Reid's Orchard Winery

Beautiful Drive, Wonderful Wine

Reid's Orchard Winery is well worth the trip to the beautiful Buchanan Valley. The tasting room is located just off Buchanan Valley Road, surrounded by orchards. The orchard hosts free concerts, often featuring local artists throughout the summer. Go for the apple cherry wine, which is a perfect blend of summer sweetness and autumn tang. Like other local wineries, Reid's also has an "in-town" site, at Jennie Wade's birthplace, 242 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg.

Local Fruit, Local Grapes

 As you approach the tasting room, notice the grape vine laden with grapes. If you have brought the family, this is an excellent place to talk about how grapes grow. When I was there in early July, there were bunches still green. Local, local, local! Reid's grows its own fruit and grapes or purchases excess from other local growers. This means the fruit does not have to be trucked for long distances and can be used at the peak of sweetness, In Adams County, surrounded by orchards, the fruit wines seem especially appropriate. Fruit wines abound at Reid's, and range in sweetness and flavor. The strawberry wine is not cloyingly sweet like some that are sold; it is more complex and interesting. Apple cherry was my favorite choice, and has been been a family favorite. Other fruit wines include apple & blueberry. 

The wine that whispers summer and promises evenings under the stars is Volunteer. I would drive twice as far to get it! This wine is a fortuitous meeting of Catawba, Concord, and Cayuga grapes. Red wines include a popular Merlot, Seminary Ridge Red, Richmond Rebel, Angels of the Battlefield Cabernet Sauvignon, a Pinot Noir, and Troika. I am definitely going back for Muskets of Maine Moscato, one of the whites and a Chardonnay (there are three Chardonnay choices available). Other white wines include Pinot Grigio and Sharpshooter Cayuga.

As you can see, the labels refer to Gettysburg or Civil War subjects in most cases, and thus the wines will be excellent mementos of a visit to Gettysburg -- or for locals, a reminder of how lucky we are.

A Word about Prices for Local Wines

Local wines, like micro-brewery beer are not mass produced. Thus, the prices are in line with mid-price wines, not the cut rate prices. But paying for local products is well worth the money. Often, the wines are created from local fruits and grapes as is the case with Reid's and other local wineries. Supporting local businesses is a pleasure, especially when they offer wines that far surpass the mass produced ones at the liquor store.  And for all the Gettysburg locals, start planning weekend afternoons at Reid's.



 http://www.reidsorchardwinery.com/

 http://www.gettysburgwineandfruittrail.com/