Va La Vineyards

What a good time! I loved their wine tasting and it was $ 20 per person for pairing with a small bite of cheese and 4 different wines. Loved the wine offerings, experience and the staff. The only recommendation I have is to off more then a tiny bite for the cheese tastings. We needed up spending $ 20 for two more glasses of the Silk and Mahogany wines. In addition, $ 100 for the prima Donna bottle of wine and the mahogany bottle of wine. Total spent there was $ 160.

I have been to 3 other local wineries. Va La is the best in the area. Best local wines, best local tasting. Fresh local cheeses and breads compliment the wines wonderfully. Small, intimate tasting room makes you feel like they are showing wines just for you. They don’t take themselves too seriously, the website and news letter are hilarious. And the dark chocolate? Oh. Mah. Gawd. This is way better than CF.

For fans of exceptional — not great, but *exceptional* — wine that rivals anything else you’re likely to try, Va La will be your Shangri-​La.
Everything about Va La Vineyards challenges the status quo of winemaking, and does so with an ardent delight that is intoxicating. If you haven’t already, please go to this winery’s website, which embodies the quirkiness and originality that many businesses strive to cultivate but rarely achieve. It was a breath of fresh air, even if when stepping out of your car you’re greeted by the pungent smell of manure from nearby farms. Just know that the manure is part of the vineyards success — the heat coming off the manure piles is great enough to create a microclimate near the one end of the farm, very much to the advantage of the grapes grown on that stretch of land.
The tasting room, inside a rustic old barn adorned with a giant letter «V», has an intimate museum feel to it, while being deceivingly large. The wine maker’s grandparents and great grandparents are hanging on the wall, looking out onto the large and inviting tasting bar. There is also ample upstairs seating and a bar for crowded weekends. You pay for your tasting up front with an at-​first steep fee of $ 20. Many other reviewers have complained about this, but honestly it’s worth every penny, as you get four generous pours (easily a glass in a half all together), four samples of local cheese from the area, and a piece of locally made deep dark chocolate made from their own Silk wine. We came on a day when it wasn’t busy, and our pourer was a chill host, telling us about the grapes, the history of the farm, and what soil compositions work best with which wines.
Va La specializes in blended wines, with each of the four composed of several different grape types all grown on the property. With the tasting we were able to sample a white, a rosé, and two reds. The first was the La Prima Donna 2013 — dry with hints of honeysuckle and a floral smell, it is certainly a step up from your usual white. Next out was their rosé, the Silk 2012, which surprisingly turned out to be my favorite of the bunch. A dark yet still clear red, the main feature is the smoothness of this wine, perfectly balanced to adapt to hot summer days or cold winter nights. Next out was the dark red Mahogany 2013. This wine had a strange smell on the nose, probably from the deep dark «mushroom soil» these grapes are grown on. That earthy smell deceives you as you take a taste of dark fruits — full bodied, complex, exceptional. Last was the Cedar 2012, a classic nebbiolo blend with a delightful floral smell and that bold and complex flavor that seems to improve every time you taste it.
In conclusion, and I mean this without any hyperbole whatsoever — this is some of the best wine I’ve ever had, and by far the best wine in Pennsylvania. It’s not even really close. You can taste the love and care that was used in the crafting of these wines, so much so you’ll become a better person just by tasting them. If you’re a step above a casual wine fan, it’s worth the trip among the mushroom farms and marvel at the miracle that is Va La.

I will agree with fellow reviewers that a $ 20 per person tasting fee is pricey for the area. But I consider the price well worth it if you are looking for a nice relaxing afternoon. We did the tasting and that lasted about 40 minutes. Then we got a couple of glasses and just sat at the picnic tables and enjoyed the views and talked for several hours. Fortunately it was not very crowded and the weather was fantastic. If you are aiming for quantity of wine samples and trying to hit as many wineries as possible, then leave this off your list. But if you just want a nice relaxing afternoon, try Va La Vineyards.

Outstanding!
The wine here is out of this world and the ambiance is perfection!
The cheese pairing with the wine is delicious!
My only complaint is that the should offer to sell the home made bread with the cheese.
For example, after a wine tasting you definitely want more of cheese and homemade bread. You can buy the cheese (in a larger quantity) but need to bring your own bread…
My suggestion is that you offer a cheese plate that includes the cheese from that tasting and homemade frocaccia bread to take outside with your wine.
That would be faaaaaanbbbuuuulllloooouuus!
I bet a bunch of customers would buy that for sure!
I love this place and will be a costumer as long as I’m alive:)

Despite my frugal tendencies I was drawn to Check out this place since it has such a different approach. All grapes from their own premises here but do is on the different soils and allow the grapes to select themselves out. They do 4 wines with cheese for 20 dollars. Decent pours and cheeses are nice. First two were goat last 2 we’re sheep and there was also a chocolate truffle to first is on. I thought all 4 were unique and unlike other wines I have had in the past. They were slightly expensive so we didn’t it any but enjoyed the tasting very much. Friendly and knowledgeable people pouring wine. Would recommend this to anyone who is a wine lover looking for something unique. They sell the chocolates and cheese they serve. Also they serve a bread and olive oil that’s nice to absorb some of that alcohol !

When in Lancaster, PA for a friend’s wedding the SO and I decided to take on the local wine scene. We were told that Va La was the best that the area had to offer so we drove on over.
Although the wine was «fine,» the price was not. $ 20 per person for a tasting? That’s nuts. Yes, they pair the wine with a bite of cheese, but even in the heart of Napa or Sonoma I can get a better deal that this. Spare me the pomp and circumstance — just let me taste the wine for a much smaller fee, you keep the cheese, and we’ll call it a day.

Let me start by saying… there is a reason multiple publications have listed VaLa as the best Pennsylvania winery. Wow.
Do not be discouraged by the price, it is totally worth it.
If it seems steep to you, choose a special occasion or date night to visit, still totally worth it.
The tasting consists of 4 wines, with approx ½ glass per pour, so you get 2 glasses total (approx 4 – 5 oz is a standard «glass» of wine), which would cost approx $ 20 at any restaurant in the area. Most wineries have stoppers in their bottles which allow for .5 or 1oz pours, not here!
Each wine is carefully paired with a cheese, bread, and/​or truffle. Each of these are made locally, and the truffle contains their wine! The honey chevre cheese, served with the Prima Dona wine was to die for! Even if you aren’t a cheese connoisseur, you must try it. My favorite wine was the Barbara, oh yesss.
If you are loving the wine, purchase a glass and drink it upstairs or on the deck… a lovely experience!

Wow, the tasting room looks like something right out of Napa Valley. The décor is very cool, lots of wood and stone and a very long tasting bar. They give you 4 or 5 of their wines to taste, and you can progress from white to red. They even pair the wines with dips, bread and cheeses. Amazing!
The pourers are knowledgeable and friendly.
The wines are all Italian varietals and they stunned us, when compared with any other Pennsylvania wines. They even hold their own against some Italian counterparts, and the interesting thing is that the winemaker does some unusual blending. We were extraordinarily pleased and left after making purchases. Which is good because you can only buy at the winery!

I’ve been to quite a few vineyards mostly throughout Europe but have never experienced the hospitality that Va La offers. If you don’t know much about this vineyard or its owners, I recommend taking a peak at their website and maybe you’ll see what I mean (seriously do it!). The owner Anthony and his wife are both very sociable and mingle with vineyard guests all while offering a little wine 101.
During the tasting, a few of the wines are accompanied by an assortment of chocolates and cheeses. These are all local and available for purchase within the vineyard. My personal favorite combination was the silk wine and wine infused chocolates. Very good. It is a bit pricy but you’re paying for quality all while supporting a local business. I’ll most definitely be back!

Both the tasting room design/​décor and the vineyards are understated, but the tasting experience is amazing. My visit was especially nice because owner and winemaker, Anthony Vietri, joined my companion and me for the tasting. Guests taste the four wines paired with local cheeses and chocolate. The wines are elegant blends of white and black Northern Italian grape varieties. The blends vary based upon what nature offers each vintage. The wines are meticulously made for later consumption, except for one, but all can be consumed now with decanting. They include the 2011 La Prima Donna — a white blend comprised of Malvasia Bianco, Petit Mansang, Pinot Grigio, and Tocai (Friuliano), the 2011 Silk — a dry rosato produced from free-​run juice of Corvina Veronese, Barbera, Carmine, Petit Verdot, and Nebbiolo, the 2013 Castana — a special summer red blend of Barbera, Petit Verdot, Carmine, Lagrein, Sagrantino, and Teroldego, and the 2011 Mahogany — a red blend of Barbera, Malvasia Nero, Charbono, Petit Verdot, Carmine, Teroldego, Lagrein, and Sagrantino. The winery is very small production, so the wines are only available at the winery.

Had a lovely time here… yes, it costs $ 20 for a tasting, but the pours were generous and the wine was tasty. Each wine was explained, too. I’m not a red fan, but both that we tried were devoid of the tannins I dislike. The 2 whites were lovely. Each wine came with a local cheese pairing. My husband hates cheese and surprisingly liked them all. They also served a bowl of bread cubes with olive oil and ended the tasting with a yummy (and also local) chocolate truffle.

I have tasted wine all over the country. I have probably been to 500 wineries (at least) from CA to NJ to VA to NY to Canada.
I have been to Va LA twice and had the same experience:
1 The folks pouring the wine seemed knowledgeable and friendly. Enjoyed talking with them. Didn’t get to talk to the owner but saw him and he seemed to have a really good rapport with other guests.
2 Got there about 5:30 and they wouldn’t do their Galleria (upper end) tasting anymore as they were «shutting down». They actually close at 6 so this didn’t feel good to us at all. I had driven from NJ (1.5 hours) to try their wines.
3 The cost of this winery is really insanely high. $ 10 for 3 wine tastes downstairs and $ 20 for 4 tastes upstairs. Honestly, this is one of the highest charges I have seen in the country and the cost makes the whole winery experience seem quite pretentious. Yes, they give you a couple of tiny pieces of cheese but that doesn’t change anything. There are word-​class wineries in CA that don’t charge that much. $ 5 downstairs and $ 10 up would still be a high price but would not feel like they are gouging you. Deducting the tasting cost if you make purchases would also be a nice gesture and would encourage you to buy wine.
4 The wines are all blends. They are probably the best PA wines you will find and maybe some of the best outside of Long Island on the East Coast. The wine maker is very talented at turning PA grapes into really good wines. That being said, they are still PA grapes so don’t expect miracles. I would love to see what he could do with CA grapes (or even single PA varietals.)
Summary: Great winery for PA ruined by gouging the customer with exorbitant prices and shutting down early.

Wife wanted to do some wine tasting so I looked up vineyards on Unilocal.Va La popped up, we had never heard of them and they were not to far away. So the day was planned we were gonna go for a tasting.
The tasting was $ 20 a piece but they paired artisan cheeses with 4 samples of their wine. Dave was behind the bar and was very informative. Of the 4 wines we sampled, our favorite was their Silk blend. It was so smooth and full of flavors. After chatting up with Dave for a bit, we decided to enjoy a glass outside, they had a Jazz band for the Holiday weekend. We ordered our glass and headed outside, the smell was awful. We decided to head back inside and just people watch. Honestly I do not know how people could sit out there but others said after 10 minutes you become immune to it. Sorry but No Thanks!
After our glass we purchased 2 bottles of Silk, for home use. It was a nice vineyard with great tasting wines. If you are in the area and are looking for something to do, give them a try, they will not disappoint. I know for a fact that we will be back again!

I’ve been here twice. The wine is small batch and made with love. The cheese is from the local area and they pair it with the wines. It’s pricier than most wineries in the area but well worth it. I’ve had a wonderful experience here every time!

I was pleasantly surprised when we pulled up to the vineyard! I was fore warned about the price of the tasting– $ 20 dollars and the price of the bottles of wine 40−55ish range. However considering the tasting came with tasty cheese pairing and a truffle, I thought the price of the tasting was well worth it. We were given adequate pours and learned of the vintage. The vines that this 6 acre farm uses comes from piedmont Italy. Learning about the history of the this small family run winery was truly a unique experience. I must say that their wine are far more superior than any other PA wine that I had. Their blush wine– Silk did not have a perfume taste, and the Cedar has a great nose on it. The cheeses are extremely tasty. Again they are a small batch winery and they disassociated themselves with the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail. As they want to focus more on the quality of the vino.
Great place, I definitely will be back and next time, I will bring a picnic.

We had visited black walnut winery earlier this month and we asked which other winery to visit and hands down they said va la. We asked of it would be okay to bring in kids (with backup MIL) and they pointed to their backyard over looking the vines. The tasting was 20 for four wines but it includes
three perfectly paired cheeses, bread with olive oil and a «house» chocolate truffle. We tried Prima Donna, a white wine with a fruity nose but dry to the palate. Two of their silk reds which were both great in their own right and the epic mohagony wine which they recommend decanting for at least 12 hours!!! The staff were a pleasure to talk to and very informative. All the wines are blends of very rare grapes. They also sell you wine by the glass and have a nice picnic area. Hands down coming back again!

Stumbled upon this amazing vineyard three years ago and returned for a nostalgic trip this past weekend. Va La continues to impress with their quality wines and perfect pairings. (The Mahogany is unreal.) Dave and Jane were incredibly friendly and knowledgable. After your tasting, enjoy a glass of wine out back!

We started out our tasting with the La Prima Donna paired with goat and honey cheese. Can I just say YUM! What a way to begin our tasting. Next up — the 2009 Silk paired with sharp goat cheese served on an herb foccacia. We were told this one can be served room temp or chilled and pairs well with meats and fish. On to our third wine — a more complex red — 2008 Siranetta paired with a local sheeps milk cheese ‘The Last Straw’ from a local farm in Landenburg. Lastly we enjoyed the 2010 Mahogany Red paired a Lancaster County cows milk cheddar noble cheese — delish! We were told to save some wine to wash down the Silk Wine filled, dark chocolate truffle — good advice! The truffle is fantastic!
As we were finishing up we heard that they have an art gallery upstairs that we should check out. Don’t waste your time rushing upstairs. The artwork isn’t worth it.
An additional tip — sign up for their mailing list. They occasionally have live entertainment. Bring a picnic basket or buy some of their wonderful cheeses — they’ll recommend a pairing based upon which wine you purchase — and then head on out to the back patio!

What a great hidden gem. Went on a «friend date» here the first time I went and was pleasantly surprised. Did the wine tasting for $ 20 and they paired it up with some great cheeses. I couldn’t get enough of the goat cheese with honey. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. They had a live jazz band playing that day so we sat outside with our wine and enjoyed the music. They make some really good pizzas too.
The wine selection is great so I recommend going to this place.