It's Almost National Wine Day, So Let's Talk About PA Wineries

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — This Tuesday, May 25 is National Wine Day, which means there’s no better time to break out that bottle of Cabernet you’ve been saving for a special occasion.

While many of us don’t really need an excuse to enjoy a glass of our favorite vintage, that hasn’t stopped wine drinkers from getting creative in finding new ways to celebrate the act of wine drinking.

Whether it's for National Wine Day, National Red Wine Day, or National Drink Wine Day, it’s not hard to find a bottle right here in Pennsylvania. There are dozens to choose from in the Philadelphia suburbs.

Wineries, however, have been hard-hit during the pandemic. A survey by the National Association of American Wineries during the pandemic’s early months showed wineries experienced a crash in tourism and in-person sales.

Visits to tasting rooms plummeted nearly 88 percent, according to the association, and the average winery experienced a 70 percent loss in in-person sales (though internet sales increased by about 66 percent).

This is why National Wine Day marks a perfect time to support a local winery. Designate a driver and grab a drink at these nearby options:

Harvest Ridge Winery

Located in Chester County, Harvest Ridge Winery operates a tasting room in the Brandywine Valley. It's a family-run winery that began in 1974 and offers an array of reds and whites, as well as sangria and sweet wines.

Address: 1140 Newark Rd, Toughkenamon PA

Crossing Vineyards

Set in Bucks County in historic Washington Crossing, Crossing Vineyards offers a quiet escape from day-to-day life with tastings at the historic 20-acre property.

Address: 1853 Wrightstown Rd., Newtown

Chaddsford Winery

Chaddsford Winery operates its main location in Chadds Ford, as well as a tasting room at Peddler's Village in Lahaska. At the main location, there are reservation-based experiences like outdoor table service or reserve tastings. There is also casual walk-in seating.

Address: Main location: 632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, PA

Vino Bambino

Located in Broomall, Vino Bambino offers a unique wine experience. There, you can blend your own wines. It's described as "a place for other wine lovers to meet, have fun, blend their own wines and experience wine the way it was meant to be experienced." Learn more or book a wine blending session here: https://www.vinobambino.us/boo... Address: 848 Sussex Boulevard, Suite C, Broomall, PA

Buckingham Valley Vineyards

Located in bucolic Buckingham Township, Buckingham Valley Vineyards was founded in 1966 and prides itself as being one of Pennsylvania’s first farm wineries. Since 1970, the vineyard and winery have been owned and operated by the Forest family. Since then, wine production has grown to over 35,000 gallons a year. Address: 1521 Durham Road, Buckingham, PA

Pennsylvania has more than 250 wineries. Altogether, they produced more than 1.6 million gallons of wine in December 2020, according to data available through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

On average, the economic impact of wine production and sales in Pennsylvania is about $4.8 billion.

Learn more about Pennsylvania's wineries here.