Spirits of Independence - Grumblethorpe - Colonial Wine Trade

Join us in exploring early drink in Philadelphia with Spirits of Independence.

Sept. 18, 2026 – Grumblethorpe, Germantown | 6:30 p.m.

Grumblethorpe is the 1744 home and estate built by wine merchant John Wister, who imported wine from Germany, where he was born. He also made fruit wines here in Pennsylvania. Not only was Wister the landlord of Benjamin Franklin, we know that he also sold wine to Franklin. Scholar David Hancock is an expert on the wine trade of the colonies and will give a talk on Wister and his place in the wine trade in colonial America. Tasting of relevant wines.