Delaware Wine and Ale Trail gets four new locations
The Delaware Wine and Ale Trail is getting a spirited new identity.
This visitor-friendly collection of First State breweries and wineries is adding four new locations – two of them distilleries – expanding the trail’s scope and appeal to keep pace with Delaware’s growing market for hand-crafted beverages.
In keeping with the trail’s changing composition, the Delaware Tourism Office is adopting a new name for the four-year-old attraction, which will now be known as the “Delaware Beer, Wine and Spirits Trail.” Designed to give travelers a convenient and fun way to explore the many tours and tastings offered by these businesses, the trail also offers a “passport” system that allows participants to track their travels and potentially earn prizes.
The new attractions on the trail include:
Delaware Distilling Company, Rehoboth Beach. More than just a distillery, Delaware Distilling Company features a full-service restaurant with an inventive menu including such temptations a jumbo “pork wings,” steaks and seafood, and, of course, crab cakes. Known for their spiced rum, gin and potato vodka (as well as the 20 flavors of infused vodka available in the restaurant), DDC also offers nine spirits for sale on site in the bottle shop.
Painted Stave Distilling, Smyrna. As the first stand-alone craft distillery in Delaware, Painted Stave is keeping a decidedly Delaware-centric perspective on business – setting up shop in a historic movie theater, and working to ensure its products are made with local ingredients. Three products are ready for purchase – Silver Screen Vodka, Candy Manor Gin, and Old Cooch’s Corn Whiskey – with barrel-aged spirits (bourbon, rye, brandy, etc.) available soon.
Mispillion River Brewing Company, Milford. Mispillion River keeps its offerings exciting with “once-and-Done” brews, single-hop varieties, and tasting-room exclusives. Beach Bum Joe Pale Ale is an award-winning favorite, and their creations have earned a BeerAdvocate.com score of 92 (“outstanding”). “These brewers know what they are doing,” one reviewer noted. “Their brews are crisp and clean.” The action at the 15-barrel brew house can be viewed from the tasting room window.
Argilla Brewing Co. @ Pietro’s Pizza, Newark. This family-run pizzeria has been in business for 36 years, but its latest achievement is the installation of a small microbrewery, which produces a variety of IPAs to accompany the restaurant’s pizza pies and pub-style sandwiches. The gourmet pizza creations are supplemented by a full menu of creative pub sandwiches (including house-smoked beef brisket) and people-pleasing appetizers as quesadillas and wings (reviewers rave about the “Robanero” wings).
“By adding the new locations, we have given travelers some great new reasons to explore the Delaware Beer, Wine and Spirits Trail,” said Linda Parkowski, Director of the Delaware Tourism Office. “Even if you’ve traveled the trail before, you’ll want to add these new attractions to your must-see list.”
While it’s part of a lineup that includes four other visitor trails – the History, Culinary, Geocaching and Outdoor trails – the Beer, Wine and Spirits Trail is among the most popular of the Delaware Tourism Office’s creations, she said.
Parkowski said that she expects the trail to boost interest in traveling to Delaware, especially as the Tourism Office’s efforts to market the trail through social media and advertising gain traction. Parkowski noted that since travelers can enjoy the Trail’s attractions year-round, it’s effective in attracting off-season travelers and boosting business during a time facilities can use it most.
To participate in the trail, visitors simply go to the website VisitDelaware.com/bwst, which includes listings of locations and instructions on downloading and completing the passport. The website is also designed to help visitors find lodging and locate other nearby attractions.
About the Delaware Tourism Office
The Delaware Tourism Office, 99 Kings Highway in Dover, Del., a division of the Delaware Economic Development Office, promotes tourism and economic growth in Delaware. For more information, visit the official Delaware Tourism website at www.visitdelaware.com or call toll-free (866) 284-7483.
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