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Delaware Does Wine

by | Jan 24, 2025 | ASW Blog, Fifty States of Wine

Wine glass drink tasting hand

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.

 

With just five wineries, Delaware is the smallest wine-producing state in the US. The first Swedish Settlers to Delaware in 1638 planted grapes and made wine for personal consumption. But it was not until the 20th century that Delaware wineries appeared, with the founding of Nassau Valley Vineyard in 1987 by Peg Raley and her father Bob in coastal Lewes, Delaware.

 

Overfalls Lightship at Canalfront Park in Lewes, Delaware

Overfalls Lightship at Canalfront Park in Lewes, Delaware.

 

Early Growth of Delaware Wine Industry: Nassau Valley Vineyard

Peg Raley had been working for many years as a journalist in the wine business. After years of writing about other people’s wine, she decided to make her own in her home state of Delaware. She soon discovered that Delaware laws prohibited farm wineries, so she drafted legislation and lobbied for the creation of the Farm Winery Law. The legislation was passed in 1991, and the Raleys opened Nassau Valley Vineyards in October 1993.

Nassau Valley remains the largest of the five wineries (there is also a Meadery) in the state and has won numerous awards for its wines. Like the other wineries in Delaware, Nassau Valley has vineyards planted with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot grapes. They also source regionally grown fruit to produce fruit wines. Currently, they are offering 16 wines, both white and red in dry, sweet,
and sparkling styles.

 

Wine barrels in the dark

Photo by Daniel Vogel on Unsplash.

 

Pizzadili Winery

The Raleys were joined in the farm winery business in 2007 by another family, Tony and Pete Pizzadili. The brothers first planted grapes in 1993 in the Felton Countryside with plans to keep adding vines until they were ready to produce and sell wine. Today, Pizzadili Winery grows over 12 different grape varieties, including French hybrids like Chambourcine, Vidal Blanc, and Seyal Blanc for their wines. They take great pride in the fact that all of their wines are from estate grown grapes.

 

Harvest Ridge Winery

Another family farm winery was established in 2011 by Chuck and Chris Nunan. Chuck had been making wine in his basement for years, and after purchasing Harvest Ridge farm, he decided to turn it into a farm winery. The first vines they planted were Chardonnay, Viognier, Malbec, and Merlot. The winery opened in November 2013 to the public as Harvest Ridge Winery. The winery spans two states, Delaware and
Maryland, and is right on the Mason-Dixon line.

One of the unique features of the Harvest Ridge property is the existence of one of the original Mason-Dixon witness stones and crown markers, number 47. In honor of this historic landmark, Harvest Ridge produces two wines that pay homage to it. White # 47 is a unique blend of Vidal Blanc and Chardonnay for a refreshing fruit-forward profile. Red #47 uses French Hybrids, Italian, and native American grapes to create a rustic red table wine.

 

Champagne's spinning in a Lehmann glasses

Photo by Big Dodzy on Unsplash.

 

Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery

Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery, as the name implies, is located in the Delaware coastal town of Frankford. It is the “love child” of Adrian and Jessica Mobilia, who, shortly after marrying, bought and converted Fenwick Wine Cellars into an updated and expanded winery.

Adrian is a fourth-generation winemaker, having learned the craft from his grandfather and father in Erie, Pennsylvania. Shortly after purchasing Fenwick Cellars and the land next to it, he planted 1600 acres of Cabernet and Merlot vines, with plans to add more each Spring. In November 2016, Salted Vines Vineyard and Winery officially opened with a rustic tasting room and outdoor space for concerts and
other events.

At Salted Vines, a menu of ten to fourteen wines, including sweet to dry white, red, rose, and sparkling styles is available for tasting. Visitors can choose from two wine tasting experiences: The Salted Vino Experience in the intimate barrel room, which includes a mini charcuterie box, or The Salted Vines Signature Tasting at the tasting bar. Reservations are recommended.

 

Blend of Seven Winery

The Blend of Seven Winery is not named for the number of grapes in a blended wine but for the blending of two families that occurred when owners Steve (3 children) and Sandi (2 children) Weddington married in 1994. Their interest in wine began after visiting a winery in 2008 and grew in 2010 when Sandi purchased a home wine making kit for Steve as an anniversary present. They began making wine for their consumption and shared it with family and friends. In 2011, they turned their passion for wine into their own business and started Blend of Seven Winery (BOSW) out of their home in Ohio, Delaware.

After a few years working out of an addition to their home, BOSW is now located in a 4,100-square-foot facility that houses winemaking operations, a tasting room, and a restaurant. Visitors can enjoy wines made from locally grown grapes and international grape varieties sourced worldwide. Wines are named after family members, friends, and pastimes like golf-themed “Slice of Life.” At BOSW, there is something for everyone, with white, red, rose, and dessert wines available in sweet to dry styles.

 

More Information on Delaware Wine

The Delaware wine trail features visits to the wineries above, along with numerous breweries, Meadery’s, and distilleries to visit. Go to VintageAtlanticWine.com to plan your trip along the trail. The Delaware Wine Association supports and advocates for these breweries, distilleries, and wineries, and its website is another good source of information on how and when to visit. Go to DEwineries.org to learn
more.

 

 

This article was originally written for Recette Magazine, and was published online on April 2, 2021. See the original article here: https://blog.suvie.com/a-beginners-guide-to-delaware-wine. See all of the Fifty States of Wine articles here: https://alwayssharingwine.com/category/asw-blog/fifty-states-of-wine. See all of Susan’s previously published articles here: https://alwayssharingwine.com/tag/previously-published.

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