Vino Visits
Pick up a bottle of your favorite Merlot at a nearby Wines and Spirits store and you may return home in a matter of minutes.
By venturing out a little farther, Butler County residents can visit a variety of wineries that offer more than just a sales counter.
Without a passport, plane ticket or even a full tank of gas, these nearby wineries offer rolling green vineyards, traditional winemaking techniques and a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Experienced wine drinkers can take part in discussing a wine's subtle flavors and pick up a few tips and supplies for making their own wines at home.
For the novice palate, local wineries offer the opportunity to taste and learn about wines — helping them base their choice on more than just a pretty bottle.
Even for those who may not enjoy wine, wineries offer a beautiful view, shopping opportunities and a journey that veers off the beaten path and onto the back roads of Butler and nearby counties.
Driving down Freeport Road in South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, those not looking could easily miss the sign leading to the Vineyard by Mellon.Following a dirt road that disappears into the woods, visitors emerge atop a hill secluded from the outside world.Parking is available just in front of a weathered barn where wines are made and the tasting room, built of rough-cut lumber and lined with a long porch with inviting benches and patio chairs.Just behind the buildings, rows of grapevines, stretching over 7 feet tall, line a rolling field.The serene setting of winemaker Frank Mellon's 32 acres calls back friends and loyal customers who gather many weekends for impromptu picnics, long chats and scenic views.As sole owner of the vineyard, which opened for business six years ago, Mellon relies on his friends who serve as customers, volunteers and good company."That way, I can run a business by myself, he said."Loved ones, friends and frequent customers have become the vineyard's staff, helping to pick the grapes, process and bottle the wine and even decorate his tasting room, donating the whimsical and wine-themed trimmings that surround the tasting bar and cozy sitting room.The tall, wooden bar and surrounding room are adorned with grape decorations, moneybags from Mellon Bank and "I Love Lucy" souvenirs which allude to Mellon's fall grape stomp. Each item was given to Mellon by a friend or customer, speaking to the familiarity felt by visitors.Despite the whimsical décor, the Vineyard by Mellon should not be confused with a gift shop.Mellon keeps his business simple, selling about eight varieties of wine and letting his visitors bring their own picnics and enjoy nature's entertainment.Ideal for an outdoor lunch, visitors can purchase a bottle of wine to enjoy on the porch while chatting with other guests, or take advantage of several picnic tables near long corridors of vines.Several of the picnic tables sit just in front of a small cabin, constructed of the same rough-cut lumber as the tasting area.Mellon currently has one cabin available for rent, but is working on a second.The no-frills cabins feature wood stoves and air conditioners and take advantage of a vineyard view, which serves as the artwork on the walls of the natural wood-paneled interior.His first cabin, which opened just last year, has already been booked through the end of the year.Though an overnight stay may not be an option this year, Mellon once again anticipates a flock of visitors this fall to participate in an "I Love Lucy" style grape stomp.The event, which he said attracted about 50 people last year, includes a Lucille Ball look-alike contest and barefoot grape stomping in a small wading pool.In addition to the entertainment of the day, participants help Mellon begin the process of making wines, using hand-cranked grape presses from the 1800s to extract juice from plump, ripe fruit.Other events include steak barbecues and pig roasts as well as a murder-mystery night, in which guests try to solve a mystery, acting out a storyline composed by Mellon.On quieter weekends, guests can enjoy a feature Mellon calls "Frank's grape and wildlife kingdom," watching deer, bear and other animals emerge from the surrounding forest."It really comes down to good people," said Mellon.Looking to the future, Mellon hopes to keep the business small and manageable, yet increasingly efficient. His goal is a successful business that he can one day pass on to grandchildren."You don't plant a vineyard for yourself,"he said.
Unlike wineries in France, Italy and Spain — whose vines and wine-making techniques have been passed on through generations — most Pennsylvania wineries are still establishing their roots.At Rustic Acres winery on Crisswell Road in Butler Township, visitors have the opportunity to see owners Gary and Eirlys Matson building what they hope will be a legacy passed on to their children and grandchildren.The result so far is a business that combines the passions of both Gary and Eirlys.After finding investors and building their storefront, the couple opened their business in October.Less than a year old, the winery's owners are already looking toward new growth, both in the field and in their storeroom.Though unsure of when construction will begin, Gary said plans are in place to add about 1,300 square feet to the current building, which measures about 1,000 feet.Though small, the current facility holds both a tank room and Eirlys' gift shop and tasting area.Entering the shop, only small patches of the natural wood interior can be seen between racks of gourmet dip mixes, decorative wine glasses and "Wine Diva" T-shirts."Everything I have in here goes with wine," noted Eirlys.Once expanded, the couple also hopes to offer wine-making supplies.Though large groups often make arrangements for an in-home tasting, the store allows four to six people to stand at the counter at one time to try any of the 32 varieties available at Rustic Acres.On busy days, Eirlys said, customers stand in line, waiting while others taste."It becomes like a little party," said employee Steve Kalina, who said customers enjoy interacting, talking about their favorite wines and other wineries they have visited.But Rustic Acres has something to offer visitors even younger than 21. Behind the vines on the property, a fenced area outlines the home of a dozen small, European fallow deer, providing entertainment for children while parents sip and select wines.As a Pennsylvania Limited Winery, their current blends have all been made from fruits and grape juices within a 350-mile radius of their winery.Just outside, 50 rows of vines last year and this year hold the Matsons' hopes for the future.Once the vines mature, the owners hope to use mostly their own fruit, earning the designation of Pennsylvania Estate Winery.Though vines take three to four years to begin producing quality grapes, the waiting period is a small part of what the vintners hope will be generations of wine making."We want this to be a family thing for future generations," said Eirlys.
At La Casa Narcisi Winery in Gibsonia, owner and winemaker Denny Narcisi invites you into a homey family environment that draws the imagination back to old Italy.Located on Route 910, the winery is set back from the road, and a world away from the bustling traffic of the area.Past several grapevines, a cream-colored building features porticos with rounded archways, leading to a dark, wooden double door.Under the covered patio area, several tables sit under ceiling fans that move the warm summer breeze and Italian travels via speakers out into the open air.Inside the 2-inch thick wooden doors, overhead lights shine on a copper-topped wooden bar.Twenty-six varieties of wine are stacked behind the bar, with its inviting glow.Through a window-paneled door, visitors can see into the employees-only area, a bright, clean area filled with shining silver tanks — a stark contrast to the warm lobby.The floors, covered with Italian tile, lead to stairs and a wrought iron railing leading up to a loft area, used for large group tastings and parties.On sunny days visitors can also take advantage of an outdoor deck that looks over a green, wooded backyard or the covered patio.Live musicians perform every Sunday at the winery, when return customers often bring picnics and enjoy the green vines and gurgling stream that add texture to the landscape.The winery's features may seem elaborate, but for Narcisi, it's simply a way of carrying out a family tradition."This is the way we do it in Italy; this is the way we do it here,"he said.Descended from several generations of winemakers, Narcisi began learning the craft at age 5, passing the tradition on to his own children.In the corner of the shop, visitors can look at black-and- white photos of Narcisi and his family members, some of whom still run wineries in Italy.Though they currently grow several vines of French-American hybrid grapes, the winery still relies on purchasing grapes from vineyards in northeastern Pennsylvania.In addition to Sunday afternoon music, the winery hosts several events including cooking classes and "WineDowns," Friday night activities that feature Italian appetizers to accompany wines.
Crossing the dark, one-lane bridge into Foxburg, it would be easy to miss the town's Main Street, the first right off the bridge.Hidden between the trees and the river, the street is coming alive with antique and art stores, a new hotel under construction and Foxburg Wine Cellars, which opened in 2003.The dimly lit store and tasting area features a large, U-shaped bar, keeping the line for tasting short on busy weekends.Surrounding the bar, visitors have plenty of space to shop for grape-themed home decorating items, greeting cards and souvenir wine glasses.The central bar, made of dark wood, pulls customers in to sample some of the winery's 27 varieties.Each bottle features the winery's logo — a fox — which hearkens back to the downtown area's woodsy surroundings.When the weather is nice, visitors to the Foxburg Wine Cellars can relax on patio chairs under a grape arbor.Customers are welcome to pack their own picnics or partake in various sausages, cheeses and other snacks sold in the showroom.Many of the products are locally made, including authentic maple syrup and jams and jellies.A family friendly atmosphere, customers can also purchase root beer bottled with a Foxburg label, allowing those younger than 21 to enjoy a beverage alongside wine drinkers.Though the facility does not sit beside acres of growing grapes, vines twisting around the raw timbers of the arbor create a serene space set apart from the nearby street.Just across Main Street, visitors can watch the Allegheny River flow by.On recent weekends, horse- and-buggy rides have been available for visitors searching a scenic river view and historic storefronts. For more adventurous visitors, canoes are available for rent just down the road.In addition to the picnic and snack items that make a visit enjoyable, customers can take home tools necessary for making wine."It's an up-and-coming thing," said Charley Reash, manager of the showroom, who noted the wine-making tools are popular sellers.With little noise from traffic and the chirping birds clearly audible, Reash says the quiet, relaxed atmosphere is what keeps people coming back."It's a nice place to sit and watch the world go by," he said.
