Friday, September 26, 2008

The event grapevine: Sept. 26-28


Featured event

6th annual Brandywine Valley Wine Trail Harvest Fest
Weekends of Sept. 27-28 and Oct. 4-5


The idea of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail’s Harvest Fest hasn’t changed since its inception. As Lee Miller, the co-owner of Chaddsford Winery, wrote in an e-mail, the primary goal of the annual festival is to celebrate fall and introduce the 2008 vintages. “The idea of Harvest Fest is that it's pretty much the same every year,” she wrote, “but a chance for people to come out and see the vineyards, how the harvest is going, what's new at each winery, what new releases they have, etc. And we all offer a bunch of activities that will be a little different every year.”

What makes this year’s different, however, is that for the first time it’s being spread over two weekends, this one and next. Said Miller, “We felt that this would give them more opportunity to visit and enjoy the wineries, instead of rushing to get to them all in one day or one weekend.”

Harvest Fest Passports required to visit any of the six participating wineries are $25 and can be purchased at any one of them when you stop in,
online, or by calling 610.444-3842 or 866-390.4367. These entitle the holder to one tasting at each winery. If you just can’t make it to all six during these two weekends, the Passport can be used through Dec. 30.

But the real treat is getting to any of these wineries during the next two weeks. The places are buzzing with visitors grouped around the tasting bar, gathering for a tour or listening to some basic information about the wines they are sampling and the wineries that make them. And all the wineries we visited had something out to munch on.

On what’s a busy fall weekend for winery and wine trail events, here’s what’s on the schedule:

PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery Crop, North Wales: Live music, Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m.,
http://www.cardinalhollowwinery.com/

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli: 13th annual Picking Party and Grape Stomp ($$), Saturday and Sunday. 9 a.m. through the entire day; Fall Foliage Tasting ($$), Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.,
http://www.bluemountainwine.com

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Harvest Festival ($$), Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.; Reserve tastings ($$), Saturday, sittings at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., http://www.chaddsford.com

Clover Mill Farm Vineyards & Winery, Chester Springs: Open again, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., http://www.clovermillfarm.com/

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Fourth class in Wine 101 series ($$), Monday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., white wine,
http://www.crossingvineyards.com

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas: Octoberfest Tours of the Vineyard & Cellars, Sunday, tractor and wagon tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4pm.,
http://www.galenglen.com

Kreutz Creek Vineyards, West Grove: Harvest Festival ($$), Saturday and Sunday, music, 2 to 5 p.m. both days and Saturday night concert ($$), 6 to 9 p.m.,
http://www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music Friday (6 to 9 p.m.), Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.; concert ($$), Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m.,
George Wesley, http://www.moondancerwinery.com

Paradocx Vineyard, Landenberg: Harvest Festival ($$), Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., Saturday night concert, 5 to 9 p.m., Blue Bayou, http://www.paradocx.com

Penns Woods Winery, Eddystone: Harvest Festival ($$), noon to 5 p.m., music both days,
http://www.pennswoodswinery.com

Twin Brook Winery, The Gap: Harvest Festival ($$), Saturday and Sunday; Harvest Festival concert ($$), Saturday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Big Package, Weather permitting this concert will be held outdoors. If there is inclement weather the concert will be held in the Greenhouse. To ensure your spot please secure your tickets in advance since there is LIMITED ADMISSION for the Greenhouse,
http://www.twinbrookwinery.com

Va La Vineyards, Avondale: Harvest Festival ($$), Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6 pm.,
http://www.valavineyards.com

MARYLAND WINERIES

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, Dickerson: Live music by Danny Grizzle, Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m.,
http://www.smvwinery.com/index.htm


Other MARYLAND winery events can be found at this link, VIRGINIA events at this link and New York events at this link


FESTIVALS

33rd annual Virginia Wine Festival ($$), Prince William County (Va.) Fairgrounds, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,
information at this link

Uncorked Rockville (Md.) ($$), Saturday, noon to 6 p.m.,
information at this link

$$ – Admission charge

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