Presque Isle Wine Cellars: Where Pennsylvania Wine Began

There is a town in the northern most part of the northwest corner of Pennsylvania that is named North East (go figure!).  Near this town is where you will find one of the very first wineries licensed in Pennsylvania soon after the Commonwealth’s legislature passed the Limited Winery Act in 1968.  The name of that winery is Presque Isle Wine Cellars.

Presque Isle Wine Cellars was founded by a man named Doug Moorhead, who was the first Chairman of the State Grape Marketing Council, which developed the legislative proposal that became the Pennsylvania Limited Winery Act in 1968.  Doug is often called “The Father of the Pennsylvania Wine Industry”.  It is Doug’s winery that we will feature on Sunday, March 21^st at 3:30 p.m. Eastern during another in our continuing series of PA Wine Society Virtual Wine Tasting events.

Joining us as co-host, and representing Presque Isle Wine Cellars is Bob Green, who is a man of many talents, including Executive Winemaker at Presque Isle Wine Cellars.  Bob worked in the cellar with Presque Isle founder, Doug Moorhead, and trained at Penn State Erie as a benthologist, a biologist specializing in studying swamp life and ecosystems. This rigorous scientific and laboratory training and experience in tandem with Bob’s winemaking artistry are a powerful combination that has led to many memorable and award-winning wines produced throughout his career.  Bob is a thoughtful and innovative winemaker whose career spans over 35 years of professional experience as a consulting winemaker as well as being a longtime instructor in Hospitality for Mercyhurst University and lead instructor for the Penn State – Berks Workforce Development Winemaking Certificate.  Bob will feature three of his “soon-to-be-released” wines during our upcoming tasting, as follows:

 The Wines

 2020 Pinot Blanc

Presque Isle is one of the very few regional producers that make a varietal Pinot Blanc. This hard-to-find member of the Pinot family is truly a unique experience. The grapes for our Pinot Blanc come from the vineyards of John and Cindy Moorhead and their great care in the vineyard helps create the superb expression this wine has. Fresh aromas of ripe melons rush to the forefront followed by a hint of citrus and wild flowers on the palate. Enjoy this wine with light appetizers, buttered langoustines, and any other light seafood.

 2020 Grüner Veltliner

G-V is a remarkably complex dry white wine made from one of Austria’s best known traditional grape varieties that grows wonderfully in Lake Erie vineyards.  It exudes characteristic lime and white pepper aromas along with floral and pear notes. This delightful version has a lovely creamy texture, but also a crisp finish.  G-V is a versatile food-loving wine and goes especially well with vegetable dishes and light meats and complements foods with acidity and spice.  Presque Isle 2019 G-V just won Double Gold at the prestigious 2021 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition so we can only imagine how good the 2020 might be.

 2019 Carmine

Unique to Lake Erie wineries, the little known vinifera variety Carmine is a cross of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carignan and it combines the strengths of each into an interesting and delightful medium bodied dry red.  Hints of earthy leather from Cabernet Sauvignon, smooth black currant from Merlot, and spicy lemongrass, sassafras and mint from the Carignan.  Aged 15 months in American Oak, this deeply colored, cool climate red is easy on the palate with complex flavors. Finishing with notes of dark chocolate, it pairs nicely with grilled beef, pork, or roast poultry, and with Cajun or Creole fare.

Ordering Wines

• The 20% discount price for this 3-pack of wines is $45, plus your state sales tax, plus shipping.
• Please note that Presque Isle Wine Cellars ships to 39 states and the District of Columbia.  
• Order wines online at www.piwine.com using the Promo Code PWS2021.  Use the search box on the home page and search “PWS2021” the PWS  Sneak Peek Package comes right up for you.   OR you may also call to order – phone 814-725-1314 and ask for the PWS2021 Sneak Peek package.

So, order those wines today, and please join us on Sunday, March 21^st at 3:30 p.m. Eastern for another exciting online wine tasting interlude with the PA Wine Society!   Zoom link and information below.

Zoom Information

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Meeting ID: 923 1375 0668

Passcode: 899605

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