FEATURED EVENT
Summer Nights Under the Stars
Tonight, Chaddsford Winery, Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, Pa. 19317
www.chaddsford.com, 610.388.6821
Co-owner Lee Miller said a lot of the fun of playing the host for what’s now the 15th year of the summer concerts at her Chaddsford Winery is just listening and . . . looking.
“There was a birthday party [at the event last week] and they had balloons and a cake; there must have been 20 of them,” she said last night, on the eve of another concert that you can find outlined on this schedule. The cost is $20 and reservations are recommended. “Then we had one group that was the local dental society that had actually reserved a tent we have [for a party]. And then we had a little nonprofit group here, about 20 people, that were doing something. Then we had groups of two, we had groups of eight. It’s a lot of fun.”
And profitable. These might not be the most creative events, compared say to the wine- blending party I just attended at Maryland’s Woodhall Winery, or next week’s sold out the Brandywine Valley Wine Camp, or last week’s Day in the Vineyard at Kutztown, Pa.’s Pinnacle Ridge, but Miller said that they definitely have evolved into events that have become woven into the fabric of their wineries and others..
“In the beginning we just did a few and then we kind of developed [it] to be a whole program that starts at Memorial Day and goes to Labor Day,” she said, “because it’s easier to promote that way, like come out every Friday night, we have a concert. It’s been just a wonderful program because it’s all the right connections. People come out, there’s music, there’s food, wine, you’re relaxing. It just gives them the right atmosphere so they walk away thinking good things about the wine.
“So they bring the picnic and they get wines here. It’s amazing. We get everything from these elaborate picnics where people will come and out here, a group of 15 people, and they all bring something and they have fabulous picnics. And then some people will come in here with their hoagies from Wawa. Sit down, bottle of wine, have their hoagie and potato chips. It kind of covers the gamut, but it works for people because then they don’t have the cost of selling of food.”
Chaddford’s program starts with the Brandywine River Blues Festival on Memorial Day and ends with the Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival. In between, Friday’s “Summer Nights Under the Stars” includes everything from jazz and swing to big band.
Asked if the concerts are strictly an East Coast phenomenon, Miller said the majority probably exist on this coast “although it’s changing out there. But one of the things I always tell people,” she continued, “about the difference between East Coast wineries and West Coast wineries is that on the East Coast we’re all pretty much in the retail business instead of the wholesale business, and you know why, because we can. We have the population, so why not sell it for full price and entertain people, you know, so that’s kind of what it takes -- bring people out, have a great time, and then you don’t have to sell to wholesalers.”
PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES
“There was a birthday party [at the event last week] and they had balloons and a cake; there must have been 20 of them,” she said last night, on the eve of another concert that you can find outlined on this schedule. The cost is $20 and reservations are recommended. “Then we had one group that was the local dental society that had actually reserved a tent we have [for a party]. And then we had a little nonprofit group here, about 20 people, that were doing something. Then we had groups of two, we had groups of eight. It’s a lot of fun.”
And profitable. These might not be the most creative events, compared say to the wine- blending party I just attended at Maryland’s Woodhall Winery, or next week’s sold out the Brandywine Valley Wine Camp, or last week’s Day in the Vineyard at Kutztown, Pa.’s Pinnacle Ridge, but Miller said that they definitely have evolved into events that have become woven into the fabric of their wineries and others..
“In the beginning we just did a few and then we kind of developed [it] to be a whole program that starts at Memorial Day and goes to Labor Day,” she said, “because it’s easier to promote that way, like come out every Friday night, we have a concert. It’s been just a wonderful program because it’s all the right connections. People come out, there’s music, there’s food, wine, you’re relaxing. It just gives them the right atmosphere so they walk away thinking good things about the wine.
“So they bring the picnic and they get wines here. It’s amazing. We get everything from these elaborate picnics where people will come and out here, a group of 15 people, and they all bring something and they have fabulous picnics. And then some people will come in here with their hoagies from Wawa. Sit down, bottle of wine, have their hoagie and potato chips. It kind of covers the gamut, but it works for people because then they don’t have the cost of selling of food.”
Chaddford’s program starts with the Brandywine River Blues Festival on Memorial Day and ends with the Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival. In between, Friday’s “Summer Nights Under the Stars” includes everything from jazz and swing to big band.
Asked if the concerts are strictly an East Coast phenomenon, Miller said the majority probably exist on this coast “although it’s changing out there. But one of the things I always tell people,” she continued, “about the difference between East Coast wineries and West Coast wineries is that on the East Coast we’re all pretty much in the retail business instead of the wholesale business, and you know why, because we can. We have the population, so why not sell it for full price and entertain people, you know, so that’s kind of what it takes -- bring people out, have a great time, and then you don’t have to sell to wholesalers.”
PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES
Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Summer Night Under the Stars ($$), Friday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., reservations requested, 610-388-6221; Reserve Tasting ($$), Saturday, sittings at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., http://www.chaddsford.com
Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: “Summer Under the Stars” Outdoor Concert Series ($$), Friday, 7 p.m., http://www.crossingvineyards.com/
Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: music Friday night and Saturday afternoon; Summer Concert series Saturday night ($$), http://www.moondancerwinery.com
Paradocz Vineyards, Kenneth Square: Free tastings for fathers, Sunday, http://www.paradocx.com/
Twin Brook Winery, Gap: Gazebo Concert series (SS), Saturday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., http://www.twinbrookwinery.com/
MARYLAND WINERIES
MARYLAND WINERIES
Basignani Winery, Sparks: TGIF Movie Night, Friday, 8 to 1 p.m. under the stars ($$), Father’s Day party, RSVP needed, Sunday, noon to 5 ($$), grilled Italian sausage, wine tasting and a day in the vineyard, www.basignani.com
Cygnus Wine Cellars, Manchester: Solstice at the Cellar, Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.,
Woodhall Wine Cellars, Parkton: Rockin’ Summer Concert, Saturday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ($$); Summer Sangria and Spritzers and Coolers and You ($$), Saturday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; explore the mysteries of mixology. Music by Rockfish. On Sunday, fathers are toasted with a glass of their favorite wine and a flower for mom,
Linganore Winecellars, Mt. Airy: Fathers Day Weekend ($$), Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m., www.linganorewines.com
($$) – Admission charge
