A Match Made in Heaven: Delco BYOBs and Local Wine Pairings

Don’t you love the sound of a cork popping out of a bottle? There is something so celebratory and convivial about sharing a bottle of wine on a date or with friends. It’s even better when there is delicious food to enjoy with your libations. 

Lucky for us (and you!) there are so many great spots to find fabulous wine in Deco, and four wineries right here in the county: The Inn at Grace Winery, Penns Wood Winery, John Robert Cellars and Vino Bambino. One of the most fun and affordable ways to explore local wine is to buy a few bottles and bring them along to one of the fantastic BYOBs in Delco where you’re welcome to bring beverages to enjoy with your meal. 

Not sure where to start? We’ve pulled together a group of some awesome BYOB restaurants, representing an array of cuisines, and we’ve included wine pairing suggestions from Delco wineries. Work your way through the list during Pennsylvania Wine Month (every October), or anytime, for a top-notch dining experience. Cheers to PA wine!

 

Il Granaio

Bring: Vino Bambino Barbarella I

If homemade pasta is what you crave, you’re hard pressed to find it done better than at Il Granaio, where authentic homemade Italian dishes made with local ingredients are the specialty. Don’t let the upscale interior fool you—there are no dainty or overly fussy presentations here, just expertly developed flavors served up in generous portions. Some highlights include the Gamberetti e Cavatelli, homemade ricotta pasta with shrimp, pancetta and spinach; and the Tortelloni del Casa stuffed with mascarpone and served with braised short rib, mushrooms, pistachio and sage brown butter.

Il Granaio does have a bar, but patrons are welcome to bring their own wine and champagne. We suggest a bold, fruity red that can go toe-to-toe with the rich, saucy pastas and sumptuous meat and seafood entrees. Vino Bambino, an interactive wine blendery in Broomall, also sells bottles of its own carefully blended wines, and its Barbarella I is an ideal choice to bring along. Barbera is a grape grown around the world, with origins in the Northern Italian region of Piedmont. It’s known for its lovely balance of tannins and a lifted acidity that can cut through decadent textures and flavors. Vino Bambino’s is blended with 24% Zinfandel and 3% Petit Verdot, which ramps up the red-and-purple berry characteristics of the Barbera.

Il Granaio: 711 Concord Rd. Glen Mills; (610) 459-8469.

Vino Bambino: 848 Sussex Blvd., Suite C, Broomall; (610) 299-5008. 

 

Flavor of India

Pair with: The Inn at Grace Winery Chardonnay

There are so many flavors on Flavor of India’s menus: the mild, fried crunch of vegetable pakora; the creamy, vegetal, garlic-forward harmony of saag paneer; the intense, spicy hit of tandoori chicken; the sweet tang of tamarind chutney (we could go on). It can be a little tricky to pair a wine with such a wide range of tastes and textures, but generally, you want something crisp and structured enough to cleanse your palate between bites without getting washed out by all of the spices and aromatics.  

Our pick for a perfect pairing is The Inn at Grace Winery’s Chardonnay, a vibrant, subtly rich white made with estate grapes grown right here down the way in Glen Mills, PA. For this release, the skilled winemaker blended 25% Chardonnay fermented and aged in French oak barrels, and 75% fermented and aged in stainless steel. This tones down the “butteriness” that many associate with Chardonnay, while retaining just a touch of oak character and a complex flavor profile that brings tropical fruit aromas and a hint of vanilla on the finish. 

Flavor of India: 500 E. Providence Rd., Aldan; (610) 783-3955.

The Inn at Grace Winery: 50 Sweetwater Rd., Glen Mills; (610) 459-4711.

 

Roz & Rocco’s

Pair with: Penns Wood Winery 2020 Merlot Reserve

Comforting, Nonna-approved Italian-American fare is what you’ll find at this bustling BYOB bistro; we’re talking cheesy garlic bread, seafood risotto, rigatoni alla vodka, chicken parm and so much more. While it may be tempting to bring a bottle of Chianti, keep it local with another fruit-driven, smooth-drinking wine that makes an excellent pairing with all things red sauce, garlic, and herbaceous: Penns Wood Winery Merlot Reserve 2020. 

This was a great vintage for the grape-growing operation at Penns Wood, which is situated on a beautiful plot of land in Chadds Ford. This luscious red opens up with aromas of black cherry, currant, licorice and eucalyptus, grounded with dark fruits, spice and cacao on the palate. Its well-integrated tannins give it the structure to hold up to Italian dishes, with a nice, balanced acidity and a long, savory finish. It’s a versatile wine that you can pair with salads, seafood, pasta and meat! 

Roz & Rocco’s: 2904 West Chester Pike, Broomall; (610) 613-8300.

Penns Wood Winery: 124 Beaver Valley Rd., Chadds Ford; (610) 459-0808.

 

The New American Bistro

Pair with: John Robert Cellar 2019 Pinot Noir

Inspired by the best of French, Italian and American cuisine, The New American Bistro always has something exciting to discover on its menu. From vegetarian flatbreads to veal schnitzel to blackened Maryland crab cakes, there is a real possibility that everyone at the table could be enjoying wildly different flavors from one another. This can pose a challenge for wine pairings: how do you choose a bottle that goes with everything? 

Pinot Noir to the rescue! This famously food-friendly, light-bodied red can effortlessly pair with all kinds of cuisines. The 2019 Pinot Noir from John Robert Cellar, an urban winery in Essington, is made with grapes sourced from Russian River Valley, California. Pinots from this area are prized for their tasting notes of fresh berries, florals like roses and violets and a subtle earthiness. 

The New American Bistro: 227 Morton Ave., Folsom; (484) 497-8111.

John Robert Cellar: 301 Wanamaker Ave., Essington; (484) 494-6576.

 

KAWA Japanese Sushi Bar

Pair with: John Roberts Cellar Sauvignon Blanc

This sushi bar in Springfield has so many tasty things to choose from: savory snacks, like tuna tataki and tempura-fried jalapeno poppers; silky, brothy bowls of ramen; and so many kinds of sushi. There are simple slices of sashimi for the purists, classic handrolls and special signature rolls, topped with all manner of zippy sauces and crunchy garnishes. 

Sushi, and most Asian-fusion cuisines do well paired with bright, citrus-y white wines that are refreshing and clean. One winner is always dry Sauvignon Blanc; try John Roberts Cellar Sauvignon Blanc, made with grapes from Suisun Valley, California, for aromas of fresh-cut grass and lemonade with a blend of tropical and citrus fruits on the palate. It’ll handily cut through fatty fish, spicy wasabi, umami noodles dishes—and pretty much everything else on KAWA’s extensive menu—with ease!

KAWA Japanese Sushi Bar: 821 W. Sproul Rd., Springfield; (484) 471-3300.

 

The Silverspoon

Pair with: The Inn at Grace Winery 2019 Pennsylvania Cuvèe

Do Sunday Funday right with a BYOB brunch at The Silverspoon, a charming farm-to-table cafe with European flair (note: brunch is offered on Saturdays, too). All the classic dishes are done right: eggs benedict with caramelized bacon, thick slices of quiche, blueberry buttermilk pancakes and more. The lunch and dinner options are equally as tantalizing! 

Tote along a bottle of bubbly to make mimosas and amplify the brunch vibes. You can’t go wrong with The Inn at Grace Winery 2019 Pennsylvania Cuvèe, a beautiful sparkling Sauv Blanc that reflects the special terroir of the winery’s land. Pour a glass to find vivid aromas of tropical fruits, with notes of kiwi, guava and grapefruit and a crisp effervescent finish. 

The Silverspoon: 503 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne; (610) 688-7646.

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Want to know more about everything Delco? We’re more than just your source for good eats — we’re your source for where to stay, what to do and more in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We’re Visit Delco, PA, and we’ve got you covered from Philly to the Brandywine. Find us at 1501 N. Providence Rd., Media, PA, 19063; (610) 565-3679 or online.

— Emily Kovach 

 

Featured photo: Pexels