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.