Discover Delmarva Harvest Ridge Winery
MARYDEL, De.- Harvest Ridge Winery in Marydel Delaware is family-friendly, and with a large variety of wines and ciders available in the vineyard surrounding you, this sets the scene for the perfect weekend to spend with your family. WMDT took a tour with Alexis Nunan the Sales Director and learned how these go from the vines to your glass.
Nunan explains where they go their start, “We planted our first five acres in 2011 and jumped from there.” Inspired by a trip to Charleston South Carolina the Owner Chuck Nunan wanted to bring a winery to western Kent County. That vision started over a decade ago and Nunan tells us that this was no easy process “We didn’t get our first harvest off of this land until 2014. So you’re looking at a good three years before we got anything off the plants.”
The wait paid off greatly with a variety of wines all stemming from this vineyard. “I already have 28 wines on my wine list, you’re looking from dry to sweet.” No matter your preference the expansive collection will offer something to satisfy your taste buds.
The property is reminiscent of a general store for the wine-tasting room, and the barn holds the equipment for the ‘vinification’ process. Seasonal varieties are in high demand this fall “Hard ciders, apple wine, pumpkin spice wine.”
The wooden barrels infuse the oak, vanilla, and smoky aromas for certain blends, including their mead; Which is made from local honey and comes in three different flavors.
Outside we walked through their main gathering point where you can enjoy a glass and take in the vineyard in front of you. Nunan tells us this is a visitor favorite, “It’s just a place to get away and be quiet. It’s the kind of place that you can come and last all day.”
This spot leads into the fields where we got an up-close look at the vines and how the grapes are fairing this year. We saw lots of wildlife that are essential to maintaining the flavor with bees helping to keep the vines healthy. Also, there’s plenty of bird netting to keep them from stealing from the harvest.
Walking back in from the vineyard you’ll often have the smell of delicious food hit your nose. “We have our food truck, we have the scenery outside we are kid-friendly. So you can just come listen to music and hang out all day.”
Nunan tells us they have one wine that has been a staple for most visitors. When spending a day here you’re sure to find someone enjoying this sweet blend from the Concord grapes “My number one seller by far is blue hen blue; It kind of has its cult following at this point.”
Harvest Ridge has multiple award-winning flavors to offer. With a family-friendly environment overlooking their vineyard, this is a one-stop experience for you and the whole family. For more information on seasonal events and to plan your visit, check out their website.
