Balderdash Cellars
Balderdash Cellars
5
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About
Founded in 2011, Balderdash Cellars(R) is a boutique winery located in the beautiful Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. We focus on producing ultra-premium (wicked to New England folks) wines from grapes grown by world-class California vineyards. What about the name?? When we said we were starting a winery, everyone said that we were mad, obsessed, and should stick to buying wine (truthfully, it is much easier than making it) - but we answered, "Balderdash." As we sought to name the winery, Balderdash just seemed to stick. It also seemed like a good way to describe the stories behind each wine...while generally accurate, there may be some tall tales. Hey, what story isn't embellished just a little! The winery would be nothing if it were not for our volunteer crew. Dozens of family and friends put in many long days throughout the year helping with every aspect of the winemaking process. It's a lot of fun, but a ton of work. We can never thank them enough for everything they do, so we try to ply them with wine whenever possible! We hope you enjoy our wicked wines and tall tales. Christian and Donna Hanson Owners
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
88 reviews
Excellent
82
Very good
6
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Dorina E
West Yarmouth, MA5 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
We celebrated Father's Day and a Birthday at Balderdash. It was amazing- from the staff to the owners on site. The location is absolutely beautiful!!! The selections of wine is delightful, as well as the live entertainment. A nice place to spend time with family and friends. I would definitely pack a picnic or grab food there and make some memories. I will certainely be returning there again!!
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neildash1
Massapequa, NY269 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
We were looking for something to do after hiking in the morning. I had read about a winery before coming to the Berkshires. We looked at the yelp ratings and TripAdvisor which really didn’t do justice.
After going to 2 different addresses and finally getting in contact with whom I later found out to be the owner/vintner, we got the address of a mansion where they were holding the tastings.
The police were outside directing traffic into the mansion. Nice!
We arrived inside to see a large group of people sitting around drinking wine, eating cheese and crackers, AND listening to live music. Wow!
We went to the table and were given the tasting menu list. All for $9.00!!!
We tasted the first 2, white wines, which were absolutely surprisingly delicious. The Chardonnay has all the wonderful characteristics and nuances a beautifully blended Chardonnay should have. The Riesling was light and refreshing.
The reds started out with a blend, then a Cabernet, a Grenache, a merlot and finally a Syrah. All had wonderful textures and complexity a well made wine should have. I travel around the world to taste wines( and many other things) and was thoroughly surprised at the amazingly constructed wines at this winery.
The story of the owner and his wife is beautiful. I hope they continue to grow as their creations do.
After going to 2 different addresses and finally getting in contact with whom I later found out to be the owner/vintner, we got the address of a mansion where they were holding the tastings.
The police were outside directing traffic into the mansion. Nice!
We arrived inside to see a large group of people sitting around drinking wine, eating cheese and crackers, AND listening to live music. Wow!
We went to the table and were given the tasting menu list. All for $9.00!!!
We tasted the first 2, white wines, which were absolutely surprisingly delicious. The Chardonnay has all the wonderful characteristics and nuances a beautifully blended Chardonnay should have. The Riesling was light and refreshing.
The reds started out with a blend, then a Cabernet, a Grenache, a merlot and finally a Syrah. All had wonderful textures and complexity a well made wine should have. I travel around the world to taste wines( and many other things) and was thoroughly surprised at the amazingly constructed wines at this winery.
The story of the owner and his wife is beautiful. I hope they continue to grow as their creations do.
Written April 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hamppy1
boston27 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
My sister wanted something different for her bachelorette party. We rented a house in Pittsfield and while researching ideas came across Balderdash Cellars.
The reviews on Yelp led me to e-mail the owner Christian to set up a private wine taste testing.
The owners are the nicest people. We had cheese, nuts, and fruit with our wine tasting. We were told a story about how each wine received its name... making it such a personal experience.
My sisters friends made comments such as "this is the best wine tasting I have ever been too" and "the aroma of every wine is amazng"
Everyone walked away from the tasting VERY happy.
THANK YOU for such a great experience and we hope to visit you again soon!
The reviews on Yelp led me to e-mail the owner Christian to set up a private wine taste testing.
The owners are the nicest people. We had cheese, nuts, and fruit with our wine tasting. We were told a story about how each wine received its name... making it such a personal experience.
My sisters friends made comments such as "this is the best wine tasting I have ever been too" and "the aroma of every wine is amazng"
Everyone walked away from the tasting VERY happy.
THANK YOU for such a great experience and we hope to visit you again soon!
Written October 20, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan D
Delmar, NY22 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
Stumbled on Balderdash Cellars. (It is stuck behind a Subway sub shop). Enjoyed the wine, the service was great. There was an acoustic duo playing which enhanced the experience. Donna put out some local cheese for the patrons to enjoy. The atmosphere was fun with patrons interacting with one another and the staff. Donna and Christian were circulating making sure all were having a good time. Looking forward to when they open their new place in Richmond MA soon. In the meantime, we will visit again when we are in the area.
Written October 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry S
Port Washington, New York, United States24 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
I can't wait to go back. We went on a cold winter day, and were instantly warmed by the environment of this wine room. Beautiful barrels, great tasting tables, and all literally feet from the wine tanks where all the magic happens. The wines are fantastic - all created from fruit imported from California - no attempt to make good wine from bad local grapes, they bring in the good stuff. All the wines have a story, and the folks that work there are just fantastic. We spent time with the owners, and their passion for what they do was contagious.
Written February 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colette L
Boston, MA4 contributions
Aug 2015 • Friends
Whether you are a wine connoisseur or just looking for a fun afternoon, you really can't lose with Balderdash Cellars! The wine is absolutely delicious, and there is a fun story behind every bottle. The owners are incredibly hospitable, and the winery itself has a relaxed but classy atmosphere. I will definitely be coming back.
Written August 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sonny L
6 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Beautiful venue, great service!
Not only is the place gorgeous but the train goes through the property in front of the lake. Wines are fabulous and so are the hotdogs!
Not only is the place gorgeous but the train goes through the property in front of the lake. Wines are fabulous and so are the hotdogs!
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Destination532402
2 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
Love the atmosphere. Homemade pizza. Dog friendly. Local beer on tap. You can even bring in own cheese platter to enjoy your evening.
Written December 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cris P
Jackson, NH21 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
My husband and I were visiting the Berkshires and were curious if there were any wineries in the area to visit. Balderdash Cellars was having a wine tasting at the Colonial. We had never heard of them - but we thought we'd give them a try. What an AMAZING find!! First - the owners and workers were gracious, friendly, and knowledgeable. And the WINE...fantastic! We are both picky wine drinkers - we know what we like and it's not often we go to tastings and enjoy everything we try. This was the exception. We tried 6 different wines (whites and reds) and enjoyed EVERY - SINGLE - ONE. We bought 3 bottles and spent the rest of the time there talking with Donna and Christian the owners, got to meet her parents and sister Anna at the event (practiced my Italian)...and other folks who enjoyed the wine as much as we did. If you are in the area - make a point of stopping in. You will not be disappointed - actually - pick up a pinot noir for me! A worthy find in many ways!!
Written April 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie P
Uxbridge, MA81 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
My husband and I had a great time tasting Balderdash wines. The tasting was held at the Colonial Theater in Pittsfield rather than the winery, on a Saturday afternoon just before New Years Eve 2017. The live music was a nice addition to the delightful experience. The staff and owners are passionate about their wines and rightfully so! This small winery produces superb and tasty wines. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were my favorites and I left with a bottle of each. My husband isn’t a big wine drinker and even he was impressed. I enjoyed hearing from Donna, one half of the husband and wife team, about how the idea of a winery in Pittsfield came to be. Theirs is an inspirational story of love and pursuing your dream. If you love wine and find yourself in the Berkshire’s I highly recommend a visit to Balderdash Winery!
Written December 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, we are open Saturday 1-6pm and Sunday 1-5pm. Live music 2-5pm most Saturdays. Also, note that our address is 81 State Rd., Richmond, MA. We recently moved, but have yet been successful in getting Tripadvisor to update our address. Hope you can make it! -Christian (Owner/winemaker)
Written June 27, 2018
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