Travel with Terri
Delaware: Picking up Good Libations
Story and Photos by Terri Marshall
I’m picking up good libations, it’s giving me excitations. Yes, you read that right – I said libations. I’ve been humming those modified lyrics to the old Beach Boys tune since I returned from a recent visit to Kent County, Delaware. Perhaps I should explain?
The Fordham Brewery, Mispillion Brewery, Harvest Ridge Winery, Pizzadili Winery, and Painted Stave Distillery have joined forces with Kent County Tourism to create a Good Libations Tour. “The goal was to develop a unique new brand that promotes KentCounty as a great place for hand-crafted wine, beer and spirits,” says Cindy Small, Executive Director of Kent County Tourism.
Terri Marshall Posing with Pin-up GiGi!Here’s how it works, grab yourself a Good Libations Tour passport by downloading it at , picking one up at one of 300 visitor information locations throughout the Delmarva, Baltimore and Washington areas, or by calling the Kent County Tourism office at 800-233-5368. With passport in hand, head out to visit the breweries, wineries and the distillery sipping spirits and stamping that passport along the way. After all five stamps are collected, the passport can be mailed in to win prizes.
Ready for a tasting at Pizzadili Vineyard & WineryMy Good Libations Tour group was comprised of a group of drinkers with a writing problem. We started at the newly-opened Harvest Ridge Winery in Marydel. Owner, Chuck Nunan, began making wine in his basement in 1995. In 2010, he was inspired to take his love of winemaking to the next level. Chuck and his wife, Chris, turned the land they had purchased for a family farm into the Harvest Ridge Winery.
The first vines were planted in 2011 – Chardonnay, Viognier, Malbec and Merlot. The winery opened to the public in November 2013. The property spans the border of Delaware and Maryland on the historic Mason-Dixon Line and has one of the Mason-Dixon’s original witness stone markers – number 47.
Canadian wine sommelier, Milan Mildga, joined the Nunan family team. With his assistance Harvest Ridge produced 14 varieties of wine its first year. Milan listens to classical music as he works with the wines declaring the atmosphere a “temple for the yeast.” He samples the fruits of the vine directly from the barrels with the use of a wine thief. A practice I whole-heartedly embraced.
Eric sharing his brewing blissThe Painted Stave Distillery in Smyrna was the second stop on our Good Libations Tour. Opened in January 2014 in the 1940’s era Old Smyrna Theater, owners Mike Rasmussen and Ron Gomes are crafting premium spirits in small batches utilizing only the best ingredients sourced from regional farms. The Painted Stave is the first and only stand alone distillery in Delaware since Prohibition.
Ron is actually Ron Gomes, Ph.D. – a microbiologist turned mixologist – which means he is curing more than disease these days. Mike’s passion for spirits started in his youth. “I never had a cocktail before 7 a.m. on weekdays after a full moon,” says Mike. He has managed to accumulate a collection of hard-to-find spirits. His friends love it. His family fears it. His wife tolerates it.
The Painted Stave’s first three spirits are Silver Screen Vodka, Candy Manor Gin and Old Cooch’s Corn Whiskey – each with a story. Silver Screen honors the movies that came before the distillery in the converted 1940’s movie house. Candy Manor pays tribute to the town’s illicit past. According to Smyrna town lore, during prohibition the local candy store doubled as a brothel. You could go to Candy Manor, purchase a “Candy Special” and receive a box of chocolates with a key. The key unlocked the door to a woman holding a bottle of gin! Old Cooch’s Corn Whiskey is made in honor of all those who worked hard in the mills and the iron mines by day then enjoyed the whiskey from the stills by night. Where there’s a mill there’s a still.
Our second day on the Good Libations Tour started at Fordham & Old Dominion Brewing Company with Dunkin Donuts and “beer-mosas” made with grapefruit juice and Hop Mountain Pale Ale – the breakfast of champions!
Double D’s ready to go at Fordham & Old Dominion BreweryThe Fordham & Dominion Brewing Co. history is the story of two Delmarva craft breweries deciding to buck tradition and defy the ordinary. In 2007, Fordham and Dominion combined forces in Dover, DE. Fordham has been brewing since 1995 and Dominion has been brewing since 1989. Together, they brew out of Dover, Delaware. Throughout its combined history, Fordham & Old Dominion have believed in two things “the beers we make and the people who drink them.” The commitment to this belief is evident in the brewery tours, brewery events and especially with their 22 ounce Pin-up Bomber Girl beers.
Originally introduced in 2012, the Bomber Girls were inspired by 1940’s pin-up girls. The three original pin-ups were GiGi’s, Double D and Walk of Shame. More recent additions are Morning Glory Express, Candy Belgian Tripel and Abbey Gelgian Style Ale – inspired by a nun. Stop in for a tour, tasting and to meet the girls.
Next up for our Good Vibrations Tour was a touch of Tuscany at Pizzadili Vineyard and Winery in Felton. Pete Pizzadili says he and his late brother, Tony, “grew up in a wine barrel!” Having worked in the family vineyard and winery in Tuscany since childhood, they knew all the ins and outs of winemaking. Together they created a splendid event space extremely popular for weddings, picnics and fundraising events.
Pete invites guests to come by for a wine tasting and choose from 22 wine varieties, stroll through the handsome grounds, have an intimate picnic and bring a little romance back into your life.
We earned our final Good Libations Tour passport stamp at Mispillion River Brewing. Located in a industrial park warehouse, I had no inkling as to the delightful brewery that awaited inside. Stepping inside the industrial warehouse vibe gives way to a cozy and lively brew pub brought to the Milford community by Eric Williams.
On his 40th birthday, Eric made the decision to abandon the corporate world and do something creative. He decided to open a brewery. His wife, Megan, jumped on board and together they wrote a business plan, sought out investors and hired an experienced award-winning brewer.
With a bit of serendipity and a lot of hard work, Mispillion River Brewing opened to the public in November 2013 when a crowd of 400 people showed up! The community has truly embraced Eric and Megan’s venture and many show up every Friday and Saturday night to sample the brews in the large tasting room and bar that fronts the brewery. The brewery started with eight craft beers on tap with plans to eventually offer 16 to 20. Cheers!
As you might expect, a Good Libations Tour requires a bit of food along the way to fortify the participants. One of the most fortifying meals I have had in my lifetime was delivered by The Odd Fellows Café in Smyrna. The Odd Fellows Hall had been a gathering place for the citizens of Smyrna for decades. With the renovation of the space and the introduction of a menu filled with mouthwatering entrees made from locally sourced meats and produce, owner Howard Johnson and Chef Brandon Lindell are turning the town upside down. I fortified myself with the “Piggy Piggy Moo Moo” burger. Made from fresh local beef topped with country ham, farm fresh crispy bacon and a thick slice of melted cheddar, it is every bit as indulgent as it sounds.
Beer, wine, spirits and a burger named Piggy Piggy Moo Moo…it’s no small wonder why I love Delaware. I’m picking up good libations, it’s giving me excitations!
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Terri is a freelance writer with regular columns on travel, chocolate and bar reviews. She is busy each month visiting new places to bring unique travel destinations and events to you. Yes, it is a sacrifice – but she is willing to do that for her readers! You can see more of Terri’s writing at where she is the National Chocolate Examiner and at . Also, check out her blog atwww.trippingwithterri.com. You can contact Terri at .