New Hope is an eclectic small-town in eastern Pennsylvania. It borders the Delaware River boasting fine (riverfront) dining, wine-ing, and more.
Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, New Hope houses more than 200 years of American history (inside Parry Mansion, built in 1784 by founder Benjamin Parry), in addition to a vibrant, art-filled scene supported by the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Today, New Hope is very affluent and rich in arts, food and drink. However, it was much more laid-back in the 80’s—several bars, nightclubs, and a few restaurants, but they were all more casual,” shares Jamie Shaw, beverage manager at Stella of New Hope.
The popular river town, located in Bucks County, continues its “renaissance” with updated boutique lodging, farm-to-table restaurants, and top(shelf) bars along its lively Main Street and river promenade. “There’s been a good deal of time and effort put into revitalizing the area and making the bar and restaurant scene more upscale,” Shaw mentions. “The area, as a whole, has elevated because of it,” resulting in Travel + Leisure’s “America’s Favorite Towns” list.
New Hope will always shine light on small local businesses, in town and around Pennsylvania, from unique shops and studios selling hand-crafted jewelry and pottery, to promising family-run restaurants, bars and wineries offering locally-sourced fare and well, vino.
Therefore, consider riverside New Hope for your next weekend “wine-down.” Fill up on flowing wine, fascinating food, and river-facing views with support of this three-day guide.
Friday
Take up residence (for two nights) at Ghost Light Inn featuring twelve exclusive guestrooms, with attention to decor detail, a Delaware River-scape, and exceptional amenities like the Juliette balcony for bird-watching. The boutique “barn” is inspired by the ghost light at the neighboring Bucks County Playhouse where a single buzzing bulb arguably allows light for ghosts to take the stage at night, without any interruptions.
Other local “haunts” include Karla’s (quaint) Restaurant and C’est La Vie French Bakery. On-site sits Stella of New Hope, a New American dining establishment flooded in fresh flavors from farms and food artisans all around Bucks County. Snag a window seat overlooking the serene river for swirling wine and hearty seasonal dishes like the Whole Grain Casarecce Pasta, a “ragout” of wild mushroom and grilled asparagus in wild mushroom broth; topped with shaved ricotta.
Wine compliments (of Shaw) include the versatile Italian varietal, hailed from Amador County, California, Terra D’Oro Barbera, releasing robust notes of dark cherry and pomegranate with warm baking spice on the back enhancing the richness of red meat and duck dishes, plus seasonal squash (piled with pilaf) for vegetarians.
“Our wine program is really centered around showcasing the many different varieties from around the world: Italy, France, New Zealand, California, and beyond…” Shaw states. “My goal is for a table to never feel like they cannot find a bottle that they will enjoy.”
Saturday
Meander to New Hope Ferry Market, Bucks County’s recognized gourmet food market within a renovated space on Main Street. The marketplace showcases ten food vendors and two drink purveyors: one being Unionville Vineyards, a producer of terroir-driven, vineyard-designated fine wines since 1993.
Native to nearby Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Unionville focuses on varieties from France’s Rhone Valley and Burgundy regions – earning a great reputation for Old World-style wines that are acid-driven and food friendly; think Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Sample the estate wine range (some scored 90 Points by Wine Enthusiast in July 2021) then consult with the on-site sommelier for suggested lunch pairings from surrounding food stands before committing to a glass or bottle.
At night, line up the wine flights at Nektar Wine Bar, a polished bistro coupling Mediterranean-style sharables and global wines (awarded by Wine Spectator three straight years). Certain vintages are pre-selected from the extensive wine menu to compare diverse tasting and structural profiles. There is the Sparkling Discovery Flight starring three 3 oz. pours of bubbly from Penedés, Spain, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and Beak Valley, Lebanon. Another flight compares varying Greek grapes and styles, such as Mercouri Estate Foloi Fumé 2015 Red Roditis and Anatolikos Malagousia Wild 2018 Malagousia. You will be surprised with a wine you might have never tried (until now).
The intimate wine bar is a great place to settle (and sip) before a performance at the well-regarded playhouse or full supper experience at Zoubi, “a Restaurant, a Bar” across the street. Do return for a decadent dessert and 20-year Tawny port wine.
Zoubi, though, is a Euro-chic spot serving creative plates with accompanying wines in an aged house with candle-lit garden seating and open-air bar. The two-sided wine list is divided per Old World and Ancient region and poured by the ornate glass (by a suited server) – swirl, sniff, sip, repeat.
Sunday
Before departing, take a quick stop at New Hope Winery. Spend the afternoon at the rustic winery in an 18th-century hay barn featuring an array of wines, ‘wiches, rotating soups, and more at The Pour House.
The property flipped a few times throughout the 19th-century (a museum, antique shop, and two separate wineries) until its current ownership stepped in over 25 years ago spanning the sweet fruit wine selection to over 25 unique varieties. Most popular? A luscious blackberry flavor steeped on-site.
Also on-site: a 250-seat music venue called The Note (that used to be the original production room prior to 2009) now bringing endless live entertainment to Bucks County.
More to pour in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
The post 3-Day Guide to a Wine-Filled Weekend in New Hope, Pennsylvania appeared first on Chilled Magazine.
Source: Mixology News
