Photos courtesy of Brandywine Valley Wine Trail
Looking for a unique way to celebrate the Fourth in Chester County? How about a bang-up BBQ weekend at the vineyards and wineries of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail? Bring your friends and relatives out for some wine, food and fun. Each winery will host their own festivities with wine tastings and special celebrations including live music, creative food offerings, outdoor dining, art shows and evening concerts.
Brandywine Big Bang BBQ Weekend is proud to showcase the exciting wine industry that has developed in Southeastern PA and to present the high-quality wines being made here. This is a perfect chance to explore the local wineries that make the Brandywine Valley such a special place and each winery is within ½ hour’s driving time of each other. Even better news is that there is no fee to attend these special events, other than the wineries’ individual tasting fees (ranging from $5-$8) and food costs.
Make it an overnight experience! Even if you are from Chester County, take a break in your own backyard and play tourist by staying at a local Bed and Breakfast. Several hotels and Bed & Breakfasts are offering Wine Weekend Packages, with a “Sip & Stay Passport” for tastings at all member wineries. Nearby attractions include Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, the Brandywine River Museum, Simon Pearce Glassblowing, the Brandywine Battlefield and many local antique shops, art galleries and fine restaurants. To see more about the area, visit www.brandywinevalley.com.
Participating Wineries:
BLACK WALNUT WINERY, 3000 Lincoln Hwy., Sadsburyville, Pa.: (610) 857-5566; www.blackwalnutwinery.com
CHADDSFORD WINERY, 632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, Pa. (610) 388-6221; www.chaddsford.com,
Invite all your visiting relatives and come enjoy a rousing Fourth of July with weekend-long events at Chaddsford Winery, including free outdoor music Saturday and Sunday afternoons and an all-day BBQ Saturday and Sunday by favorite local grillin’ guy Nick’s Chicks. Music daily from 2 to 5 pm.
· Saturday July 3 – Beats Workin’
· Sunday July 4 – Hake & Jarema
KREUTZ CREEK VINEYARDS, 553 S. Guernsey Road, West Grove, Pa.; (610) 869-4412; www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com
Enjoy Jazz music by Swing Set from 2 to 5 p.m. and pulled pork sandwiches both days!
PARADOCX VINEYARD, 1833 Flint Hill Road, Landenberg, Pa.; (610) 255-5684; www.paradocx.com
Wine Tastings, wine by the glass and organic cheeseburgers with sides from Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Stay for an entertaining summer evening with an outdoor concert by Cole Younger Band, a local folk/rock/pop group. Saturday only 5 to 9 p.m. Admission required.
PENNS WOODS WINERY, 124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, Pa.; (610) 459-0808; www.pennswoodswinery.com
July 3 & 4 wine, music, food and fun!
Music by Chris Adams: All of his equipment will be powered by a large solar panel that travels with him! http://www.chrisadamsmusic.com/fr_home.cfm
Food will be catered by The Inn at Yellow Springs – Menu soon to come. Plates will be available for purchase.
Regular tastings and wine by the glass ($5, $7 or $10) for sale
Picnic with us! We’ll have a tent with tables & chairs, picnic tables and also tables on the patio
Come wander the vineyard rows and ask any questions of the winemaker and vineyard manager.
STARGAZERS VINEYARD, 1024 Wheatland Drive, Coatesville, Pa.; (610) 486-0422; www.stargazersvineyard.com
New Release! 2009 GV – Gruner Veltliner
Richard Schrack of Moonlight Catering will be serving his fabulous BBQ chicken, baby back ribs and shrimp along with local sweet corn and potato salad. $10 per plate.
Lavender products for sale and Artisan cheeses for tasting & purchase. Wine tastings each day.
Bring your own blankets & chairs. Acoustic stringed instruments welcome.
Sunday July 4th:
If the sky is clear you can get a glimpse of the Longwood Gardens fireworks display at 9 p.m. Wine sales until 9 p.m.
TWIN BROOK WINERY, 5697 Strasburg Road, Gap, Pa.; (717) 442-4915; www.twinbrookwinery.com
Free lawn concerts July 3 & 4 from 2 to 5 p.m. The lineup for July 3 has not yet been determined. On July 4, Ragtime Willi will entertain with some Funky Folk!
For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call 610-444-3842. To learn more about the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, its member wineries, other special events held throughout the year, like the Fall Harvest Festival and the Barrels on the Brandywine, see the Trail’s web site at www.bvwinetrail.com.
