STATE COLLEGE — Pennsylvania has over 400 wineries that together produce more than 2 million gallons of wine each year. Since William Penn planted the first vineyard in 1683 in Philadelphia, winemaking has grown increasingly popular throughout the state. Centre County has five wineries along the Central PA Tasting Trail: Pisano Winery in Millheim, Happy Valley Vineyard and Winery in State College, Mt. Nittany Vineyard and Winery in Centre Hall, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars in Spring Mills and University Wine Company in State College.
On Wednesday, Feb. 28, and Thursday, Feb 29, the Pennsylvania Wine Association and Pennsylvania Wine Marketing and Research Program held the 2024 Pennsylvania wine and grape conference at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Members of the Pennsylvania wine industry, including grape growers, wine producers, educators and researchers, including local Centre County winemakers, gathered at the conference to learn about the future vision for the Pennsylvania wine industry and how that vision could impact local community members.
Scott Neely, the president of the Pennsylvania Wine Association and one of Pennsylvania’s top wine, mead and cider creators, is taking on the challenge of unifying industry members across the state to add notoriety to the different wine regions in Pennsylvania and improve the credibility of the wine.
“There are very good Pennsylvania made wines in our state and there are also excellent growing regions in our state,” Neely said. “As an industry, we all need to come together to produce meaningful marketing for these regions.”
In 2024, the Pennsylvania Wine Association’s primary focus is on the marketing of local wines both in state and across the country and providing support to Pennsylvania winemakers to produce quality wines. While each winery is a competitor for the others, they are also a support system to help the bigger picture of the perception of Pennsylvania wines.
For Centre County residents, the impact of the unification of Pennsylvania wineries extends beyond enjoying a glass of quality wine from a local winery.
“The whole drink-local movement has significant dollar impact,” Neely noted, explaining the multi-billion dollar impact the American wine industry has on communities. “It’s not just about going to support the winery, because from there, the winery then supports quite a few other industries within the state. When it comes to wine, you’re also supporting agriculture and, for a state like Pennsylvania that has such a terrific predisposition based on geography for agriculture, it can help strengthen local wine.”
For winemakers in Centre County, the local geography has the potential to help differentiate the wines made here from those made in other states, Neely explains. And for Centre County residents, drinking wine from local wineries is a way to connect deeper to our area.
“We’re not California, we’re Pennsylvania. Our geography is Pennsylvania. You can find some wines here that are pretty unique, and consumers should look at visiting wineries as a learning experience. It’s a terrific experience to get to go into a tasting room and try a bunch of different wines,” said Neely. “It slows life down, which I think all of us need to do. Slowing life down, having an experience, learning something new, that’s where wine really comes in and the end result is fun interactions, sitting across the table from somebody, sharing wine and talking about whatever matters most to you.”
