We
are a small family-run vineyard and winery located in Chester County
in southeastern Pennsylvania. We grow all of our own grapes in our Vineyard
which stands on the banks of Pickering Creek. We then process the grapes
in our Winery located in a old carriage barn on the property. The vineyard
and winery were originally started over 20 years ago under the name
Fox Meadow Farm. Since 1998, the Denny family has continued the operation under the name,
Clover Mill Farm.
The
Farm itself has a long history. The original farmhouse dates back to
the pre-Revolutionary War period of the 1760s. Around 1767, the first
owner built a grist mill along Pickering Creek. In 1785 the mill was
modified to process clover seed, which was planted by area farmers to
replenish the soil. The mill no longer stands, but remnants of the old
mill race may still be seen. In September of 1777, following the Battle
of the Clouds, General Anthony Wayne's troops are said to have camped
on the property as the storm-swollen creek blocked their passage to
rejoin Washington's army.
The
original property remained intact for over 200 years, and on a 1934
map of the area this tract of 157 acres was identified as "Clover
Mill Farm". More recently the farmland has been divided into smaller
parcels under individual ownership, and the original name was no longer
in use. Our acreage with the farmhouse, vineyard and winery now once
again bears the name Clover Mill Farm as a reminder of this history.
William
Denny is the owner-operator of the farm, and is the viticulturist
and vintner. After graduating from Brown University with a major in
chemistry he served in the US Navy overseas. He had always had an interest
in fruit and vegetable gardening, but he traces his first interest in
grape-growing to visits in the vineyards of France and Morocco while
stationed there in the early 1960s. He went on to receive an MBA in
Finance and has been in the financial management business ever since.
Now semi-retired, Bill has returned to those earlier interests in chemistry
and agriculture and has taught himself how to grow grapes and make wine.
Gay Denny passed away in 2008. She was the co-owner
and was in charge of the Wine Cottage tastings and sales. Always interested
in decorating, she made a career of creating bright and cheerful spaces
for family and friends in her home and for customers in the various
gift shops where she worked and managed. She was also an avid gardener
and helped with all the vineyard and winery chores. She is dearly missed by her family.
Daughters
Ellen, Nancy and Linda and their families visit often and help out in the vineyard and
winery whenever they are in the area.
Since 1998, the Denny family has continued the operation under the name,
Clover Mill Farm.
William
Denny is the owner-operator of the farm, and is the viticulturist
and vintner. After graduating from Brown University with a major in
chemistry he served in the US Navy overseas. He had always had an interest
in fruit and vegetable gardening, but he traces his first interest in
grape-growing to visits in the vineyards of France and Morocco while
stationed there in the early 1960s. He went on to receive an MBA in
Finance and has been in the financial management business ever since.
Now semi-retired, Bill has returned to those earlier interests in chemistry
and agriculture and has taught himself how to grow grapes and make wine.
Gay Denny passed away in 2008. She was the co-owner
and was in charge of the Wine Cottage tastings and sales. Always interested
in decorating, she made a career of creating bright and cheerful spaces
for family and friends in her home and for customers in the various
gift shops where she worked and managed. She was also an avid gardener
and helped with all the vineyard and winery chores. She is dearly missed by her family.