Brothers Matt and Mike Dellose have been making wine since they were practically babies. Their grandmother Angelina brought her winemaking recipes straight from Italy and passed them down through the generations. In 2009, Mike and Matt’s parents took their secret family formula and opened A’Dello Vineyard & Winery in Perkiomenville. Now, the Dellose brothers have added a new twist on the old family recipes in the form of The Barrel Wine Bar, recently opened in the heart of downtown Phoenixville on busy Bridge Street.
The Barrel is not your typical wine tasting room. The decor is a blend of rustic and industrial with exposed brick, natural wood accents and a galvanized metal bar with a concrete top. To encourage a bit of whimsy, guests can grab chalk and doodle away on the bartop. Of course, you won’t be drawing out of boredom—there is too much fun to be had between the multiple flat screen TVs, live music on weekend nights and wine cocktail creations that are spot-on interpretations of classic drinks.
All of the wine served at The Barrel comes straight from the winery just a few miles away. The Barrel serves six rotating small-batch wines on tap straight from the barrel, hence the name. You can order wines by the glass, get a bit crazy with the menu of mixed and frozen speciality cocktails and sangrias or sample a flight of five drinks. The cocktails use no alcohol other than wine and incorporate fresh fruits, juices and other ingredients such as herbs.
The cocktail menu changes frequently based on available ingredients. Recent wine cocktails served include mojitos, margaritas (complete with a salt-rimmed glass and lime slice), piña coladas, strawberry daiquiris and blueberry wine slushies. Each cocktail is made fresh to order. The sangrias offered change weekly and utilize fresh fruit in red or white wines.
In keeping with the lighthearted atmosphere, patrons order their flight of drinks by writing selections on small blackboards that are handed to the bartender. Those blackboards are then used to identify each drink in the flight.
To go along with the wine and cocktails, the Dellose brothers have created a seasonally changing menu of light bites that perfectly pair with their wines and other drinks. Start with appetizers like the cheese plate, roasted peppers and mozzarella, spinach and artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped scallops or bruschetta.
If you want something a bit heartier, choose the ham and provolone stuffed pretzel, spinach phyllo, antipasto skewers or mac and cheese. This decadent version combines brie, white applewood-smoked cheddar, parmesan and reggiano cheeses as well as a splash of A’Dello Merlot.
If dessert is more your style, sweet offerings include carrot cake, cannoli and crème brûlée cheesecake. All breads come from local St. Peter’s Bakery.
The Barrel is just getting started on Bridge Street and has big plans for the future. Outdoor lounge seating should be available soon, and look for winemaker’s signature release parties featuring Mike and Matt’s father speaking about the winemaking process.
For the most up-to-date wine and cocktail menu, follow along on Twitter or Facebook.
Find The Barrel Wine Bar at 222 Bridge St. in Phoenixville; phone: (610) 933-3399.
Photo credits: two leading photos: Amy Strauss; remaining photos: Ronna Dewey
