Holmberg Orchards/Winery/Market

Corn field and apple trees
PC: Manuela A

Hours of operation:
- Orchards: Th – Su: 8am – 12pm
- Wine tasting: Sa – Su: 12pm – 5pm
- Market: Everyday: 9am – 6pm
Kid friendly: yes
Pet friendly: no
Parking: Turn at the sign, drive up the road and through a gate. Follow the gravel path to the large parking lot.
Bathroom: yes, in the big red barn near the parking lot
Outside food/drink allowed: yes, we brought our own lunch
Customer service: very kind and helpful
Website: http://holmbergorchards.com/

My experience: Saturday, August 8, 2020

What a pleasant excursion! There are signs around the property that clearly mark where to go. It wasn’t that crowded, which was nice. The parking lot is central and very close to the orchards, winery, picnic tables, food truck, and bathrooms. We wore flip-flops, which were fine through the blueberry and blackberry fields. It might be better to wear sneakers, though. Be prepared to be in the sun!

We started with the fruit picking a little after 11am. We were hoping to pick peaches, but that wasn’t an option anymore by the time we got there. The website did mention the time they were available or until picked. Thankfully we were still able to buy some at the market. We purchased the containers at one of the two stands and the cashier gave clear instructions where to go after that. Eating while picking was not allowed.

We started with the blueberry picking. A woman at the entrance showed us where and what to pick. There was plenty! After our pint was full, we followed the signs to the blackberries. Again, a kind woman gave us instructions before we started picking. The ripe blackberries were a bit harder to find, so I recommend crouching down and looking up and between the branches. See the gallery for other fruit picking dates.

By the time we were done fruit picking, there weren’t many people there. We brought our own lunch before wine tasting. I recommend bringing a cooler for your fruit if you plan to stay for the wine tasting. My husband and I both got a flight, which can be chosen on a sheet provided on the barrel outside of the small wine building. Only two people at a time were allowed in the building due to COVID. We sampled the following wines: Thamesview White, Bubbly Blanc, Harmony Peach, and Apple Cranberry. They were all very good. The Thamesview White tasted like an easy-to-drink white wine. The Bubbly Blanc tasted like a smooth champagne. Harmony Peach was my favorite! Apple Cranberry was my husband’s favorite. We also sampled the following hard ciders: Original, Rose, Honey, and Black Currant. Again, they were all very good. The Honey was my favorite. I expected the Black Currant to be a little sweeter, but it was still good.

When we finished the sampling, we drove down the hill to the market, which is on the main road. They had fresh produce, fresh baked goods, and salsa from their orchard. There were other local products including honey and soap. It was so tempting to buy the whole store! This is a must-stop if you visit the orchards, or even if you don’t go to the orchards. We got their peaches (which were so sweet), their blueberry donuts (SO GOOD!), their Ciders – Original, Spiced, and Honey (I will updated on my thoughts on the Spiced Cider), Harmony Peach wine, soap, honey, and their salsa (one of the best I’ve ever had and I can’t wait to try to peach one). You can’t go wrong here, but be prepared to spend more than you anticipate.

Long story short, I highly recommend Holmbergs. You won’t be disappointed. I already can’t wait to go back!