Touring Brandywine County
Amid the lush, rolling landscape of the Brandywine, a distinct sound is dancing over the hills. No, not the soft cadence of hikersí boots crushing fall leaves or the muffled blasts from the re-enactorsí muskets at the battlefield. These ìpop ñ pop ñ popsî, followed by ìwhishî then ìaaaaahî mark the locations of our regionís seven family owned wineries. Each one is tucked deep into our countryside, providing visitors with a new meaning of touring the Brandyîwineî.
In the spring of 2003, the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail began as a way for local wineries to showcase southeastern Pennsylvaniaís growing identity of a place that produces high quality wines. Rather than competing against each other, the owners of the wineries felt that guests would enjoy itineraries featuring several wineries as opposed to only visiting one.
ìWe offer something that few, more famous wine trails in the world can offer,î says Anthony Vietri, president of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail and owner of Va La Vineyards. ìWhen you visit our wineries, we offer well over 30 different varieties of wines. It is an astounding range that speaks to our individual goals, and ends up providing a unique opportunity for endless exploration for the consumer.î
ìFor me,î he goes on to add, ìthe wine trail was born out of a sense of brotherhood toward my neighbors to be working for a common goal instead of at crossed swords.î Vietri also points out that many of the wineries grow a majority of their own grapes for winemaking ñ rather than strictly purchasing grapes ñ in what many believe is the best area of the state for wine.
As far as winemaking goes, Southeastern Pennsylvania is blessed by geography. ìWhen Eric and I decided to leave our winery in New York to find a better grape growing location, we looked around the whole East Coast for about two years and settled on Southeastern Pennsylvania because it had the most potential,î explains Lee Miller, co-owner of Chaddsford Winery and member of the Wine Trail. ìThis wonderful little micro-climate is warmed by the Chesapeake to the south and the Atlantic to the east and stays warmer than the rest of the state.î
A journey along the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail can be fun for both the novice wine connoisseur and expert alike. For the beginner, both Vietri and Miller suggest starting out with two or three varied wineries. That could mean combining a trip to a bigger winery like Chaddsford or Twin Brook with a smaller winery such as Kreutz Creek or Smithbridge. Guests should remember that ìwinery hoppingî is meant to be fun ñ not a chore, so picnics, questions about wines, and sampling varieties are strongly encouraged. (And, of course, if you plan to do more than tasting, a designated driver is a wise idea.)
For the more experienced visitor, Miller suggests inquiring about advanced tastings and classes, some of which are offered at Chaddsford. Vietri points out that a more advanced wine student will benefit from studying the nuances of this particular region and develop an appreciation of how the wines here are different from anyplace else in the world.
One of the best weekends to experience the variety of our vineyards is at the Annual Brandywine Valley Harvest Festival held during the last weekend in September, this year the 25th and 26th. During that weekend, each of the wineries will be featuring special events and the opportunity for visitors to witness the process of the harvest from picking the grapes to tasting the fresh grape juice. No advance tickets are required for this event. Activities will generally happen from 11am to 5pm on both days, but you should check the website of the wineries you plan on visiting for special times and events.
During the rest of the year, many of the wineries offer special events other than their regularly scheduled tours and tastings. Some offer seasonal musical festivals ñ a favorite regional activity. A few are available to rent as a unique location for a special event and provide special services such as custom wine labels and gift baskets. Below are small descriptions (in alphabetical order) of each participating winery, however more complete information is offered on each locationís own website. Events sponsored by the wine trail as a whole can also be found at www.bvwinetrail.com.
Cheers!
