TOUR DE TANKS
By Angela Papandrea

Each year, the UnCork York Wine Trail hosts an event throughout March known as Tour de Tanks. For $20, patrons can purchase a ticket and travel to each of the 14 wineries along the trail, finding special food and discounts at each winery. By collecting stamps on their tickets, patrons are also eligible to win prizes. The best part of the event, however, is that the wineries offer samples of select wines directly from the tanks or barrels in which they have been fermenting. Those wines won’t be bottled until early spring. Tour de Tanks is scheduled for every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the wineries along the trail. Read on to find out where you’re heading, what you should know about the wineries and what to try when you get there.

*Note: Waltz Vineyards is only open on Saturdays.

Adams County Winery
Peach Tree Road, Orrtanna • 334-4631
www.adamscountywinery.com
 What the regulars crave: Tears of Gettysburg, a 10-time award-winning sweet white, and Rebel Red, a nine-time award-winning semi-sweet red
Uncorked: Adams County Winery hosts home wine making classes from 1-3 p.m. on Sundays throughout the year for only $25 per person. The next is scheduled for April 4.

Allegro Vineyards
3475 Sechrist Road, Brogue • 927-9148
www.allegrowines.com
What the regulars crave: Dry reds, particularly Cadenza, a Bordeaux-style blend based on Merlot
Uncorked: Allegro is one of the oldest commercial vineyards planted with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Unlike many other wineries, Allegro has chosen not to enter any wine competitions throughout its existence.

Cullari Vineyards
1251 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey • 533-8985
www.cullari-vineyards.com
What the regulars crave: White on White (a white blend), Old Country Red (a red blend the owner began making at age 12 with his father in Italy) and Pomegranate Splash (a blend of white wine and pomegranate juice)
Uncorked: When he’s not making wine, winery co-owner Salvatore Cullari is working as a clinical psychologist.

Four Springs Winery
50 Main Street, Seven Valleys • 428-2610
www.fourspringswinerypa.com
What the regulars crave: Fat Cat Red, the winery’s signature red, which is a concord grape wine that has a bright and fruity taste
Uncorked: Four Springs Winery features a very classy yet relaxed atmosphere. Its tasting room has an adjacent sitting room with tables and chairs, as well as other seating. Both the tasting room and sitting room are available for private functions.

Fox Ridge Vineyard & Winery
3528 East Market Street, York • 755-3384
www.foxridgewinery.com
What the regulars crave: Blackberry
Uncorked: Harold Neibert opened the winery in 1994; at the time, he was a full-time veterinarian and a winemaker by hobby. Eventually, he retired from veterinary medicine and took on the wine full-time at Fox Ridge Winery.

Hauser Estate Winery
410 Cashtown Road, Biglerville • 334-4888
www.hauserestate.com
What the regulars crave: Table wines Jenny Wade White and Devil’s Den Red, as well as a Cabernet Franc and Reserve Chardonnay, both of which were released earlier this year
Uncorked: In addition to wine, Hauser also crafts five varieties of Jack’s Hard Cider. The cider is named after the Hauser family patriarch, Jack, who passed away about 25 years ago, but was previously president of the Musselman’s Fruit Company. With that history and the ownership of many acres of apple orchards, the cider was a natural addition to the winery.

Hummingbird Ridge Winery
735 Kise Mill Road, York Haven • 315-0209
www.hummingbirdridgewinery.com
What the regulars crave: Borealis and Ruby Elixir, as well as new releases, Sweet Dreams (a Niagara) and Moonlight (a Vidal Blanc)
Uncorked: Owner Tom Day plays acoustic guitar and says his guitar is always out in the wine shop, so patrons are often likely to hear impromptu performances.

Moon Dancer Vineyard & Winery
1282 Klines Run Road, Wrightsville • 252-WINE
www.moondancerwinery.com
What the regulars crave: Chardonnay, which has a crisp oak flavor and is extremely popular, and Moon River Red, which goes great with pizza
Uncorked: The winery’s name originates from the story of the Moon Dancer, which may or may not be human. Either way, the Moon Dancer appears late at night during the middle of the harvest and supposedly encourages a slower and more thoughtful pace to life and, of course, better wine.

Naylor Wine Cellars
4069 Vineyard Road, Stewartstown • 993-2431
www.naylorwine.com
What the regulars crave: Wines on the sweeter side, including fruit wines like Kirse, Peaches Plus and Old Fashioned Apple Wine
Uncorked: Naylor offers wine dinners at the winery throughout the year, featuring multi-course dinners with wine pairings, two wine bars and live music. The next is scheduled for March 12.

Nissley Vineyards & Winery Estate
140 Vintage Drive, Bainbridge • 426-3514
www.nissleywine.com
What the regulars crave: Rhapsody in Blue for the white wine drinkers, Naughty Marietta for the red wine drinkers and Fantasy for those with a sweet tooth
Uncorked: Nissley hosts Music in the Vineyards each summer; it’s a Saturday night concert series that lasts from July through Labor Day weekend. Patrons bring picnics ranging from cheese and crackers on a blanket to full dinners on small tables and purchase wine by the bottle while listening to bands ranging in genre from rock to R&B to swing.

Reid’s Orchards & Winery
2135 Buchanan Valley Road, Orrtanna • 677-7047
www.reidsorchardwinery.com
What the regulars crave: The reds, especially Troika (a blend of Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes), as well as Pinot Grigio
Uncorked: Reid’s Orchard & Winery is the youngest winery on the Uncork York Trail, having opened exactly one year ago for 2009’s Tour de Tanks. The winery’s focus is on the flavor of the fruit being fermented. They are introducing a blackberry wine this year, but it will not have a sugary sweet taste that many people assume fruit wines have, as not much sugar will be added.

Tamanend Winery
759 Flory Mill Road, Lancaster • 560-WINE
www.tamanendwinery.com
What the regulars crave: Like No Other (made with fermented blue agave nectar to taste like a margarita) and the boxed wines (a number of selections are available)
Uncorked: Tamanend does not have the picturesque vineyard landscape of many wineries in the area. What it does have is a 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art wine laboratory that allows it to bring more science into the picture and create unique selections such as Like No Other. Tours are available.

Waltz Vineyards Estate Winery
Only open on Saturdays
1599 Old Line Road, Manheim • 664-WINE
www.waltzvineyards.com
What the regulars crave: Bordeaux-style wines
Uncorked: The Waltz family has been growing grapes for five generations and continues to produce up to 80 tons of grapes a year, some of which is sold to other wineries. All of the fruit used in Waltz wines is grown on the premises and all of it is handpicked. All of the wine-making equipment is imported from Italy and all of the oak barrels used for aging are imported from France.

West Hanover Winery
7646 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg • 651-0409
www.westhanoverwinery.net
What the regulars crave: Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin for the red wine drinkers and Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc for the white wine drinkers