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Some days need a “redo” button.

Ohhh….. lest people think that every day at a winery is a breeze… or that every winery employee skips out of work everyday giddy (or drunk), let us dispel that rumor. Everyone has bad days. Even Harvest Ridge. Last Sunday was one such day. With several managers gone, frigid cold weather, and a burst pipe, it was the perfect storm of suckage. Our wonderful, dedicated, and exhausted employee sent the following email after valiantly holding down the fort that day. (Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!!

Today at the winery wasn’t the greatest… it was very eventful to say the least. The pipes at the winery seemed to break today or last night. I’m not sure when. But Mike noticed there wasn’t a lot of water pressure today when he came in to start filtering. He came over to the tasting room and we checked our water and we didn’t have much pressure either. So… Mike and I had both heard something in the production area when I let him in at 11:30 (I honestly went up to the barrels right there by the stairs and thought air was coming out of them or something!) but we just thought it was a weird noise. He came over a few minutes later when he realized the water pipes had burst and were spraying water everywhere so he turned the water off and we called Steve. Mike ran to Lowe’s twice today to get stuff to fix it. My dad even came up, helped him saw the pipe and showed him what to do. Mike ended up fixing the one pipe but then when we turned the water back on another pipe burst that had a crack in it. We didn’t realize it had a crack in it too until the other pipe was fixed and the water pressure pushed out the other crack in the other pipe.
It was a mess. But Mike really tried his best.

We actually had a pretty busy day with tastings. The people who did walk through the door were offered a complimentary tasting to come back a day that we weren’t having plumbing issues. Most people left or stayed and did a quick tasting and then left. Our neighbors John and Jane came out today and they did offer their restroom. People also went up the road to use the bathroom at B’s Pizza ( I called them and thanked them for letting people use their restroom). I just felt terrible not being able to let people use the bathroom. But some did anyway even though we posted “out of order” signs on the doors. We tried our best to apologize for the inconvenience.

All the dirty dishes are in the dishwasher and some in the sink and on the counter that need to be washed. Brianna and Rita did vacuum the whole event room tonight but we did not have water to mop so it was swiftered as best we could.

Music was great. I gave him his check and he filled out his form.

Food truck got lost and were late because they had a flat tire. But they got here and were so sweet and apologetic for being late. They said they had a good turn out for food sales though and would love to come back again soon.

I will attach a picture of the pipe that needs fixing. Mike and I left the primer and glue in Matt’s office and the one broken pipe and a description of what is needed to fix the other pipe. They will need another 3/4 inch pipe and the connector things. Mike paid for everything as well. He left the receipts there and said he would get it another day when he was in. He is not there tomorrow though. Steve said he would let them know what to do tomorrow. I  also took the dirty towels home from the kitchen to be washed. I will wash them and bring them back up tomorrow (if you wonder where all the towels went!).

Brianna and Rita also said tonight that it didn’t seem like both vacuums were picking up too much… I’m not for sure what’s up with that.

I just wanted to try to give you guys a heads up on some things!!

I’m sorry for writing a novel and bothering you guys on your days off and vacations! It was just a crazy day! Thank you for all your help! I hope you all have a great week!!

We chalk it up to new building bugs and move on — learning lessons as we go. Onward and upward! And, in the words of Scarlett O’Hara, “After all, tomorrow IS another day!”

Top 10 (+1) Wine Memes of 2014!!

Tis the season for top 10 lists, countdowns, looks back, etc. Looking back at our posts in 2014 there were some posts that were misses with our fans… but there were many that were hits. Let’s revisit those that were the most popular, the most shared, and the most liked. Here is a list of the top 10 (+1 miss) wine memes of 2014!

 

Number 10
18 shares, viewed by 1,479 people, 39 likes
Wine and Cheese People

a360007b11776210fe4ed4eb0659ee50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 9
20 shares, viewed by 1,778 people, 55 likes
Wine Flowchart

e13f002c291169be730921d473e617b0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 8
25 shares, viewed by 1,842 people, 67 likes
Drinking Rationale

drinking rationale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 7
22 shares, viewed by 2,986 people, 94 likes
Hemmingway Wisdom

hemmingway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 6
34 shares, viewed by 2,866 people, 59 likes
Workout Tip

work out tip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 5 (submitted by Facebook Fan Richard)
49 shares, viewed by 3,534 people, 96 likes
One of Those Weeks

one of those weeks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 4
68 shares, viewed by 5,282 people, 73 likes
Cork Craft Problem

cork problem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number 3
65 shares, viewed by 5,602 people, 101 likes
Open Door Policy
open door

Number 2
70 shares, viewed by 4,350 people, 105 likes
Serenity Prayer

serenity prayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the NUMBER 1 most shared wine meme with Harvest Ridge fans in 2014 was….. (drumroll)…

With 224 shares, viewed by 13,880 people, 118 likes
Valentine’s Day Request

Valentines day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I never know exactly why some posts work as well as they do, but I am thrilled to see people sharing our stuff, even if it is unexpected. However, on occasion there is one that I am convinced people will love. I post it and all I hear are crickets. Silence. No shares. Maybe a handful of “likes.” And that’s ok. But, because I want to give it a second attempt at success, here is the “+1” wine meme… one that was a personal favorite of mine.

From The New Yorker, I present to you The French Army Knife:

knife

 

 

At Harvest Ridge, we look forward to continuing to serve you great wine, wine information, and some laughs in 2015! Cheers!

 

 

 

 

2014: A Year in Review

December is a great time to look back at the year that is coming to an end. A good time to take stock of accomplishments, blessings, good fortune, and happy times. At Harvest Ridge, we wanted to take a moment to share our 2014 highlights with you all. Some of which you may know, some you may have missed. ALL have contributed to this year being memorable.

We began 2014 only having been open for 2 months. We hit the ground running. In January we hosted the first of our events- the wine and cheese pairings. These were a huge success — so much so that we have more scheduled for January 2015! These events were a great way to meet our customers, get to know them and allow them to get to know us — and our wine. In January, the Good Libations Tour (which includes Harvest Ridge, Painted Stave Distilling, Mispillion Brewing, Fordham and Dominion Brewing, and Pizzadili Vineyard) officially kicked off, allowing people to visit all 5 Kent County establishments and win prizes.

February brought several bridal shows where we were able to strut our stuff and introduce brides to what our winery has to offer as a private event venue. We enjoyed going to other parts of the state to get the word out there that we were open and excited to host! February also brought more pairing events: our wine and chocolate pairings. Partnering with Frankford Bakery, we put on 2 events — both of which sold out. And toward the end of the month, Chuck lead a wine appreciation class at the AMC Museum (hosted by Kent County Tourism). It was a unique experience for all those that attended. We were thrilled to have so many people braving the cold weather months to spend time with us.

To begin March, the winery management team attended the Eastern Winery Expo in Lancaster Pennsylvania. The team enjoyed getting to know other wineries on the East Coast and see what they are doing. It was also a great opportunity for the whole team to bond, drink, and learn. Even the elusive social media manager, Sofia (yours truly) flew in for the occasion. Upon returning to the winery post-conference, we were excited to host a lunch with members of Kent County Tourism who were taking wine/travel writers on a tour of the Good Libations businesses. Such a fun group and we enjoyed reading their follow up articles online! And because a rolling stone gathers no moss, the day after that we hosted one of our most popular events: our beer/wine/chocolate/cheese pairing with Fordham and Dominion Brewing Company. We kept selling out and kept releasing more tickets. (Another similar event with Mispillion is slated for the calendar soon.  Stay tuned!) On March 26 Harvest Ridge Winery was honored as owners, Chuck and Chris Nunan were awarded the Trailblazer Award from the Kent Economic Partnership. It came with a trophy and a letter from the Governor!

March came in like a lion and (for us) went out like a lion as we closed the month with our Food Truck Competition. The 2-day event was wet for one of the days — but despite the sloppy mess was a hug hit and raised $4000 for Operation Whitetail.

In April we kicked off our wine club and offered people the opportunity to sign up for the club at our first Dinner in the Vineyard event. With the warmer weather also came wine festival season so we rallied the staff, gathered the supplies and worked to make sure we could not only hold down the fort AT the winery, but also send people to the various wine festivals around the area. Throughout the spring and summer we hit many festivals including Fordham’s R2Hop2, St. Michael’s, National Harbor Fest, and King Farm Fest — to name a few.

In May we worked further with Painted Stave Distilling to help them produce Harvest Grappa. Using our grape pommace, they produced a grappa which we helped to bottle (and, of course, sample). We hosted a Spa Day at the winery the day before Mother’s Day and invited people to come, get massages, pedicures, etc. and then stay for our second Vineyard Dining Series Dinner: an Italian themed dinner. Later in the month we hosted our first Uncorked Canvas event. The extreme popularity of this event continues as we have since booked other events with Uncorked Canvas as well as PaintNite.

We were honored that our winemaker, Milan, was the first winemaker featured in the Shorevines Winemaker Series — an online video segment that highlights wineries in the area. He did Harvest Ridge proud! (To see the video, you can go here.) We rounded out May with our Beat the Beaches Memorial Day Barbeque event. Our buddies at Backyard Louie’s came to cook so that those that wanted to avoid beach traffic could come eat, drink wine, and relax instead. During this month we also hosted our first Wine Club Pick Up Party — members enjoyed hors d’oeurvres and the opportunity to talk to our owner and winemaker while picking up their 3 pack of wine.

In June we offered the first of 3 Wine Culture Classes — giving our customers the opportunity to learn about wine in a fun, laid-back, and (most importantly) a non-intimidating environment. Lindsey Pollard led the group as they examined the difference between several Harvest Ridge Wines and gained some insight into wine through tasting exercises. The rest of June warmed up with more festivals as well as the introduction of our corn-hole Friday nights and our Food and Music Events.

July began with a bang with our 2-day 4th of July Celebration as we brought in Backyard Louie’s and Wandering Cart Food Truck to cook and Ashley Mitchell Band and Adam Murray to perform. We enjoyed hosting a Sangria Day mid-month allowing customers to choose their wine as we mixed their sangria. It was a refreshing way to spend a hot afternoon. Jim Rezac and Jason Hurd joined us for some Food and Music events and things got romantic as we had our first couple (well… that we know of) get engaged during a visit to the winery!

During the dog days of August the Harvest Ridge team cooled off by taking on Painted Stave’s Ice Bucket Challenge to raise funds for ALS. It took a whole lotta ice. We think Chuck got a kick out of pushing certain people under the icy water. We enjoyed challenging Fenwick Wine Cellars and Rep. Spieglman — both of whom were great sports and joined in the reindeer games to support the good cause. Things got smokey as we hosted a “Smokin’ in the Vines” event with John Hay cigars and smoked foods (with Mean Green Smokin’ Cuisine). We closed out the month by celebrating Labor Day with food and music on the last (unofficial) Saturday and Sunday of Summer.

September was relatively quiet… as we battened down the hatches in preparation for our big STOMP event that had been over a year in the making. Hundreds of volunteers, sponsors, vendors, participants, and supporters made this an amazingly fun, sticky, hot, and successful day. We were able to donate $10,000 to the oncology program at AI duPont Hospital for Children. Mark your calendars as we will be doing it again next year on September 19!

We didn’t have much time to breath as we, along with the Lion’s Club, hosted a FUNdraiser for victims of the Marydel tornado early in October. In October we also get the chance to celebrate local food and drink with the Delaware Wine and Beer Festival (always a fun event!) and a brunch hosted at the winery with fellow Delaware Wineries Association members Fenwick Wine Cellars and Painted Stave Distilling that helped to kick off Restaurant Week. We hosted 2 weddings and a couple of seasonal Halloween events with bonfires, mulled wine (aka FANGria), and spooky stories.

And of course, November brought us to our 1st birthday. A great milestone in any business. We were so glad to have so many of our loyal customers come to the event where Sen. Lawson presented Chuck with an official proclamation declaring November 1 Harvest Ridge Winery Day in Delaware. There was cake, food, wine, music. We also invited our wine club members to kick off the holidays with a pick up party where they could get their wine packs with special seasonal wines. One of the biggest honors we received this year was on November 7th at the Kent County Tourism Luncheon. Our fearless leader, Chuck, was awarded the event’s biggest honor: Tourism Person of the Year. Chuck was supposed to be on vacation with his wife, Chris, that day. Some finagling had to happen to make sure he was there to accept the award!

During this month, we also partnered with Doc MacGrogan’s for the first time for a tasting event at their place. We also began working with a distributor so select restaurants can carry our wines. (Doc Magrogan’s in Dover Downs and Caffe Gelato in Newark, DE being two of them.) November ended with our first movie night– a family-friendly, holiday season viewing of ELF!

With December just underway, we look forward to all this month has in store: Christmas parties and parades, time with family and friends, cozy afternoons with food and music, and ending the year in style on December 31 with our Speakeasy New Vintage Eve party! (For more on that, go here!)

In 2014, it bears noting that, in addition to the Trailblazer Award in March and the Tourism Person of the Year Award in November, we also racked up 41 (Yes. 41) medals for our wines in competition. 2 Double Gold, 2 Gold, 18 Silver, and 19 Bronze. These medals (plus the fact that wine is flying off our shelves) is a testament to how hard our winemaker, Milan, and manager, Chip, worked both in the vineyard and production facility to produce a quality product.

****

365 days. Over 75 events, 43 awards, 15+ wines released, and more than $15,000 donated to community and charity causes. 2014 was an outstanding year and one we look forward to outdoing in 2015.

 

Harvest Ridge Uncorked!

Our video intern, Kaitlin, has completed the first 3 episodes of Harvest Ridge Uncorked! You can view the most recent episode (devoted to our recent STOMP Out Childhood Cancer event) as well as all other Harvest Ridge videos on our YouTube Channel.

Harvest Ridge News for September

All the news that’s fit to print… and that can’t be crammed into our already bursting newsletter!

Harvest Ridge Staff Updates

From our owner, Chuck Nunan: The vineyard is a quiet place at the present time and the grapes are almost ready to be harvested. Soon the vineyard will be alive with people picking the grapes then moving them to the winery to start the journey from grapes to some of the finest wines our region has to offer. Despite the harsh winter, we had a good growing season and the Barbera, Cabernet Franc, and Chambourcin have grown extremely well. Actually, some of the grapes have been picked and are in the production facility– which smells divine. This year, for the first time, we will be harvesting Aromella. We will have a small specialty vintage made and we are excited about the floral taste of the grapes.  This week we will be harvesting our Landot Noir. We are enjoying the current peace but are looking forward to the hustle and bustle that the full harvest season brings.

From our video intern, Kaitlin: September 1 was the premiere episode of Harvest Ridge’s very own TV show, Harvest Ridge Uncorked. It showcases recent events and some behind the scenes footage here at the winery. The show will run until December, so make sure to be on the lookout for episode release dates. You can view the video of the first episode on our YouTube channel.

Wine Club

Have you heard about the Harvest Ridge Wine Club but have questions prior to signing up? Click here to read some frequently asked questions and get some answers!

USDA Grant

Back in February we applied for a grant for a USDA grant that would give us funds that we could use for several things, primarily focusing on marketing our winery. We received word late in August that we would receive the full amount for which we applied. We will be receiving just under $50,000 which is (as you can imagine, for a new business) a very exciting thing!

Military Mondays

So despite what you may have heard (there was a tiny mix up as we figured out legalities of it all), we will now be having Military Mondays! Any currently-serving member can present their military ID on Mondays at the winery for a $1 glass of wine. We thank you for all you do!

Other Current Specials…

Our wine of the month for September is…….. PEACH! All month long, enjoy our peach wine with special pricing: 10% off 3 bottles 15% off 6 bottles 20% off a full case (wine club members, an extra 5%off). Made from local peaches, it is a perfect wine to enjoy during these final days of summer!

Part-Time Tasting Room Employment Opportunities!

Wanted: Part Time Tasting Room Team Member!
Duties: Pour and educate tasters, give tours, attend festivals and work parties.

Must have weekend availability, and enjoy wine & people!
Contact: hr@harvestridgewinery.com

Events

Have you been appointed to plan your high school reunion? Or maybe you are in charge of organizing your office holiday party? Maybe your daughter is getting married? If you are looking for information on hosting a private event at Harvest Ridge Winery, contact our event planner, Kim, to get more information on pricing, availability, etc. You can reach her via email at kim@harvestridgewinery.com or call the tasting room at 302.343.9437.

News for August…

All the news that’s fit to print… and that can’t be crammed into our already bursting newsletter!

Harvest Ridge Staff Updates

From our owner, Chuck Nunan: At Harvest Ridge, this is a busy time of the year. Many exciting things are going on in the vineyard and elsewhere on the property. This year’s plantings, Barbera and Chambourcin are doing remarkably well. We can’t wait as the vines continue to mature. In the production facility we are wrapping up bottling our 2013 reds this month and are preparing for harvest — which will be in full swing next month. The winery has had an excellent summer season with our Food and Music events! We all have enjoyed the variety of food vendors that have participated as well as the varied musical performers who have come out and helped to make these events a success. We have been able to enjoy these outdoor events even more with the completion of our outdoor seating area, complete with overhead fans, a pergola, and the gazebo (which is especially great for weddings). If you haven’t been by recently, come out and see what a pleasure it is to sit outside and enjoy a glass (or two) of wine. Speaking of weddings, Harvest Ridge hosted its first wedding in July. It was outstanding and we were proud to host this important event in the life of the couple! We have many more on the schedule for the upcoming year. If you are interested in our event space for a wedding, reception, or other gathering, please contact our event planner, Kim at kim.harvestridgewinery.com or at 302.343.9437. And lastly, we would like to thank all of our customers — the regulars as well as the newcomers — for their patronage and support. It means the world to us.

From our video intern, Kaitlin: July marks the second month I have been with Harvest Ridge. I really took my first two months here at the winery to get into the swing of things and get to know how the winery works. Now that I have attended and filmed a few events, I recently took the steps to make an action plan to really kick my project into full gear. At the end of July I spent time editing some event footage for the winery. Be on the lookout for highlights from the Wine In The Park event in Ocean City, MD which you can find on the Harvest Ridge Winery YouTube Channel. I also began to put together the recurring segments for the upcoming Harvest Ridge TV that will premiere this Labor Day! Harvest Ridge TV will feature wines of the month, fun wine facts, etc. As we kick off Harvest Ridge TV at the end of August, I will be filming and editing specials that will air on the TVs throughout the property. These specials will include my interviews of Harvest Ridge staff for behind-the-scenes segments. I am very excited to take the audience behind the scenes at Harvest Ridge to see what it is really like to run a winery.

Wine Club

Have you heard about the Harvest Ridge Wine Club but have questions prior to signing up? Click here to read some frequently asked questions and get some answers!

Blog Write Up

Doug Zimmerman, author of the wine blog “Uncorked Remarks,” stopped into the winery recently. He came on Sangria Saturday so it was hot and busy (though some might argue that a hot day = perfect sangria weather). You can read about his experience at the winery here. A big thank you to him for his visit and kind words!

STOMP!

As we get closer to September 27, you will hear more and more about our Stomp Out Children’s Cancer event! Make sure to save the date because it will be an event you won’t want to miss. Pay the $10 donation to enter the event (the fee gets you a limited edition wine glass, a wine tasting OR a glass of wine, and access to food and music inside event). For $125, you and 2 friends can enter the event, compete for bragging rights in the grape stomp, and earn your “I STOMPED” tshirt! Bring the whole family as there will also be a moon bounce, face painting and a FREE grape stomp for the kids! **50% of entrance fees go to benefit Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hostpital for Children Oncology Program**

Harvest Ridge Wine Club FAQs

Q- Is there a fee to join the club?

A- There is no fee to join. You are only charged for the wines you receive and will be notified approximately three weeks before those wines are available so you know what and when you card will be charged. (The only caveat is that if you join but then cancel prior to receiving your first wine pack, you will be charged a $10 cancellation fee.)

Q- So I am a member… what does that get me?

A- You will receive 3 wines quarterly (typically February, May, August, November). These wines will be a variety and will include the best of Harvest Ridge… popular older wines as well as newer releases and are discounted 15%. You will also receive invitations to special member-only events (e.g. our quarterly “pick up parties” where members receive their wine packs while having the chance to eat, chat with the owner, winemaker and other staff, etc.) as well as notification about upcoming events PRIOR to public notification. (So you don’t have to worry about hearing about events too late… after all the tickets are gone. YOU get first dibs!) Members also receive 10% off full case purchases as well as a birthday coupon good for a free glass of wine, on us, during your birth month. In addition to all these standard perks, we are continuing to add ways that we can treat you, our club members, better! Just to keep you guessing and (pleasantly) surprised!

Q- Can I bring friends to pick up parties or other member-only events?

A- Currently we have no standard policy and are taking this on an event-by-event basis. Some events, complimentary guests may be allowed, but for other events, we may offer you the opportunity to bring guests but they may pay a fee to attend. We will make sure to make it clear in the invitation email what the guest policy is for each event.

Q- Do I get to choose the wines in the club packs?

A- No. All members receive the same wines and are charged the same amount. (However, the pick up parties are a great place to meet other members. Maybe you can organize a swap when you are there!)

Q- What is a typical “club pack” price? What can I expect to be charged?

A- Though prices vary based on the wines included, typically packs are $40-50.

Q- What if I can’t make the pick up party? Can you ship me my wine?

A- If you live in Delaware, we currently cannot ship you your wine per Delaware liquor laws. To maintain a positive outlook on that, we just think of it as an opportunity for you to come in and visit. 🙂 Thank goodness we live in a smaller state, right?? We are, however, legally allowed to ship to some other states and are working on the logistics of making that happen. Currently wines are only available by customer pick up but we will keep you posted on shipping options as we iron out the details. But if you cannot make the pick up party, fear not. You can certainly call the tasting room to have them set your case aside and schedule a time during business hours that works for you to pick it up.

Q- This all sounds awesome. How do I sign up?

A- We thought you’d say that! Please call the tasting room at 302.343.9437 and speak to one of our tasting room staff members to get your name on the list so you can begin enjoying the perks today!

Wine of the Month!

Throughout the month of July, enjoy special savings on our Vidal Blanc! Receive 10% off 3 bottles, 15% off 6 bottles, and 20% off a full case. Wine club members, an extra 5%off.  (And stay tuned for next month as we will be promoting a different wine!)

July Update at Harvest Ridge Winery

In theory, summer is supposed to be a relaxing time, but it is busier than ever for us at the winery!

gazebo patioWe have a new addition to the winery grounds: A beautiful gazebo! That, added to our lovely patio with fans, allows us to provide a more complete and comfortable experience to our customers. The gazebo will be a great stage for musical guests providing entertainment at  events as well as a pretty location for weddings held at the winery.

Another new addition to the winery is our video intern, Kaitlin. You may see her around the grounds behind the camera. She comes to us from Wilmington University and is helping us to establish programming that will promote the winery beyond our property as well as inform our customers while visiting the winery. For more information on Kaitlin, you can read her introductory blog post here.

We are currently at 68 wine club members. Last month Harvest Ridge owner, Chuck Nunan, promised a surprise for the first 100 people to sign up to be a wine club member. Wine club members get access to member-only events at the winery, special discounts, and first crack at tickets for winery events.  If you want to be part of that group, contact the winery at 302.343.9437. We are preparing for our second pick up party on August 9 and you won’t want to miss it! (Current wine club members will be receiving their email invitations shortly. Watch your inbox!)

Mark you calendar now for the Delaware Wine and Beer Festival! DWB14 is scheduled for October 11. On October 12, there will be a brunch associated with the festival held at Harvest Ridge Winery. The brunch is sponsored by the Delaware Wineries Association and will have drinks provided by the Association members including Harvest Ridge, Fenwick Wine Cellars, and Painted Stave. For festival information, read here.

Are you ready to STOMP??!! Our biggest event yet takes place on September 27. Join Harvest Ridge Winery as we STOMP out Children’s Cancer! Proceeds of this event to go to A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital. Next month’s newsletter and blog post will have full details of this event that will be fun for the whole family. If you would like to learn more about getting involved in what will be an exciting, fun, and inspiring day, contact the winery at tastingroom@harvestridgewinery.com for sponsorship opportunities.stomp logo

 

 

Delaware Wine and Beer Festival!!!

October 11. Mark it on your calendar now!! One of the best events in our area is the successful Delaware Wine and Beer Festival in October. You know: that time in the fall when it is sunny, but not too hot. Crisp. The perfect temperature the spend the day outside… drinking.

We are excited to be a participant in the festival once again. The first year we were participated was prior to even opening (which is a nod to how excited we were about the event– we were there even before we could sell wine). The second year, 2013, we had wine to sell and were preparing to open our doors. In fact, the night prior to the festival we hosted our first public event: the Delaware Wine and Beer Festival dinner. (Talk about starting off with a bang!) This year we will be at the event, of course, but we will also be hosting a Sunday brunch on October 12, in conjunction with the festival. (More news on that to come.)

The festival and the events connected with it allows people in our region to support the local wine and beer industry that is really beginning to take hold and make a name for itself. Within Delaware, we have multiple award winning wineries and breweries, and Painted Stave – the award winning distillery. Make sure to set October 11 aside as a day to celebrate and support the beverage industry in Delaware, to “drink local,” and to enjoy yourself!

The event is held at the Delaware Agricultural Museum in Dover from 12-5PM. For more information on the 2014 Delaware Wine and Beer Festival (including a full list of vendors as well as ticket purchase) check it out here.

 

 

Keep Your Eyes Open for Kaitlin.

We are fortunate to have Kaitlin, a video intern from Wilmington University, working for us at the winery for the next several months. She will be helping us by filming video footage for placement on our YouTube channel as well as projecting it (and still photos) throughout the winery. Some of what she will be producing will be informative for our customers and visitors, some of what she will be producing we will be able to use for promotional purposes. Here’s a short Q and A with Kaitlin so everyone can get to know a bit more about our favorite video intern. (Clearly you can see that she is a smart cookie. We are lucky to have her!)

What you are in school for? I am going to Wilmington University to obtain my second Bachelor’s degree in Digital Filmmaking. My first Bachelor’s degree was in English and Film from University of Delaware, and I also have a Master’s in Human Resource Management from Wilmington University.
When do you expect to graduate? Summer 2015
What would you like to do after graduation? After graduation I would like to start my own videography business where I film and edit special events (no matter how big or small) for anyone who is interested. I would also like to eventually make my own feature-length movie (at least one!) that I write and edit myself.
What are your hobbies and/or interests? I make it a point to spend as much time as I can with my family and friends, especially my 1-year old nephew, Atticus. I love to travel the US with my boyfriend, Kenny. Last year we drove from Los Angeles to Philadelphia and this year we are planning on driving from San Diego to Seattle. I also love to take care of my 6-year old Corgi, Hoagie. We rescued him from Hartford County Animal Shelter in Maryland last year, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. He’s a great dog! And lastly, as you could guess from my degree, I am a huge movie and television buff, and I spend much of my free time catching up on both.
What drew you to the intern opportunity at Harvest Ridge? First, I love wine. Second, I have an affinity for learning, and I was interested to see how wine was made. I was also excited to have the opportunity to capture my learning experience through film. Harvest Ridge is close to where I grew up in Townsend, Delaware, so I was excited to hear there was even a winery down here! kaitlin2