Barrels on the Brandywine Hits the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail in March

Whether you are a first time trailblazer or a vino veteran, the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail is a collection of seven award-winning wineries and is worth every sip. Their annual “Barrels on the Brandywine” event is approaching fast, and it’s your chance to sample each and every one of the winery’s favorites, plus score a taste of the recent harvest.

The “Barrels on the Brandywine” event will take shape every Saturday and Sunday in March 2012, jumpstarting on Saturday, March 3 and running through Sunday, April 1.

Passports for this event may be ordered in the wine trail’s online store or purchased at their member wineries. Please note that while passports are valid March 3 through April 30, 2012, you can only taste the new vintages during March and on April 1. After April 1, you may use your passport for a standard tasting.

Curious what’s in store at each member winery? Full details below.

BLACK WALNUT WINERY

3000 Lincoln Hwy., Sadsburyville, blackwalnutwinery.com

Enjoy barrel tastings of their 2010 Sauvignon Blanc and 2011 Merlot along with their regular wine tasting. Back by popular demand? Complimentary freshly made popcorn. New this year: All visitors will have one chance to spin the Black Walnut prize wheel – everyone wins a prize!

During your visit to Black Walnut, fill out a card to join their email subscriber list and be entered into a drawing to win a private wine, cheese & chocolate pairing for four people! Better yet, if you purchase your 2012 Barrels passport at Black Walnut Winery, you’ll receive a two-bottle wine tote while supplies last. It’s perfect for carrying your wine glass!

CHADDSFORD WINERY

632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, chaddsford.com

The Snow Bar is back! Plus, they will be holding a special Library Wine Tasting in the cellar of Cellar Master Jim’s “Gems” from the wine library. These wines were kept in the wine library for winery special events and parties and include outstanding wines from outstanding vintages. The wines you taste will be available for purchase and there may even be big bottles (3L, 6L, 9L) of the same wines available for purchase. Big bottles are great for your own special party or for a gift for someone special. For some wines there are very limited supplies and this tasting will vary each weekend in March based on what “gems” Jim pulls from the Library each week. Sure to be a fun and interesting tasting!

KREUTZ CREEK VINEYARDS

553 S. Guernsey Rd., West Grove, kreutzcreekvineyards.com

Taste 2011 Chambourcin directly from the barrel and enjoy their regular standard tasting.

PARADOCX VINEYARD

1833 Flint Hill Rd., Landenberg, paradocx.com

This year’s Barrels’ theme at this vineyard is “Cheeseburgers in Paradocx”! Enjoy white and red wines from barrels, cans and bottles. Please welcome local restaurant The Nottingham Inn. They will be serving their famous Turkey Chili on March 10th and 24th only! Karen O’Lone-Hahn – Paradocx Artist in Residence – will show her work Saturday March 24th and March 31st. Karen O’Lone-Hahn is well known in the region for her whimsical folkart paintings featuring brightly colored cows as well as for her popular portrait series which she titles “People on the Couch.” Karen is also the author/illustrator of her very popular children’s book “Millicent and the Faraway Moon.”

PENNS WOODS WINERY

124 Beaver Valley Rd., Chadds Ford, pennswoodswinery.com

Penns Woods’ Barrels Special:  Marked Vintages will be ON SALE as they roll in their newest releases!  They will be tasting ALL of their new release wine including the Merlot 2007 and more.

Enjoy naturally-infused olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar tastings, as well as cheese pairings with Hillacres Pride local cheeses. Buy four bottles and get a Penns Woods’ wine carrier for FREE!  There will be a cork raffle, too – guess the amount of corks and win a bottle of Merlot 2007 and two full day passes to their 2nd Annual Wine and Jazz Festival (a value of over $150)!

TWIN BROOK WINERY

5697 Strasburg Rd., Gap, twinbrookwinery.com

As is the long-standing tradition at Twin Brook Winery, they will be serving Tim’s famous Gumbo, which pairs fabulously well with all their wines – plus it’s got just enough “kick” to warm you for your travels to your next destination.  They’ll be pulling samples from the barrels – Tim, Loraine and Steve will probably fight over the wine thief. It’s always a surprise what barrel they pull from. You may also be one of the lucky couriers of secret messages to Black Walnut Winery. So see you in the cellar, or in the kitchen where they’ll try not to burn the rice!

Learn more about the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail by visiting bvwinetrail.com.