Flag Hill Winery & Distillery Review
Address: 297 N. River Rd. Lee,New Hampshire 03824.
Phone Number: 603-659-2949
Tasting Hours: Wed-Sun 11:00-5:00
Region: New Hampshire
Reviewer: Mark and Sonja
Review Date: 6/19/2014
Reviewer: Mark and Sonja
Rating: 4
The Review
New Hampshire’s largest commercial vineyard is located, well, on top of a hill, and with a flag out front. Fair enough. What it (arguably) lacks in creativity in a name, however, Flag Hill Winery, and winemaker Brian Ferguson, makes up for with diversity, creativity, and charm.
Upon parking, visitors might first get the sense that they are walking into a general store. A gift shop occupies much of the space, with a tasting bar towards the back where wine as well as spirits are tasted. While many New Hampshire wineries make European-style wines using European-style grapes imported from California, the Finger Lakes, and even Europe, Flag Hill sticks to the local varieties, producing wine from De Chaunanc, Foch, Cayuga, Vignoles, and a few other notable varieties that grow well in New England as well as the northern Midwest.
Although the main tasting room attendant was taking care of some last minute details for a rehearsal dinner on the property, we were well taken care of at the bar, where we sampled a spattering of wines. We especially enjoyed the Flag Hill White, a nice dry blend, and the Marechal Foch, which is aged in oak for eighteen months. It makes sense that a winery-slash-distillery would make good fortified wines, and the North River Port was no disappointment. The highlight of the trip, however, were the spirits. Grappa, moonshine, and spiced rum oh my! We eventually took home a bottle of maple whiskey to share on cold winter nights.
With large grounds for hosting special events and a friendly, hardworking staff, Flag Hill Winery & Distillery was an enjoyable stop. If you’ve fallen in love with New England’s twist on European-style wines, we’d hesitate to send you to Flag Hill, though you may still find something that you like. However, if you’re in a mixed crown of folk some of whom are grumbling about stopping at “another damn winery,” the impressive and delicious array of spirits at Flag Hill may be just what’s needed to change their mind.