As its name implies, Chaddsford Winery is located on Baltimore Pike in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania — minutes away from the Brandywine River Museum and nestled among landscapes that three generations of Wyeth artists have made famous. Chaddsford is open seven days a week from noon to 6pm. Guests are able to tour the winemaking and barrel aging cellars in the renovated 17th century colonial barn, taste the current vintage, browse the gift shop and enjoy a home-brought picnic on the grounds. Chaddsford began in 1982 as a small, premium winery producing just 3,000 cases of wine. Today, the winery produces 30,000 cases which are available at wine shops in Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland as well as selected restaurants nationwide. Proprietors Lee and Eric Miller strive to provide a charming country atmosphere where visitors can find a fun and educational place to explore the wonderful world of wine. For more information, call 610-388-6221 or visit www.chaddsford.com.
Folly Hill Vineyards
As far as neighbors go, Folly Hill Vineyards probably has the most scenic one around. This charming vineyard, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, backs up to Longwood Gardens — a world-renowned Brandywine attraction. As a matter of fact, the land and the 200-year-old Quaker farmhouse were once owned by Longwood. Owners Sherry and Glen Sowers took tremendous effort in rebuilding the historical residence to its full glory and planted their vineyard?s almost 4,000 vines one at a time by hand. This prolific vineyard of roughly four acres of grapes produces 20 tons of fruit which then yield approximately 1,000 cases of exquisite wine. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, wander through the vines or sit and relax and enjoy the view. Folly Hill Vineyards is open from 11am to 6pm on weekends and by appointment during the week. For more information, call 610-388-5895 or visit www.follyhillvineyards.com.
Kreutz Creek Vineyard
Kreutz Creek Vineyard in West Grove, Pennsylvania was born from a birthday gift. In 1989, Carole Kirkpatrick gave her husband, Jim, a wine making kit — and the rest is sweet, fragrant history. After several years of winning various wine competitions, the Kirkpatricks produced their first commercial harvest in 2002, processing 3900 gallons of wine. Today, visitors can purchase not only Kreutz Creek wine at the vineyard, but Folly Hill’s as well. Kreutz Creek Vineyards is open on weekends from 11am to 6pm. For more information, call 610-869-4412 or visit www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com.
The owners of Paradocx Vineyard, located in Kemblesville, Pennsylvania, have always concentrated their efforts on growing premium wine grapes in their vineyard of 30 acres of fertile farmland in Chester County. Now they have taken that same commitment to excellence into making wine from their efforts in the vineyard. PDX wines, Paradocx Vineyard’s label, will be available Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays at their tasting room in Fairville, Pennsylvania, starting in late Summer 2004. Visits to the vineyard are by appointment and during special events. For more information call 610-255-5684 or visit their website at www.paradocx.com.
Twin Brook Winery
Up until the early 1980s, cows grazed in the fields at the dairy farm on Twin Brook’s property. The site, located along Strasburg Road in Gap, Pennsylvania, was once the centerpiece of a large track of land granted to the Religious Society of Friends by William Penn?s brother. In 1985, the first grapes were planted on four acres and it has since grown in acreage to 30. The vineyard is made up of approximately two-thirds classic European vinifera and the remainder are French hybrid vines. All aspects of winemaking — from harvesting to bottling — occur on site and visitors can watch (and taste!) much of the process in a beautifully restored 19th century barn. Twin Brook Winery is open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 5pm from January through March. April through December, the winery is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10am to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 5pm. For more information, call 717-442-4915 or visit www.twinbrookwinery.com.
Va La Vineyards
Va La Vineyard’s whimsical and vibrant approach to wine making is evident in their name. Named in honor of Giusvalla, a tiny village in Northern Italy where Matteo and Carolina Carozzo came from in 1928, the connotation can have two meanings. Strictly speaking, Va La translates to “go there” but in dialect terms it has to additional meaning of “come on!” as if someone is pulling your leg. Since the Carozzos started the farm, five generations of the family have been able to live on the land.
Va La focuses on rare varieties and unusual blends of Italian and French grapes, with a total current production of between 1,200 to 2,100 cases of each vintage. The wines are designed to accompany foods — especially some Brandywine specialties — and both are available in the vineyard?s wine shop. Visitors are welcome to explore Va La, located in Avondale, Pennsylvania, from noon to 6pm on weekends. For more information, call 610-268-2702 or visit www.valavineyards.com.
— Kim Graham, Brandywine Country
