The Porchvue Winery
Just an hour and a half east of Cedar Point, OH off Interstate 80 is my secret oasis, a chance to spend time with Irene, my good friend and soul sister. We settle into two comfy chairs overlooking a spectacular stand of pine trees stretching down a dramatic ravine backing up to Irene’s yard. The expansive view nestled next to the tiered patio is grand and intimate at the same time. “Be True to Yourself”, a reoccurring theme in our lives, still teaching us as we talk, warming each other’s hearts, like a strong cup of coffee on a cold morning. The time flies by as it always does with a great friend. We snap a mystical image of Sami and Jimi, Irene’s aging sweet pup on her sun-lit back porch and I know it will probably be the last time I see Jimi. A huge heartfelt hug sends me and Sami on our way full to our spiritual brims.
Sami and Jimi
Just east of Cleveland the tree’s rise up, their fingers sticky with cream puff laden skies. The road begins to swell left and right swerving gently peeking out behind every turn. The Winnie slows a bit cautious with the curves, I drink in the beauty all around me. The countryside has morphed from crop growing fields to tree crammed hills. Deep crevices where rain filled streams and rivers flow are dotted with cabins flirting with disaster at rising banks. Like a barber’s razor moving down the hill, stripes of shaven trees make room for giant stick figures standing at attention arms holding taught violin strings stretching for miles across the sky; ready for a bow to bring the song of the valleys to life.
Cell towers appear at the apex of hilltops within reach of piercing the veil of blue like periscopes looking for heaven’s secrets. The sun peaks out behind soft grey edges forcing shadows and bright patches of light across the moss-colored ridges, a photographer’s delight. By the time we pull into the Porchvue Winery, the artist in me is thrilled to catch a series of stunning snapshots of the western skies. We are greeted by a cacophony of bird calls, “Gobble, gobble”, high pitched squalls that sound like “HE…Eelp, Ahhhsoole”. Eileen, the proprietor of the noisy collection of roaming turkeys, peacocks and barking dogs meets me at the entrance of the farm with directions to the resting spot for Winnie.
Heartland, the tv series is playing on the front porch. Eileen pours me a generous glass of one of their pinot reds made from California grapes, and we agree that the spectacular scenery, horses, and no violence made us both followers of the Heartland drama. Like the series, the history of the farm and Porchvue Winery draws me in. Built in 1887, Eileen and her husband Pat bought the 300-acre historic property twenty years ago to raise their blended families together. As children moved on toward their own destinies, the old farmhouse was in need of a makeover.
After time spent in California with a palette developed for the complexity of the California red wines, Pat & Eileen endeavored to bring the California grapes to Pennsylvania, together developing their own versions of red blend favorites, new additions to their local market. With some incredible business acumen and hard work, the old farmhouse was redesigned and repurposed. The resulting Porchvue Winery showcases their wines and PA spirits in a country rustic, classy tasting room, with seating for intimate gatherings under an adjacent tent in addition to live music and trivia nights on the weekends. The draw of a porch visit nestled into the hills, a bright red barn, and a welcoming call from Eileen brings everything together. There’s no redesign needed for the warm inviting feeling you get at the Porchvue Winery in Fairmount City, PA.
