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Penns Woods Winery’s Journey to the Highest Quality Grapes

10/28/2015

Gino Razzi has a reverence for grapes. You can see it in his eyes when he talks about them. You can sense it when he handles grapes in the field. And you can most certainly taste it in our award-winning wines.

Gino, our president and winemaker, has spent a lifetime around grapes and wine, and it shows. Hailing from Abruzzo, in southern Italy, he immigrated here in 1962 and soon began importing the wines he loved. After three decades bringing wines into the states, Gino made an amazing discovery: great grapes can be grown in Pennsylvania. So began the journey to produce his own Italian-inspired wines.

“I’m a stickler about the grapes I grow,” Gino explained. “We work hard to take care of our existing vineyard and to carefully cultivate the new. Because of that, more than 80 percent of the grapes that go into Penns Woods’ wines come from our vines. I’m proud that 98 percent of the grapes we use are grown in Pennsylvania.”

Gino was equally choosey when he went searching for the ideal vineyard site. He spent two years in the early 2000s evaluating sites in bucolic Pennsylvania until he came upon the intriguing decades-old vines at what was then Smithbridge Winery. Gino was convinced those grapes could produce world-class wines; that vineyard became Penns Woods Winery in 2004.

“We go to extensive efforts to preserve the old vines; some of the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc are 40 years old,” Gino added. “We prune them carefully and properly. We reduce the yield, producing a limited amount of grapes so it’s not a strain on the vines. And we stay on top of the vineyard for disease control.”

Gino’s gone so far as to hire soil scientists to make sure the earth those precious vines spring from is the perfect balance for the juicy grapes he tends. And that translates to winning wines.

A stroll through the vines shows that Penns Woods Winery has honored the hard work and artistry of its predecessors while adding new varietals like Moscato, Sauvignon Blanc and Traminette, interesting choices for Gino, whose first wine, Symposium, a big-red Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, rated 95 points from Wine Spectator back in 1997.

“I wanted to make some lighter wines, more floral wines, not just bold wines,” he added. “At Penns Woods, we have something for every palate: whites, rosés and reds; off-dry, sweet, dry, fruity. Wine for everyone.”

Gino’s been wildly successful choosing and nurturing Penns Woods’ vines. And he’s got big plans for the future, which he intends to share with local growers and farmers. He’ll be working with Penn State University to research Pennsylvania soil, climate, grape varietals and root stock. He’ll also start to track climate thanks to a collaboration with Cornell University: a weather station at Penns Woods will monitor local growing seasons.

Best of all (for wine lovers, of course!), Gino’s efforts, now and in the future, can only mean one thing: more spectacular wines to drink. Salute!

Penns Woods Winery is a family-run Pennsylvania winery. With more than 40 years of experience in the wine business, winemaker Gino Razzi and his daughter, Carley Mack, produce award-winning wines from Pennsylvania-grown grapes. Penns Woods wines can be found in restaurants throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stop in to your local state store and pick from a limited selection of wines, or visit our tasting room for the full offering. The tasting room in Chadds Ford provides an all-around vineyard experience and hosts live music, food and wine pairings and other exciting events each weekend. Score Penns Woods Winery news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter today!

--Nina Malone

Bottom two photos by Alexandra Whitney Photography.

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Why Women Taste (Wine) Better Than Men

10/19/2015

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Is it genetics? Age? Right brain? Or do women tend to be more adept at tasting wine because they’re just that awesome?

There’s really no consensus on what we and others see in tasting rooms across the land: women more often than not sniff out nuances in the wine first. But no one can agree why.

We went hunting for some of the best theories and picked up the scent of a few tasty ideas. Truth be told, we see more women than men at Penns Woods Winery, and they’re having a great time. There certainly is accounting for taste, and we raise a glass to our wine-lovin’ ladies who know what they like and show it in the tasting room. (Note to men: you’ll find lots of women in our tasting room. Good reason to stop by, yes? Need we say more?)

Get a whiff of these theories and let us know what you think:

Women Have Good Genes
Mother Nature has a hand in how we all taste—bitter and sweet in particular. There’s even a science of how genes influence taste: nutrigenetics (warning: scholarly link alert!). Seems Mother Nature gave women an upper hand in sense of smell, which is closely related to taste.

Younger women may very well have the most heightened sense of smell of all, making them excellent tasters. Yup, this comes from another science-y study that found women of reproductive age were tops. The illustrious faculty honchoing this research surmised moms developed a sensitive nose to protect their kids from contaminants and toxins. Go moms!

Women Are Fast Learners
Let’s get a little closer to the wine industry: two professors at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Napa Valley, Calif., observed that “women pick up wine-tasting faster, learn it faster and have faster sensory recollection.” Christie Default and Robert Bath—having taught thousands in the CIA’s wine and beverage studies program—were quoted as saying, “Women consistently develop a stronger ability to identify characteristics in wine.” Cheers to these savvy future female sommeliers.

Women Have More Taste … buds
We’re heading back to school. Scientists at Yale dubbed people with more taste buds "supertasters." Lo and behold, the study found 35 percent of women, and only 15 percent of men, earned that elite status.

More tidbits from the same study suggest men tend to categorize wine using the left side of their brain. Dudes, bros and their brethren value scores, ratings and all the details surrounding wine. Dudettes, ladies and their sisters are more likely to use the right side of the brain, which is more sensory, creative and artistic. Women are therefore drawn to the taste of a wine.

The Good News
Our friendly staff members in the Penns Woods Winery tasting room welcome wine lovers of all levels. First-timers to seasoned wine aficionados, women and men, those who love wine and those who love other libations but are up for the challenge: everyone will find all the info—and sips—needed from our something-for-everyone wines. We’re tickled when we can trade tasting notes with our guests and are just as delighted to show you the ropes.

Are you a man? Think the scholars, academicians and observers are wrong? Stop by and show us your stuff, sir. Game on.

Penns Woods Winery is a family-run Pennsylvania winery. With more than 40 years of experience in the wine business, winemaker Gino Razzi and his daughter, Carley Mack, produce award-winning wines from Pennsylvania-grown grapes. Penns Woods wines can be found in restaurants throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stop in to your local state store and pick from a limited selection of wines, or visit our tasting room for the full offering. The tasting room in Chadds Ford provides an all-around vineyard experience and hosts live music, food and wine pairings and other exciting events each weekend. Score Penns Woods Winery news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter today!

--Nina Malone

Photography provided by Nina Lea Photography (lead image) and Alexandra Whitney Photography (remaining images).

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So You Have a Wine Headache?

10/13/2015

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You crack open your eyes to start the day, and there it is: a dull throb that extends from temple to temple across your forehead. Too much weekend? Perhaps. Or maybe it’s something else that’s giving you that wine headache.

Let’s tackle the obvious first: did you overindulge? Maybe “one more couldn’t hurt” at night’s end? If you’re guilty as charged, then you know exactly why there’s a pounding in your noggin. But if that’s not the case, discover more about wine headaches—and how to enjoy so they’re not an unwelcome morning wake-up call—below:

Why Wine Headaches Happen, and What to Do

Contrary to popular belief, sulfites probably aren’t the root of the problem. Sulfites occur naturally in many foods, like grapes, oranges, eggs, kale and asparagus … but let’s get back to wine. Winemakers only add a small amount to preserve the wine and to get rid of pesky wild yeasts that can impact the final product. Warding off wayward yeasts and bacterias that come in from the field keeps the wine fresh and better for you to drink.

Consider … We’re not doctors, but we’re pretty sure sulfites didn’t give you that headache. We do have other food for thought, though. Read on!

Histamines could be the culprit, creating a mild allergic reaction. Red wines have the most, so consider what you’re drinking when you get headaches to see if there’s a pattern.

Consider … choosing whites over reds if you don't overindulge and still get headaches. If you suspect a histamine issue, ask your doctor, who may suggest antihistamines, vitamin B6 or an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen, naproxen and others). But don't self-diagnose: ask!

Tyramine could also be responsible. It causes a slight rise in blood pressure that could trigger a headache. How to tell? Those who are tyramine-sensitive also get a headache from aged cheeses, smoked or cured meats and citrus.

Consider … checking with your doctor. Already feel it coming on in the middle of a wine tasting sesh? Drinking one glass of water for every glass of wine to stay hydrated is a smart practice. Alternating wine and water for the best hydration won’t “cure” tyramine sensitivity, but staying hydrated is never a bad idea.

Sparkling that isn't made in the traditional méthode champenoise—a secondary fermentation in the bottle that creates bubbles—may be infused with carbon dioxide or simply produced in large, unforgiving tanks, which can cause big bubbles and big headaches. Carbon dioxide has been known to create faster alcohol absorption, too.

Consider … choosing a sparkling that’s made the old-fashioned way, where tiny bubbles are created as nature intended.

We have to circle back to this: the biggest offender is drinking too much plus the resulting deyhdration.

Consider … drinking responsibly and always having wine with food. If you’re out wine tasting, check in advance about on-site nibbles and pack your own if you must. If you do tip back a few too many, try some of these:

Drink fruit juice before bed so the fructose can help speed the alcohol through your system.
You can also eat crackers and honey for the same reason.
Drink bouillon to replace lost salt and potassium. (Obviously not all of the above at once!)
In the morning, eat as much of a good meal as possible, and consider an NSAID or vitamin B6.

Here’s to responsible tasting—and perhaps a wee bit of troubleshooting—so your day after is as pleasant as your wine-drinking experience.

Penns Woods Winery is a family-run Pennsylvania winery. With more than 40 years of experience in the wine business, winemaker Gino Razzi and his daughter, Carley Mack, produce award-winning wines from Pennsylvania-grown grapes. Penns Woods wines can be found in restaurants throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stop in to your local state store and pick from a limited selection of wines, or visit our tasting room for the full offering. The tasting room in Chadds Ford provides an all-around vineyard experience and hosts live music, food and wine pairings and other exciting events each weekend. Score Penns Woods Winery news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter today!

--Nina Malone

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Carley Mack Celebrates Pennsylvania Wine Month on KYW Newsradio

10/5/2015

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Recently our own marketing director Carley Mack put on her Pennsylvania Wine Association board member hat to tout the benefits of local wines.

After all, October is Pennsylvania Wine Month.

KYW Newsradio listeners heard Carley dish about popular varietals more common to our area as well as wine’s impact on our economy. She told news writer/reporter Hadas Kuznits that Pennsylvania is seventh in the United States for wine production. “We have over 200 wineries in Pennsylvania,” Carley added, “and you’ll always find a winery within an hour-and-a-half of you.”

Listen to the full podcast at this link!

Stop by Penns Woods Winery and taste why wine production has a $2 billion impact on the Commonwealth. Our friendly tasting room staff will show off the grapes you know—and some you’ll love meeting, like Traminette and Chambourcin. Check out upcoming events and get in on the fun!

Penns Woods Winery is a family-run Pennsylvania winery. With more than 40 years of experience in the wine business, winemaker Gino Razzi and his daughter, Carley Mack, produce award-winning wines from Pennsylvania-grown grapes. Penns Woods wines can be found in restaurants throughout Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Stop in to your local state store and pick from a limited selection of wines, or visit our tasting room for the full offering. The tasting room in Chadds Ford provides an all-around vineyard experience and hosts live music, food and wine pairings and other exciting events each weekend. Score Penns Woods winery news in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter today!

--Nina Malone

Photography by Alexandra Whitney Photography.

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Penns Woods Winery’s Journey to the Highest Quality Grapes

Why Women Taste (Wine) Better Than Men

So You Have a Wine Headache?

Carley Mack Celebrates Pennsylvania Wine Month on KYW Newsradio

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