Photos courtesy of Nina Kelly: from left, the vineyard tour at Kreutz Creek, co-owner Mark Harris addresses the group at Paradocx, where campers also take a hayride.
Courtesy of Nina Kelly, the director of communications for the Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau, here's a second-day summation of the Brandywine Valley Wine Camp. We plan to continue these posts throughout the weekend for the filled-to-capacity event, which runs through Sunday:
The first full day of the Brandywine Valley Wine Camp on Saturday was really a FULL day! Camp started out at Kreutz Creek Winery in West Grove with a walk through the vineyards. Campers were greeted by owners Jim and Carole Kirkpatrick on a deck overlooking the vineyard. Jim tells the story that this all started with Carole giving him a wine-making kit for Christmas several years ago. They purchased the land in West Grove, planted vines and began making wine in 1989. Today they grow 13 varieties on 8 of their 20 acres.
It was a beautiful day (albeit hot) for a walk through the vineyard, with Jim pointing out lovingly his varieties of grapes. During the walk Jim highlighted the processes of pruning, showing us the "sappers" that would sap the nutrients out of the fruit. Questions of irrigation came up and Jim answered that is all by mother nature - no artificial means is used to irrigate the vines. This seemed unusual until we learned the incredible depth of the roots (some can reach as far as 20 feet). Finally we tasted the fruits of this beautiful vineyard in the custom basement winery in their home. Kreutz Creek currently produces 18 wines including Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Niagra, Steuben, Port and more. Like Chaddsford Winery, Kreutz Creek also has an evening concert series and serves unique wine "slushies" as a signiture drink.
We left Kreutz Creek for the short drive to Paradocx Winery. It was opening day of their new winery and we were met by co-owner Mark Harris. After a glass of wine, he took us off on a hay-ride to the vineyard. There under the cypress trees lay a magnificent spread of Italian delights from Carlino's in West Chester accompanied by various delicious Paradocx wines. Mark's wife Joann and two beautiful daughters greeted us as Mark told the story of he and his partner (both doctors with wives who were doctors- hence the name Paradocx) on a handshake purchased 80 acres in Landenberg and began their dream of becoming wine-makers. Mark credits Eric Miller of Chaddsford Winery with being an inspiration and a great help to the budding winemakers. Paradocx produces 15 varieties of grapes. Mark and Joann poured wines throughout the lunch and explained the process of making the wine as well as what foods might pair best with them. A favorite packaging technique at Paradocx is their unique "paint cans" of "White Wash" and "Barn Red." Several campers purchased these as well as other of their favorite wines to sample at home.
Finally the last winery of the day was beautiful Twin Brook Winery in Gap. Twin Brook is on 30 acres and produces about 100 to 140 tons of grapes. We were met by General Manager Tim Jobe, who took the group on a tour of where grapes are captured to be crushed, stored and fermented. Plastic holding tanks were seen for the first time in the wine camp and Tim expained that much like barrels, plastic tanks can aid in the oxidation process. He also explained the importance of yeast in the fermenting process. He showed us where 50,000 bottles are filled and corked by hand! A retreat to the loft tasting room where Tim poured Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, to name a few. Tim spoke of the positive relationship with other winemakers in the region and how the area was a natural for growing and producing. Visitors were already gathering for a concert on the grounds as we were leaving.
A weary (but happy) group retreated to their B&B's for some R&R before dinner. We later met at Brandywine Prime, where general manager and co-owner Michael Majewski escorted us to a private room for wonderful hors d'oeuvres and Stargazers Sparkling Chardonnay (we'll see Stargazers on Sunday. Blair Mahoney, executive director of the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, greeted the campers and got caught up on the activities thus far and some ideas for other camps. "I couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome of our first Wine Camp effort" says Mahoney. "This group could not be better and from all accounts they are having a great time! Wine Camp will become an annual event and we are in the process of developing other camp programs." A fabulous dinner followed - served with Brandywine region wines of course! The first full day was indeed full - full of fun, food, wine and great memories. Still to come, our last day together . . .
The first full day of the Brandywine Valley Wine Camp on Saturday was really a FULL day! Camp started out at Kreutz Creek Winery in West Grove with a walk through the vineyards. Campers were greeted by owners Jim and Carole Kirkpatrick on a deck overlooking the vineyard. Jim tells the story that this all started with Carole giving him a wine-making kit for Christmas several years ago. They purchased the land in West Grove, planted vines and began making wine in 1989. Today they grow 13 varieties on 8 of their 20 acres.
It was a beautiful day (albeit hot) for a walk through the vineyard, with Jim pointing out lovingly his varieties of grapes. During the walk Jim highlighted the processes of pruning, showing us the "sappers" that would sap the nutrients out of the fruit. Questions of irrigation came up and Jim answered that is all by mother nature - no artificial means is used to irrigate the vines. This seemed unusual until we learned the incredible depth of the roots (some can reach as far as 20 feet). Finally we tasted the fruits of this beautiful vineyard in the custom basement winery in their home. Kreutz Creek currently produces 18 wines including Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Niagra, Steuben, Port and more. Like Chaddsford Winery, Kreutz Creek also has an evening concert series and serves unique wine "slushies" as a signiture drink.
We left Kreutz Creek for the short drive to Paradocx Winery. It was opening day of their new winery and we were met by co-owner Mark Harris. After a glass of wine, he took us off on a hay-ride to the vineyard. There under the cypress trees lay a magnificent spread of Italian delights from Carlino's in West Chester accompanied by various delicious Paradocx wines. Mark's wife Joann and two beautiful daughters greeted us as Mark told the story of he and his partner (both doctors with wives who were doctors- hence the name Paradocx) on a handshake purchased 80 acres in Landenberg and began their dream of becoming wine-makers. Mark credits Eric Miller of Chaddsford Winery with being an inspiration and a great help to the budding winemakers. Paradocx produces 15 varieties of grapes. Mark and Joann poured wines throughout the lunch and explained the process of making the wine as well as what foods might pair best with them. A favorite packaging technique at Paradocx is their unique "paint cans" of "White Wash" and "Barn Red." Several campers purchased these as well as other of their favorite wines to sample at home.
Finally the last winery of the day was beautiful Twin Brook Winery in Gap. Twin Brook is on 30 acres and produces about 100 to 140 tons of grapes. We were met by General Manager Tim Jobe, who took the group on a tour of where grapes are captured to be crushed, stored and fermented. Plastic holding tanks were seen for the first time in the wine camp and Tim expained that much like barrels, plastic tanks can aid in the oxidation process. He also explained the importance of yeast in the fermenting process. He showed us where 50,000 bottles are filled and corked by hand! A retreat to the loft tasting room where Tim poured Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, to name a few. Tim spoke of the positive relationship with other winemakers in the region and how the area was a natural for growing and producing. Visitors were already gathering for a concert on the grounds as we were leaving.
A weary (but happy) group retreated to their B&B's for some R&R before dinner. We later met at Brandywine Prime, where general manager and co-owner Michael Majewski escorted us to a private room for wonderful hors d'oeuvres and Stargazers Sparkling Chardonnay (we'll see Stargazers on Sunday. Blair Mahoney, executive director of the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, greeted the campers and got caught up on the activities thus far and some ideas for other camps. "I couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome of our first Wine Camp effort" says Mahoney. "This group could not be better and from all accounts they are having a great time! Wine Camp will become an annual event and we are in the process of developing other camp programs." A fabulous dinner followed - served with Brandywine region wines of course! The first full day was indeed full - full of fun, food, wine and great memories. Still to come, our last day together . . .
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