I was given a wonderful opportunity to spend the weekend exploring the Masion-Dixon Wine trail. This trail reaches across southern PA and into our own backyard here in Maryland. The Masion-Dixon Wine trail is a perfect day trip or a short drive for a weekend getaway.
For this relaxing getaway we stayed at a wonderful Victorian Bed & Breakfast called the Jackson House Bed and Breakfast; with terraced gardens and a welcoming atmosphere just 45 minutes from Baltimore; just over the Pennsylvania Line. Jackson House Bed and Breakfast was selected for Best Hospitality in the annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards, 2007- 2008.
The Jackson House Hotel was built in 1859 along the Northern Central Railroad. It was the first in the area with hot and cold running water and steam heat. The Jackson House features five guest rooms and each room has a private bath. The Jackson House Bed & Breakfast is centrally located right on the Heritage Rail Trail that starts in Ashland, Maryland and continues north into southern York County where it joins the railway and continues another 22 miles to York, PA.
The Innkeepers Bob Wilhelm and Pam Nicholson are very welcoming and create a very friendly and relaxing atmosphere. They are full of a wealth of information and suggestions that will meet any type of guest’s needs- from what to do and where to go to eat. We also learned that they run a food stand at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Jackson House features a large stone dining room where a hot gourmet breakfast is served to guests each morning. The first morning there, we were served wonderful pear strata, backed oatmeal, warm biscuits and a fresh fruit platter. The second morning we enjoyed scrambled eggs, country potatoes, baked sausage roll and a fresh fruit platter. Each morning during breakfast, we were able to mingle with the other guests and learn what every one doing for the day. Everyone agreed that breakfast each morning was hearty and very delightful.Guest always have available to them through out the day hot and cold drinks and wonderfully delicious chocolate chip cookies!
Jackson House Bed & Breakfast
6 E Main St
Railroad, PA 17355
(717) 227-2022
Our first stop on the wine trail was Allegro Vineyards owned by Carl Helrich and his wife Kris Miller. The vineyard currently grows six varieties of grapes on five acres. We took a quick tour of the winery building and got an up close look at the crusher, press, oak barrels, and stainless steel tanks where grapes are transformed into wines. We also had had the wonderful opportunity to see the historical library of twenty years of Allegro's premium vintages, primarily of Cabernet and Chardonnay. After tasting some wine we left with a few bottles of our favorites: 2006 Bridge (a reserve Bordeaux-style wine made from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. Aged 22 months in French oak barrels and bottled unfiltered and unrefined- $27) and 2008 Riesling (German-style bright summer white, fresh and light- $15)
Allegro Vineyards
3475 Sechrist Road, Brogue, PA 17309
(717) 927-9148
Open Wed-Fri 1-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5
A great event is coming this weekend called UnCork York- wine just off the vine. This would be a great time to explore these wineries. You can visit the 10 participating wineries for an exclusive tank and barrel tastings of Nouveau and newly-pressed wines fresh from the harvest. Tickets are $10 and included a collectible UnCork York wine glass and 10% discount at participation wineries.
Check back later for part 2 of A weekend on the Mason Dixon Wine Trail- food and drink.
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