You’re less than an hour from any local vineyard or winery by living or visiting Pennsylvania. The state offers a large variety of wine grapes, thanks to the positive guidance of the Pennsylvania Winery Association.
Ten regions in the state nurture the grapes grown in the state, with the southeastern region being more prominent in five distinct areas. The wineries and vineyards thrive in various climates and elevations, from inland mountain regions to Chesapeake Bay’s modest valleys.
These atmospheric conditions allow for producing a wide variety of wine grapes — Fiano, Nebbiolo, Malvasia, Bianca and Barbera.
Cabernet and Melot show promise, while Saperavi’s seemingly esoteric but blossomed with Fero Vineyards Saperavi, winning the best red wine at the state competition.
You’ll savor some of the best wines while enjoying the finest scenery by visiting the local wineries. Converse with the winemakers, walk through the vineyards, and taste the flavors you’ve never recognized before.
Share the experience with your partner, friends, or family as you take in the passion and hard work of the winemakers and their team. A toast to the best wine tasting in Pennsylvania!
The Best Places to Go for Wine Tasting in Pennsylvania
- Fero Vineyards & Winery
- Chaddsford Winery
- Paradocx Vineyard
- Setter Ridge Vineyard
- Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery
- Penn Shore Winery and Vineyards
- Franklin Hill Vineyards
1. Fero Vineyards & Winery
Family-owned Fero Vineyards craft their celebrated wines from their estate-grown grapes. In Lewisburg, they grow genuine old-world varieties from Europe, thriving in Central Pennsylvania.
Owners Chuck and Daneen Zaleski are passionate about caring for their land with uncompromising wine quality.
Hand-picked, they crush and press the grapes in tanks and barrels. They closely monitor the process in a clean environment, making traditional wine for you to savor.
The winery offers a wide range of wines to please any palate, from dry, semi-dry whites, like Bison Roots Orange and Blush, to dry reds, like Saperavi, to bubbly, like Riesling.
Saperavi is their biggest award winner, while the Sweet Red won the 2014 Governors Cup “Best in Show.”
Enjoy four pours per wine flight at the tasting room for $10.00. Hours comprise Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Consider hosting a wedding in their pavilion or attending one of their many events and happenings.
2. Chaddsford Winery
Nestled in Brandywine Valley in lush, green Southeastern Pennsylvania, you’ll savor Chaddsford Winery.
As one of the state’s oldest wineries and established in 1982, Chaddsford is the pioneer of the state’s wine industry and one of the largest, producing 30,000 cases a year.
The winery focuses on producing approachable wines that mirror their distinct “Mid-Atlantic Uplands” microclimate. The production offers a varied selection of dry whites, reds, and sweet wines.
The winery strives to use sustainable methods across every aspect of the company, using regionally grown fruit to lower its carbon footprint. Sixty-four percent of their grapes came from Pennsylvania farms.
Besides being environmentally friendly, the winery’s 2020 Dry Rose: Redux won the Gold at Pennsylvania Wine Competition, and the 2017 Merlot won the Silver Medal at Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.
Visitors can book private events, make reservations for table service, or try walk-in seating. You can book a reserve tasting or attend one of the winery’s events.
Open seven days a week, including a couple of evenings when they stay open until 8 PM.
3. Paradocx Vineyard
The Paradocx Vineyard rests amongst the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley.
Owned and operated by the Harris and Hoffman families, visit the 5,000-case winery where they combine handcrafted secrets and current technology to produce a wide range of unique wine grapes.
Ninety percent of their wines come from homegrown grapes, featuring 23 wines from over 36,000 vines.
Grapes include Auxerrois, Petite Verdot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Carmine, Chambourcin, Vidal and Viognier.
Carmine is a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan, with high tannin. Vintners use this red as a blender, while some winemakers make it a varietal.
The vineyard hosts a restaurant that serves a Sunday Bruch and a menu that includes sandwiches, pasta, soup, salad, cheese, fruit plate, and dessert. Flights paired with bites are a fun treat that the chef prepares to enhance your wine tasting.
Winery invites you to visit any day of the week starting at 11 AM, except for Sundays at 10 AM. The estate stays open longer Thursday through Saturday nights.
They accept reservations for indoor seating and first come, first serve outdoor seating with a lovely patio, garden, and meadow. Bring your own chairs and blankets because of limited seating outdoors.
4. Setter Ridge Vineyards
A family-owned and run vineyard and winery, Setter Ridge Vineyards rest in Berks County among the beautiful hills of Kutztown.
They passionately craft quality wines with a European flair based on the steep slopes of southeastern Pennsylvania. Come by and explore the local wine and cheese while viewing the Blue Mountains.
Featured wines include Pinot Noir, a French Burgundy, Three Sisters, a blend of Merlot, Pinot and Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, aged in French Oak.
Established with the companionship of English Setters, winemaking became a part of the Blair family tradition. They encourage you to visit and experience the feeling of friendship and family. Self-guided tasting happens Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays to Sundays from 11 AM to 5 PM, closed Wednesdays.
Flights of wine are $10.00, choosing any four off the tasting list. Seating is indoors, outdoors under the patio or in the lawn area. The lawn area offers Adirondack chairs, picnic tables, and firepits. You can bring your own blankets or chairs for an afternoon outdoors.
Events include ice cream flights, mimosa flights, seniors’ day on Tuesdays, and music events. Check the calendar before your visit to ensure tasting is available.
5. Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery
Established in 1999, Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery started with three acres of vines on farmland, existing since the 1850s.
The vineyard has grown to 9.5 acres, cultivating red and white grapes. The Centre County climate and limestone soils of their farm grow premium grapes, producing distinct wines of varietal character.
In 2010, they built the winery with the first vintage in the fall of that year. They consider their winery a “Farm to Bottle” establishment based on growing 90 percent of the grapes they use to make wine.
They grow over ten varieties of wine grapes, producing many styles of wine to please most palates. You can choose from full-bodied, oaky reds to dry fruity whites, including the favorites Appalachia Red, a sweet-blend and award-winner Ice Wine, capturing Governors Cup two years in a row.
Relax and take a break while enjoying the wine on their outdoor patio. The tasting room welcomes you Wednesday through Friday from 2 PM to 5:30 PM, Saturdays from 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM, and Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM.
They require reservations for indoor seating and offer flights by reservation. Enquire online about tours of their vineyard winery for $10.00 per person.
6. Penn Shore Winery & Vineyard
One of the oldest licensed wineries along the Lake Erie shoreline, Penn Shore Winery & Vineyard, is in the heart of the Pennsylvania grape-growing region.
The well-established winery produces table wine, vintage wine, specialty wine, and sparkling wine. Some reds are Noiret, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Whites include Seyval Blanc, Reflections, and Vidal Blanc.
Penn Shore’s white wines are delicate, and light with the reds as French-American hybrids are robust and full. During the fall, the region will tease you with the overwhelming aroma of the grapes.
The vineyard patio hosts band events during the summer months and features the concert series, “Music in the Vineyards.” Attend the events and savor a glass or bottle of wine, lounging on your blanket or lawn chair.
Penn Shore offers self-guided tours of the winery, detailing the wine-making process. Purchase wine flights with four generous pours of your choosing. You can even tour the museum or visit the retail shop.
Or kick back and savor your wine among the vineyards. Come by Monday through Saturday, from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM. At the busiest times, the vineyard has up to 250 visitors.
7. Franklin Hill Vineyards
Established in 1976 as the oldest vineyard in Lehigh Valley, Franklin Hill Vineyards grew into an innovative facility. Besides satisfying their palate with award-winning wines, visitors appreciate the breathtaking views of the vineyard.
Also, while sipping your wine, consider finding out about the woman behind the rooting of Franklin Hill wines. Discover the story that began after Elaine Pivinski attended the Woodstock concert in 1969.
The winery offers many wines, from dry and semi-dry to sweet and semi-sweet. Rooted comes from Chambourcin grapes, created to acknowledge our similarities, differences, and the in-between.
Each label is slightly different, featuring a mistake, wine stain, or mark. Redhead is a dry blend of Chambourcin and Merlot, infused with crème brûlée.
Katies Creek is a sweet wine, blending Cayuga White and Vidal Blanc, savory-sweet with light flavors for your palate. The Gold Medal Winner Fainting Goat arrives flavored with black cherry and potent antioxidants.
The winery loves to give tours. You only have to ask with tastings Friday and Saturdays from 11 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from 12 PM to 4 PM.
They offer light snacks with your wine flights. Kindly don’t bring outside food. Learn some wine recipes to make Sangrias, cocktails, and hot drinks by visiting their website.
