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10 Things You Didn't Know About Penns Woods' President & Winemaker, Gino Razzi

11/30/2015

Gino Razzi is a larger-than-life figure in the wine industry. His love for great Pennsylvania wine is changing the way wine lovers think about locally crafted wines—and that’s just how he likes it.

Read on and learn more about the father, president and winemaker at Penns Woods Winery!

1. Gino immigrated here from Italy in 1962.
The authentic Italian-style wines produced by Penns Woods come from Gino’s heritage. He was born and raised in Abruzzo in southern Italy and brought that inspiration to the United States when he settled in Delaware County.

2. Gino served our country.
Italy shares a place in Gino’s heart with his home for the last five decades, the United States of America. After settling here, he proudly served four years in the United States Marine Corps.

3. Gino’s first venture was Viva Vino Imports.
In 1970, he embarked on a path that would lead to stellar, imported wines for all. Gino started traveling back and forth to Italy to find just the right wines to bring to the United States via his importing company, Viva Vino. The business was an instant hit.

4. Gino expanded to WinesU.
As a way to honor his growing commitment to bringing great wines to America, Gino and his partners renamed Viva Vino WinesU. The U stands for unlimited in quality, creativity, knowledge, experience, possibilities, opportunities, customer services and access to the best distribution network.

5. Gino’s first wine rocked Wine Spectator.
Two decades ago, he began using his considerable experience and storied heritage to pursue winemaking. Gino’s first commercially released wine, Symposium, received rave reviews from Wine Spectator magazine, which awarded the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 95 points and then later featured it in a retrospective, “Italy’s Golden Vintage—the 1997 Harvest.”

6. Gino studied under a master enologist.
He perfected his craft by learning at the side of old friend Concezio Marulli of Cantina Zaccignini. Symposium was his first effort from this tutelage, and Gino didn’t stop there. It inspired him to begin using Pennsylvania-grown grapes to create Italian-focused wines.

7. Gino bought the old Smithbridge Winery.
Impressed by Smithbridge’s 25-year-old vines and location, he bought the vineyard in 2004. He renamed it Penns Woods in homage to his long-time Keystone State home and began the process of masterfully tending to grapes and crafting fine wines.

8. Gino believes in Pennsylvania wines.
Penns Woods Winery is his way of changing the perception of Pennsylvania wines. Gino’s award-winning vintages are tasty confirmation that proper cultivation, handling and care will produce outstanding Pennsylvania grapes and spectacular wines.

9. Gino is investing in Pennsylvania.
He puts his money where his mouth is: Gino donates $1 from the proceeds of each bottle sold to further wine and grape research in the Commonwealth. This investment underscores his confidence in the growing demand for locally sourced wines.

10. Gino has made Penns Woods Winery a family affair.
In 2010, Gino hired his daughter, Carley Razzi Mack, as marketing manager to oversee the tasting room, marketing and events. His brother, Nino Razzi, is a regional manager with WinesU and lends a hand with Penns Woods’ restaurant sales. You’ll also find friends of the family throughout his organization, giving it a welcoming, we’re-glad-you-came feel. And that’s just how Gino wants it.

Gino can frequently be found at the tasting room, but we can guarantee you one way to meet him: join our wine club. Estate Club members plus three guests enjoy a tour of the vineyard with the winemaker; Grand Cru Club members and five guests delight in a private tour of the vineyard and winery, plus light appetizers, with the winemaker. And that’s just one benefit (and probably the best benefit!) of our wine clubs.

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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What Wines to Bring to the Party for Every Type of Host

11/17/2015

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You’ve been invited to a party and have been tagged to bring the wine—our favorite type of invitation. Admit it: you want to be that guest who revels in handing off that bottle, seeing the look of glee on the host’s face and thinking to yourself, “Nailed it!”

No worries: we’ve got you covered.

The occasion and the setting may vary, but hosts don’t tend to change their stripes. We all know our friends and family (and ourselves), and everyone has her or his own unique style. Never fear: Penns Woods Winery to the rescue. Here’s an easy list to satisfy every type of host.

The Casual Host

Isn’t this our favorite host, really? She’s super-chill and you know you can come as you are because sometimes she only makes a passing effort to tidy up. The Casual Host invites you to kick back, relax, lose the shoes and put your feet up on the coffee table. Bring her our seasonal Mulled Wine with just the right winter spices from November to February. The rest of the year, your go-to is our refreshingly dry White Merlot with strawberry, peach and apricot flavors.

The Neurotic Host

The polar opposite of The Casual Host, this one makes Martha Stewart look like a slacker. He’s hit every detail, from the invitation (printed, not e-mailed), welcome beverage and butlered hors d’oeuvres right down to the tastefully themed tablescape. You’ll be dressing up for The Neurotic Host, so make sure he’s mind-blown with our Proprietor Reserve blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Its deep red color and notes of dark red fruit will surprise and delight.

The Wine Snob

This one “only” drinks California, French or Italian wines, and not always in that order. The Wine Snob thinks she’s had it all, but wait until you swing by with our Cabernet Franc Reserve. Its medium dark red hue has spectacular color intensity; the nose is full of toasted blackberry, dark cherry and herbal spice; and the taste brings red fruits and firm tannins. Touché!

The Wine Rookie

Be gentle with The Wine Rookie, but wow him just the same. He’s a bit nervous giving up his college-favorite gallon o’wine but is willing to experiment. Change his tastes forever and bring two different selections. The first is our Bancroft Moscato Rose NV, a sweet and sassy blend of Merlot and Moscato for smooth, easy-drinking tastes of white peach, strawberry and grapefruit. Then, show off a more dry profile with our Chambourcin and its pomegranate, black pepper and earthy sage flavors.

The Beer Lover

Hey, we like a good brew as much as the next wine lover, but we particularly like schooling our beer snob friends on wines they won’t be able to resist. Keep this quick list handy; these wines offer flavor profiles that are similar to the beers noted below:

Wheat beer: offer our Chardonnay Reserve for its crisp green apple, nutmeg and hints of toasted nut.
Kolsch: bring our Sauvignon Blanc with its green fruit, bright citrus and a touch of minerality.
Stout: select our Bancroft Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s up to the test with big flavors like black cherry and earthy tannins.
Pale ale: choose the mellow and inviting Bancroft Merlot—yes, a red! Many new to drinking wine fall in love with its hints of vanilla alongside silky black cherry flavors.
Pilsner: try the Bancroft Riesling with its full mouthfeel and mild, sweet notes of ripe pear, jasmine and honey.
Gose: pick our trendy Traminette for those into this current “it beer.” It’s a hybrid that’s part Gewürztraminer with its zesty lemon, subtle acidity and clean finish.

You’re now ready to be the hero of any party you attend. Oh and by the way, feel free to keep the source of your intel to yourself now that you’re an expert wine-to-host matchmaker. We won’t tell!

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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10 Things You Didn't Know About Penns Woods' President & Winemaker, Gino Razzi

What Wines to Bring to the Party for Every Type of Host

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