Cadenza Vineyards Winemaker Carl Helrich has an obvious respect for the soil in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, and manages his vines with the climate in mind. To be honest, something about the smell and taste of his wines reminded me of an Old World wine, rather than some of the varieties I’ve tasted around the country.
All this to say: If you ever find yourself looking for a great wine in southeast Pennsylvania, you’d do yourself a favor by tasting whatever Cadenza has available at the time. And if you need more convincing, here’s our preview of their 2023 Resonance, made with 53% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 12% Cabernet Franc, all estate-grown grapes.
The wine is a deep burgundy color, opaque, with a medium body. A fragrance filled the space with a fruity sweetness. Jammy on the nose. With some air, the scent of strawberry and soy sauce appeared.
Because the largest base of this wine is Merlot, it was very low in tannins, despite it having a full body taste. Soy sauce and umami hit the palette, and a hint of black pepper lent to the dryness in the back of the throat. It left a mouthful feeling of bright fruit.
This is basically all of the text from my blog post, but I wanted to share that this definitely a wine you should try: https://unitedstatesofwine.blog/2026/02/04/pennsylvania-red-wine-blend/
by Serendipityunt