Best Wineries to Visit in Pennsylvania

While Pennsylvania is seldom associated at first thought with wine, considering some of its stricter alcohol laws, it is home to some truly great wineries.

Located 35 minutes outside of Philadelphia, Penns Woods Winery in Chadds Ford offers wine pairings, cheese and honey pairings and more at its beautiful location, boasting outdoor seating, live music and special events. Chadds Ford is also home to Chaddsford Winery and Galer Estate.

Also only about 30 minutes outside Philadelphia is Cardinal Hollow. The Lansdale winery doesn’t subscribe to the traditional belief all wine should be made from grapes, incorporating things like jalapenos, pumpkins, mangos and dandelions in the production process.

An hour outside Philadelphia, you’ll find Stargazers Vineyard, owned and operated by husband and wife duo Alice and John Weygandt. The winery is well known for its use of sustainable growing practices.

This summer, lesser-known Maple Springs Vineyard in Berwyn won a Pennsylvania Wine Association award for its Albariño white wine. Also awarded by the association was a Cabernet Franc by Rushland Ridge, located about an hour outside Philadelphia.

Part of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, Pinnacle Ridge in Kutztown, Pa., has produced wine for more than 20 years. It’s also the most awarded winery in Pennsylvania and a three-time winner of the Governor’s Cup. Enjoy a tasting in the winery’s Pennsylvania Bank Barn, built in 1851.

Sip wine in a 19^th-century mansion at Mount Hope Estate & Winery, also the location of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Personal favorites include the Blackberry Merlot and the 2013 Cabernet Franc from the winery’s Vinifera Series.

Adams County Winery is one of the oldest wineries in Pennsylvania. It has three locations, all offering beautiful views and free tastings. Its most popular wines include Tears of Gettysburg, Rebel Red, Stray Cat Strut and Turning Point. They also make great fruit wines.

Moving west, La Casa Narcisi Winery in Gibsonia, Pa., is about a half hour outside Pittsburgh. The family-owned and operated winery is nestled among scenic rolling hills, offering a tasting bar and La Vite Ristorante. The winery is known for its award-winning Noiret 2016, a full-bodied dry red made from a hybrid grape developed to withstand the cooler North American climates.

Located on Lake Erie in the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies, Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co. serves delicious wines and also recently added craft beer to its tasty offerings.

Some other great PA wineries include: Mountain View Vineyard (Stroudsburg, Monroe County), Deer Creek Winery (Shippenville, Clarion County), Lago Winery (Jamestown, Mercy County), Nissley Vineyards and Winery (Bainbridge, Lancaster County) and Galen Glen Winery (Andreas, Schuylkill County).