We don’t live in Napa Valley, a fact that might make Philadelphia wine-lovers sad. If only the Pacific was an hour to our west, our backyard overflowing with hills striped with vines. Then again, we do live in Philly, where we have the Jersey Shore an hour to our east, and a backyard with hills striped with vines. Yes, really!

In an effort to show the local population just how much wine making takes place in our area, Jet Wine Bar recently embarked on the Summer of I-76. All season long, the South Street West restaurant will be focusing attention on the wines grown, crafted and distributed close to home.

The quality of local wines has improved immensely in recent years, in part because wine artisans who left to learn the trade have returned to the region and begun to share expertise. Each day through Labor Day, Jet will have three local wines of the same style on tap. You order a glass of any, but we recommend a flight, so that you can taste how different vintners approach each grape, and also consider how even small changes in the soil — across just a few square miles — can affect the taste of the resulting wine.

For example, last week, Jet showcased three Chardonnays — a great, easy, understandable entry point for the local wine scene. From Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, they showed just how interesting and diverse wines from the area can be. The lineup featured Stargazers’ sparkling version, a reserve from Penns Woods, and an Estate Chardonnay by Karamoor.

The Summer of I-76 will also include some special events to get the wines flowing. Stay tuned for dates for a local cheese and wine pairing event, a cheesesteak and local wine pairing event with Joe's Steaks & Soda Shop (formerly Chink’s; we explored this pairing here), and a Jet Wine Bar road trip to several area vineyards.