What's Cooking: Harkins Mill Winery opens in Ambridge; Aunt Bridget's Tea Room for sale

(What's Cooking is a twice-a-month look at the Beaver Valley's dining & drinks scene. This edition is all-Ambridge.)

Harkins Mill Winery has opened in Ambridge, pouring its locally produced wines in a cozy setting.

Customers can mosey into 564 Merchant St., grab a table and chair, or a bar stool, then sip a glass, sample a flight or share a bottle of varieties like Beaver Blush (Catawba), Beaver River Red (Malbec), Brush Creek Red (Barola), Brush Creek White (Niagara), Crows Run Red (Dolcetto), Oaked Grove (Chardonnay) and Wallrose Red (Concord).

From the Backyard Bar (Sangria) to Zinfandel, Tomato to Cherry, or Dew Drop (Sauvignon Blanc) to the Girl’s Night ’Aht,’ (a tri-blend), there's a style to fit every taste.

The Nov. 10 grand opening in Ambridge featured catered food and live music from Beaver County's "American Idol" finalist Morgan Gruber. Already acclimated to its neighborhood, which includes Tom Hanks' favorite Beaver County sweet spot, Stangl's Bakery, and Slurp-N-Burst Boba Tea, which helped its new neighbors with special grand opening events, Harkins Mill Winery fills a void in Beaver County for a sit-down place where friends and dates can enjoy local wines.

"The Ambridge Regional Chamber of Commerce is so proud to welcome Harkins Mill Winery to Ambridge," Valerie Pedigo, board president, said. "The owners, Deana and Keith, have been actively participating and adding value to the chamber membership and community for a long time and we are so happy they've found a home here on Merchant Street."

Harkins Mill owners Deana Rape and husband Keith Ditmore painstakingly turned a vacant storefront into a warm and eclectic gathering spot. Barn wood floors, tabletops appointed with chess or checkerboards, and seating for 71 (chairs salvaged from the former Max & Erma's in Cranberry Township) help set the vibe.

Food trucks will partner on noshes to pair with Harkins Mill wines, though there are a few regular grab-and-go's like elk jerky.

The couple began making wines about 18 years ago; first as a hobby, then ultimately a business launched in 2019 from their New Sewickley Township house.

The winery kept afloat in the pandemic by selling bottles at several Butler County farmers markets, the night market at Pittsburgh’s Market Square, and the Northgate Bilo grocery store in Harmony, plus at special events hosted by the New Brighton Library, the Wampum Chapter of the North Country Trail and Off the Rails Farm in Hanover Township.

Participating in an Ambridge Chamber wine walk, Harkins Mill's owners forged a relationship with chamber officials, who recruited them to open a storefront in Ambridge. Even as the laborious renovation and government permitting processes dragged on, Rape and Ditmore hustled, selling Harkins Mill wines at events like the Beaver County Boom on The Bridge, and at the regular Thursday night marts and Horse Trading Days on the main street of Zelienople.

Now they can stay warm inside and sell their wines.

"We are looking forward to being a vital part of the community," Rape said. "Everyone in Ambridge that we have met has been so welcoming. We are excited to finally have a place to call home."

The winery's hours are 4-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 1-9 p.m. Saturdays and 1-6 p.m. Sundays.

Ambridge tea room up for sale

Aunt Bridget's Tea Room owner Holly Mathias announced she's retiring at the end of the year.

She doesn't want the Ambridge tea room to close, though, so she's hoping to find a buyer.

"So, if there is anyone who is interested in keeping the business going, please contact me," Mathias said on Facebook, encouraging any potential new proprietor to direct message her or send an email to auntbridgetstearoom@gmail.com.

Named for the woman who raised Mathias' Irish-American grandmother, Aunt Bridget's sits at 1400 Duss Ave., catering to customers seeking a cup of tea with a scone, English muffin or sandwich, and maybe a peaceful place to read a book.

The tea room also has hosted Sunday afternoon Irish music and sea chanty jam sessions for local or traveling musicians.

Ambridge hard cider

Ambridge now has a hard cider business, too.

A Few Bad Apples collaboratively produces and sells its ciders on-site at Altered Genius Brewing Co., as well as being poured at places like Trace Brewing and Apteka restaurant, both in Bloomfield

Stroll into the Altered Genius craft brewery at 411 Merchant St., and choose A Few Bad Apples cider like the Quincidence, foraged from quince and western Pennsylvania apples, the Blue Moon Mac, made from Mcintosh apples picked underneath the final blue moon of summer, or the Victorian Earl Grey flavored by steeping fruit juice with Earl Grey teabags and adding homegrown lavender and rosemary.

Made from regionally picked apples, A Few Bad Apples' cider varieties like 5 County 5 Week Scrumpy, Honey Locust Saison, All Wild Raspberry and Westmoreland Winesap were on tap recently at Altered Genius. The 3-year-old brewery showcased its partnering business a month ago with a special cider festival.

Scott Tady is food/drinks and entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Whats Cooking; Harkins Mill Winery opens in Ambridge; Aunt Bridget's up for sale