What’s Wine without Food? PA Wineries Ask

Everyone knows that wine is the perfect beverage to go with food, so it isn’t surprising that wineries located across the state in PA Wine Land often provide bread or cheese to nibble as you sample wines in the tasting rooms.

But many wineries also have foods available for purchase if you want to linger over a glass or a bottle of wine.  In fact, many have additional tables set up in their tasting rooms for a snack or, in good weather, outside the winery near the vineyards.

As there are several artisanal cheese producers in southeastern Pennsylvania, many local wineries in that area sell local cheeses in their tasting room as well as locally produced chocolates.  Bee Kind Winery in Clearfield offers various dip mixes in addition to its cheeses.  Sand Castle Winery in Erwinna has a gourmet food shop that includes various selections of charcuterie.

Food trucks on weekends are also popular at larger Pennsylvania wineries and are part of a trend for wineries to bring in outside food vendors.  Va La Vineyards in Avondale has had pizza trucks in recent years that cart their ovens behind them.

Some wineries offer food packages during busy days during the summer.  For example, Presque Isle Wine Cellars in Erie offers sandwiches on some days, freshly made pastas on other and pizzas on still others.

But, in a clever takeoff on the restaurants that are “BYOB” – bring your own bottle – Kreutz Creek Vineyards encourages patrons coming to its downtown West Chester tasting room  to “BYOF” – bring your own food – for lunch or snacks to enjoy with a glass of their wines.

To find out more about individual wineries and the 12 wine trails located throughout Pennsylvania, log onto www.PAWineLand.com.  The site also has maps and contact information for the more than 150 wineries spread across the state as well as wine tips and wine information.  And if you’re on the road, find nearby wineries by using the mobile website at m.pennsylvaniawine.com.