Tag Pennsylvania wineries

2015 Pa Farm Show Wine Results

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

Congratulations and Thank You to all the wineries that participated in this years competition.  The entire palate of Pennsylvania wines that paint the portrait of this state’s evolving wine heritage were on display.

Double Gold: Best of Show Grape:  Penns Woods Winery 2009 Cabernet Reserve .           Double Gold: Best of Show Sweet/Dessert:  Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery 2011 Vidal Blanc Ice Wine                                                                                                                                       Gold: Best of Show Fruit:  Starr Hill Vineyard & Winery 2013 Guilty Pleasure

Other local wineries that received medals in recognition for producing high quality wine were:

Fero Vineyards & Winery                                                                                                                        Double Gold:  2013 Grüner Veltliner                                                                                                Gold:  2013 Pinot Gris                                                                                                                             Silver: 2013 Pinot Noir  and    2012 Riesling                                                                                      Bronze:  2012 Semi-Dry Riesling,  NV Spiced Apple,  NV Chocolate

Glades Pike Winery                                                                                                                                  Gold:  2012 Petit Verdot                                                                                                                      Silver:  2013 Spiced Apple                                                                                                                     Bronze:  2014 Black & Blue,  2013 Noiret

Narcisi Winery                                                                                                                                    Silver:  2013 Riesling                                                                                                                         Bronze:  2013 Rosabella,  2013 Noiret

The Vineyard at Hershey                                                                                                                  Bronze:  2013 Blackberry Portrait,  2013 Sweet Riesling,  2013 Pink Catawba,  2012 Merlot,  2013 Oaked Chardonnay

Christian W. Klay Winery                                                                                                                  Silver:  2013 Lavander Mist

For the complete list of medal winners at the largest indoor farm show in the U.S. just click the link.  www.pennsylvaniawine.com/node/2372

Saperavi: The Next Big Thing?

wpawinepirate 4 Comments
Saperavi Grapes Photo Courtesy Wikipedia

Saperavi Grapes Photo Courtesy Wikipedia

     The Red Wines of the East Coast have never gotten the love that their White Wine counterparts have received over the years and in most cases for good reason.  But that may change if an old Eastern European grape can live up to its promise of becoming the foundation on which the future of eastern Red Wine is built.  The wine grape that I am talking about is Saperavi.  This grape variety originated in the Georgian Republic of Russia and features a dark skin with

Chuck & Daneen Zaleski Owners Fero Vineyards & Winery

Chuck & Daneen Zaleski Owners Fero Vineyards & Winery

pink flesh.  It is a teinturier variety of grape, meaning unlike most grapes that have uncolored flesh and produce clear juice a teinturier has red-tinted flesh that makes a vibrant richly colored wine. Saperavi vines are grown throughout the area connecting Asia and Europe know as the Caucasus and in various regions of the former Soviet Republic. Sapervai has long been viewed as an ideal ingredient for cheaper blended wines but in recent decades it has been proven to be capable of producing a varietal of high quality.  The best Georgian-produced Saperavi comes from the Kakheti Region that is near its eastern border with Azerbaijan.  These Georgian-made wines are available in the U.S. but you will have to do some searching to find them. The fact that this grape is late-ripening and thrives in a cooler climate while producing generous yields without sacrificing much in quality is the reason that vintners in the Finger Lakes and Central Pennsylvania are exploring its potential within their vineyards.  I have mentioned in earlier posts the pioneering work done by the Standing Stone Vineyards and Winery with Saperavi but I have recently learned of a producing vineyard in Lewisburg, Pa.  Chuck and Daneen Zaleski owners of Fero Vineyards and Winery have produced a varietal from Saperavi grapes grown in their Central Pennsylvania vineyard and made exclusively in their Lewisburg winery.  Chuck Zaleski at Fero and Marti Macinski at Standing Stone are on the cutting edge of this exciting reinvention of an Old World stalwart.  I am excited to have the chance to follow the evolution of the Saperavi wine grape in the Eastern United States from the persceptive of the wine makers themselves. For more information about these two fine wineries visit their websites at: www.standingstonewines.com  and  www.ferovineyards.com

Tom & Marti Macinski Owners Standing Stone Winery Photo Courtsey:Examiner.com

Tom & Marti Macinski Owners Standing Stone Winery Photo Courtsey:Examiner.com

It’s Wine Time at the Colony

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

wine time     It’s Wine Time at the Colony wine festival returns to 365 Saxonburg Blvd Saxonburg, Pa on June 21st and September 6th, 2014.  The event has expanded and will feature 13 Pennsylvania wineries spanning three of the states most popular wine-producing regions.  Food purveyors will provide you with a taste of Pennsylvania cuisine using fresh and wholesome ingredients to prepare creations not found on a typical festival menu.  A wide range of artisans will be on hand to display their creative wares.  The tasting admission is $20 gets you wine-tasting and a souvenir wine glass while the non-tasting admission is $10 and is good for admission only.  Check their website for ticket specials.  winetimeatthecolony.com

Greenhouse Winery

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

     My wife and I made our first visit to the Greenhouse Winery a few days ago.  As the name would suggest the tasting room and winery are located next to the impressive Hazuza greenhouse that is filled to overflowing with an amazing selection of flowers and vegetables.  I talked with Gregg Hazuza, owner and winemaker of Greenhouse Winery, about the progress of his planned expansion. Gregg explained the project has been stalled due to problems getting all the permits approved by several different agencies.  He said his contractor is ready to start construction as soon as all the permits are approved.  He is planning to add ten jobs when the project is complete and is really happy about the prospect of having more space for the very popular weekly concerts that are now being restricted by the limited parking available at the current site.  All the grapes used for winemaking at the Greenhouse Winery are sourced from Pennsylvania vineyards.  When asked Gregg confirmed what winemaker Paul Vezzetti of The Vineyard at Hershey had told me earlier this spring about the need to have an established relationship with a grower to ensure access to wine grapes this year.  Gregg said he has a good relationship with his supplier and that should guarantee that he will be able to get the grapes he needs for his winemaking operation.  His producer also told him that the shortage of grapes will likely extend for two or three years because there was damage to the vines.  Gregg will eventually complete his expansion and the grape crop will eventually recover to normal levels because in the wine business patience is a virtue and all good things come to those who are patient enough to wait. Greenhouse Winery 10828 Guffy-Rillton Rd Rillton, PA   724-446-9750  greenhousewinery.com

Briar Valley Vineyard & Winery

wpawinepirate Leave a comment

 

Briar Valley Vineyard Photo Courtesy: Briar Valley Vineyard & Winery

Briar Valley Vineyard Photo Courtesy: Briar Valley Vineyard & Winery

     I was very happy to hear from Tod & Jean Manspeaker, owners of Briar Valley Vineyard & Winery in historic Bedford, Pennsylvania.  I am grateful they took the time away from pruning the vines, work that was delayed due to the persistent winter weather, to let me know Briar Valley Winery will be releasing their 2013 Riesling within the next few weeks.  Riesling from this producer has won some very impressive awards in the recent past and I expect this latest release to be one that will bring home more medals for the winery.  Everyone at Briar Valley Winery are very proud of their involvement in community affairs but their efforts don’t stop there, they have joined with other local businesses to do fundraisers notably “Dinner in the Vineyard” which benefits Downtown Bedford Inc.  “First Friday Unwind at the Winery” is a monthly event that brings live musical entertainment to the Briar Valley tasting room in downtown Bedford.  The tasting room is housed in a restored building that was a café and soda shop in its former life.  The hardwood floors and ornate tin tile ceiling that remain from the early days only add to the charm of the tasting room experience.  This is a winery that has produced numerous award-winning wines and continues to do so with amazing consistency.  You may not be familiar with this excellent Pennsylvania winery but now that you know about it you shouldn’t miss the chance to try any of the wines produced by Jean and Tod at Briar Valley Winery.  For more information click, call or visit at http://www.briarvalleywinery.com    814-623-0900   107 E. Pitt St Bedford, Pa

Greenhouse Winery Expansion Planned

wpawinepirate Leave a comment
Best of Show-Hybrid 2014 PA Farm Show Photo Courtesy:GWLLC

Best of Show-Hybrid 2014 PA Farm Show Photo Courtesy:GWLLC

Greenhouse Winery L.L.C. of Rillton, Pennsylvania has announced plans for a $1 million expansion project.  At the heart of the plan is the construction of a 72’x76′ building that will house a tasting room along with retail space for their wines.  The structure will also house a 30’x72′ banquet facility for hosting weddings and other gatherings.  The winemaking operations will occupy the remaining 3200 sq.ft. and will allow production to rise to 14,000 gallons this year from the current level of 11,000 gallons in 2013.  Greenhouse Winery uses 15 varieties of grapes sourced from a vineyard in North East, Pa to make the 35 wines they sell.  The plan calls for construction to start in April 2014 and be completed by August of the same year.  www.greenhousewinery.com 

The Pennsylvania Winery Association

wpawinepirate 1 Comment
Photo Courtesy: Pennsylvania Winery Association

Photo Courtesy: Pennsylvania Winery Association

      The Pennsylvania Winery Association has a very useful and informative website and you can get access to it by going to http://www.pennsylvaniawine.com..  Starting on the homepage you can explore many interesting features including an extensive list of winery events for the upcoming year plus trip planning info coupled with downloadable winery maps available under the Trip Planner tab.  Pennsylvania is divided into seven wine growing regions with my favorite designation being the “Groundhog Region”.  Let France have Bordeaux and Italy have Tuscany, give me that Groundhog A.V.A..  Pennsylvania is home to eleven wine trails and P.W.A. reports that there are one hundred twenty-three wineries in the Commonwealth.  While you are visiting the site take the opportunity to add your e-mail address to their e-mail list or consider following them on Twitter.  The Pennsylvania Winery Association has done an excellent job with their website and it will certainly offer anyone researching it with an insight into the state’s wineries that isn’t available anywhere else.  http://www.pennsylvaniawine.com