Wow, where do I start... this place, wine, and people are all truly wonderful…read more the place: if you're a 5-star kind of person, you may not feel overly impressed with the space. if you are a real, authentic person who enjoys farming, organic foods, and can appreciate a hard working man's labor of love - you will LOVE the property. It's a "working farm", meaning it's not all polished up for the masses like some other wineries. This is Jim's home, his working orchard, his place of fermentation, bottling etc. And, you get to feel all cozy in rustic barn he built while he describes his organic wines with passion, a true passion that comes from many years of experience making wine and serving others with love. the wine: goodness, it's delicious. It's not the super sweet syrupy kind of fruit wine that you may come to expect, it's still sweet, but far less sweet, and drier. it actually tastes like wine, not a fruit drink. it is DELICIOUS! and evidently, it is the ONLY organic fruit winery on the east coast!!! THAT is wild... why can't they all use fruit without chemicals and pesticides...?!? But, I guess that's Jim's advantage. We tried every one he had, and none disappointed. Blueberry, Cider, Rhubarb, Kiwi and Honey Mead. He had a few others in works, but not ready yet. Man, they were all seriously good. the people: Jim is basically a one-man show. His wife is a super sweet lady, who also had her own winery back in the day (pre-Jim), so her expertise and wisdom I am sure has a major influence on the quality of their wines. That said, her health hasn't been the best in recent times so Jim is juggling a lot helping her and tending to all that needs to be done with his winery. It truly is a labor of love, and it shows. Ask him about the history of his home, how half of it was brought in across the iced over lake by oxen over 100 years ago. Or about the barn that the tasting room sits in, the one he built with his own hands. Or about what makes his wines different and superior than anything else you'll find. He will carefully tell the rich stories, lending to a remarkable experience you will cherish and remember for years to come. I HIGHLY recommend checking out Shalom farms if in the area. It is very worth the visit. You too will walk away with a sense of "Shalom" knowing you're doing your body good with true organic wine, and your soul good by supporting such a beautiful family.

We had some friends who are wine and cidermakers visiting us from NH so we wandered over to Shalom…read moreon a whim. Wanting to stay away from overly sweet blueberry wine, we settled on Shalom orchard, which is in Franklin. The drive there is beautiful, winding & hilly off coastal route 1 through farmland, and blueberry feilds, past a tidal marshland. When we arrived we were greeted by the sweetest dogs. Then Mathias took us through a tasting explaining the types of varietals of fruit in each bottle and the process of making them, all while seated in a beautiful cozy tasting room made of big post and beam Timbers with a funky retro kitchen. It felt like being welcomed into someone's home. We got a bit of new school Honey in The Rock ciders and old school Shalom. One criticism-- it would be nice to have an outdoor tasting room or screen porch there to enjoy the grounds, which are beautiful and rustic overlooking a special part of Downeast maine off the beaten track of touristy lobster pots and fishing boats dotting harbors. If you're looking for a stuffy wine expert or perfectly manicured orchard and garden, look elsewhere. This is real Downeast maine. And the cider speaks for itself. These guys the new cider makers there are ushering in a new creative rebirth of Shalom's operation-- they are young but very talented. But expect no frills, and be open minded for an educational experience. Do take home a bottle or two of cider at the very least to support this local business. Especially if you just spent $30 on a lobster roll and/or bought a T-shirt that says Bar Harbor. Also PRO TIP while you're there a.) hit hog bay pottery and b.) schoodic hollow local farm stand for self help self pay honor system goods. Now you have cider/wine, local arts/crafts and tasty produce. Congrats! You have just hit the holy trifecta of really experiencing and supporting our hyper local Maine makers and doers.

This place is a little gem! We stopped by on a side trip from Acadia to Bangor and were impressed…read moreby this unique experience. If you are looking for wide expansive views of apple trees and grape vines with fancy seating this is not the place for you. The tasting room is in a barn with a small seating area where one of the 2 owners demonstrated his extensive knowledge of cider and wine making throughout the tasting. The prices were beyond reasonable. The ciders were the driest that I have ever had so if you enjoy sweet ciders only you may need to find another cidery/winery. We loved the visit and would recommend highly to those that prefer dry ciders and wines.

Dont go. Thats it. Just dont go. Dirty, creepy, "wine" was cloudy and tasted horrific. Guy comes…read moreout with black syrup in a canning jar with a rust covered lid .

Definitely worth checking out. Nice place to socialize on your own or with a group. Very large…read morebar and several tables make for a friendly experience. Love the fact that you climb down a flight of stairs to enter, makes the experience a bit like a speakeasy! We were a group of four and I was the cider novice so Chris selected a flight for me to start with. He is extremely knowledgeable and this way I got to taste all different kinds. We also ordered several different bottles, be sure to try High Ridge Farm Cider! When I travel I want to try the best the area has to offer and High Ridge can only be purchased here or on the farm. Winner! We all shared an assortment of small plates, my favorite was the radish dish with lamb. Just ask for some bread since the sauce is delicious!

We came for the cider flights, and they were excellent. Three 3 oz pours were just enough after…read moredinner. It was lovely to taste various ciders from the region. It was early Wednesday when we came, the first day of the week they are open, so it was not busy at all. Really enjoyed the ciders and would love to come back if we are in the area again.

Great, unique ciders! The pineapple upside down cake cider is one of the most flavorful full-bodies…read moreciders I've had. I was surprised by the amount of ciders infused with tea- I've never been anywhere with this take on cider so extra points there! Very friendly service where everyone seems to know each other in a cute old home. Cider flight is $18.

The ciders are variations of a single cider (Silver Branch), which if you like it might be…read moreinteresting, but we didn't care for it, so really didn't like any of them. The upside-down pineapple was the most interesting, but I would not drink a pint of it. The place is packed with locals who like it, so for those who like it, enjoy!

Quaint and sprawling beauty at the same time! The Ciders…read morewere flavorful, not a cider fan, but I certainly enjoyed the flight that we had. They had two food trucks on site as well. They had plenty of yard games and toys for the young kids and adult kids. Plenty of covered seating for all. Beautiful view of the vineyard! Service was nice, they were very patient with the customers that were indecisive and with a lot of questions. They were more patient than I was LOL If you like cider, you should definitely check out this location during the summer.

OMG, what a great afternoon! Amazing wine slushies, wood fire, wine flights, so many…read moreartisans...and great food! Our best stop of the summer!

It was a rainy day in the Bar Harbor area so we were looking for inside things to do. A wine…read moretasting was the perfect pastime. The tasting room is beautiful and rustic. Very cozy with several tables. Find a good seat and enjoy table side service. We chose 2 flights and one extra add on. It was fun to try the cranberry and blueberry wines local to the area. Very different (and sweet) from what I'm used to. We got some cheese spread from the cooling station and some crackers to enjoy with our tastings. Everything was wonderful. I enjoyed this rainy day diversion. I took a couple of bottles home. Can't wait to share them with friends.

Just wish I could buy their excellent wines elsewhere! Stores? On line? The blueberry wine is…read moreterrific!

Fun afternoon, really good food friendly staff, and tasty cider. Will definitely come backread more

As circumstance would have it, I came across the family owned business of Freedom's Edge Cider at…read morethe Taste of Waterville festival today at the Head of Falls in Waterville. Part of my brew punchcard was sampling the siders from Freedom's Edge, (located In Albion Maine, on the edge of Freedom Maine!) Funny thing is I just road my bike past the farm the other day in one of my way too hilly bike rides in rural Maine (hint, beware of riding on roads in Central Maine with the word Hill in the name) Great Hard Cider, and they promised me a biker's discount next time I attempted Quaker Hill Road!

I continue to be so impressed with the atmosphere and the friendly staff and owners. I have family…read moremembers who need to eat gluten free and the food is so delicious we all love to eat the same things. It has made our summer to have this convenient location with top quality food. The owners and their daughter go above and beyond to make sure customers are happy. This is a must stop when visiting our hometown in Damariscotta! My friends love when i show up with the surprise baked good of the day!! Thank you for making Damariscotta known for being a friendly and welcoming town!!

If you are absolutely desperate for gluten free baked goods MAYBE you want to give this place a try…read morebut otherwise avoid at all cost. The food here is god awful. Even the non-gluten foods are mediocre at best. Total waste of money and barely edible. I can't help but wonder who is writing these 4 & 5 stars reviews‼ I do know for a fact that a negative review has been taken down because there was one here a week ago that's no longer here. Can't help but wonder about others...The food is atrocious yet 4 stars?? I'm a long time (30 year) gluten free person, not by choice. Back 30 years ago I was making my own gf baked goods, but the chemistry was early stages so most recipes didn't hit the mark. GF baking has come a LONG way since then, however not at this place--still dry and overly sweet, or wet and undercooked--most items barely resemble their description. To add insult to the injury of the expensive and surprisingly bad food, staff is unwelcoming and quite rude right out of the gate. Do yourself a favor--go to Wild Flour Bakery in Brunswick for FABULOUS GF baked goods. Or, if you're in Portland hit up Holy Donut for gluten free donuts that are actual donuts! YUM. Both are worth the drive!