Echo Hill Orchards is a charming, family-owned farm offering a variety of fruits, wines, baked goods, and more. It has been operated by the Krupczak family since 1998. Located in the scenic countryside, it is the perfect place to go with friends and family to enjoy a summer, fall or winter day.
We spoke with the winery manager of Echo Hill, Ashley Krupczak, about what you can expect when visiting the orchard as well as some exciting developments on the horizon.
Q: How long has Echo Hill been in business? What is the story behind the company?
A: The Krupczak family has owned and operated Echo Hill Orchards for 27 years now. We bought it from the previous owners back when it was a pick-your-own orchard with a farm store and small gift shop. My parents bought the orchard and continued to run it as a pick-your-own orchard while raising five kids. We all helped on the farm as we grew up. Eventually, my father wanted to get into wine making. With a lot of self-teaching, he started to make his own from the apples and other fruits we grew on our orchard. We started to offer fruit wine at our farm store and later offered wine tastings and full pours. This eventually led to other spirits and alcohol.
Q: What can visitors expect when they visit Echo Hill?
A: At our orchard, visitors can expect to enjoy their time picking apples, pumpkins, sunflowers, pears, peaches and in a few years, blueberries. Many families make this a tradition each year, going apple picking, enjoying the fall activity and grabbing some of our apple cider donuts. Now, they can pair them with a signature drink from our winery and distillery while they are doing so. We offer wine and distillery flights as well as by-the-glass pours of our wines and spirits. Unfortunately, we do not offer bottle service at our establishment, as bottles of our wines or other alcohol are for take home only. The walk to the orchard is enjoyable and beautiful when passing the sunflower patches in bloom. We offer a large outdoor seating area, both covered and uncovered, located in the front of our building along. We also have food trucks we have on the premises when we are open.
Q: What are some of the most popular offerings?
A: Our most popular offerings include our Apple Pie Moonshine and our selection of five whiskeys. The most popular of this selection is the Echo Hill Cider Donut Whiskey. It has a subtle taste of cakey cinnamon donut. It is used in one of our fall signature drinks called the “Sugar Daddy”, which is mixed with apple cider and rimmed with sugar and cinnamon.
We have some unique wines to offer, including a pumpkin chardonnay and a blue raspberry and apple wine. This one is on the sour side, but it is a favorite during the summer and fall seasons. As for pick-your-own, apple picking and sunflower picking is a favorite each fall. When sunflowers are ready to pick each year, they can be picked by the stem or by the bucket. Our customers also enjoy bringing their drinks along with them as they pick.
Q: What is your mission?
A: Our mission is to continue owning and operating the orchard as a family, allowing other families to enjoy the beautiful farm that it is. We strive to take good care of it so that it remains an orchard in the future.
Q: Is there anything exciting coming up in the future?
A: Echo Hill Orchards is currently under construction of indoor bathrooms, expected to be completed by the opening season in late spring. We are excited about this update, and we know our customers will be too. We also plan to offer blueberry picking in the future, once our bushes mature and will have several blueberry signature drinks available as well.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: Echo Hill Orchards Winery & Distillery is a seasonal winery open during the summer, fall, and winter. We have a signature drinks menu that changes each season, offering 12+ signature drinks. Echo Hill will reopen for our summer season in late May of 2025. Through the winter and early spring months, we are taking care of the orchard; pruning, fertilizing and planting for our upcoming pick-your-own seasons as well as wine making.
Echo Hill encourages people to come pick seasonal produce and enjoy their signature drinks while taking in the beautiful countryside views. Click here to learn more about the orchard!
