Nothing says summer quite like a road trip. With the windows down and the sun on your face, the only thing that can make the trip better is making a winery or vineyard the destination.
LessKick off your winery tour southwest of Philadelphia in Chester County. Harvest Ridge Winery grows its grapes in the Delaware countryside, but has a tasting room nestled within the lush green landscape of the Brandywine Valley. The tasting room is open on the weekends and offers create-your-own wine flights of reds (cabernet sauvignon, merlot, blends), whites (chardonnay, pinot gris, gruvy, and a blend), sweet wines, and sangria.
Fifteen minutes away is Chaddsford Winery, a local staple and one of the most established wineries in the state. Housed in a former 17th century dairy farm, the space is outfitted with plenty of outdoor patio seating, food trucks, manicured lawns for picnicking, and a newly renovated barrel room. On weekends, the winery hosts seasonal tastings, featuring pours from their extensive portfolio, and wine flights.
Sip with views of the vineyard at Penns Woods Winery, just minutes away from the Pennsylvania-Delaware border. The charming old barn on the property is fashioned into an outdoor bar where you can order moscato, rosé, and pinot noir by the glass. On the weekends, make a reservation for a tour of the 30-acre vineyard or a guided wine tasting. To pair with your merlot reserve, traminette, or blanc de noir, the winery sells cheese, crackers, and jams.
About 20 minutes north of the Penns Woods Winery sits Grace Winery. Photo ops abound at this lush 1750s barn-turned-winery located on the grounds of a Brandywine estate. Grace Winery offers small batch, estate-grown wines by the glass or bottle and tons of scenic landscape to take in. The tasting room serves two different red blends, cabernet franc, vintners reserve, and more, plus snacks like a meat and cheese board.
After a straight shot down I-476 North, you’ll arrive at the Karamoor Estate. The winery features a deck overlooking 27 acres of vineyards, giving you the feel that you’re enjoying sips in Sonoma rather than Southeast Pennsylvania. The winery hosts vineyard tours along with tastings of their Bordeaux-style wines like chardonnay, petit verdot, cabernet franc, and more. The estate features sprawling greenery and gazebos, so make your reservation for a classy afternoon experience.
The longest leg of your road trip—just over half an hour from Karamoor Estate—takes you into the heart of Bucks County. Located on a ridge above the Neshaminy Creek, family-run farm Rushland Ridge produces chardonnay, cabernet franc, and traminette for your tasting pleasure. Open for tastings on weekends in their intimate rustic space, pick and choose what you’d like to sample and enjoy a laid back, truly homegrown afternoon. Cross your fingers the owners’ pup greets you at the door.
These days you can make a reservation for a table or BYO chair or blanket and food and sit on the sprawling lawn next to the vineyard with a glass, flight, or bottle. Their red lineup includes a smoke house red and a ruby port, while on the white side, they’ve got riesling and chardonnays.