Epicurean pleasures are part of the foundation of our hospitality here at Chateau Merrimack Resort & Spa, and, as we like to say, fine wine’s in our DNA. Oenophiles love our 60,000-bottle-strong wine cellar, The Vault. And our on-site restaurant, Pino Mediterranean Steakhouse, offers a full menu not only of wine but also craft beer and other refreshments.
In other words, you’ve got plenty of high-quality libations to enjoy right here at our resort in the Merrimack Valley. But our location also provides the perfect springboard for touring some of the region’s wineries, tasting rooms, and craft breweries.
Here’s a look at just some of the options on that front in and near the Merrimack Valley, all of them easily reached from our serene spread here at Chateau Merrimack!
Modest Roots Brewery (45 Middlesex Rd, Tyngsborough, MA)
Situated right here in Tyngsborough, MA, the family-owned and family-run Modest Roots Brewery is mere minutes away from Chateau Merrimack Resort & Spa. This small-batch nanobrewery makes some really fantastic beer: from the Mob of Emus IPA and Take a Chance Cream Ale to the Suzy is a Headbanger Stout and Road to Nowhere Pale Ale.
The taproom over at Modest Roots Brewery is as friendly and inviting as you could ask for, popular among locals and out-of-towners alike.
Epigram Brew Co. (394 Middlesex Rd, Tyngsborough, MA)
Another great Tyngsborough craft brewery, Epigram Brew Co. boasts a 15,000-square-foot facility that churns out such winners as the Temptation New England IPA, Eternity in an Hour New England Double IPA, Opportunity Kölsch, Divine Milk Stout, and Prickly Pear Peach Metamorphose Fruited Sour.
Epigram Brew Co. also offers a full pub-style menu that includes wings, pretzels, burgers, wraps, salads, and pizzas.
Nashoba Valley Winery, Distillery, and Brewery (100 Wattaquadock Hill Rd, Bolton, MA)
This must-visit operation’s three-pronged name reveals its multifaceted appeal. Better than 60 acres are farmed here, including a vineyard and orchard growing heirloom apples. Nashoba Valley Winery itself got its start back in 1983, and now produces nearly 40 different kinds of wine: from classics such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay to the Amora – Blackberry Port-style Wine, the Blueberry Merlot, the Baldwin Apple Wine, and the Artemisia Dry Vermouth.
In 2004, Bolton Beer Works launched within the Nashoba Valley Spirits umbrella, producing craft brews (including the flagships Bolt 117 American-style lager and New England-style Mother Apple IPA) as well as hard ciders.
And, yes, there’s a distillery on site as well: Nashoba Valley Spirits, producing everything from a single-malt whiskey to pear brandy.
Throw in the eatery on the grounds as well (J’s Restaurant), and you’ve got quite the draw for anyone looking to sample some of the region’s rich array of fermented beverages. And it awaits you only about a half-hour away from Chateau Merrimack!
Aaronap Cellars (28 Carlisle Rd, Westford, MA)
A mere 20 minutes or so from our resort and spa, Aaronap Cellars is a 2011-established microwinery specializing in small-volume artisinal wines: reds, whites, rosés, and dessert wines among them.
Aaronap Cellars winemaker Noel Powell utilizes meticulously selected grapes and fruits from top-quality vineyards, orchards, and other supplies across New England and elsewhere; partner vineyards in Massachusetts include Chace Hill Vineyard in Lancaster and Coastal Vineyards in South Dartmouth. The maple syrup, meanwhile, for Aaronap’s Famous Gold Maple Wine hails from the Berkshires sugarbush of Dufresne Sugar House.
Navigation Brewing Co. (122 Western Ave, Lowell MA)
Fabulous craft beers—pale ales, IPAs, Belgian-style brews, Hefeweizens, summer sales, barleywines, a knockout Milk Stout—await you at Navigation Brewing in nearby Lowell. Settle in at the taproom to enjoy samples, tasting flights, full pint pours, growlers fill, and to-go cans, and consider taking the brief tour of the brewery operations.
In warmer weather, it’s hard to beat the pleasures of the outdoor beer patio, where you’ll have a hard time resisting getting a cornhole game going…
Marble Ridge Winery (11 Marbleridge Rd, North Andover, MA)
Set on the lovely acreage of the historic Marble Ridge Farm, established way back in 1680 and roughly a half-hour east of Tyngsborough, Marble Ridge Winery produces small-batch craft wines from sustainably grown California grapes. You’d be smart to make a reservation to enjoy a tasting here, sampling such styles as Cabernet Sauvignon, Sparking Rosé, Riesling, and Chardonnay.
Merrimack Ales (92 Bolt St, Lowell, MA)
Another fine Lowell-based craft brewery, Merrimack Ales produces a diversity of sensational suds out of its 6,000-square-foot facility. The current lineup of beers being poured at the Merrimack Ales taproom suggests the creative and playful spirit here: Strike Zone Blonde Ale, Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout, Cheatah Double IPA, Vanilla Coconut Cream Ale, Who is Keyser Gose?, and Whatta Melon Ale.
Broken Creek Vineyard & Winery (614 S St, Shrewsbury, MA)
A bit farther afield, but still less than an hour’s drive from Chateau Merrimack Resort & Spa, the family-owned Broken Creek Vineyard & Winery produces its vino on 40 handsome acres in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
Those products range from a variety of reds and wines to various Special Edition wines, currently among them Blush (a blend of Petite Pearl and Cayuga White grapes), Raspberry Frost (ideal for the holiday season), and Rose, made from South African Pinotage grapes.
Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. (31 Columbia Cir, Merrimack, NH)
Just a short drive over the New Hampshire border, Able Ebenezer Brewing Co. is another must-try regional craft brewery. Named for Ebenezer Mudgett and his fellow New Hampshire citizens who resisted the Pine Tree Law imposed by the British on the colonies, this veteran-owned and operated brewery whips up such fine craft beers as the Veterans Blend New England IPA, Burn the Ships Cherrywood Smoked IPA, and Lady of the Lake New England Lager.
Enjoy in the taproom or out in the heated outdoor beer garden, and take advantage of the regular lineup of food trucks swinging by.
Other Regional Craft Breweries & Wineries to Check Out on a Getaway at Chateau Merrimack Resort & Spa
Starstudded as the above list is, we’ve still only scratched the surface when it comes to breweries, taphouses, and wineries within easy day-tripping reach of Chateau Merrimack Resort & Spa. There are plenty of other great places to try if you’re a lover of craft beer, a devoted oenophile, or both during your stay. Here are just a few others to check out:
- Talespinner Brewery (57 Factory St Ste B, Nashua, NH)
- Millyard Brewery (25 E Otterson St, Nashua, NH)
- Spyglass Brewing Co. (306 Innovative Way, Nashua, NH)
- Tree House Brewing Co. (129 Sturbridge Rd, Charlton, MA)
- Zorvino Vineyards (226 Main St, Sandown, NH)
Experience Our Region’s Craft Beer & Fine Wine While Enjoying Luxury Hospitality at Chateau Merrimack
Book your getaway to Chateau Merrimack Resort & Spa along the Merrimack River in Tyngsborough, MA, and sip some wonderful locally made wine and craft beer while you do—including right here at our upscale countryside retreat!