Winemaker's Page

Chaddsford Turns 25!

Twenty five years. Who woulda' thunk?

When we moved to Chadds Ford in 1982, our family was young, as was the entire east coast wine industry. At that time, no one would have thought to put "wine" and "Pennsylvania" in the same sentence.

One of our earliest memories is of being awakened early one morning shortly after we moved here from our family winery in New York. Banging on the door was soon-to-be fellow vintner but then table grape grower Trip Stocki, who wanted to know if the ridiculous rumors about a winery in Chadds Ford were true.

Yes, there were a lot of people in those days who couldn't believe that you could (or should?) grow wine in Pennsylvania. And a lot of people who wouldn't taste the wines once we did. Fortunately we could, you did, we stayed, you bought, an industry grew up around us and today we don't see too many doubters.

Twenty-five years. What changes it has wrought.

In the spring of ‘07 we are older and grayer, the boys are grown and scattered internationally, but we have wonderful hopes for the future in son eric who is at this moment devouring his studies in enology and viticulture at U C Davis. We love his passion for wine and will rejoice when he graduates next year as one of the east coast’s few third generation winemakers.

The old barn has seen many renovations over the years, the most recent its greatly expanded patio allowing us to grow from those old guitar sing-alongs with Eric to real live concerts where you all come and dance and toast the good times. Our first offering of 3000 cases of Chadds Ford White and Red (anybody remember Three Sneaker White?) have become 30,000+ cases of Pinot Grigio, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Barbera and even a sexy new Syrah - all with regional signature flavors that are simply delicious.

Everything we did first, when there was nobody else around, has now been done 100 times over (actually 113 if you count the current number of Pennsylvania wineries), and this little Valley that we once owned is now home to the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, with five other vintner friends who keep us on our toes. Some people even say the little village of Chadds Ford, once know exclusively as the home of Andrew Wyeth, now shares some of that distinction with its namesake winery.

Twenty five years. What a journey its been!

When we set out to start this little winery twenty-five years ago, we had no idea where the journey would lead us. And we weren't sure if we'd arrived there until a recent mention in the New York Times by wine writer Eric Asimov sent a little shock wave our way. "The 2005 Chaddsford pinot noir," he said "convinced me that credible wines at the least, and often really good wines, are emerging from the most unexpected corners of North America, and now is a good time to start paying attention to them."

Bless you Mr. Asimov. Bless you all who have come and conquered your fears of trying local products. Bless you nervy restaurants who have dared to put Pennsylvania wines on your wine lists. Bless our wholesalers, the PLCB, the retail shops in Delaware and Maryland and New Jersey who have supported us. Every darn last one of you who have worked here, passed through our doors, lifted a glass of Chaddsford wine, lent us money or laughed with us and made it so very worthwhile to have spent the last twenty-five years making great wines in what we believe is the best grape-growing area in the east. Oh hell, maybe the world!

It's been an adventure like no other and we heartily invite you and yours to come share this landmark year as we begin to introduce our 25th Vintage from 2006. We are planning a gala celebration this summer and hope you will join us. (See more information here)

Eric and Lee Miller
Proprietors