If you’re looking to visit wineries in Rehoboth Beach, you’re in for a rare treat. Delaware has a long-running tradition of excellence in winemaking, going back to the Pilgrims and Swedish settlers who planted grapes and made wine there as early as 1638.
This list includes six wineries and a meadery in the area that are worth visiting on your next vacation to this area.
- Nassau Valley Vineyards
The impressive Nassau Valley Vineyards has been operating for over 25 years and is only a 15-minute drive from The Canalside Inn in Rehoboth Beach. It has been producing estate-grown wines since 2009, which means it is made only from grapes grown on the grounds. Visitors’ taste buds will love the chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and other varietals on offer here.
You can take free self-guided tours and attend tastings that cost $10 per person. The vineyard is child-friendly, but regulations stipulate that they cannot stand or sit near service counters.
- Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery
The Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery is a little farther afield, about a 26-minute drive from The Canalside Inn. It specializes in merlot and cabernet sauvignon made from its first plantings, but also produces numerous other traditional reds and whites. Visitors can sample while nibbling on delicious Chesapeake Bay Farms cheese plates, or try one of their wine slushies.
Salted Vines is kid-friendly and also serves non-alcoholic beverages, including its famous pumpkin slushie. The property boasts a rustic tasting room, a large, covered patio, a production room, and a patio service bar, plus outdoor areas where visitors can set up a picnic blanket or portable chairs to relax while they sip away.
- Costa Ventosa Winery & Brewery
A 39-minute drive from Canalside Inn will bring you to another little gem worth checking out. At Costa Ventosa Winery & Brewery, you can sample a range of wines with unusual-sounding names such as “Diana’s Delight,” “Puckum Pinot Grigio,” “Tuckahoe White Merlot,” or “Rockawalkin Rosso.” There is also a brewery on-site where visitors can sample a variety of quirky-named ales such as “Half-assed Jack,” “Stupid Stick,” and “Porcupine.” Expect a kid- and pet-friendly vibe at this establishment.
- Twin Branch Winery
A 33-minute drive from Canalside Inn will get you to the delightful Twin Branch Winery, where visitors can sample a range of red and white wines such as sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, merlot, chardonnay, rose, and riesling. This winery is kid and dog-friendly, but dogs have to remain outside or in the pavilion, and children are not permitted in the tasting room unless accompanied by a responsible adult. Twin Branch has been producing superior wines since the 1960s. Formal reservations are required for groups of more than 10 people, but family groups can visit without calling in advance.
- Pizzadili Winery and Vineyard
Drive along the Coastal Highway for about 50 minutes, and visitors will find the Pizzadili Winery and Vineyard, which produces wines from 12 different grape varieties that are all estate grown. The winery has a sweet white dessert wine called “Delaware,” as well as a dry red “Brothers’ Table Wine” named after the two brothers, Tony and Pete, who started this family business.
Wine tasting will cost around $5 for a choice of five wines, and the winery also offers packages for weddings and other events. This is another stop where you can expect a kid- and pet-friendly experience every time.
- Harvest Ridge Winery
Harvest Ridge Winery is an hour from the Canalside Inn via the Coastal Highway. Visitors can buy wine, cider, apparel, or gifts at this charming family-run establishment, which is famous for its chardonnay, viognier, malbec, and merlot. Geography buffs should note that the vineyard sits directly on the Mason-Dixon Line bordering Maryland.
The Harvest Ridge tasting room is open from Sunday through Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from noon to 8 p.m. In the warmer weather it has a food truck on-site, so you can grab a snack while you sample their marvelous wine selection, plus hosts a range of musical events and activities throughout the year that add to the fun.
- Brimming Horn Meadery
Scandinavian-themed Brimming Horn Meadery is a child- and pet-friendly establishment that is only a 17-minute drive from The Canalside Inn. It is not technically a winery, but has a rich history and more than 20 years of crafting award-winning meads. Mead is made using fermented honey and other ingredients, and Brimming Horn uses honey and fruit that it sources locally to make its products. It typically has 12 meads on tap, including eight traditional styles and four lightly carbonated options or ciders. Visitors can also get delicious hamburgers from the SmashMouth Burgers food truck on-site.
Visit Charming Rehoboth Beach for Your Next Vacation
The Rehoboth Beach area is a beautiful choice for a quick weekend getaway or a longer stay for the whole family, including your furry friends. Contact Canalside Inn today to discuss available rooms and your vacation booking needs, and ask us about other great things to do in the area.
