It’s a blessing that my professional life is so closely connected to my personal interests. But it’s also exhausting. By day I manage the online presence of a public broadcasting station. I promote local TV and radio programs and community events. I develop and edit content and write scripts. I produce faculty interviews and educational forums. I compress videos and... Read more
Karl and Carolyn Zimmerman will not experience an empty nest as long as they have a vineyard in their backyard. The couple converted their Snyder County corn and soybean farm into a vineyard in 1989, and their four adult children have since returned home to join the family business. Carolyn jokes they likely would not have come back for careers... Read more
Joe Paterno isn’t the only Joe in town who helps to put the “happy” in Happy Valley. Joe Carroll and his wife, Betty, have been providing thirsty Penn State alumni with classic vino blends like Tailgate Red and Mount Nittany White for over 20 years. Joe (Carroll, that is) produced his first batch of wine in 1968. At that time... Read more
My mom informed me last night that she hears from my brother who lives overseas more often than she hears from me. (Sorry, Mom! I’ll make it up to you during your visit this weekend.) So what has been keeping me busy? Running: Or, more truthfully, walking and stretching and strengthening. Last night I ran for the first time in... Read more
Visit The Culinary Couple for full recaps of the seven wineries we visited last weekend. Brookmere Winery: Meet a couple who traded cows for grapes. Seven Mountains Wine Cellars: This winery in the woods may be young, but you wouldn’t know from its mature wines. Read more
Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is the newest addition to the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail. The vineyard is tucked away in the serene wilderness between Big Valley and Happy Valley. It’s easy to miss the road sign on Rt. 322, but it’s worth the mile-long drive through the woods. Scott and Mary Ann Bubb built the winery from the ground up... Read more
Brookmere Winery is located in Belleville in the heart of Big Valley, which is home to close to 1,000 farms. Amish families work fields adjacent to English farmers here in the foothills of Seven Mountains, and it is common to see both horse-drawn wagons and large diesel tractors cultivating the land. The winery sits on 138 acres of rolling farmland,... Read more
While it would be lovely to jet off to Napa Valley, a romantic getaway weekend along the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail is more affordable and convenient, and it is just as educational and enjoyable. Plus I really don’t think you’ll find more passionate and proud winemakers. Continue reading about rolling hills and railroads and unexpected fields of grapevines at The... Read more
While it would be lovely to jet off to Napa Valley, a romantic getaway weekend along the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail is more affordable and convenient, and it is just as educational and enjoyable. Plus I really don’t think you’ll find more passionate and proud winemakers. The trail crisscrosses the Susquehanna River through picturesque central Pennsylvania. The area’s rich agricultural... Read more
We had an absolutely fabulous weekend along the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail. Who knew central Pennsylvania grew such good grapes? Seriously, we tasted some really robust wines and experienced firsthand the love that goes into each bottle. I plan to do full recaps on each of the seven wineries we visited. Until then, here is a “sip” of the fun... Read more