Chaddsford WineryĬhaddsford Winery offers sparkling, sweet, and dry wine made from common European grapes like pinot grigio and cabernet sauvignon, as well as wine from French-American hybrids such as chambourcin, noiret, and the lovely and floral vignoles. The winery also offers homemade cocktails and local beer, as well as yoga, art, and other events. Live music and local food trucks rotate weekly and smiling pups Chlöe, Maze, and Ember frolic and play among happy guests seated next to acres of vines. Shaded seating is available on the lawn or under a tasteful covered tent decorated with white lights and used barrels. Carmine is a cross of cabernet sauvignon and carignan, which was considered a “mystery grape” when it appeared among a crop of Wayvine’s chardonnay. The Matriarch is a blend of riesling, gruner veltliner, pinot grigio, and sauvignon blanc the Chief is made from carmine, merlot, and cab franc. Selections are mainly dry red and white single varieties, but the Matriarch and the Chief are curious delicious standouts. Put plainly: Wayvine’s wine is fantastic. Zachary and James Wilson are the winemakers and vineyard managers who oversee the 18 different grape varieties grown on-site. Wayvine is not just a winery - it’s a lifestyle for the Wilson family, owners of this third-generation picturesque Nottingham farm. They’re all a little over an hour drive outside the city - and totally worth the trip. From more casual, family-friendly environments to intimate one-on-one tastings with the winemakers themselves, local wineries not far afield from Philadelphia have a lot to offer. And given the quality of wines that Pennsylvania and New Jersey are producing, drinking locally means drinking well. Along the way, a 2014 Estate Chardonnay magically appeared too.There’s something to be said about drinking wine in the place where it grows. All were fresh and crisp and didn’t take over from the wine itself. Sungold tomatoes and little green beans with basil, mint and shallots, along with a Scribe garden salad and flowers also arrived at the table. Next up was a yummy grilled lamb polpette with green coriander and pita – nice and soft! – served with a crisp 2016 Estate Riesling. (All somewhat thwarted by my recent braces. Once seated, we were brought our first bites: almonds, olives and garden cucumbers. When we visited, the chef-in-residence was Cal Peternell of Chez Panisse.įirst off, we were greeted at check-in with our first tasting: a 2016 Rosé of pinot noir, which turned out to be my favorite wine of the day.

The tastings, which cost a pretty penny at $60, include a series of light dishes made by guest chefs and the menu varies week-to-week. There are comfy sofas, and tables with benches – so be sure to specify which you want when you make your reservation (which you need to do to visit). The patio, on the other hand, is a lovely, shady place to sit on a hot summer’s afternoon. Even on a sweltering hot day, I can imagine sheltering inside from the rain on a winter’s day. Having survived the 1906 earthquake and-despite many years of neglect-it has been resurrected and revived in an entirely unique way. The Hacienda at Scribe Winery is a gorgeous grand old house at the end of a palm tree-lined driveway.

Food at scribe winery