Twin Branch Winery

At the end of a meandering, mile-long gravel driveway outside Milton, you'll find a peaceful oasis created by Co-op member Shauna Thompson and her family. If not for the large sign bearing the name Twin Branch Winery at the entrance, visitors might wonder if they’ve taken a wrong turn. As guests make their way along the winding drive, passing corn and soybean fields at a leisurely 10 mph, they'll spot a sign that reads, “Stop wining, you're almost there.” Like the decades of work it took to make the winery a reality, the journey is well worth the wait.
 

The serene Sussex County property, now covered with acres of lush grapevines, has a long history of keeping local residents supplied with spirits. The building that now houses the winery’s tasting room was once a small shack with no electricity, owned by Bernice Harmon. She sold beer and liquor to Delawareans back when alcohol sales were prohibited on Sundays and holidays. Thompson says her family farmed the surrounding land for years and eventually jumped at the chance to purchase Harmon's property. As farm equipment grew larger, it became impossible to move machinery across the river that runs through the property. The land sat vacant for roughly 20 years, and during that time, Thompson and her family began envisioning its future.

“My husband and I always enjoyed coming here to experience the peace and quiet and observe nature,” Thompson says. “We'd bring wine and sandwiches and talk about how much other people would enjoy what we were experiencing.”
  

The Thompsons’ appreciation for good wine deepened through several trips to California wine country. As they evaluated their property near Milton, they were encouraged by its north-south orientation, fields situated six feet above the water table and well-drained soil — ideal conditions for growing grapes.
  

The first grapevines were planted in 2013, and it would take another 12 years of hard work before Twin Branch Winery opened in April 2023. The shack that once sold bootleg booze is now home to a welcoming tasting room. The structure underwent extensive renovations, including lowering the basement and raising the floor to create space for a storage cellar.
  

Today, 9,000 vines produce several varieties of wine, including Riesling, Vidal and Cabernet Franc. The winery also purchases grapes and grape juice to supplement its local harvest. Winery Manager Katie Hart says tastings are intentionally unhurried and designed to educate visitors about each wine’s flavor profile and finish.
  

“What’s unique about Twin Branch is that our tastings are very interactive,” Hart says. “Rather than serving all the wines at once and hoping guests like them, we offer a guided tasting experience. There’s a lot of conversation. People often tell us, ‘Oh my gosh, this is beautiful. We had no idea this was here.’ We get positive feedback on our wines, and we really have something for everyone.”
  

Thompson’s children and grandchildren are a central part of her life, and the winery is truly a family affair. Many of the wines are named after family members, including Layla Riesling, named for her granddaughter. Her daughter assists with wine production, and the tasting room bar was crafted from a walnut tree that once stood at the childhood home of Thompson’s mother.

Thompson wants every guest to feel welcome at Twin Branch, and each visitor is treated like family. The winery features a relaxed patio, while picnic tables and benches scattered throughout the property provide cozy places to sip and savor a glass of wine. Live music is offered regularly, and guests can also enjoy local beer and charcuterie. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food, and many choose to pack a picnic to enjoy alongside their favorite Twin Branch wine.
  

The laid-back atmosphere and warm hospitality have created a gathering place where friends, both new and old, can connect over good wine.
 

“It’s just a pleasant experience in the country that you don’t get everywhere else,” Thompson says. “It feels very welcoming. This area is growing so fast, and there are a lot of people who don’t know many others. You’d be surprised how many friendships have started here.”
  

For Thompson, the winery stands as proof that patience and persistence can pay off. The story of Twin Branch Winery may have been decades in the making, but tasting the literal fruits of her labor is all the sweeter because of the long road she traveled to make her dream a reality.

Read more stories from this year's edition of Delaware Living magazine here.