Board Selections - Reservations closed - Call to be on a Wait List
2025-10-10 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Reservations are closed for this event. If you’d like to be on a wait list, please contact the Treasurer.
On Friday evening, October 10, 7 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg we will have Board Selections. This is a different type of event for the PWS. Instead of the usual formal event format with presentations, we are hosting an informal, highly personal event.
Six PWS Board members will pour wines they’ve selected. There will be a wide variety of wines from all over the world; something for everyone. You will have the unique opportunity to personally interact with each board member. Board members will be at separate pouring tables to tell you about each wine along with information on its origin and the winery that produced it.
You may feel free to ask questions about the wine, its appellation and the region it comes from. No doubt, you will gain further insight by discussing each wine with the PWS Board member.
Keep in mind that this type of event will be the only one of its kind for years! It will be a really fun and educational experience.
A bread, cheese and fruit nibbles station will be provided, as well.
The Wine List
White
Domaine des Aubuisières Vouvray Cuvée de Silex 2023
100% Chenin Blanc from some of the best soils in Vouvray; two flint-stone parcels of 55-year-old vines in Touraine, Loire Valley, France. The wine shows a marvelous balance of explosive fruit and titillating sensation. The juice is done entirely in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. The finished wine is aromatic and fresh on the nose, gentle on the palate, with a tense finish. It boasts flavors of creamed honey, baked apple, lifted white blossoms and exotic fruit cut by vibrant, mouthwatering acidity and a lick of flint. Expressive and exceptionally well balanced on the palate with lots of lemon and a trace of anise. Decanter 91 Points.
Thistledown Gorgeous Grenache Blanc 2024, South Australia
Palate – An explosion of flavor meets suave, seductive personality! Bright, tangy citrus laced fruit with hints of honeysuckle and lemon balm. Taut, yet textured and complex, this is a beautifully crafted white that breaks the mold.
Clos Dalian Garnacha Blanca 2023, Spain
Clos Dalian Garnacha Blanca is a bright white wine with a golden hue. Aroma of ripe white fruit and minerals. Creamy, fleshy, fresh, and very seductive in the mouth. Its mid-palate is quite long and silky. Wilfred Wong 89 Points
Peju Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Legacy Collection 2023
This wine has vibrant aromas of grapefruit and tropical citrus that leap from the glass. The tropical notes linger, while hints of green apple and pear emerge. White peach and passion fruit weave together on the palate to create a soft yet refreshingly crisp finish. The layers of this wine create so much intrigue on the palate; they invite you back for another sip and yet another. — Winemaker’s notes
Ruhlmann Riesling Vielles Vignes (Old Vines), Alsace, France 2021
This wine is yellow, slightly golden with a beautiful shine. It has a strong attack of black currant and lemongrass with nice freshness. It’s very floral with a dominance of fruity Riesling. At the end, there’s a note of vine flowers. It has a beautiful persistence of a powerful fruitiness, due to the heavy soil where the vines are grown. This highlights the characters of lychees and mandarins. Ruhlmann is a historical producer of fine Alsatian wines. This wine is 100% Reisling from old vines that are over 30 years old.
Forge Cellars Freese Vineyard Dry Riesling Finger Lakes 2021
Focused and tight, with a mix of yuzu, yellow apple, fennel and almond notes that race along through the lengthy finish. Drink now through 2028. Wine Spectator 90 Points

Rosé
Lasseter Family Vineyards, Enjoue 2024 Rose
Grenache 42%, Clones: Alban, 224, 136; Mourvèdre 36%, Clone 369; Syrah 12%, Clones: 470, 877, Counoise 10%, Clone: Tablas Creek.
Enjoué Rosé is a “true” Rosé of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, inspired by our travels through Provence in the South of France. Fruit is ripened specifically to produce a highly aromatic, flavorful, crisp Rosé, rather than through the saignée method using grapes that have been ripened for red wine production and “bled” to produce rosé as a by-product of red wine production.
This dry rosé, whose name means “playful” in French, is scented with strawberry and ruby grapefruit, and offers a delicate palate of stone fruit, with a bright refreshing finish. – Winemaker Notes

Red
Tenuta Degli Dei Le Redini Toscana 2021, Tuscany, Italy
The nose opens with lots of fresh blackberry, cassis, dark cherries, earth and plum, leading into Madagascar vanilla pod, minerality and wild herbs. The palate is rich with a noticeable suppleness, yet plenty of poise and energy, too. – Winemaker’s notes
Le Redini is a gorgeous, beguiling wine. It is a blend that is unique to the estate in Tuscany, 90% Merlot and 10% Alicante. This is a wine of aromatic presence and nuance. It presents a compelling mélange of ripe red cherry fruit, wild herbs, mint, rose petal and cinnamon. – Vinous
Tenuta Degli Dei is a gorgeous estate surrounded by horse paddocks in Panzano, Tuscany. The 2021 is a blend from a site with loose soils rich in schistic galestro. What stands out most is the soft and soothing texture of the wine that wraps thickly over the palate. There are no rough edges here. The finish is driven by dark cherry, spice and baking chocolate. – Wine Advocate Vinous 93 Points, Wine Advocate 93 Points, James Suckling 93 Points

Lasseter Family Vineyards, Chemin de Fer 2021
Justi Creek Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
67% Grenache, 26% Mourvèdre, 7% Syrah
Named for the French phrase “railroad,” Chemin de Fer is a nod to the Lasseter family’s love of trains and their travels through Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the South of France. This Rhône-inspired blend comes from the original Justi Creek estate in Glen Ellen, a historic site that once hosted some of California’s earliest French winemakers in the 1890s.
In the glass, it shows a deep garnet hue and an aromatic burst of ripe raspberry and warm spice. The palate is generous yet refined, offering layers of black and red berries, a subtle touch of cocoa, and supple tannins that glide into a long, lingering finish. This wine has a lengthy streak of 90+ point scores from professional wine critics. Quite a testament to the precision of the winemaking and character of the vineyard.
The fruit benefits from warm days tempered by cool ocean breezes funneled through the narrowest stretch of Sonoma Valley, creating dramatic temperature swings that allow for slow, even ripening. Rocky alluvial soils add structure and depth, while goblet-trained vines contribute to the wine’s Old-World charm.
Elegant, expressive, and deeply tied to its terroir, Chemin de Fer captures the romance of Rhône wines with a distinctly Sonoma voice. Jeb Dunnuck 93 points

Cannonau Di Sardegna 2020 Riserva, Sardinia, Italy
The nose begins bright and light, with aromas of cranberry and hibiscus, then turns darker and richer with plums, tobacco and a swirl of chocolate and vanilla. Figs and a potent florality underscore the plum note on the palate, before the chocolate current swells into a tidal wave on the finish. James Suckling 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast 91 Points

Bodega Garzon Uruguay Reserva Tannat 2022
Elegant and powerful, Garzon’s Tannat Reserva features juicy berry, plum, and red cherry aromas with a hint of spice on the nose. The full-bodied palate is complimented by ripe tannins, balanced acidity, and a lingering freshness. – Wine.com
James Suckling 92 Points, Wine Spectator 91 Points, 90 Wine Enthusiast 90 Points, Decanter 90 Points

You definitely will not want to miss this event! Register early so you do not get shut out!

Please send any food allergies to the Treasurer. Reservation deadline is Tuesday, October 7th. You may make reservations via the Shoppe Page on this website.
Members—$90
Patrons—$85
Nonmembers—$110

Board of Directors Meeting
2025-10-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-10 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-12-08 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-01-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-02-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-03-09 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-05-11 18:30 - 20:30 UTC and 14 more dates | Wherever YOU Connect with Zoom
Board meetings are virtual via Zoom. Active, dues paid current Members may attend as guests. Please contact an Officer if you are interested in attending a meeting.

DEADLINE to Register for Finger Lakes
2025-11-04 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States

Finger Lakes
2025-11-07 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Registration for this event is closed. If you wish to be on a wait list, please contact the Treasurer.
The Finger Lakes region of New York State is home to more than 130 wineries and is the second largest wine producing region in the country. Historically the region was known for wine from native Vitis labrusca grapes like Concord, Pink Catawba and Vidal Blanc. And Hazlitt 1852 Winery on Seneca Lake sells 2.5 million bottles of its flagship Red Cat wine every year. (Cat is wine maker shorthand for Catawba).
Historically it was commonly thought that grapes native to Europe, i.e., Vitis vinifera, could not survive the harsh central New York winters. All of this changed in the 1950’s and ’60’s when a Ukrainian immigrant, Konstantin Frank, partnered with Gold Seal Winery and planted vinifera grapes like Riesling and Chardonnay which ultimately survived the winters. Dr. Frank reasoned that winter in the Crimea where he was from was much harsher than the Finger Lakes.
Join the PA Wine Society Friday November 7th at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg to enjoy ten wines from eight different Finger Lakes producers, beginning with Dr. Frank Cellars whose wines don’t need much introduction. The aforementioned Konstantin Frank started the vinifera revolution in the Finger Lakes in 1958. The winery is still a family run business, now with the 4th generation leading. We will taste two wines from Dr. Frank: the Celebre NV, a medium sweet methode champenoise Riesling Crément-style sparkling wine with apple honey and spicy aromas on an acidic backbone. We will also be tasting the 2024 Rkatsiteli; a white wine made from a Georgian grape whose lineage can be traced to 3000 BC. The Rkatsiteli is a strikingly aromatic wine with a vibrant medley of tropical and herbal notes.
The next winery is Lakewood Vineyards on the southwestern shore of Seneca Lake. Lakewood started growing grapes in 1955 on land that was a derelict peach and apple orchard. Originally, they sold their grapes to larger winemakers such as Tatlor and Gold Seal. However, in the 1980’s changes in the market forced Lakewood to start making their own wine if they were to survive. Lakewood now farms 100 acres and grows everything from Riesling and Cabernet Franc to Catawba and Vignoles. We will be tasting the 2023 Chardonnay, described as rich and honeyed stone fruit character with caramel, mushroom and toasty vanillin notes. The flavor is on the quiet side, but the mouthfeel makes for food-friendly sipping. Wine Enthusiast awarded this wine 89 points.
Next, we will taste wines from Heart and Hands Wine Company. Heart and Hands was founded in 2007 by Tom and Susan Higgans focusing on producing high quality terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Riesling from their estate on the eastern shore of Lake Cayuga. In the early 2000’s Tom left the tech industry to pursue his passion for making wine, Tom followed this passion to Burgundy and California learning traditional winemaking techniques from masters in the field. Upon returning to the Finger Lakes, the Higgans set their sights on finding the perfect limestone-laden land to cultivate world class Pinot Noir. The winery’s vineyards are underpinned by rare limestone bedrock similar to Burgundy’s, and host nine Pinot Noir clones— Riesling as well as lesser-known cool climate varietals like Aligoté, Lagrein, and Pinot Auxerrois. The first wine is the 2021 Esoterra which is a blend of Aligoté and Pinot Auxerrois. The wine is characterized by bright acidity and stone fruit overtones.
The next wine from Heart and Hands is the 2022 Pinot Noir. This Pinot leaves you wanting more, with a tempting nose of roses, raspberries, and subtle hints of forest floor. A firm palate of tart cherries and black currents has a nice balance of refreshment. The finish is graceful with soft tannins lingering on the palate.
Forge Cellars was founded by Louis Barruol from the Rhone Valley’s Chateau de St.-Cosme, the flagship Domaine in Gigondas. The project debuted with the 2011 vintage. Forge specialized in bone dry Riesling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc from the Southeastern shore of Seneca Lake. Forge has 16 different vineyard sites or “Lieux-dits” along an 18-mile stretch allowing an exploration of the unrivaled diversity of soil types.
We will taste the 2023 Forge Riesling Classique. According to Forge the Classique bottlings are their most important wines. Each of the 16 vineyards contribute to the blend aiming to reveal the true nature of each vintage and to explore the terroir of east Seneca Lake. The 2023 Classique is a dry medium bodied wine with notes of orchard fruit, peach and apricot balanced by a taut zesty spine of ginger and quinine with a mineral driven finish. The wine is notable for its precision and balance making it a sophisticated expression of the New York terroir.
A new winery to the region, Apollo’s Praise, was founded in 2023 by wine making couple Kelby James Russell and Julian Rose Hoyle. Apollo’s Praise is a winery committed to expressing the world class and artistic nature of Finger Lakes Wines. Based primarily on fruit from their Lahoma vineyard site on the southeast shore of Seneca Lake, the portfolio stretches from powerful dry Rieslings to Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner, Cabernet Franc and surprises yet to come. The Lahoma vineyard is a 55-acre site composed of four rolling hills. Uniquely, the soil is sandstone which is uncommon in the Finger Lakes. “Walking through the vineyard you see large red rocks or quartz coming up from the ground …” Kelby explains. “The sandstone does a phenomenal job of draining away excess moisture … Rieslings on sandstone have real opulence.” We will taste the 2024 Riesling “Kabinett”: a celebration of one of the most delicious, thoughtful and misunderstood expressions of Rieslings that exists—Kabinett! This explosive and flavorful style of Riesling features ripping acidity to underline its precociousness, can age for decades, and is typically lower in alcohol. This wine aims to stop people in their tracks with simply how delicious it is.
Sheldrake Point was founded in 1997 by a group of wine enthusiasts who purchased a former dairy farm and orchard on the western shore of Lake Cayuga. The winery started with 5 acres of Vitis vinifera varietals and has since grown to 57 acres. The vineyard is wedged between two deep gorges gently sloping to the east almost to the shore of the lake, with depths of over 400 feet, the waters create a temperature moderating mesoclimate for the grapes. The lake effect hinders early bud break in the Spring, inhibits daily swings in temperature and can delay the effects of autumn frost. Sheldrake Point Rosé made from 100% Cabernet Franc is a cornerstone of the wine portfolio comprising one third of production (2,500-3,000) cases. To make their rosé Sheldrake Point uses the skin contact method. After harvest, the grapes were destemmed and crushed. The resulting must mixture is allowed to soak 12-18 hours. The must is pressed, and the skins are discarded. The 2024 Sheldrake Point Rosé opens with a bouquet of strawberries and cream, raspberry, tart cherry, grapefruit and delicate floral notes. On the palate it presents with a refreshing burst of tartness followed by sweet Jolly Rancher candy-like notes, all balanced by a dry finish.
Ryan William Vineyard was established in 2004 and is located on the southeast shore of Seneca Lake using a 100 % estate grown model. Several varieties of Vitis vinifera grapes are grown including Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and others. We will taste the 2021 Ryan William Cabernet Franc. James Suckling writes: “A translucent nose of cranberries and pomegranates turns to a juicy palate structured by acidity and medium grained tannins, a hint of rose petals and lavender hovering above notes of cherries and rooibos. Nice balance between fruit and more savory notes.”
The last wine of the evening is a Bordeaux blend from Ravines Wine Cellars. Ravines is the project of Lisa and Morten Hallgren. The Hallgren’s realized the serious potential for fine, cool climate wine making in the Finger Lakes. This was in 2000 and as timing would have it an opportunity to buy a 17-acre parcel of land on the eastern shore of Keuka Lake between two deep ravines. These particular ravines became the winery’s namesake. Ravines first vintage was in 2002 and was exclusively dry vinifera wines. The 2021 Maximilien is gorgeously textured with red fruits, spice and fine-grained tannins. The blend consists of od 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot. Softened tannins are created by extended barrel and cellar aging while increasing complexity.
For pairing with these great wines, the Hilton Chefs plan three small plates fashioned after local Finger Lakes cuisine.

Steamed Middleneck Clams w/White Garlic Butter Sauce
Cornell Chicken Thighs with Syracuse Salt Potatoes
‘Beef on Weck’ Toast, Horseradish, Boursin, Caraway

Please send any food allergies to the Treasurer.
This promises to be a great fall event. We hope you will join us. Reservation deadline is Tuesday, November 4th. You may purchase reservations on the Shoppe Page of this website.
Members—$100
Patrons—$95
Nonmembers—$120

DEADLINE to Register for Sparkling Celebration
2025-12-02 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
You may purchase seats on the Shoppe Page of this website.

Sparkling Celebration
2025-12-05 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Nothing says “Celebrate!” quite like sparkling wines. For wine enthusiasts looking to expand their palate, the world of sparkling wine extends far beyond Champagne and the options are equally interesting and complex. These sparkling alternatives often highlight local grape varieties, offering unique taste profiles and a sense of place or terroir.
The differences in grape types and production methods lead to varying flavors, textures and price points among sparkling wines. With options from Spain, Italy, Germany, and other French winemaking regions outside of Champagne, there’s a sparkling wine to suit every occasion and preference. You can also find great value for the dollar with these sparklers.
This event is popular—informal and social; yet educational. And, it’s guilt-free fun because you could actually be working out some holiday party ideas and gifts for friends, finding new and unique sparkling wines for a holiday gathering or planning to stock up on some excellent wines for drop-in guests—we have it covered! The tasting team is busy working through selections from all over the globe to pair with each of our hors d’oeuvres, and dessert. That’s right—each sparkler will be accompanied by an hors d’oeuvre bite prepared by Hilton Chefs and chosen to complement the wine. Here’s the tempting lineup:

Baked Brie with Fruit Coulis
Roasted Broccoli, Aleppo Ricotta, Golden Raisin Crostini
Garlic & Herb Boursin Stuffed Mushrooms
Crab Salad Cocktail Slider
Eggplant Meatballs, Sundried Tomato Pesto, Mint
Lobster Deviled Egg
Malibu Coconut Shrimp
Mini Chocolate Mousse Cup

Please email any food allergies to the PWS Treasurer. We will consult with the Hilton Chefs to do all we can to accommodate your needs.
Let PWS prove to you once again that learning can be fun! Join us on December 5th at 7:00 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg for our Sparkling Celebration. You’ll find this event exceptional even if your sole motive is to expand your experience of highly-rated dry sparkling wines.
The reservation deadline is Tuesday, December 2nd—not far after Thanksgiving so don’t wait too long to register and miss the deadline.
Members—$100
Patrons—$95
Nonmembers—$120

NO Events in January - Join us February 20 for Merlot!
2026-01-01 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)

Deadline to Register for Merlot
2026-02-17 00:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)

Merlot: The Velvet Charmer of the Wine World
2026-02-20 19:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Hilton Harrisburg, 1 North Second Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17101, United States
Among the pantheon of red wines, Merlot occupies a rare, sweet spot—elegant yet unpretentious, plush yet structured. Long adored for its velvety texture and approachable fruit, this grape has journeyed from the right bank of Bordeaux to every corner of the wine world, continually reinventing itself in glass and reputation.
A Grape with Gentle Power
Merlot’s origin story begins in Bordeaux, where it plays a starring role in some of the world’s most coveted blends. On the right bank—especially in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol—it finds its truest voice. Here, the grape’s soft tannins and supple mouthfeel form the backbone of wines that age gracefully while offering lush appeal in their youth. Think of Château Pétrus, the icon that proves Merlot can command both prestige and price.
The grape itself ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, giving it an advantage in cooler years. Its name, derived from merle (French for “blackbird”), is a nod to the dark hue of both the grape and the bird that loves to feast on it.
The New World Renaissance
If Bordeaux gave Merlot its pedigree, California and later, Chile and Washington, gave it personality. In the 1980s and ’90s, Merlot became synonymous with easy-drinking, fruit-forward reds, catapulting it to commercial fame. But that popularity came at a cost: overproduction led to inconsistency, and its reputation took a cinematic hit with Sideways’ infamous jab (“I am not drinking any [expletive] Merlot!”).
Today, Merlot is enjoying a quiet renaissance. Winemakers are rediscovering its nuance—crafting wines that balance ripe fruit with freshness, power with poise. Regions like Napa Valley, Walla Walla, and Chile’s Colchagua Valley are producing Merlots that rival their Bordeaux counterparts in depth and complexity.
What to Expect in the Glass
Merlot is a chameleon, shaped by terroir and technique. Cooler climates produce wines with notes of plum, black cherry, and graphite, framed by lively acidity. Warmer sites yield riper expressions—lush with blackberry, mocha, and chocolate. Oak aging adds layers of spice and texture, enhancing the grape’s naturally velvety allure.
In structure, Merlot tends to be medium- to full-bodied, with soft, rounded tannins that make it instantly appealing. It’s the red wine equivalent of cashmere: comforting, luxurious, and effortlessly stylish.
Perfect Pairings
Merlot’s versatility at the table is another of its charms. Its plush fruit complements roasted meats, duck, and mushroom risotto, while its gentle tannins harmonize beautifully with tomato-based dishes. Try pairing a right-bank Bordeaux with lamb or a Napa Merlot with grilled vegetables and herbed steak. Few wines bridge the gap between casual and refined dining as seamlessly.
Save the date—Friday, February 20th for this great event! Additional details, including pricing to be posted soon. Please check back mid-December.
