wine club

News for August…

All the news that’s fit to print… and that can’t be crammed into our already bursting newsletter!

Harvest Ridge Staff Updates

From our owner, Chuck Nunan: At Harvest Ridge, this is a busy time of the year. Many exciting things are going on in the vineyard and elsewhere on the property. This year’s plantings, Barbera and Chambourcin are doing remarkably well. We can’t wait as the vines continue to mature. In the production facility we are wrapping up bottling our 2013 reds this month and are preparing for harvest — which will be in full swing next month. The winery has had an excellent summer season with our Food and Music events! We all have enjoyed the variety of food vendors that have participated as well as the varied musical performers who have come out and helped to make these events a success. We have been able to enjoy these outdoor events even more with the completion of our outdoor seating area, complete with overhead fans, a pergola, and the gazebo (which is especially great for weddings). If you haven’t been by recently, come out and see what a pleasure it is to sit outside and enjoy a glass (or two) of wine. Speaking of weddings, Harvest Ridge hosted its first wedding in July. It was outstanding and we were proud to host this important event in the life of the couple! We have many more on the schedule for the upcoming year. If you are interested in our event space for a wedding, reception, or other gathering, please contact our event planner, Kim at kim.harvestridgewinery.com or at 302.343.9437. And lastly, we would like to thank all of our customers — the regulars as well as the newcomers — for their patronage and support. It means the world to us.

From our video intern, Kaitlin: July marks the second month I have been with Harvest Ridge. I really took my first two months here at the winery to get into the swing of things and get to know how the winery works. Now that I have attended and filmed a few events, I recently took the steps to make an action plan to really kick my project into full gear. At the end of July I spent time editing some event footage for the winery. Be on the lookout for highlights from the Wine In The Park event in Ocean City, MD which you can find on the Harvest Ridge Winery YouTube Channel. I also began to put together the recurring segments for the upcoming Harvest Ridge TV that will premiere this Labor Day! Harvest Ridge TV will feature wines of the month, fun wine facts, etc. As we kick off Harvest Ridge TV at the end of August, I will be filming and editing specials that will air on the TVs throughout the property. These specials will include my interviews of Harvest Ridge staff for behind-the-scenes segments. I am very excited to take the audience behind the scenes at Harvest Ridge to see what it is really like to run a winery.

Wine Club

Have you heard about the Harvest Ridge Wine Club but have questions prior to signing up? Click here to read some frequently asked questions and get some answers!

Blog Write Up

Doug Zimmerman, author of the wine blog “Uncorked Remarks,” stopped into the winery recently. He came on Sangria Saturday so it was hot and busy (though some might argue that a hot day = perfect sangria weather). You can read about his experience at the winery here. A big thank you to him for his visit and kind words!

STOMP!

As we get closer to September 27, you will hear more and more about our Stomp Out Children’s Cancer event! Make sure to save the date because it will be an event you won’t want to miss. Pay the $10 donation to enter the event (the fee gets you a limited edition wine glass, a wine tasting OR a glass of wine, and access to food and music inside event). For $125, you and 2 friends can enter the event, compete for bragging rights in the grape stomp, and earn your “I STOMPED” tshirt! Bring the whole family as there will also be a moon bounce, face painting and a FREE grape stomp for the kids! **50% of entrance fees go to benefit Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hostpital for Children Oncology Program**

Harvest Ridge Wine Club FAQs

Q- Is there a fee to join the club?

A- There is no fee to join. You are only charged for the wines you receive and will be notified approximately three weeks before those wines are available so you know what and when you card will be charged. (The only caveat is that if you join but then cancel prior to receiving your first wine pack, you will be charged a $10 cancellation fee.)

Q- So I am a member… what does that get me?

A- You will receive 3 wines quarterly (typically February, May, August, November). These wines will be a variety and will include the best of Harvest Ridge… popular older wines as well as newer releases and are discounted 15%. You will also receive invitations to special member-only events (e.g. our quarterly “pick up parties” where members receive their wine packs while having the chance to eat, chat with the owner, winemaker and other staff, etc.) as well as notification about upcoming events PRIOR to public notification. (So you don’t have to worry about hearing about events too late… after all the tickets are gone. YOU get first dibs!) Members also receive 10% off full case purchases as well as a birthday coupon good for a free glass of wine, on us, during your birth month. In addition to all these standard perks, we are continuing to add ways that we can treat you, our club members, better! Just to keep you guessing and (pleasantly) surprised!

Q- Can I bring friends to pick up parties or other member-only events?

A- Currently we have no standard policy and are taking this on an event-by-event basis. Some events, complimentary guests may be allowed, but for other events, we may offer you the opportunity to bring guests but they may pay a fee to attend. We will make sure to make it clear in the invitation email what the guest policy is for each event.

Q- Do I get to choose the wines in the club packs?

A- No. All members receive the same wines and are charged the same amount. (However, the pick up parties are a great place to meet other members. Maybe you can organize a swap when you are there!)

Q- What is a typical “club pack” price? What can I expect to be charged?

A- Though prices vary based on the wines included, typically packs are $40-50.

Q- What if I can’t make the pick up party? Can you ship me my wine?

A- If you live in Delaware, we currently cannot ship you your wine per Delaware liquor laws. To maintain a positive outlook on that, we just think of it as an opportunity for you to come in and visit. 🙂 Thank goodness we live in a smaller state, right?? We are, however, legally allowed to ship to some other states and are working on the logistics of making that happen. Currently wines are only available by customer pick up but we will keep you posted on shipping options as we iron out the details. But if you cannot make the pick up party, fear not. You can certainly call the tasting room to have them set your case aside and schedule a time during business hours that works for you to pick it up.

Q- This all sounds awesome. How do I sign up?

A- We thought you’d say that! Please call the tasting room at 302.343.9437 and speak to one of our tasting room staff members to get your name on the list so you can begin enjoying the perks today!