Washington Winery expanding to Mon Valley

February 28, 2017

Michael Bradwell
Observer Reporter

The marriage of wine and art has been a long and happy one, from gallery openings and artists’ shows to the advent of “paint and sip” parties that have gained wide popularity over the past several years. 

It’s the latter category that’s driving the decision of the owners of Washington Winery to open a satellite location at Off The Wall Gallery on McKean Avenue in Charleroi.

Angela Burgess, who co-owns Washington Winery and A&M Wine & Beer Supplies with her husband John, said last week that the satellite store, the first one for the winery, will hold a grand opening today.

“It’s an expansion of our winery to the Mon Valley,” Burgess said.

The store will be open each Monday from 6 to 10 p.m., and will open for scheduled events at the gallery, which sponsors paint and sip parties and numerous fundraisers. The Charleroi store will be staffed by a winery employee.

Burgess said the winery has hosted several of Off The Wall’s paint and sip parties at the Washington store and that the Burgesses have attended other gallery events over the past couple of years.

The satellite store comes as the Burgesses are also working with John and Michele DeFede, co-owners of the Upper Crust restaurant, on starting a microbrewery to be known as Washington Brewing Co. in the former Studebaker garage on East Maiden Street.

It’s targeted to be open this summer.