill works closely with us to ensure only the finest quality berries, harvested at maximum
ripeness.
Vinification
The fresh crabapples are crushed and added to the right amount of water and sugar in one of our “super
tanks” used as a fermenting vessel. Blueberries are added directly to the ferment, then Lalvin D21
wine yeast is added for primary fermentation at a temperature of about 66F. The wine is then aged in
stainless steel tanks, with light toast, French oak staves suspended in the wine for 5 months, allowing
for extraction of wood tannins and flavor, all while enhancing the structure. Afterwards, the wine is
stabilized and filtered for a brilliant sparkle and a small amount of sugar is added for drinking balance.
pH 3.27 RS 3.25% ABV 12.7%
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
W INE T EC H NOT E S
2019 Petite Blue Reserve
Winemaker: Ken Hardcastle | 217 Cases Produced - 12.7 Alc By Vol.
A Story in Every Bottle
Years before the winery started, Chuck, Bob and I - as well as a small group of
friends we hung out with - would meet on a monthly basis to taste wine. At one
particular evening of wine tasting, Bob brought out a bottle in a brown bag and
shared it, and asked us what type of wine it was (other than red - ha!). All of us
enjoyed it. Some thought it was a pinot noir, but none of us could guess that it was
actually, against all odds, a dry blueberry wine! The next day, Chuck and his wife
picked a whole bucket of fresh blueberries and showed up on my doorstep with
them, requesting that I make wine like what we had the night before. Since then, I
have been making dry blueberry wines every season, and the results - our famous
“Petite Blue” and “Reserve” - have become some of our most sought-after wines.
In fact, in the 2017 November edition of Food and Wine Magazine, Petite Blue
was identified as THE craft beverage for the State of New Hampshire, beating out
all beers, spirits, and wines produced in the state.
Wine Notes
Petite Blue Reserve is reminiscent of some pinot noirs, perhaps a little drier and richer than many, with aromas and flavors that differ
from grape wines because this wine is crafted entirely from wild, low-bush blueberries.
Pairing Suggestions
We have found Petite Blue Reserve to pair very well with a wide variety of foods, such as savory quiche, stuffed mushrooms, pepper
chèvre, and herbed pork or chicken dishes. The wine is also delightful on its own!
Farmers Notes
Our blueberries come from Merrill’s Wild Blueberries in Ellsworth, Maine; a three generation family blueberry harvester. Todd Merrill
works closely with us to ensure we use only the finest quality berries, harvested at maximum ripeness. Our blueberries are the wild
berries that grow close to the ground across much of Downeast Maine; the smaller berries provide us with a concentrated flavor and
higher skin-to-juice ratio which give our wines the soft tannins we enjoy.
Vinification
To bring forth the fresh bright blueberry aromas and flavors married with deep richness and oak spice, a number of important steps
are taken during the vinification and elevage of this wine. Fermentation occurred in our two supertanks with pumpovers for maximum
extraction of fruit flavors and tannins. A special yeast strain from the Cornas area of the Rhone valley in France is used for its ability to
showcase the fruit. A small portion is fermented directly in a French Oak wine barrel which has been turned upright and used as a
fermenter. Pressing off took place at three separate times for complexity. These fractions are then combined and aged in French Oak
barrels for 7 months where they go through secondary malolactic fermentation. The wine is unfiltered.
pH 3.34 RS 0% ABV 12.7
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
W INE T EC H NOT E S
2019 Winnipesaukee Rose
Winemaker: Ken Hardcastle | 393 Cases Produced - 12.6 Alc By Vol.
A Story in Every Bottle
As you may know, for many years we have crafted our Heirloom Crabapple Wine
from special Dolgo crabapples. However, because of its color and flavor profile,
many people have believed this wine to be a cranapple wine. Well, we now have
a cranapple wine! When the drought-like conditions in the Fall of 2016 resulted
in an insufficient crop of Dolgo crabapples, it prompted us to craft a cranberry-
apple wine instead. This wine is also special because of the label: a local, famous
painter, Stephen Hodecker (www.stephenhodecker.com), generously donated
a painting for the label and we are donating 10% of all sales of this wine to the
Greater Meredith Program, a group of volunteers working to make Meredith a
better place to live, work, and play. You can learn more at www.greatermeredith.
org.
Wine Notes
A combination of two classic New England fruits: cranberries and apples. This is
reminiscent of a fine, semi-dry rosé. Drink 2020-2022.
Pairing Suggestions
Enjoy this wine chilled on its own or with roast turkey, smoked cheese, or even a vinaigrette salad. Also very good with Southwestern
black bean dip with roasted cumin.
Farmers Notes
The cider and Kingston Black heirloom apples used for this wine were sourced from Apple Hill Farm near Concord, NH. The cranberries
hail from a 3rd generation grower on Cape Cod, MA.
Vinification
To a fresh pressed cider we add fresh, chopped Kingston Black heirloom cider apples and chipped frozen cranberries. This blend is
fermented at about 65F with Lalvin CY3079 yeast. After pressing, light-toast French Oak staves are placed in the storage tank for
better structure and some oak tannins. During aging and racking, all transfers are done under CO2 gas to preserve the bright fresh
aromas. Bench trials led us to add 32.5 g/L of sugar before bottling for drinking balance. The wine is sterile filtered for brilliance and
stability.
pH 3.15 RS 3.25% ABV 12.6
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
W INE T EC H NOT E S
2020 Strawberry Rhubarb
Winemaker: Ken Hardcastle | 188 Cases Produced - 12.7 Alc By Vol.
A Story in Every Bottle
Such a classic New England combination of a fruit and a vegetable that both grow so well here and ripen
around the same time. With our focus on local ingredients, it was a no brainer to combine these two
and make wine out of them. For a more complex flavor profile and better color, we also add a few wild
blueberries to the mix! This wine has grown to be one of our most popular wines, so we have struggled
each year to make enough. Once again we make sure to have enough to share with all of our club
members. Enjoy!
Wine Notes
A fruit-forward, complex, rosé-like wine of easy drinking character, yet surprisingly complex. Drink 2021-
2023.
Pairing Suggestions
Enjoy chilled on its own or with just about any food. Especially delightful on warm summer days with
lighter, summertime fare, such as soft cheese and fresh fruit or a summer salad.
Farmers Notes
The strawberries for this batch came from a NH organic grower, Hemingway Farm. The rhubarb is a
special heirloom variety called Whitney from Autumn View Farm. Our blueberries come from Merrill’s
Wild Blueberries in Ellsworth, Maine; a three generation family wild blueberry harvester. Todd Merrill
works closely with us to ensure we use only the finest quality berries, harvested at maximum ripeness.
Vinification
This, like many of our wines, is quite complicated to produce. Ripe berries are hand sorted and partially
destemmed. The natural wild yeast on the fruit initiates the fermentation. This approach was inspired
by our trip to California wine country in the summer of ‘18, where we met the famed winemaker
Gideon Beinstock, who strongly encouraged us to use the wild, autochthonous yeast. Fermentation is
completed with a special strain of yeast, Lalvin DV-10, well known for clean fermentations that respect
varietal character. Bench trials led to the addition of 30g/L sugar for balance.
pH 3.18 RS 2.7% ABV 12.7
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
W INE T EC H NOT E S
2019 Deep Blue
Winemaker: Ken Hardcastle | 67 Cases Produced - 18 Alc By Vol.
A Story in Every Bottle
Many years ago, while researching historic cider making in New England, I came across the description of
‘apple jack.’ This is a hard cider concentrated by freezing: put 6% ABV hard cider into a barrel, leave it outside
during the freezing month of January, and a thick layer of ice forms on the inside of the barrel, concentrating
the alcohol and flavor. Reading this, I decided to ‘jack’ our Petite Blue blueberry wine. The result was a
highly concentrated, higher alcohol, intense and very delicious blueberry wine with port-like characteristics.
Unfortunately, we were not legally able to commercially produce a wine this way because this is a cryogenic
distillation process, not strictly a fermentation. Fortunately, we realized that instead of adding water to make
Petite Blue and then removing it by freezing, we can make Deep Blue, legally, by not adding any water. To
increase the alcohol, sugar is added during fermentation and is converted by the yeast. The result is similar
(and legal for our winery to produce!).
Wine Notes
A fruit forward, ruby port-like wine with deep rich flavors and engaging aromas. Drink 2020-2030.
Pairing Suggestions
Enjoy lightly chilled with dessert, such as chocolate, cheesecake, or blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
Farmers Notes
Our blueberries come from Merrill’s Wild Blueberries in Ellsworth, Maine; a three generation family wild
blueberry harvester. Todd Merrill works closely with us to ensure we use only the finest quality berries,
harvested at maximum ripeness. Our blueberries are the wild berries that grow close to the ground across
much of Downeast Maine; the smaller berries provide us with a concentrated flavor and higher skin-to-juice
ratio which give our wines the soft tannins we enjoy.
Vinification
To preserve flavor, the little wild blueberries are carefully cleaned and then deep frozen at the Merrill Facility.
So when we receive them, they need to thaw, which results in a nice slow cold extraction of the fruit flavors
and nutrients. In fact, many grape wines start by cooling the fresh grapes so that they can go through such
a ‘cold soak’ prior to fermentation for better fruit flavors. Once fully thawed, Lalvin D254 yeast is used to ferment the berries, as well
as added sugar for greater alcohol. This wine is not filtered and may have some sediment develop in the bottle over time but this does
not affect the wine.
pH 3.45 RS 5% ABV 17.7
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
W INE T EC H NOT E S
2020 Northern Berry Red
Winemaker: Ken Hardcastle | 190 Cases Produced - 13 Alc By Vol.
A Story in Every Bottle
While researching local sources of strawberries, we met Ben at Wayside Farm and Great Northern Berries.
Ben not only grows beautiful strawberries but he introduced us to the fantastic fruit of a certain honeysuckle
plant, called the honeyberry or haskap. These berries are typically deep purple-blue in color, oblong, barrel,
or flattened bullet in shape and contain high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C. There are many varieties
with names like Aurora, Keiko, Taka, and Blue Forest. Although we have produced a wine from these berries
for many years, called Honeyberry Wine, this is the first vintage where we have enough to include it in
our club release… and this is our best vintage yet and quite advanced over previous vintages, including
blueberries and honey. Enjoy!
Wine Notes
A complex, tangy, deeply colored wine comprised mostly of honeyberries, but including some wild
blueberries and local wildflower honey. I often think of this as a combination of the characteristics found in
our Petite Blue blueberry wine and our Heirloom Crabapple wine. Drink 2021-2024+.
Pairing Suggestions
Enjoy this wine lightly chilled on its own, or with robust cheeses, or a caramelized garlic, spinach and cheddar
tart, or leeks au gratin.
Farmers Notes
The honeyberries are a blend of varieties and include a good percentage of Aurora which is most ‘wine-like’
in character, all from Great Northern Berries in North Sandwich, NH. The wild blueberries are from Merrill’s
blueberry farms in Maine. The wildflower, raw honey is from local Hall Apiaries.
Vinification
Three separate wines were made this year and then combined. This allowed more detailed insights into the
various fermentation combinations and to have great control over the final blend. The largest portion was
crafted as we have typically done in the past: a pure honeyberry wine. A portion was also crafted primarily
out of Aurora honeyberries and wild blueberries, and the third, smallest portion was made as a honeyberry
mead, with honey replacing the sugar added during fermentation. Each of the three wines has its merits and flavor profiles. The blend
captures the best of each into a very complex honeyberry-blueberry-honey wine. The blend was sterile filtered and 20 g/L of sugar was
added before bottling for balance.
pH 3.45 RS 2% ABV 13
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
HERMI T WOODS
MEE T OUR CLUB MEMBER S
As you know, we are very us informed of Hermit Woods events, and
passionate about Hermit Chuck for your ‘worldly’ input. And yes, we
Woods Winery and take have a number of bottles of Hermit Woods
every opportunity we can wines on the rack aging and waiting for
to share our passion and that perfect time to enjoy them ----- which
our story with you, our is almost anytime.
most devoted followers.
We have regaled you Meet Jason & Elizabeth
with our travels, new “Izzy” McKinney
developments at the
winery, and all the Wine Club Members since 2016
wonderful people on our
We live full-time in Londonderry, New
team who help make it all
Hampshire, and are lucky to have a home
happen.
on Lake Winnipesaukee in Minge Cove.
Woods was in 2013 when we visited the
For this release, we thought we would tell upstart winery in the lower level of Bob & We discovered Hermit Woods Winery
your story, at least some of you. We asked Jerilyn’s house on Taylor Road. From that
you to share a little about yourselves, your first visit, we were hooked on the entire
passions and share some of your wine Hermit Woods experience.
experiences with us. Thank you to all those
who were able to take the time to respond The sincerity and personal touch of Bob,
to our request. We have enjoyed learning Ken, Jerilyn, and Maya convinced us that
more about you. there was more to the Hermit Woods
Winery than just wine. We have since
The following are your stories and a chance fallen in love with the entire Hermit Woods
for you to get to know each other. We got family of wines and, in particular, the
more responses to our request than we Dolgo Heirloom Crabapple, Petite Blue,
had pages to share. We want to express Red Scare, and Deep Red, to name a few.
our most sincere gratitude to all those who
took the time to respond to our request. If Over the years, our wine experience has
your story did not make it into our book, included trips to the Montepulciano region
rest assured, we will share it on our website of Italy, Long Island, NY, the up-and-
for all to enjoy. coming ‘coastal plain’ region of NJ, and
the shores of Lake Erie in PA and NY, where
Meet Judy and Richard they don’t grow Concord grapes anymore!
Hopkins Our bucket list of areas to visit includes
Wine Club Member since 2016 Virginia, California, Washington state,
Oregon, Portugal, or Spain.
Rich and Judy Hopkins are from Sterling
Junction, MA. We joined the Hermit The Hermit Woods team has always made
Woods Wine Club in September 2017. Our us feel welcome. Every time we visit, we
first and earliest experience with Hermit are greeted like old friends! Thank you,
Ken, for making the wine, Bob, for keeping
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968
HERMI T WOODS MEE T OUR C LUB MEMBER S
about nine years ago after we bought our enjoy would be 603 Hard Seltzers.
lake home. Meredith has always been one
Meet Richard and Carol
of our favorite towns on the lake. Wine-related story. Years ago, before Gerken
wine flights were popular, there was a
We joined the wine club immediately after restaurant called UnWine’d. It was a really Wine Club Members since 2016
we had our first tasting. special place. It started small and grew
Richard was born in NJ, lived on Long
over the years. It began as a wine bar and
Our favorite Hermit Woods wine is the Island, then in southern CT and RI as a
then offered food with live jazz music.
Petite Blue and Petite Blue Reserve. boy. We spent 25 years in the Chicago area
They had a vase and faux flowers on the
During the summer months, we have before relocating to Meredith in 2001.
tables. If you needed service, you took
been known to load up on the Strawberry Carol was born in Quincy, MA, and is a
the flower out of the vase and placed it
Rhubarb wine. It is a perfect complement graduate of Plymouth State University
on the table. The servers had a wealth
to a warm sunny day by the lake. We enjoy (PSU), which is part of the reason we chose
of knowledge about wine. If you weren’t
the Sparkling Crabapple Wine around the NH.
sure what to order, you could fill out a
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. survey of your preferences, and they would We discovered Hermit Woods while we
It seems we can taste the change of the suggest a glass of something for you. On were attending the annual Winnipesaukee
seasons through Hermit Woods wine. our first date, Jason and I were introduced Wine Fest one year, and Ken had set up a
Jason works in Finance. Izzy is a children’s to Gewurztraminer at UnWine’d.
book author. Under her real/pen name, After years of date nights and
Elizabeth McKinney has written two books trying new wines, Jason proposed
about her children with Jason. The book’s at UnWine’d, and a year later, the
titles are What Makes Me Special! & My restaurant hosted our rehearsal
Buddy Bryant: A Story of Friendship & dinner. Unfortunately, the
Dyspraxia. Both books donate their profits restaurant is now closed, but we
to charities locally and nationally. “What are happy we can continue our
Makes Me Special!” donates to the High tasting experiences at Hermit
Hopes Foundation of NH and My Buddy Woods.
Bryant: A Story of Friendship & Dyspraxia Things that we enjoy about our
contributes to the Dyspraxia Foundation experience with Hermit Woods.
USA. We love all the renovations. We
Had we considered another career had a wonderful experience with
tasting table in the area outside the event
path, Jason would have been a sports all the deli has to offer.
ballroom. Curiosity led me to the table,
broadcaster, and Izzy, not sure. We look forward to seeing the upstairs and and I was blown away that a fruit wine
hopefully hosting events. We have been could be so dry, flavorful, and nuanced
Our kids, wine, boating, hiking, skiing are
extremely impressed with the education when I had expected a syrupy sweet
our passions outside of work.
wine tastings that Bob has presented dessert-style wine.
Our favorite wine adventure was to virtually for Jason’s client events.
We were charter members of the Hermit
Cinque Terra in Italy. It was an incredible
When I, Izzy, have a girls’ weekend, Hermit Woods wine club. Richard belongs
experience hiking in between the towns
Woods is always one of our first stops. to several wine clubs, and the idea of
lined with family vineyards and tasting the
The knowledgeable staff clearly have a expanding our palate on fruit wines was an
local wine along the way.
passion for wine and make it easy to enjoy. eagerly anticipated challenge. Also, Ken
Our favorite wine, other than Hermit The environment is full of light and truly gave several different tours of his blending
Woods, would be Hoopes from California, showcases all that is Hermit Woods. experiments with wines (which were
Chardonnay from Rombauer. fascinating). The complimentary tastings
were an added bonus, as were the pre-
Another craft beverage we particularly COVID special wine tasting events.
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968HERMI T WOODS MEE T OUR C LUB MEMBER S
Richard has tasted virtually every style Barbara. We also visited the Veneto region We met fellow Rotarians and sampled
of wine that Hermit Woods makes. Both of Italy, where we became acquainted wines from the area. After the first day of
he and Carol favor Petite Blue (and the with Valpolicella and Amarone. When our tasting, I broke out a bottle of Petite Blue
Reserve), Winnipesaukee Rose, and the daughter studied in Spain, we had the and another of Sparkling Crabapple. It was
Sparkling Crabapple. opportunity to sample their fine wines. a blind taste test, and our fellow Rotarians
The fun is in experimenting with different were blown away after it was revealed that
Richard was a corporation lawyer in CT and grape varieties and styles of wine and these wines were not made from grapes.
IL and an Adjunct Professor of Business trying to match them with food offerings.
at PSU. Carol was a grade school teacher, Richard believes that the wine community Wine enhances the company, mood-
elected library trustee, and non-profit places too much emphasis on the high- setting, and food. Carol and Richard
business manager and fundraiser. end Bordeaux rather than enjoying other enjoy entertaining at home and serving
counties and regional wines. wines to compliment the food offerings.
Richard enjoyed his career in law but also The other thing is to experiment with
his semi-retirement as an adjunct professor Other craft beverages we enjoy. Craft beers different varieties and styles of wine. See
in college education. He is very passionate are an occasional treat but not regularly. what appeals or doesn’t appeal to your
about his work as a CASA volunteer Amber ale with pub food is great, but tastes. Don’t allow other so-called experts
serving as a guardian ad litem for abused Richard has no taste for IPAs. Carol sticks to intimidate you. Last, you don’t need
and neglected children in the NH Court to wine. to spend a fortune to find a wine that
system. Carol has enjoyed planning and you can enjoy. Try wines at various price
implementing conservation projects like Wine-related story. My maternal points within your budget, and make
Page Pond & Forest phases I and II, plus grandfather and namesake owned a your own decision on price/performance.
most recently, the Laverack Nature Trail at restaurant in Hackensack, NJ, as I was For example, use the NH Power Buys to
Hawkins Brook. growing up. He supplied my Dad with sample a wine that ordinarily you would
wines, mostly Italian, but I later learned consider too expensive and judge the
In addition to our volunteer work, we like that Dad stored them incorrectly in the
to stay active with walking, hiking, biking, results.
attic. My grandfather gave me my first
summer aquatics, travel, and enjoying our
family and grandkids.
taste of wine, but as a kid, it didn’t taste Meet Brie Stephens
too good. It was in my professional career
Wine has absolutely influenced our travel. that I was first exposed to fine wines and Wine Club Members since 2016
Several years ago, we took a Viking river gracious dining.
I am from Moultonborough, NH
cruise down the Douro River in Portugal. Two quick feel-good stories. On a trip to the
Sampling their red and white table wines I discovered Hermit Woods when my
Dominican Republic in 2019 to celebrate
was an unexpected treat as more emphasis brokerage was having a meet-up at their
our 50th wedding anniversary, our son-
has always been on their fortified wines Main Street location in Meredith. We were
in-law surprised us by ordering a bottle of
such as Port. In 2019, we traveled on a invited to do a tasting, and I was instantly
Opus One, which was phenomenal. Before
river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, hooked. I had never in my life enjoyed
the pandemic, we organized a dinner
tasting many wines and beers. We have wine. This was unlike any wine I had ever
with some close friends, and he brought
recently tried to schedule a cruise in the experienced before, and I finally felt a part
two bottles of Penfold’s Grange. Richard
Loire and Bordeaux regions of France, but of the “wine lovers” club.
cooked an Australian rack of lamb on the
the COVID pandemic has interfered with grill, and the combination was fantastic. I wanted to join their club as soon as I
those plans.
could. After my first tasting, I knew this
Ken taught me to keep an open mind and
Richard used to serve as a member of the was something new and different for me
avoid making preconceived assumptions
wine committee at a club in IL, where he to explore, and I wanted to take advantage
about fruit wines like those produced
had the opportunity to sample many styles of all the club offered and share that
by Hermit Woods. In 2017, Carol and I
and types of wine. He and Carol have also experience with friends and family.
attended a Rotary-sponsored wine tour in
visited several wine areas in CA, notably the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Santa
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968HERMI T WOODS MEE T OUR C LUB MEMBER S
ed just a town over now with my company Lake Life Realty
from me, so I don’t and Hermit Woods. I would have missed
have to adventure out on their awesome new deli and the
far! Hermit Woods many memories I have now visited their
is it for me! awesome space in town. I now provide all
my buyer clients at closing a voucher and
Other craft bev- wine key to visit Hermit Woods to claim
erages I enjoy. I their closing gift - a bottle of wine. I want
enjoy a sour beer! people to experience their space, explore
Twin Barns sea- all they offer and promote local.
sonal special sour
beers are great, as Meet Priscilla Merrill
well as Kettlehead
in Tilton. Wine Club Members since 2018
Wine-related As a Navy Brat and later an Air Force
story. I simply love member, I always find the question of
to share the wine where I am from challenging. I was born
with all that are in at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in
the area and with Virginia but moved at a few months of
visitors. Each sum- age. I would say my formative years were
mer, I like to do at in McLean, Virginia.
least a couple of
sunset cruises on
Favorites Hermit Woods wines are Win- the boat and host my own wine tasting
nipesaukee Rose (regular and sparkling, with the various Hermit Woods wines
strawberry rhubarb, crabapple, and the with family and friends.
cranberry cyser.
How Hermit Woods inspires me, I love
I am a Local Real Estate Broker how the Rose is partnered with the Lake
I love what I do, and it is, without a Winnipesaukee Association. I am big
doubt, my passion. The job is not just with giving back and think one of the
about helping people sell or buy prop- area’s biggest assets is the lake, and we
erty, but I get to share all the incredible must protect and care for that asset be-
things about the area in which I work, cause if something were to happen to it,
and that is one of the biggest parts of my the area would not be the same in which
job. I get to help promote my community we love so much.
and this beautiful area. I always felt left out when it came to wine
When not working in Real Estate, I love drinking. I never had the palette for it. I
to be on the lake in the boat. There had given up on trying wines, and then
is nothing like being the captain and hermit woods came along, and I had
cruising around the shores looking at never encountered fruit wines or honey I discovered Hermit Woods Roughly four
all the beautiful shoreline we have on wines before. I kept that open mind and years ago. My hairdresser, Brian Waldron
Winnipesaukee. gave it a try and still will try other wines of Christian Michael, waxed philosophic
today to make sure I am not missing out. about wine and asked me if I had ever
Hermit Woods is the only wine I enjoy, If I had not given it a chance, I would
and I am fortunate enough that it is locat- not have the business relationship I do
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968HERMI T WOODS MEE T OUR C LUB MEMBER S
tried Petite Blue. I scoffed at a blueberry favorite winery with incredible worldly
wine, but he convinced me to put aside art is Clos Pegasse in Calistoga, owned by
preconceived notions. He told me it was Jan Shrem. He came to the wine festival
amazing and not what one would expect. a few years ago at Wentworth by the Sea
I was intrigued and went right away for a spectacular pairing dinner.
rocking my new doo and bought a bottle
at the Concord liquor store, and he was What I enjoy about Hermit Woods, every-
RIGHT!!! I visited Meredith shortly there- one treats you like family. The shop is full
after. Love at first taste and later sight! of fabulous treasures, and the tour is well
worth the time. I love that it’s so informal
I decided to join their club after a tasting and genuinely kind. Beautiful spot too! I
and tour. have loved the Monday 4 pm gatherings.
My favorite Hermit Woods wines are Wine is the Nectar of the Gods. Enjoy!
Petite Blue/Reserve, Red Scare, Rhubarb, Someone on a tasting said to us once,
Cranberry, and the dessert one (blanking “chew your wine.” That has stuck with
on the name) as a special treat. me as I have learned to savor versus gulp
and experience all of the alchemy that
I was a USAF nurse, more recently a fami- goes into each glass. It’s meditative and
ly nurse practitioner recently retired. utilizes all of your senses. I appreciate
If I had chosen another career path, it those who make it possible with the
might have been an Archeologist or loudest shout-out to Mah Nature! Vine
Oceanographer, specifically a whale times ahead!
researcher. My other passions are hiking,
biking, kayaking, and skiing. Meet Mike Means &
Meghan Weed Heirloom Crabapple! Mike’s favorite is by
Regarding my wine-related travels, I
far the Deep Blue!
loved my trip to Napa Valley, though I Wine Club Members since 2016
was there for medical teaching course I am a Labor & Delivery Nurse, and Mike
We are from Gorham, Maine! About 30
USAF tour. We had a driver who didn’t owns his own Landscaping & Property
minutes outside of Portland, Maine, and
drink but loved the scenery. I also loved Maintenance company out of Gorham. We
10 minutes away from Sebago Lake!
the family reunion to the Finger Lakes both love our jobs and couldn’t imagine
and discovering the wine country there. I first discovered Hermit Woods Winery in anything else!
I never knew about Niagara on the Lake 2015 while I was living in Hanover, NH. I
until a friend took me after a weekend Outside of our professions, Meghan loves
found it with a group of my girlfriends on a
trip to see Niagara Falls. Lovely surprise! to quilt, hike, and practice yoga! Mike
girls’ weekend road trip! Since then, I have
loves to golf, snowmobile, and work on
introduced Mike, and we have been going
My favorite wine other than Hermit different woodworking projects!
to Hermit Woods together a few times
Woods is Napa Valley Chardonnay, of
each year! Our love for wine hasn’t influenced us to
which Clos Pegasse is my favorite.
travel outside of Maine and NH, but we
I joined the Wine Club after my first visit! I
I occasionally visit microbrews, but wine consider our “Hermit Woods Trip” a day
was sold on the roots of the company and,
is always my first choice. trip/vacation as we live about 2 hours
of course, on the wine!
away! It is worth the trip every time, and
Wine-related story. I was visiting Sterling
Favorite Hermit Woods wines. Wow, this we always look forward to coming to
Vineyards in Calistoga and partaking in
is a tough one! If I could say every single Hermit Woods!
the glorious sky ride over the vineyard. I
wine from Hermit Woods, I would! I would
wonder if that has changed with the fires. We haven’t ventured far from Hermit
have to say, my favorite “red” is the Petite
This was 20 years ago! Also, the picnics
Blue, and my favorite “white/rose” is the
among the mustard fields in Napa. My
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968HERMI T WOODS MEE T OUR C LUB MEMBER S
Woods yet, so I would have to say our I was born and raised in Grand Rapids, 30 years. She had a great pallet and an
favorite wine/wine region is still Meredith, Michigan. I lived in Bloomfield Hills, MI, excellent ability to identify fine foods and
NH, and Hermit Woods Winery! for 46 years before moving full-time to wines. We would travel to San Francisco
New Hampshire in 2017. in the spring of each year to attend the
We both love craft beers in addition to NASFT. While there, we’d visit wineries
Hermit Woods Wine! Living just outside I discovered Hermit Woods when my in Napa and Sonoma. Because of her
of Portland, ME, we have hundreds of daughter Cindy and I were in the Corner business, we were able to schedule wine
local breweries close by to us! Some of House bar in Sandwich, May 2018, where tours not available to the general public.
our favorites are Mast Landing, Sebago we met Bob and his wife. We went to One particular visit was to the Jarvis
Brewing, and Foundation Brewery! Hermit Woods the next day! We joined the Winery’s tasting and event cave into the
wine club right away. mountainside. It has been hollowed out to
Hermit Woods inspires us to visit, as going
to Hermit Woods is always a fun day road My favorite Hermit Woods Wine is Petite permit a large auditorium-sized seating,
trip for Mike and me! We live about 2 Blue. demonstration, and tasting area. The large
hours away, so we always plan to make a crystal chandelier dominates the ceiling,
day of it. While we love to come to drink I am a Management Consultant in the firm providing a subdued yet elegant effect.
the wine, it is always fun to experience I founded in 1987. Extraordinary!!
Hermit Woods’ atmosphere and enjoy and My life vision is for all people to discover, What I appreciate about Hermit Woods is
charcuterie board while there! live and share their unique genius as a the openness, friendliness, and availability
While we LOVE Hermit Woods and want gift to the world. I have dedicated my life of Ken and Bob to share their story, give
to tell all of our friends and family about to supporting clients, family, friends, and guided tours and spend one on one time
it, we also want to keep it our little secret others to do that. that they probably don’t have with us. The
as this is one of our favorite places to go added Deli is a bonus.
My other passions are hiking, camping,
together! We love Hermit Woods and kayaking, writing, reading, gardening, Serving high-quality wine in the
hope to continue coming for many years home repairs, engaging strangers in appropriate glass to enhance a gourmet
to come! We are also expecting our first conversations that brighten their day. dinner sends a welcoming message to
baby! While I can’t drink right now, we still family and friends that they are important
plan to come this spring to pick up our next My wine interests have resulted in travel to
and honored.
wine club box and enjoy some time away Napa and Sonoma Valley, CA, and Texas.
before our little one arrives in August!
Some of my other favorite wines are Meet Lynn and Matt
Meet Jon L. Greenawalt Bonfi’s Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva; Denette
Shaefer Fire Break; Grgich Hills Cabernet;
Wine Club Members since 2019 Malbec, Pinot Grigio. I also enjoy an Wine Club Members since 2019
occasional Angry We discovered the winery three years ago
Orchard hard as a Christmas gift from our daughter.
cider. One of our 1974 Super Beetles brought us
One of my there.
favorite wine We joined the Wine Club the minute Abby
stories is: My said we would get a discount on The Red
wife was the Scare, which had immediately become one
founder and of our favorite wines.
President of a
specialty food The Red Scare and Winnipesaukee Rose.
brokerage My favorite mead is Three Honey. Matt
business in
Michigan for
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968HERMI T WOODS MEE T OUR C LUB MEMBER S
loves Honeycomb. We have not found a didn’t know that for quite a
cider that we don’t love. Cyser is especially while. We just knew our wine
good. tastes were eclectic. We loved
that Bob would tell us that it
Matt is in IT and I am a ICU RN. Neither didn’t matter what he likes.
of us is particularly passionate about our It’s all about what we like.
work. With Ken, however, it is just
Matt traveled with a carnival as a young the opposite. It matters MOST
man. It was a wonderful job. He probably that we like what HE likes to
should have been some sort of tour guide. make! Matt loves aged Scotch
He loves planning adventures and plans and good Irish whiskey. I love
ten for everyone we do. English and Irish hard ciders.
Our Monday afternoons have
He loves kayaking, hiking, and biking. emboldened us to branch out.
We paddle and cycle tandem and do self-
supported week-long tours, pulling our My wine story is how my
gear in a trailer behind our tandem. I’m a Monday night Facebook
to come and wrote the year to consume
Scoutmaster for an all-girl BSA Scout Troop, ‘classes’ have enlightened us and
each on the bottles and who picked it
so not just hiking, biking, and paddling expanded our horizons. We toured 20
for us. We realized we were writing a
with kids, but getting them out rappelling, wineries in the Finger Lakes this fall,
story on every bottle. We installed a
ice climbing, shooting, and camping. I also and I tried all the unusual wines. Matt
200-bottle, climate-controlled wine cellar
make bobbin lace. I’m passionate about was exploring the Moet and Chandon
for Christmas and have started collecting
that. I want to spend time on a barge in Champagne in ‘70. It left a lasting
wines of interest or curiosity. Letting others
Belgium drinking ale, eating chocolate, impression on him. He savors a glass of
pick the wines for our library has been
and making lace. wine and fine cheese on the upper deck
most entertaining. At one vineyard, all
every evening as life on the canal settles
the wines were fine. We asked the tasting
We toured France by canal barge from down, often inviting captains from nearby
guide to select two cases of his choice
the Loire over to the Seine, to the Yonne, boats to join us.
and write his name on them to add to our
Bourgoyne, and Nivernais, exploring
We adore the “story in every bottle”. We collection so we can be surprised on a
wines and wineries all along the route.
relish stories that we get told by the staff Thursday night. That was a fun investment
Matt captains the barges we rent. We
and other guests at the winery. We enjoy in our hobby.
backpacked across England from coast to
coast on Hadrian’s Wall in our 50’s and stories on Mondays on Facebook. We
enjoyed local ales, stouts, ciders, and love sharing in your story of developing Thank you!
meads every day. In Ireland, we piloted and growing your business. We feared
We appreciate everyone’s participation
a boat up the Shannon from Limerick to for the worst with COVID and were
in our Spring Club Book. It has been fun
Boyle, enjoying distilleries, meads, and inspired throughout the pandemic by your
learning more about you.
hard ciders. In Scotland, we traversed persistence and optimism. Hermit Woods
the Caledonian Canal from Fort William was our bright spot in what will always Many more of you agreed to participate
to Inverness, doing the same and never be remembered as a bleak year. We are than we were able to fit in our book. We
seeing the Loch Ness monster. Local very excited to see our first show in the are sorry we were not able to include every
beverages are part of every adventure! We performance space. one of your beautiful stories. Those stories
have spent three vacations in the Finger not told here will be shared on our website
When COVID started shutting things down,
Lakes, and every day features at least one and social media.
we couldn’t get any meads. Bob offered to
winery, distillery, or brewery. We love to ship us some. We asked Bob, Ken, Chuck, Again, we want to express our most sincere
try all the local beverages, cheeses, and Jerilyn, and Abby to each select a wine thank you for being part of our club and
especially meats. or mead for us to experiment with. We allowing us to share your stories with all
Apparently, we prefer fruit wines. We ordered enough of each to enjoy for years our members.
hermitwoods.com | 72 Main Street, Meredith, NH | 603.253.7968You can also read
