Our Story
Penns Woods Winery started as a passion project that turned into a multi-generational small family business with the dream to put Pennsylvania on the map as a forward thinking agricultural, fine-wine region.
Penns Woods is the result of Gino Razzi's lifetime of experience in the world of wine. A respected importer and distributor of wine, Gino is an Italian immigrant from Abruzzo, in southern Italy. He settled in the Delaware County area in 1962, where he was fostered by the area's Italian-American community. Gino served four years in the United States Marines then attended college in California. After graduation, he returned to Pennsylvania to rejoin family and friends. With three decades of success as a wine importer, in 1995, Gino turned his experience towards the craft of winemaking. He finished his first commercially released wine in 1997; Symposium, a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, was awarded 95 points by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Gino's pursuit of perfection soon led him to his own backyard. Knowing the time and commitment it took to maintain vineyards and make wines, Gino decided that he wanted to continue his winemaking close to home. In 2001, he founded Penns Woods Winery and began crafting premium Pennsylvania wine utilizing locally sourced grapes. To his surprise, he found that great wines can be made in Pennsylvania!
After years of searching for his own ideal vineyard site, Gino acquired the former Smithbridge Winery, to take advantage of its established vineyards, planted in the late 70s & early 80s. In 2004, after three years of rehabilitating the vineyard site, he was finally able to begin making wine with estate grown grapes! Gino’s passion for local agriculture and winemaking has not stopped in his own vineyard. He has mentored many local vintners and winemakers, helping to teach the newest growing techniques, introduce advanced wine making equipment and sharing resources from his extensive wine background.
Eager to share his wines with the local community, Penns Woods opened a small tasting room in 2006. Several years passed and Gino's passion project continued to grow. Gino's daughter, Carley Razzi, joined him in early 2010 to manage the family's tasting room and marketing aspects of the company. Soon after, Carley hired their first full-time employee, Andrea Creato who joined the Penns Woods Team in late 2010. Together, the two worked to provide the community with unforgettable experiences at their tasting room for new wine drinkers to the pro's alike, hosting interactive wine tastings, unique wine and food pairings and exclusive member-only events! In 2011, Davide Creato began working at Penns Woods aiding in the advancement of the winery’s production and wine quality. By 2012, a second site in Coatesville was planted, our Sandy Hill Vineyard. In 2021, we began planting at a third location.
Gino and Carley are both very active members of the local community and PA wine community alike. Gino served on the Delaware County Conservation District board for four years, while Carley served 5 years on the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail Board, eight years on the Board of the Pennsylvania Winery Association, 4 of which she chaired the Marketing Committee, and presently sits on the Wine Marketing and Research Board of Pennsylvania.
Carley and Andrea have a passion for educating the community about the area's viticulture programs and are heavily involved in local events, as well as making sure Penns Woods Winery gives back to the community that supports it. Each year they host a community clean-up of Beaver Valley Road, collecting over 35 bags of trash just last year!
The history of Penns Woods Winery has only just begun. As our families grow, so does our love and passion for our vineyards and sharing our wines and knowledge with our community!
Penns Woods is the result of Gino Razzi's lifetime of experience in the world of wine. A respected importer and distributor of wine, Gino is an Italian immigrant from Abruzzo, in southern Italy. He settled in the Delaware County area in 1962, where he was fostered by the area's Italian-American community. Gino served four years in the United States Marines then attended college in California. After graduation, he returned to Pennsylvania to rejoin family and friends. With three decades of success as a wine importer, in 1995, Gino turned his experience towards the craft of winemaking. He finished his first commercially released wine in 1997; Symposium, a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, was awarded 95 points by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Gino's pursuit of perfection soon led him to his own backyard. Knowing the time and commitment it took to maintain vineyards and make wines, Gino decided that he wanted to continue his winemaking close to home. In 2001, he founded Penns Woods Winery and began crafting premium Pennsylvania wine utilizing locally sourced grapes. To his surprise, he found that great wines can be made in Pennsylvania!
After years of searching for his own ideal vineyard site, Gino acquired the former Smithbridge Winery, to take advantage of its established vineyards, planted in the late 70s & early 80s. In 2004, after three years of rehabilitating the vineyard site, he was finally able to begin making wine with estate grown grapes! Gino’s passion for local agriculture and winemaking has not stopped in his own vineyard. He has mentored many local vintners and winemakers, helping to teach the newest growing techniques, introduce advanced wine making equipment and sharing resources from his extensive wine background.
Eager to share his wines with the local community, Penns Woods opened a small tasting room in 2006. Several years passed and Gino's passion project continued to grow. Gino's daughter, Carley Razzi, joined him in early 2010 to manage the family's tasting room and marketing aspects of the company. Soon after, Carley hired their first full-time employee, Andrea Creato who joined the Penns Woods Team in late 2010. Together, the two worked to provide the community with unforgettable experiences at their tasting room for new wine drinkers to the pro's alike, hosting interactive wine tastings, unique wine and food pairings and exclusive member-only events! In 2011, Davide Creato began working at Penns Woods aiding in the advancement of the winery’s production and wine quality. By 2012, a second site in Coatesville was planted, our Sandy Hill Vineyard. In 2021, we began planting at a third location.
Gino and Carley are both very active members of the local community and PA wine community alike. Gino served on the Delaware County Conservation District board for four years, while Carley served 5 years on the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail Board, eight years on the Board of the Pennsylvania Winery Association, 4 of which she chaired the Marketing Committee, and presently sits on the Wine Marketing and Research Board of Pennsylvania.
Carley and Andrea have a passion for educating the community about the area's viticulture programs and are heavily involved in local events, as well as making sure Penns Woods Winery gives back to the community that supports it. Each year they host a community clean-up of Beaver Valley Road, collecting over 35 bags of trash just last year!
The history of Penns Woods Winery has only just begun. As our families grow, so does our love and passion for our vineyards and sharing our wines and knowledge with our community!