Wine has long been regarded as art you can experience, taste and feel. Penns Woods Winery, located in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, is letting visitors and wine enthusiasts across the globe savor an authentic Pennsylvania viticulture experience.
Gino Razzi, an Italian immigrant and USMC veteran, began the vineyard 22 years ago. His home region of Abruzzo, Italy opened his eyes and taste buds to world-class wines. leading him to start his career in the industry as a wine importer. He quickly realized, however, his passion was encouraging and pioneering viticulture in his adopted home of Pennsylvania.
When searching for a winery, he came across a seven-acre, established vineyard in Chadds Ford, PA. Gino knew that this was where he wanted to begin crafting world-class wines. So, he took over the vineyard, bringing the old vines back to life and planting new ones along the way. This special vineyard site is just one of two in the United States within the boundaries of a national park.
Today, Penns Woods Winery grows 40 acres of vines across three different sites in Southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2009, Gino brought on help from his daughter Carley. The two now operate the winery together, although they argue the vineyard does most of the work. All grapes used in Penns Woods Winery wines are 100% grown in Pennsylvania and offer the perfect balance of brix and acidity.
The unique flavors of Pennsylvania soil allow the Razzis to craft European-style wines, from 11 different varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Traminette, Moscato Canelli, Moscato d'Amburgo, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Carmine, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their passion and commitment to putting Pennsylvania on the map has earned them top awards and a global presence, earning high ratings, including 90-94.5 awards from James Suckling.
The family relies on three Kubota M8540 tractors to maneuver around vine rows, trellises and vine canopies. They placed a strong focus on sustainable farming and viticulture from the start, which led to their decision to purchase reliable equipment that they knew could handle the demands of a vineyard.
By day, Penns Woods Winery offers a luxurious winery experience for visitors and tourists, amplified by its proximity to First State National Park. Visitors can visit the winery’s beautiful tasting room, embark on a vineyard tour and even reserve the winery for events and celebrations. In addition, Penn Woods Winery features a rotation of exciting events, including live music, wine education classes, craft workshops, wine pairings (January-March), the Derby at the Vineyard horse show, collaborative classes with park rangers and more.
Penns Woods Winery proudly celebrates Pennsylvania Wine Month in October, alongside fundraising efforts for Breast Cancer, donating $2 of every bottle of Rosé sold to Unite for Her. The winery also supports Hops & Vines for Hunger in PA, donating 10% of its mulled wine sales in November to Feeding Pennsylvania.
While the wine region may be relatively young, the family is finding old fashioned-success in their commitment to the craft of winemaking, sustainable farming and inviting the community into their passion.
