Quarantwine Q & A with Tommy John

Tommy has been with our Penns Woods team since January 4th, 2019. For those of you who have seen Tommy in the Tasting Room, you know how passionate he is about the winery, the Penns Woods staff, and his favorite wine, Novi. Check out our Q&A with him below!

Q: Tommy, what hobbies have you picked up while having more time for yourself during quarantine? 
A: I've always loved the outdoors. More than ever I have enjoyed running, biking and exploring the trails in my area. I have also been watching a lot of LIVE Instagram tastings from various wineries, of course, Penns Woods being on my weekly watch. 

Q: What is your wine of choice these days? And what is your all-time favorite Penns Woods Wine? 
A: My favorite wine from Penns Woods is, and will always be, the Novi. The Novi's juicy fruit forward characteristics are so enjoyable to the palette that I cannot seem to put the bottle down. Although I will always enjoy a glass of Novi, I am currently loving our new vintage of Sauvignon Blanc. I have never been into white wine, but the Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfect with the sunny, spring days we have had during this quarantine. I love sitting outside on my lawn, listening to some tunes, and sipping on the Sauvignon Blanc 2019. 

Q: What is one of your favorite beers from our partnered breweries? 
A: I love all IPAs, but the Unicorn Tarts from Stolen Sun was by far my favorite that I have tried from our partnered breweries. We had it on tap at the Barn Bar this past summer, and I loved raving about it to our customers. We are so lucky to have so many incredible local breweries that we partner with. I look forward to when we have Barn Bar back open for so many reasons, but specifically, I look forward to trying the new beers on tap each week!

Q: What is your favorite way to enjoy wine? With friends, a specific time of year, with food, etc.?
A: After a long week of teaching, there is nothing better than going over to a friends house to pop open a fresh bottle of wine and relax. During this quarantine, I have obviously not had the luxury of being together with friends, but I have participated in many virtual happy hours to make up for it. I also look forward to our Friday virtual Happy Hours with Penns Woods either on WebEx or Instagram/Facebook Live! Being able to be social while social distancing has kept me feeling hopeful during this difficult time. 

Q: What is one positive message you want to share with our beloved customers?
A: Although COVID-19 has confined us to our homes, we are starting to really appreciate the little things such as talking with our neighbors more, or spending time at parks admiring nature. In addition, with us staying inside, we are cleaning up the earth a bit more from pollution going down from us all driving a little bit less. Although this has been a major set back, once this is all over, I know we will all look forward to being social again. I know personally, I will never take for granted the simple things such as shaking someones hand, being in a store without masks, and hugging our loved ones. I look forward to brighter days ahead with my friends, family, staff, and our incredible customers at Penns Woods!!