Criss-crossing Pennsylvania is a wine trail the likes of which you won't find anywhere else. Traversing from Philadelphia through Lancaster County, and then up to the northwest corner of the state, these are some of the best vineyards to stop at for tastings, tours, and scenic beauty.
Escape the hustle and bustle of Philly at Chaddsford Winery. They offer a wide variety of whites and reds, and it's only $10 for a good number of samples, with a souvenir wine glass to take with you. The atmosphere is great, with seating inside at the bar, or out on the patio. They sell bottles of their wines and some cheeses and spreads, so if you want to have a little picnic on the patio and enjoy the scenery, you're more than welcome to. If you're lucky, you'll stop by during one of their many events, like wine slushie weekend, or when they have food trucks at the winery.
The wine at Nissley Vineyards is made with only grapes and fruit grown in Pennsylvania, including some estate-bottled wines, with grapes grown on the Nissley property. Most of the drinks are light, sweet, and fruity, but label descriptions make it easy to find something to suit your tastes. You can tour the winemaking operation and pack in a picnic lunch to enjoy while you sip wine at the vineyard.
Armstrong Valley Vineyard is located on a former 18th century farm, and all of the wines for sale are crafted in a quaint and cozy 100-year-old barn on the property. Stroll around the lovely grounds, then cuddle up by the fireplace inside and sample Armstrong’s wares-- some tasty sweet wines, and some mouth-watering, dry reds.
Set among the rolling hills around Middleburg, Shade Mountain is a perfect setting for a relaxing wine tasting. Set up some snacks on the patio and taste a few of Shade’s varied offerings. Selections include some delicious blushes, and a ton of different fruit wines-- peach, pineapple, apple, cranberry, plum, and more!
Brookmere Winery and Vineyard is a beautiful little spot, with a full-service bed and breakfast on site. The B&B is a mid-19th century mansion in the vineyard, and there's no better place to rest your head after a day of sampling wine. Spend the evening sipping delicious vinos, which you can also try in Brookmere’s other tasting rooms across PA. And, if you stay the night, you get to wake up and enjoy a scrumptious home-cooked breakfast as you look out on the peaceful vineyard!
On a lush mountainside in central Pennsylvania, you'll find the family-owned Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery. Tastings are free, and tours (which including a tasting and a souvenir glass) are $7.95 per person, which is worth the price for a look at the charming property. Soak in views of the village of Linden Hall and across the valley as you enjoy a picnic lunch and a bottle of your favorite wine selection for a perfect afternoon.
From Chilean Malbecs and Italian Chiantis to German Rieslings and even ports and fruit wines, the selection at Starr Hill is unrivaled. Beyond the traditional offerings, this establishment makes some pretty adventurous wines, including a surprisingly delicious banana chocolate flavor. You can purchase bottles of Starr Hill wines at stores across central Pennsylvania, but head to the vineyard for a tour and tasting to get the full experience.
Deer Creek Winery is the final stop on your wine tour, and it has got tons to offer. The main location in Shippenville has free tastings and a killer onsite cafe, which offers snacks like flatbreads, pretzels, and bruschetta, as well as treats like raspberry and lemon riesling wine sorbets. The owners also grow olives to make their own olive oil, which they infuse with garlic, harissa, rosemary, and other herbs and spices. They age balsamic vinegar, with which they flavor with their wines, maple, fruit, chocolate, and more. You can sample the vinegar and olive oil as well as the wines, so you'll definitely leave Deer Creek full and content... probably with a few bottles as well!
With so many scenic vineyards to visit and so many delicious wines to sample, you could easily spend weeks meandering through Pennsylvania's wine country. Grab some friends, pack a picnic lunch, and get ready to enjoy delicious wines at some of Pennsylvania's most beautiful vineyards! It's the perfect relaxing trip.
