Avondale, PA -- Va La Vineyards

Sometimes I get to caught up in the drinking of the wine that I neglect to take pictures for documenting...this would be one of those times.  However, I have this great picture of my man with his wine! 

Everybody's taste buds and wine preferences are different...I like whites and am a bit of a wine amateur, Ben likes reds and is very advanced with his wine knowledge.  The wine selection and production at Va La is small but they make a white (Prima Donna) and two reds (Silk and Mahogany) that make this winery stand out from the other PA wineries.  So far, this winery has the best wines we have tasted from the PA of vineyards.   Obviously we have a lot more wineries to venture too and a lot more wine to drink!

One thing we noticed about Avondale, PA area, and particularly around the area this winery is placed, was how moist it was.  You could feel it in the air, see it on the ground and smell it...oh wait...that was mushrooms we were smelling.  Apparently it's not only ideal for grape growing but also for growing mushrooms.

Absolutely beautiful area to visit...between the scenic appearance and delicious wines, I am already to head back as soon as I can.  Maybe take this hunk above with me too.

Landenberg, PA -- Paradoxc Vineyard

Interesting enough this vineyard's name came to be because two couples--all four doctors--got together and decided to start a vineyard...get it...PARaDOCx.  The vineyard is located in the beautiful Landenberg, PA, area. 

A few unique (possibly preferred depending on your preferences) things about visiting this winery:

1) You get to pick your flight for tasting and can take to your seat.  Each  tasting glass comes with a card that provides details for each wine.  Not only do you get to pick the flight that tickles your taste buds but you can do it with out a vineyard employee watching every facial expression and comment after your taste.

2) You can take home a liter...a liter of wine from what looks like a paint can and has a little spout on it!  

Delaplane, VA - Delaplane Cellars - Part 2

Almost forgot about this pic!  The hubs enjoying his time looking really comfortable (one bottle down) at Delaplane Cellars.  Love u xo

Delaplane, VA - Delaplane Cellars - Part 1

Mine...all mine!  The WINE IS COMING WITH ME!  Me at Delaplane Cellars in VA. Oh ya...the wine is that good.

This is a view from the outside patio at one of our favorite local (1 hr 20 mins away from home) wineries here in Virginia.  This was a beautiful summer day and at one point we got so hot that we went and sat inside...my body does not deal well in heat.

The wines are as enjoyable as the atmosphere.  Plenty of space and on weekends they have a 2-guy (sometimes only one of them makes an appearance that I noticed) musical entertainment.  Like some other VA wineries around this area, they like to keep it personal and intimate.  No parties more than 6 and NO wine tour buses.  No worries because we roll as a couple.

Thurmont, MD -- Catoctin Breeze

Yesterday, as Ben and I were making one of our regular car trips from Harrisburg, PA, to Arlington, VA (a trip we make often between "city home" and "weekend home"), we decided to stop and enjoy the scenery at a fairly new winery (opened for tastings in May). 

If you get the chance to drive through PA versus fly over it, you are missing out if you choose flying over it.  The beautiful scenic drive is only explainable if you see it with your own eyes.  As you head south on highway 15 and PA flows into MD, about 10 miles south of the PA stateline, you enter the area of Thurmont, MD.  After many many drive-bys of a particular winery called Catoctin Breeze, we decided that yesterday was the day to give in to our desires...wine desires. 

The vines on the hillside immediately put your mind at ease and put your mindset into a "relaxing day at the winery" mindset.  As we circled around the back of the hill and begin to pull up the lane we started to feel a little hesitation.  The tasting room was in a little barn with a johnny-on-the-spot for...well, you know, and although there were cars there we were concerned about the quality of the wine.  After the discussion in the car (should we get out or should we pretend we are just lost and doing a turnaround), we decided to try it out.  End result...we couldn't have been happier with our decision to stay.

Catoctin Breeze's vines are only a few years old and the official tasting room and cellar will not be complete until next year but their wines are beyond ameatur wine makers.  I highly suggest trying their Chardonnay.  Their reds will be ready (for the first time) in about 2 weeks and best believe that we will be back there as soon as we can to try them!  

Wrightsville, PA - Moon Dancer

Welcome to our happy little winery tour blog thingy (because wine = happy)!  Follow us as we blog about our winery tour experiences and thoughts. 

I'm a little backlogged because I've been a bit lazy.  A few weeks ago we visited a winery in Wrightsville, PA.  It is called Moon Dancer...I know, you are probably picturing a partial moon with stick figure arms and legs dancing weirdly...me too! 

Beautiful view, and although not pictured below, they have a lovely tasting room and back patio.  Also, they host weddings so if you are looking for a venue, picture you, your groom, and your wedding party standing here and this being your backdrop.  Hard to resist. 

The wines are sweet and fruity, flavors such as blueberry, strawberry, peach and mango. 

Welcome!

Welcome to Sarah and Ben's (aka the Happy Couple) blog that reviews wineries from around the world!   Sarah will do most of  the postings, because she's more fun that way.   We've got some interesting stories to share from Virginia to Italy and everywhere in between.   We'll kick things off with some reviews of some local wineries that we went to this weekend in the Lower Susquehanna AVA.   Over to you Babe...