Our story so far…

Chertok Wines began with what we thought was a simple mission: to produce authentic New England wine at an accessible price point.  There’s so much elegant, creative domestic wine out there, but for our part, we wanted to offer something that was both artisanal and accessible.  We’re trying to conjure up rustic, natural wines that taste like home and don’t break the bank.   In the early days, our garage winery space in Sudbury MA didn’t have running water and we did everything with hand tools and peasant gear.   While our operation has grown and professionalized, a dedication to handwork and minimalism has preserved the rustic, homespun personality of our wines.  

Chertok is a family name meaning ‘little cherti’ referring to the pre-Christian, Russian spirits that were believed to inhabit the world alongside us.  There’d be a cherti in your wood stove, another in your stable, a cherti would inhabit the centuries old tree near your house and one would prowl the nearby stream.  When the Church arrived, the Cherti were literally demonized, recast as the enemies of holiness.  We’re a somewhat puckish lot and the idea of the maligned but actually well-meaning spirits really appealed, hence Chertok Wines!

In 2021 we moved to a gorgeous farm in Shoreham Vermont and while much has changed for us, the mission to produce affordable, authentic regional wine has remained constant.

Our wines are distributed through Olmstead Wine Co. in MA, Zev Rovine Selections in New York and 802 Distributors here in Vermont.