TheBurg

14 | theburg | 07.16 W ine-lovers—does this sound familiar? You drive out to a vineyard, passing through scenic vistas and quaint towns. rough your car window, you spy old Victorians, a few antique shops, maybe a farmers market. It all looks so interesting—but then you never set foot outside the winery. Stop that! PA wineries make for fabulous daytrips, but most are also near villages, towns and historic sites that will bring even more enjoyment to your excursion. Recently, I took my own advice and, with my wife, drove to a few spots along the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail, vowing to make the most of both the wine tastings and the surroundings. What I found enriched my trip, turning a simple wine outing into an adventure. SYMbIotIC We started our journey traveling north on Routes 11/15 along the Susquehanna River towards Sunbury, stopping at the Spyglass Ridge Winery, a few miles outside of town. Owners Tom and Tammy Webb have what might be called a symbiotic relationship with Sunbury. Some people head for the winery, then visit Sunbury afterwards. Other times, it's the other way around. Sunbury boasts many things to do. It's the site of the Joseph Priestly home, named for the 18th-century theologian credited with discovering the element of oxygen. Speaking of science, Sunbury is where omas Edison first tested the electric light bulb. If Colonial history is your thing, you can visit Fort Augusta, one of the most important forts in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. e winery also benefits from its proximity to Knoebels amusement park, which generates more visitors. For its part, Spyglass Ridge hosts major concerts— rockers Joan Jett, Foghat, Huey Lewis and Styx have performed—that bring thousands of people into the area. "In an effort to be more interesting to our customers, we are building a brewpub with a restaurant and will even be adding a bocce ball court," said Tom Webb. grouND uP Next, we traveled a quick 20 minutes north along Route 15 to the Fero Vineyards & Winery, operated by Chuck and Daneen Zaleski. e winery is on land farmed by several generations of Daneen's family and overlooks the borough of Lewisburg. "We began from the ground up," Chuck said. "First, we tested and retested the soil to determine its exact chemical content. en we searched for the types of grapes to fit our soil, weather and climate conditions. You must have really good grapes to make really good wines. We're proud to be known for our quality Pennsylvania dry wines." When I was there, business was brisk, and, according to Chuck, plans are afoot for a larger building for receptions and events, as well as a bigger area to triple production. "Eventually, we hope to pass the winery to our children," said Daneen. When visiting, a side trip to Lewisburg is a must. e borough's 19th-century downtown was recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Chamberlin Iron Front Building and the Reading Railroad Freight Station are both worth a look. Lewisburg, home to Bucknell University, also has a charming, college-town feel. Many of the Zaleskis' customers migrate up to the winery after some antiquing. My wife and I stopped in at the Lewisburg Hotel, first opened in 1834. It closed in 1992 and, over the next five years, new owners went to great lengths to return the building to its original grandeur. It reopened in 1997 Wine & ToWn Come for the Cab, stay for the night. bY DoN heLIN fero vineyards & Winery elizabeth's: an american Bistro

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