“The email message was simple. It made me smile. Still does. The note was a response to an inquiry – my request
to visit a Chester County winery I’d heard the good word on, repeatedly. It was brief, honest and bereft of showbiz:
My name is Anthony and I farm the wines here. We’re not really comfortable talking about ourselves,
but I would like to meet you and say hello. I am unfortunately chained to my tractors most every day.”
— Jeff Alexander Philadelphia Wine Examiner
“Vietri is clearly something of an iconoclast… He grows more than 30 varieties of largely Italian grapes
for signature blends… He makes no sweet, inexpensive starter wines…. He doesn’t do self–promotional competitions.
And his “dream” is to see his wines on BYO tables at authentic Mexican taquerias in nearby Kennett Square.”
— Craig LaBan, Restaurant Critic, Philadelphia Inquirer
Avondale field wines.
The hill contains four separate soils; each soil produces one wine.
Each wine is a field blend featuring northern italian varieties, selected by the field over time.
This wine was produced by the stony soils
of the southeast area of the field.
( tocai, malvasia bianca, viognier,
pinot grigio, petit manseng )
“This is a standout, an alive and invigorating wine…”
— Jeff Alexander, Philadelphia Wine Examiner
“Wine of the Year! Truly an outstanding blend.”
— 2012 Case of the Brandywine, Delaware Today Magazine
“…truly one of the best American whites I have tasted.”
— Roger Morris, Delaware Today Magazine
This dry rosato was produced from the soils
of the eastern slopes of the hill.
( corvina veronese, barbera, nebbiolo,
carmine, petit verdot, etc. )
“This barely tannic lovely is…a complex wine with a rich aroma…”
— Jeff Alexander, Philadelphia Wine Examiner
“…great satiny texture...tempered by peppery edges”
— Roger Morris, Delaware Today Magazine (October 2012)
“At room temperatures the wine resembles a Rhone red, and when served chilled
the raspberry and blackberry flavors come front and center. A wonderful deep rose.”
— Carlo Devito author, East Coast Wineries
This wine was produced by the black mushroom
soils of the center area of the hill.
( malvasia nero, barbera, sagrantino, carmine,
lagrein, charbono, teroldego, petit verdot )
“…a breakthrough wine that has a combination of structure, flavors,
and complexity that will improve over the years.”
— Roger Morris, Wilmington News Journal
“…a plush and powerfully intriguing blend called Mahogany… has
‘cult wine’ potential.”
— Craig LaBan, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Mahogany is a big, deep, dark, incredible red wine.”
— Carlo DeVito, East Coast Wineries
“…one of my favorites from anyplace around the world.”
— Paul Vigna, The Wine Classroom
This wine was produced by the red soils
on the western edge of the field.
( five clones of nebbiolo lampia & michet,
corvina veronese )
“I loved them all. But pay attention to my new favorite, the Italian-styled Cedar.”
— Craig LaBan, Philadelphia Inquirer
… “2009 Bottle of the Year”
— Wilmington News Journal
“…could smell this all day…perfect color…no question my favorite
wine, and will be an addition to my cellar.”
— Anthony’s Wine Blog
“...the best Nebbiolo I have tasted outside of Northern Italy…”
— Sommelier News, International Sommelier Guild
“Here and there vintners prove themselves gratifying exceptions, going against the grain of fashion and propagating field blends and their charm. That includes not just those … in famous growing regions, but also in places where only in this generation were vines even planted at all, as is the case at Channing Daughters on Long Island, or at Va La (not far from the suburbs of Philadelphia and Wilmington on the US East Coast), where Anthony Vietri – also with Italian inspiration - practices co-cultivation and co–fermentation of umpteen varieties. It's not by chance that precisely these — if as yet not well–known — wines from New York and Pennsylvania belong to the most multifaceted and fascinating in the USA.…”
— David Schildknecht, Vinaria
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Va La Family Farmed Wines | 8820 Gap Newport Pike (Rt. 41) | Avondale, PA | 19311 | 610-268-2702