Shalom Orchard

Shalom Orchard is an organic fruit winery in Franklin, Maine, founded in 2000 by Jim Baranski and Charlotte Young. It was established as the first organic winery on the East Coast to focus on fruit and honey wines, and all wines are made from organic fruit grown on the farm or sourced from nearby local organic farms. The winery is certified organic by MOFGA under NOP standards and does not use sulfites or other chemicals. The wines are dry rather than sweet, with specialties including blueberry, apple, and pear, plus smaller productions of cranberry, kiwi, rhubarb, honey mead, maple, and wintergreen. Each bottle is produced by hand on the working farm, from harvest through fermentation to labeling and wax sealing. The tasting room sits on an 1800s homestead high on a ridge with panoramic views of Frenchman Bay, Mount Desert, and the surrounding hills. Visitors can taste wines, explore the orchard and farm, and take guided tours led by Jim and Charlotte, who share the history and winemaking process. The tasting room is open Tuesday through Sunday from May through October; winter visits are by appointment.

Written by Ava from public sources. Not written or reviewed by the winery.