Pennsylvania - Montgomery County - Cardinal Hollow

Cardinal Hollow Winery - Thanks to Jef from Maple Springs Vineyard, who explained our tasting and wine in general, for an enjoyable evening. While riding the Colebrookdale Railroad on their wine and cheese pairing special, we were treated to a flight of wines with a different pairing. We started with the sauvignon blanc paired with manchego cheese; a combination I would not thought of and went well, followed by merlot paired with mozzarella cheese; the creaminess of the cheese complimented the body of the wine. My wife said she could drink it with food; a real compliment since she does not like dry wine.

We then went in a different direction with the whiskey mead paired with goat cheese and dried fruit and nuts. First off, I thought there was whiskey in the mead, but the mead was aged in whiskey barrels, giving it the heavy aroma. The fruit and nuts were a better pairing. The apple wine was paired with smoked gouda. I love this cheese and tasting it with the wine reminded me of having a rich cheese melted on warmed double crusted apple pie (yes, this is a culinary delight). The finale was the Tawny Port paired with a rolled, chocolate-filled gaufrette cookie. Amazing. This port, in our opinion, is better than the Nutty Sailor.

On the return trip, we enjoyed a glass of our favorite wine with a plate of proscuitto and mixed cheeses.

Massachusetts - Haverhill - Willow Springs Vineyards

Willow Springs Vineyards - Another winery we visited while on vacation, when we pulled into their upper parking lot, we were treated to a view of the one of their vineyards. We walked into their restored barn tasting room to find this is a family-run operation. Although they only had two wines for tasting, they were preparing for additional releases in the fall. We were able to taste the seyval blanc and marechal foch. I enjoyed both, especially the marechal foch.Before leaving, we were treated to a tour of the barn and learned of the extensive restoration and a look at the lower vineyard.

Massachusetts - Rowley - Mill River Winery

Mill River Winery - (August 2015) While we were in Massachusetts on vacation this past summer, we enjoyed a tasting at Mill River. We arrived soon after the tasting room opened and were able to meet the vitner, who was working the bar that day. I chose the dry wine flight and my wife chose the sweet flight.

I started with their 2012 naked chardonnay; it was crisp and I could taste the zing of the lemon. I finished the whites with the 2013 Reisling. Made in the French tradition, this off-dry white had a vanilla finish. I started the reds with their Plantation Red, a blend of syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon; I tasted the light oak, but not the raspberry jam finish. I enjoyed the 2012 cabernet sauvignon, with its chocolate finish over the 2013 zinfandel, lightly oaked but high in tannins.

My wife started off with the Reisling, but gave me the rest to drink. She went to the Plum Island White, a semi-sweet blend of white malvasia, pinot grigio and cayuga, which was not overly sweet. It is aged in their outside stainless steel tanks. The 2014 sauvignon blanc was toned down, not as acidic to the finish as other sauvignon blancs; but the highlight was the Plum Island Rose, a blend of petit syrah, pinot grigio and white malvasia. It was not as sweet as the white. She finished her tasting with the Plum Island Red, a blend of syrah, merlot and pinot grigio.

Australia - Baileys of Glenrowan

Baileys of Glenrowan - Friends gave me a bottle of their 19 Crimes, a 2013 red wine, as a parting gift from the Board. How fitting, they made sure to paste my photo on the label. A dry wine, I found it very pleasing although I could only tell it was a blend.

Pennsylvania - Lehigh County - Franklin Hill Vineyards

Franklin Hill Vineyards - (Dec 2013) - we were planning the spring TVCEF tasting tour and one of our guests recommended this winery. We arrived and explained what we were attempting to do; while we were there, we decided to have a small taste. I tried the chardonnay while my wife tried the catawba (blush). I moved to the cabernet sauvignon while my wife had the Kiss (their medium-dry blush). I finished off with the Trio and my wife the Thin (acai berry). We enjoyed all that we tasted.

(Feb 2014) We still needed to confirm logistics with Franklin Hill for the spring TVCEF tasting tour and we decided to visit the winery again. Our original plan to visit for Valentine's Day was foiled by a snowstorm, but we were able to visit the following day. This is the first time we've been to a winery in the heart of winter. We arrived and drove down the farm path to the winery; we were not the only ones visiting the winery. We started with the White Jade (vidal blanc) and Katie's Creek (vidal blanc and cayuga blend). Katie's Creek, even though on the sweet side, was crisp and refreshing. I tried the seyval blanc while my wife tried Kiss (rose). I was able to get my wife to try the Red Head (chambourcin and merlot blend infused with creme brulee) just for the fact that is should be dessert in a bottle; it was as expected. I tried the Trio (blend of three grapes) and enjoyed the balanced nature. My wife went to their speciality wines adn tried the Desire (mango) and Passion (strawberry-kiwi), which reminded her of fruit punch. I opted to stay with the reds and tried the Sir Walter's Red and the Fainting Goat (black cherry).

(April 2014) They say that the third time is the charm, well the TVCEF tasting finally arrived and our group was seated on their patio. It was a beautiful spring day; perfect for outdoor wine tasting. Although our tasting was planned for us, we were able to taste any wine on their menu. While giving us the history of the winery, they stared us off with their White Jade (for those who like dry) and Katie's Creek (for the sweets). They then poured the seyval blanc and their newest release, Carnival, cotton candy infused wine, reminescent of the carnival or county fair. As we moved into the reds, we were treated to a tour of their winery. We tasted the Evanswood, Trio, Sir Walter's Red and the Fainting Goat. The group enjoyed our visit here.

New Hampshire - Kingston - Sweet Baby Vineyard

Sweet Baby Vineyard - (August 2015) This was the first of many wineries we visited while traveling through New England on our vacation. They are a short drive off the interstate, but will be moving in the future. We walked into the bottling area and walked up the stairs to their tasting room (it did not overlook the operations). We were able to taste six wines.

I chose the marechal foch, with its soft oak taste, because it was a new varietal. The amarone, a red blend, was better on the palette. Callum's red is similar to a church wine, but not as sweet. For the whites, I tried the pinot grigio, with hints of pineapple, the chardonnay, crisp and not heavy on the oak, and the Farmstand white, a semi-sweet blend.

My wife started with Callum's red, but quickly went to their Niagara and fruit wines. She tried the blueberry, apple cranberry, which was tart, light in color and not a blush as expected, the bartlett pear, which was sweet like a Niagara, and strawberry.

(March 2017) - We were at the Eastern Wine Exposition in Syracuse, NY and they were part of the opening reception. We reintroduced ourselves to their wine. I could not get a good look at the bottle, but the white I tried was nice and balanced.

(March 2018) - We were at EWE in Lancaster, PA and for another year, were part of the welcome reception. There was a crowd at the table and by the time I got back around, the reception was ending. There will be a next time.

Pennsylvania - Chester Couonty - Stargazers

Stargazers Vineyard - Aug 2015 - Just as their website states, follow their directions. As part of my dry run for the fall TVCEF trip, I made the trip here through the Brandywine Valley. Although not situated along the Brandywine Creek, they are close to it. As I drove to the end of the little development, I pulled in their driveway and drove into the vineyard.

Unfortunately, you only get to try the five wines opened for the particular weekend, but I was able to try the following: chardonnay sparkling wine - although not one for sparkling wine, once I got past the effervescence, the dryness and flavors made me want to try the traditional chardonnay. Lucky for me, that was also on the list. Stainless steel aged, much better than the sparkling version. The next on the list was a varietal I had not head of, gruener veitliner. A dry wine withe some citrus aromas; I enjoyed this better than the chardonnay. The last white was the vidal; it's the sweetest wine they have at the moment. The only red on the menu was the Warp Drive, a petit verdot blend. Another grape that I'm enjoying, this dry red was filled with flavor/ Starting with the deep color, this red left me wanting to try some others (but there are no others).

There is another varietal on the list that I was able to try, the Arneis. This dry white was better than all the others I tried; I'm glad I asked if there was any to taste. I purchased one for another evening dinner.  

Pennsylvania - Chester County - Black Walnut

Black Walnut Winery  - Jan 2020 - We tasted all available wines except for the ports. The Chardonnay was light and fruity, with a tart apple and light buttery finish. Mischief, a blend of Chardonnay and Malvasia was very aromatic with honeysuckle and an apricot, slightly tart, smooth finish. Their Apple is a nice blend of apples. Sassy, a blush made from finished red and white wines had a cranberry flavor while Iridescence, another blush made from finished wines had more cranberry on the sweet finish. Their Vidal Blanc is done in a semi-sweet style, which changes the typical acidity.

The 2014 Merlot had a dark hue, with drying tobacco aroma, plum flavor and medium tannis. The 2015 Pinot Noir was light in color, with earthy and pepper spice aromas, mild, not distinguishable, flavors and heavier tannins, slight overpowering. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon was very dark in color, with leather aroma, dark cherry flavor and heavy tannins, like the Pinot, but it could handle it. The Bank Barn Red, a blend of Norton, Syrah and Merlot, served chilled, had dried grape aromas and a finished similar to a semi-sweet Concord.

We had the pleasure of Valerie, the winemakers wife, pouring the wines, while she hosted another customer who was preparing for their wine and chocolate pairing later in the month.

Feb 2017 - The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc is still available so I decided to taste to see how it has aged - light oaking and a tangerine finish, while the Blanc Franc did not excite me this time.

But I enjoyed tasting the 2011 and 2012 Merlot side by side. Both were fruity, medium bodied but the 2013 I had in the fall had more flavor. The 2014 Cabernet Franc, recently released, had more body and nice cherry flavor, while the 2013 Syrah, bolder in color and tannins, had dark cherry and plum flavors. The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon had dark cherry notes.

Oct 2016 - I got to do another side-by-side tasting, but this time it was the 2013 and 2014 Sauvignon Blanc. The 2014 had nice green apple flavors with a mineral finish, but the 2013 did not impress me. Based on the notes below, it probably should have. The 2012 White Cabernet Sauvignon was a blush wine made from the free run juice. The 2013 Merlot had nice plum aromas, medium body and a nice oakey finish.

Oct 2015 - I was telling my friends how I was able to sample the two Sauvignon Blancs side-by-side and was hoping to do it again, but they had just sold out of the 2011 vintage. The 2010 Blanc Franc gave me a peach after taste, while Sassy, Pinot Noir and Cayuga blend, had honeysuckle on the tongue and tart apple finish. The 2010 Amethyst gave me sour cherry notes and a smooth finish, 2011 Merlot had plum notes and a subtle oak finish, 2013 Syrah, with dark cherry notes and pepper finish, 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon with dark cherry notes and Bank Barn Red, their Norton was served chilled.

Aug 2015 - In preparation for the fall TVCEF trip, I stopped at the winery in Sadsburyville. It's a (rare) treat to be able to try two vintages of the same wine and I was able to do that with their Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 versus 2013, which was just released. Both were good, but the 2013 was young and if it can live up to the 2011, then they are on to something. The 2013 was light in color and full of flavor, but it was the 2011, with its golden honey color and lemongrass taste that teased my palette. Their 2010 Blanc Franc, an off-dry rose made from Cabernet Franc, closed out my whites. It did what no other franc has done; I bought a bottle to take home.

For their reds, I tried the 2010 Amethyst, a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. I was able to taste the plum and strawberry. I finished off with the 2013 Syrah, another recently released wine. It was not disappointing with a smooth pepper taste at the end. As a surprise, the Lance, the vitner, brought me a sample of their Cabernet Franc; I enjoyed it and asked when it would be released. Well, he is teasing me as he does not plan on releasing it for another year.

While I was there, I got to see the facility and how they could accommodate the group. Valerie and Kitty were gracious hosts. I know we'll enjoy this stop.

Mar 2015 - After visiting Taste, we went to the tasting room in Phoenixville to try some additional wines. Some of the names are deceiving, but their blends are smooth. Their Mischief is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion; it has a mineral finish while their Pinot Gris has extra time with the grape skins and allowed for the crispness to flow though to the end. Switching to red, the Amethyst is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah, but I enjoyed Swindled, a Cabernet Franc blend, better. The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were traditional reds which held their own. I ended with Tryst, a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Merlot.

Massachusetts - Hardwick - Harwick Winery

Hardwick Winery - While walking around Salem, we stopped in a gift store and saw that they had wines made in MA. We looked at the wineries first since we had plans on visiting a few in the area while we were on vacation. Hardwick was chosen since we would not be going in that direction. We purchased their Massetts Cranberry, a blend of grape and cranberry. I was surprised that it was mostly cranberry, with the tartness that I was hoping for. It was similar to Ten Gallon Hats version, but more tart and when we crushed lime in it, it went to the next level, just like TGH.

Pennsylvania - Montgomery County - A'Dello Vineyard

A'Dello Vineyard and Winery - November 2019 - I purposely stopped in to get a bottle of the new Silk vintage when Tina told me Dominic had released some new red wines. The Sangiovese is fruity and nicely oaked; I added several bottles mixed in with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon..

November 2018 - Tina called to say Silk had been released - their premier "secret" blend. While there, I tried all their available reds, purchasing Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and the Hungarian-oaked Cabernet Sauvignon.

January 2018 - My wife saw that Dominic had created an oaked Riesling and said we had to make a trip; it had been awhile since we were there together.  We tried all the wines on the list between the two of us. In true A'Dello style, the dry reds were bursting with fruity flavors and the right amount of oak and tannins. I'm not a big fan of Chambourcin, but Dominic's is starting to win me over with it's strawberry and raspberry flavors. The fruit wines are exactly as described.. But the oaked Riesling was a surprise. The sweet grape beginning gave way to pear and apple flavors with just the right hint of oak on the finish. We came home with a case, two of which were the oaked Riesling.

Aug 2015 - While on vacation in New England, I was called and told their cabernet franc was available. Since I enjoyed it previously, I asked them to hold me six bottles. When we got home, I made the trip one day after work. I'm glad I did with a nine page waiting list. I purchased the six bottles and six others to make a case. That evening, I opened a bottle of the cabernet franc. The oak hits just as it touches your palate, and its smooth until the spice finish. I'm looking forward to the other bottles.

Apr 2015 - A'Dello was a busy place when we arrived for our TVCEF tasting. We were taken back to their storage/bottling room where we were treated to the wines that were available. Unfortunately, the cabernet franc was not available, but we are on the list for when the next barrel is bottled. I purchased several bottles of merlot to hold me over.

Mar 2015 - We read about the winery in the Reading Eagle and made the trip to check it out. As part of the tasting, you get to sample all their available wines; we did not get to sample the pearberry. I enjoyed the merlot, cabernet franc and reserve chardonnay; my wife enjoyed the niagara, cellar door (blush) and passionate peach. The owners were very welcoming and excited to be part of the TVCEF tasting tour.

California - Modesto - Dark Horse

Dark Horse Wine - I was in a state store the other day and wanted something different and read just about every label in the red section until I noticed the Dark Horse cabernet sauvignon on the shelf.It was a good buy. Light on oak, but bold on finish.

Pennsylvania - Berks County - Ridgewood Winery

Ridgewood Winery - Facebook link - formerly Moonlight Winery (Dec 2014) - We have been seeing advertisements for this winery and decided to make a swing trip on our way to finish our Christmas shopping and we are glad we did.The tasting fee allows you to try all the available wines. At the moment, they have mostly sweet and fruit wines, but the dry ones are waiting to be bottled. My wife enjoyed their dry Gewurztraminer while I enjoyed the riesling, Ridgewood white (sauvignon blanc) and chardonnay (American oak and buttery finish). Their cabernet sauvignon had a good oak finish. My wife enjoyed the Niagara and Diamond (Niagara hybrid), but the biggest surprise was the blackberry. Moonlight uses this one as their "chocoholic" wine - taste it with some good chocolate and it is like the burst you get with a cherry cordial (without the cherry sweetness). As we were visiting, we watched the last of the Diamond disappear off the rack.

(Mar 2015) - We made a stop here on our way home, planning a tasting and ended up being here for three hours. Their new vintage whites were available. The reds are a few weeks (May) away. While we were discussing the tasting tour Tracy took a group of people on a tour of the mansion. It's great to see the passion the owners have for their winery and historic property. We enjoyed our visit and purchased a Diamond to taste the two vintages (we still have the one from our Dec visit) side by side.

(Apr 2015) - Tracy and Bill welcomed us, even running late, with open arms. So they could accommodate us better, Tracy took half on a tour while the other half did their tasting. We then switched. It is the added touch that allows Moonlight to stand out among wineries.

Father's Day 2015 - What a way to celebrate. My wife and I spent Saturday evening with Blush and Brush Art Parties, Tracy and friends painting the picture of a wine glass having wine poured into it. Prior to getting to the winery, we left our three children at home after a baseball game that went way too long . . . a good time was more important.

We purchased a bottle of the Diamond to drink and some cheese from September Farms to snack on while we painted. We went upstairs to the board room and joined the other guests. After putting on our smocks, we were asked to stretch our imagination. My wife chose to do a painting similar to the host, a white wine on a grey background, but I went in a different direction with a "red idea", having a merlot or cabernet flowing into a stemless glass on a reddish background. While drinking our bottle of wine and eating cheese, we painted masterpieces. We learned how to use different brushes, strokes and blending of colors to get the right picture. Pictures are attached

This is how gracious the family is when they have company; Bill, Jeremy and Michelle came in periodically to check on us, making sure we had everything we needed.

We are glad to hear Jake loves Tracy's painting and approves of the good times.

Memorial Day 2015 - The name and signage have changed, but not the owners or the wine.My wife and I visited here twice this weekend. We decided to spend a relaxing Saturday evening out and enjoyed a bottle of Diamond on the front porch. Jeremy was a gracious host and Bill spent time with us giving us some details of what to expect in the next few weeks. We took home a cabernet sauvignon to replace the bottle finished off earlier in the week.After church services on Sunday, we were talking to a couple and decided to make it a parents day at the winery as a way to relax on the holiday. We took our picnic supplies and enjoyed a table on the front lawn. While we were there, we enjoyed the Diamond, food and friendship.Each time, Bill and Jeremy made us feel like family.

Summer 2015 - My wife and I have been spending quite a bit of time at Ridgewood. Here are some of the things we've done with Tracy and Bill:

Children's painting - Tracy is making the winery a family affair and is coming up with more ideas to include children. This particular day, the children got to do the activity while Mom and Dad sat back, relaxed with a picnic lunch and enjoyed a bottle of Diamond. The children got to do a painting, each one was different from a scenery perspective. We even ran into friends while we were there.

Cork painting - Take over 170 corks, glue them to the canvas and viola, you've only just begun to create another masterpiece. Taking their popular painting series to another level, we created a wine bottle scene using the corks as the background. It was a learning experience, but one well worth the time and effort.

Ice cream and wine - well not together unless that's what you want to do. Ridgewood paired up with Scoupe deVille to offer five varieties of ice cream to enjoy with your wine. I took it to another level, which Tracy is starting to find out, I'm an outside the box kind of guy, buy having some merlot over my chocolate chocolate chip ice cream - yum. My wife enjoyed sipping her Diamond alongside the salted caramel ice cream. They had a second one during the season, but we couldn't attend (we heard it was packed)

Night with the Reading Phillies - Our family was invite to spend the evening with the Ridgewood family at the baseball stadium. The Phillies put on a good show and won the game!!

Pennsylvania - Chester County - Barrel Wine Bar

The Barrel Wine Bar - A'Dello Winery, located in Perkiomenville, Montgomery County, has opened a wine bar in Phoenixville. My wife and I went on an early Saturday evening to see what it was like. We decided to have a flight of wine so we could try some of the mixed drinks and wines available. Out of the barrel, I enjoyed the pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and vitners spring white (not available in the bottle or at the winery (at least the last time I was there)). My wife enjoyed the margarita (made with the vintners white), sangria and peach iced tea (all made with A'Dello wines), the niagara and passionate peach. While we enjoyed our flights we had a turkey and cheese stuffed pretzel served with a spicy thai sauce, and a personal pizza topped with chicken, roasted red peppers, bacon with ranch dressing used as the sauce. The pinot noir and margarita went well with the pretzel and both the whites and the sangria went well with the pizza.

California - San Diego Zoo and Safari - Orfila Winery

July 2014 - Although the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park do not have a winery, they do have a partnership with Orfila Winery in which they produce specially designed wine labels for the zoo and safari park. There is no tasting room at either location, but we did choose the dry muscat, in support of the work they do, to try. Stay tuned for its reviews.

(Feb 2015) - We finally had our friends over to try the wines we purchased while in CA. The dry muscat was definitely something different. Although my wife likes typical muscat, I ended up finishing this bottle; we enjoyed it, but it was not what she was expecting.

Pennsylvania - Schuylkill County - Long Trout Winery

Long Trout Winery - Apr 2017 - Omnipular, their Cabernet Sauvignon, was fruity and medium-bodied while Granny's Toast was a well-balanced Concrod. The Burnin' Bra, their peach, and Cosmic Charisma, a white blend, were too high in alcohol. Afternoon Delight, Pinot Gris, had a nice acidic finish and the Sensual Innuendo, Muscat Canelli, was balanced, like a light Niagara, while the Vinshield Viper, was a sweet Gewurztraminer.

Oct 2013 - We visited again as part of the TVCEF fall tasting tour. While we were there, we tried Cosmic Carisma (white grape blend), the Family Jewels, Immaculate Hoe (merlot), Freaky Tiki (papaya), Old One Eye (salad in a bottle), Ipanema (mango ginger) and Berried in Chocolate. We had a hard time deciding which to take home.

Aug 2013 - Another winery we visited in preparation for the fall TVCEF tasting tour, we travelled into the coal regions to see what this winery had to offer. We are glad we visited prior to the visit, not for the wine, but logistics (our bus had to pull in the parking lot a from different directions). There are over 60 wines to choose from and these "free birds" know how to make wine. There is no limit to the number you can taste so the sky's the limit. On this particular trip, we enjoyed the Yellow Snow and immediately know that would be used for steaming shrimp, the Morning Wood, with its Asian pear flavor, Sexual Innuendo, a muscat wine, and the Burning Bra, with its fresh peach overtone.

California - Julian area - Menghini Winery

Menghini Winery - Driving along Wynola Road brought back memories of our Hawaii trip only I was doing the driving. We were able to taste all the wines available. We started with the chardonnay. Aged in stainless steel, it would be a good summer sipping wine. We then had the sauvignon blanc, with its hints of green apple, grown on the property, which came in a close second for best overall wine. The syrah was good, but the merlot had a smooth finish and the cabernet rose had a good bite to it. We ended our tasting with the La Nustra Uve (pinot grigio, muscat and sauvignon blanc blend) and the Julian Gold (muscat). The La Nustra Uve won hands-down; it was not a heavy wine and could go with a meal or dessert, although the Gold was not a syrupy as some dessert wines tend to be.

Hawaii - Maui - Tedeschi Winery, Maui Winery Ulupalakua Winery

Maui's Winery - (Jan 2014) A winery with many names, we were able to enjoy this winery twice while we were on the island of Maui. Pu, our Road to Hana tour guide, made this part of our road trip and then we drove the distance back to get another experience. We were limited to what we could taste, but we started off with the Upcountry Gold (viognier, miscat and chardonnay blend), their light refreshing white. My wife went for their Lokelani, their sparkling rose, and the pineapple wines Maui Blanc (semi-dry) and Maui Splash (sweet); the splash won as it was pineapple in a bottle. I finshed off with the Ulupalakua Red, which is a syrah, merlot and malbec blend.

On our second trip to the winery, we were given the history and a tour of the winery. We learned that the pineapple wines are made on a monthly basis so they will not have a vintage and that all their wines are fermented and aged in stainless steel.

We enjoyed the wines so much that when we arrived back in PA, we went to the wine and spirit website and were able to purchase a case of the Upcountry Gold, shipped to our local liquor store.

Pennsylvania - Lehigh County - Amore

Amore Vineyards and Winery - (Feb 2014) -We visited the winery right after the snowstorm and were treated to warmth and hospitality. Or hostess was knowledgeable in the wines and we really enjoyed the Cabernet Amore (like having steak au poivre in a bottle) and the Bella Donna.

Pennsylvania - Bucks County - Crossings Vineyard

Crossing Vineyards and Winery - (Mar 2015) We were enticed by Living Social for a food and wine pairing at Crossings. We travelled a distance to get there, but it was well worth the drive. We joined approximately thirty other people for this event. Although the wine choices were already pre-determined, it was all about what was paired with it that intrigued us (unfortunately, not all wines were paired with a food item). Prior to the event, we walked around the gardens and vineyard. We started off with their Legacy, a buttery chardonnay, followed by the sauvignon blanc, with hints of grapefruit and a not-so-dry finish. We were presented a plate of quacamole and chips and were pre-warned not to eat them all with the first wine pairing. We ate the quacamole and chips with the Vintner's Select White (blend of reisling, viognier and chardonnay) and then their reisling. The reisling was better with the pairing; the select white was high on the viognier which seemed too sweet. We were enticed with a pulled pork sandwich to go with our blush wine made from early picked cabernet franc. This was the first time I heard of a red grape being picked early for a blush wine; it also was made from a grape I'm starting to go crazy about. The savory and smoke of the pulled pork balanced the sweetness of the blush wine; it was on the dry side versus the sweet side (as expected). We then moved into the reds with their merlot which was paired with pepperoni pizza. The wine was light on the nose and not as dry as the other reds we would taste. We were then presented a plate of soppresata, pepperoni, salami and parmesan cheese to go with the cabernet sauvignon. We lingered over this one as to decide which meat and/or cheese went best; the soppresata was the best pairing. The cabernet franc was paired with a roast beef and horseradish crustini. Although I enjoyed the wine, I felt as though it would be best with a meal and not by itself. We closed in on dessert - the last two wines were served with chocolate cake. The Wild Berry (with raspberries and blueberries) and the Chocolate Cherry Truffle (their port) were good in their own right. We think it was the chocolate cake that did not live up to the test.

Pennsylvania - Chester County - Ten Gallon Hat

Ten Gallon Hat Winery - As of October 2016, they have closed their door.

Jan 2015 - We returned to see the renovated barn and to have a tasting with some friends; we'll need to make a trip and try some of their food pairing/selections. Between the four of us, we tried all the wines on their list. We enjoyed all of the wines especially the merlot, cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, pinot grigio (listed as the Sheriff's Daughter) and Moscato (listed as the Farmer's Daughter). As with the previous trip, we ended with the cranberry wine and when tasted with the lime, it did as expected; our guests were amazed!

Oct 2013 - We were going down Route 1 to kill some time and we happened to see a sign about a winery. If familiar with Route 1, we had to turn around, go past the winery and make another go at their entrance. We are happy to say, this was something unexpected. We arrived before they opened, but when we entered their tasting room, we were greeted with hospitality.We ended with the cranberry wine - just the right amount of tartness, but once you add the splash of lime - BAM, it hits you and brings it to another level.



Unfortunately, when visiting the website, I've noticed that they do not do large parties; bummer,

Pennsylvania - Dauphin County - West Hanover Winery

West Hanover Winery - (Mar 2015) We visited the tasting room in St Peter's. They have two tasting options; we opted for the complimentary tasting since we'll be back as part of the TVCEF tasting tour. I tried the white baco noir, cabernet franc and sangiovese chianti. My wife had the niagara, pineapple (to compare to Hawaii) and sour cherry. We bought a bottle of the baco noir (a medal winner). When I tried it, I had a hard time finishing the bottle.

(Apr 2015) - When we returned as part of the TVCEF tour, we were a bit surprised that they only had one person staffing the tasting room. Another guest and I helped them serve the wines. We were able to taste all had to offer. Since I was serving, I only tasted a few of the wines. I thought the chardonnay had a toasted almond taste, but several of my guests did not feel the same way. Some of the wines had an off-taste; maybe they were bottled prematurely.

Pennsylvania - Berks County - Calvaresi

Calvaresi Winery - Shannon continues the Bernville location as well as her Walnutport location Soaked Winery

Jan 2018 - This is the first time we have visited since the winery was sold. We tried the following whites: Chardonnay, with a light butter, slightly creamy, finish, the Pinot Grigio, delicate and slightly acidic, Viognier with caramel (interesting) flavors, Gewurztraminer, with floral aroma and honeysuckle flavor, Cayuga, perfect for that semi-sweet wine. For reds, we tried the Cabernet Sauvignon with a blackberry beginning, plum middle and dark cherry, slightly smokey finish, the Merlot, with overall better body and the Baco Noir. We finished the tasting with the Autumn Rose, a blend of Steuben and Cayuga, OK for a blush, and the port, with figs and raspberries.

April 2014 - We visited again on our way to the Blue Mountain vineyards and missed the opportunity to try the Apple Jack wine - it has already sold out. Overall, we enjoy coming to Calversi. The wines are ones we can drink by themselves, with food or cook with them.

Oct 2013 - We visited the winery as part of the TVCEF tasting tour. We still could not taste the Apple Jack wine as it was going to be bottled a few weeks after we visited. On this visit we played host/hostess to our guest from TVCEF, but tasted the same wines as our previous visit.

Aug 2013 - In preparation for the fall TVCEF tasting tour, we went to Calvaresi to determine logistics; there is ample parking and space for the school bus. We met Tom Calvaresi, the owner, who welcomed the idea of our group visit. I started off with the chardonnay while my wife tried the reisling. We enjoyed the reisling better (probably because it is aged in stainless steel). I tried the cayuga, a grape I had not heard of before this and my wife tried the niagara. Both were very good wines for their respective semi-dry and sweet variety. I tried the cabernet sauvignon and baco noir (another grape which I'm unfamiliar with) while my wife skipped the reds and went to the Steuben Blush and Autumn Rose. I enjoyed the baco noir and she enjoyed the Autumn Rose (sweeter than the Steuben, but the flavors were more enticing). We finished off our tasting with their port and Marion Blackberry. The port is not heavy on the brandy and the blackberry would be great over a good vanilla or chocolate ice cream.

Pennsylvania - Lancaster County - Waltz

Waltz Vineyards - (June 2014) As we were driving south on Route 72 outside of Manheim, we saw a sign that said winery. Well what is one suppose to do on a day out; we followed the signs to Waltz Vineyards which is nestled in the back country of Lancaster County within the farmland. My wife did their Light and Fruity tasting while I did the Dry and Serious tasting. Unfortunately, we did not take good notes but did find the Muscato and the Baron Red (merlot and cabernet sauvignon blend) to be the best of each tasting. We plan on making a return trip.

Pennsylvania - York County - Moon Dancer Winery

Moon Dancer Winery - (June 2014) After crossing the Susquehanna River, we weaved our way to Moon Dancer which overlooks the river downstream from Harrisburg. My wife didn't even look at a traditional white or red and went for the specialty wines. She was looking for wines that we could use fro desserts. She enjoyed Rocky's Mango, which will be used for a summer party theme, and Alexander's Blackberry, which would go great over a good vanilla ice cream. She also tried Murphy's Blueberry, but felt it needed something. Her last taste was the Blue Moon Port (we are thinking of having a port party), which paired well with the chocolate. One thing we are learning is that the wine and the chocolate, not just any chocolate, have to blend and marry in taste or it does not work well. I on the other hand started off with the pinot grigio, with its citrus aroma, I was expecting a glass of orange juice, but the hint was just right and well balanced. I tried the reisling, which also had citrus in it but was toned down with the hint of fresh peaches. I switched to red to try the shiraz. We do not see that on tastings too much and I was interested to see how it would stand up to some I've tried from larger wineries. My palette was surprised by the well balanced wine; it lingered on the tongue and I savored the flavors. I ended my taste with the Arctic Moon ice wine. Another not so common wine, but well worth the price, does require a want for a good dessert wine; on the sweet side, but I did not find it overpowering.

(Oct 2014) - We visited again with our TVCEF tasting tour. As part of the trip, we were taken to the wine cellar and saw their operations. We enjoyed our tasting, but they were out of some of the wines, which was disappointing.Several of our guests also enjoyed the pizzas and macaroni and cheese.

(January 2018) - We had visited the winery once in between the last post and this one, but I did not write about it because I was disappointed in what they offered. We were at the PA Farm Show and decided to taste what was available. Their naked Chardonnay was exactly that - naked, meaning nothing worth writing about. The Cabernet Franc was fruity, but it was lacking any finish. The port had  nice dried cherry flavor and was not overly fortified. Ayla's White was balanced with fruit and sweetness. Overall, some of the wines have improved.