West Grove, PA -- Kreutz Creek

Normally I don't write up wineries in the blog unless I'm blown away by them, but Sarah insists that this is an incomplete approach, and it also puts too much of the blogging burden on her ;).   After all, I don't want to be like Andrew Zimmern on Bizarre Foods.   He pretends to like just about everything, and after a while you're thinking he must be full of bull***t.   Some of that stuff he's eating must suck, right?  

So, with that being said, here's my write up on Kreutz Creek.   Now to be fair, I'm not saying Kreutz sucked.   In fact they had some decent wines.   I actually liked their Chard's, although Sarah, the white wine drinker, wasn't blown away.   You don't see a lot of Chardonnay in these parts.  Their reds were "clean" - my wine tasting word for not having any kind of funky smell or taste - but on the other hand I didn't think they had any depth or character.   Overall, nothing remarkable.  I had high hopes for this winery since it's only 3.5 miles from my house.  And while I'll definitely go back, it's not going to be my go-to place.  

I do admire their owner and story - a guy who started out making kit wine and was probably in a boring day job, and then made the leap to commercial wine making.   He's got my respect.   Also, the scene and ambiance there in their vineyard was very nice, and the staff friendly and knowledgeable.   

As an aside, Kreutz has a tasting room in West Chester that looks (from the website and Yelp reviews) to be a pretty happening kind of spot.   They are open late, have bands, food and the like.   So it would seem that unlike a lot of other wineries, they have the sales and marketing side down pat.  

In summary, they are worth a stop if you're in the area, just don't make a special trip.  They have lots of sweet wines on the tasting list which was a red flag for me, but if you're into that kind of thing, then you will definitely like.

Chester County, Pennsylvania -- Penns Woods Winery

I've been super excited about this post ever since visiting Penns Woods Winery a few weeks ago.   In fact we've already been back once.  This might be my new fave east coast winery, certainly my favorite here in the Brandywine Valley, which is a part of the Lancaster Valley AVA.  

Penns Woods produces about 3,000 cases a year and focuses mainly on vinifera wines.  Their cab franc is loaded with pepper, oak and smoke, just like I like.   Sarah loves their viognier.   The alcohol content of their reds is more of the old California style - 13 to 14% alcohol, which I like because I can drink more of it before falling over.   On my second trip I bought a bottle of their 2005 Ameritage blend and took it home.   I saved it for a few days (lol) and then broke it out for a steak dinner and was not disappointed!  It was fantastic right out of the bottle and had great acidity and spice, which if often lacking in local wines.

This winery has a fantastic setting with an old barn and a huge lawn for kids to play on.   Plenty of picnic benches and breeze, this is a fantastic place to spend your Saturday or Sunday afternoon.   Unlike a lot of wineries this one is very kid and family friendly.   You and yours can enjoy a bottle while they wear themselves out, all while looking out over their beautiful 20+ acre vineyard.

The staff is super friendly and as near as I can tell it's largely staffed by members of family.   On one of our two visits we saw the owner checking up on things as well.   When I find PA wine this good it encourages me to start growing my own (hobby only - not commercially!) given what the potential is.   If you're ever in the Wilmington/Philly area, I strongly encourage you to make a trip over to Penns Woods.

Linden, Virginia -- Linden Vineyards

Already miss this place...

This was one of our favorite wineries to visit when we lived in Virginia.  A winery that is as old as I am, both born in the early 1980s.  It appears to have aged better than I have though.

Sitting on abandoned hardscrabble (poor soil with harsh conditions) on the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains is where you will find Linden Vineyards and the beautiful views that is embraces.  The below picture is taken in February of the view from the back patio.

Linden's appeal is the tranquil environment that welcomes intimate and personal enjoyment.  Having visited a lot of wineries in the Virginia area, Linden was the first that I visited to inhibit large groups and wine bus tour groups.  A setting that is now becoming more and more popular at more and more wineries.  An intimate setting that I prefer.  

Don't be surprised if you bump into the owner or his dog while you are there.  Both are very friendly and while the owner is usually hard at work, his dog is often greeting you at your table on the patio.  

The scene inside the tasting room and back patio is just as intimate as the scene from windows.  During warmer days, the doors are open and the air is fresh.  

Not only is the environment exactly what I love in my visits to wineries but the wines are also some of best that I have had in Virginia.  Being a split couple (Ben loves reds and I drink whites) it is hard to find a winery that indulges both our preferences...but Linden always does.  I highly recommend the Seyval, and for something a little sweeter (but not to sweet), try the Riesling Vidal.  The Hardscrabble (named after the  land) is a red that is always a great combination of fruit and dryness.  To accompany the wines, Linden makes fresh bread and provides delicious meats and cheeses.

Ben -- before starting to taste some Linden wines.  Why the frown, Ben?

After tasting the wines at Linden and enjoying a glass on the patio...much better!

And, me enjoying my delicious Seyval and staying warm and cozy by the fireplace.  

Egg Harbor City, NJ -- The Historical Renault Winery

There is no better place to be then at a winery when it's this cold and snowing and MISERABLE OUT!

Our weekend took us to a New Jersey winery, a first for us both.  The Renault winery is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in the US.  The winery tour is a 'must' because there is so much history here to remember, let-along type in a blog.  It was a bit overwhelming but in a good way!

Here are some of the key historical facts...the ones that I remember.  The winery started with Louis Renault who had traveled from France in 1855 to start growing grapes where he hoped, would not be affected by a parasite that had destroyed nearly all of France's wine industry in the mid-1800s. What a sad thing to happen :(   Louie grafted American root stocks (which were resistant to the parasite) onto French vines and the rest is history.  

In 1919 John D'Agostino and his family purchased the winery.  They were able to operate during the 14 years of Prohibition under a special government permit.  Yes, it is safe to assume that D'Agostino might have been involved in organize crime, and yes, he was a genius!  D'Agostino was able to continue the operations of wine making by producing it for religious and medicinal reasons.  Renault Wine Tonic (what is was called and sold as) was sold all over in drug stores and right over the counter.  It had an unbelievable 22% alcohol content.  That is Port Wine status!  The medicinal wine was mixed with a tonic that when it was frozen, the tonic and wine would separate with the tonic frozen on the bottom.  This leaving the wine to float to the top and what we all know would happen, to also then be drunk without the tonic.  I know I would have. 

 Below is one of the actual steel vats that was used during the Prohibition!  Crazy!

Currently, the winery is owned by the Milza family who has brought the winery to resort feel.  There is a hotel, two delicious restaurants, museum, golf course, ballroom and pretty of event space.  See additional pictures below of the winery.  

Ben and I had made a weekend out of it and stayed at the hotel called the Tuscany House.  Below is a picture taken in the lobby.  It is a hotel/B&B kind of feel.  We also had dinner at the Gourmet Restaurant, where the food was delicious, live music was performed and the chef did wine pairings with his suggested entrees.

And, of course the wines were delicious as well!  I do love some Champagne and their best is the Blueberry Champagne...brought some back to VA with me. It's that good! 

One last interesting historical fact about Renault.  Renault's Champagne has been made at Renault for over 150 year and because it was founded by Louie, whose wine making is tied back to France and the original Champagne district, Renault's Champagne was grandfathered into a "Champagne".  The only compromise they had to make with the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée is that they must refer to it as "American Champagne".  They are the only US Champagne making winery that can actually call it "Champagne" with a capital "C".  All the other US champagne makers have to label it as "Sparkling Wine".