Local oenophiles can look forward to a winery, cidery and meadery all rolled into one revolutionary concept early next year as founders and co-owners Steven Funk and Christopher Conti craft small-batch blends under their recently established Patriot Wines namesake.
The pair continue to develop and expand on smooth and sippable profiles for their own line of Revolutionary War-themed potables via locally grown grapes, apples and honey.
Funk has been making his own wine for over 20 years, runs men’s grooming business Cardinham Killigrew and is an avid polo player in southern Chester County. Conti is a dermatologic surgeon, artist, musician and wine maker. “It’s been a great partnership…a real brotherhood,” says Funk. “I think combining creative wine making principles with stories of the past is something truly unique.”
While the libations won’t officially be available until early next year, the pair have developed some demos. There’s the Yorktown Red, a barrel-aged blend using four grapes and aged in French oak then finished in a small profile bourbon cask to add rich smokey vanilla with hints of coffee. Revolution Cuvee’ is a flagship red in a traditional Bordeaux style that features Pennsylvania varietals and is aged in French oak, adding notes of coffee and caramel. Other demos include the Mad Anthony – Bayonet Red, – a medium-body red, aged in North American oak to impart a nutty, vanilla essence, and Samuel – Mead Wine, a dry honey wine made with local honey.
Look for a private tasting experience called Hellfire, plus a public release in 2019.
