Hermit Woods Winery & Sweet Mercy Kitchen — Attraction in Meredith

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...

Our visit to this location was an excellent experience. We only went for a wine tasting, and it exceeded our expectations. As they make very clear, this location makes wine from fruits other than grapes - so they are a bit unique. And all the ingredients are from New England, mostly New Hampshire.

For my liking, the wines are solid, but not excellent. That being said, they are definitely worth a try. With other vineyards I have visited, fruit wine translates to sweet wine. This is not the case with Hermit Woods. Many of the wines we had were dry and provided a very unique tasting experience. The host of our experience was amazing and had a vast knowledge of everything about each wine as well as the history of the winery. He was extremely friendly and contributed greatly to the overall experience.

At the end of the tasting, we did get to sample some of their cider. I thought the flavor was excellent, but the variety we tried suffered from some off gas odor. As someone who has brewed their own cider, I am familiar with this effect. The scent can be off putting. I think some people don't notice it, but if you know it is there, it is hard to miss. That being said, I thought the flavor was good enough that I would be interested in trying some of their other ciders. I know some of it is available in the New Hampshire liquor stores, and I do plan on picking some up.

So, this review is just for the wine tasting experience. We did not try any of their...

Visited The winery on my wife's birthday with another couple. They were not offering tastings, only offered flights, so we were more or less forced to purchase a Bottle. Only one choice of white wine available and very expensive. By the time you purchased the bottle and they add on a service charge, it was over priced . The wine was not that good and the service to bring it to an outside table with 4 glasses and a poor attitude on the part of the server was unacceptable. the outside table was filthy, the server cleaned on 2/3 of it with a rag. Very bad experience here, contrary to other positive reviews, i will not ever go there again. Ps had the server had a better attitude and there had not been a mandatory service charge, the gratuity would have been more than the service charge.Also, beware that they charged more than the posted price for the wine.the price for the 750 ml lakehouse wine was posted on premises and website at $38. we were charged $44.BEWARE. Since posting this review, i have been contacted by one of the owners, who explained to my satisfaction the reason for the poor service we received on our recent visit to Hermit Woods. Let me make clear, the winery is very nice, it was the service that was our main issue. it has been resolved and we will visit the winery again if we are in the area in the future, thank you for your attention to this matter...