Places to Taste PA Wines? (Pittsburgh, Erie: buying, camp, price)

[Goodjules]

I'd like to know of places in and around Pittsburgh to taste regional wines. I'd also like to know about the wineries in and around Erie. I have friends coming to visit in November and I thought it would be fun to introduce them to the best the region has to offer. At this point I've been buying the CA wines I like at the state stores. What is the quality of regional wines and where are the best places to find them?

[ForYourLungsOnly]

My family used to have a boat and camp on the Yough Lake. There is a place called Christian W Klay Winery that has a nice winery on Fayette Springs Road near Nemacolin Woodlands. We would stop at their little satellite shop on Rt. 40 on our way to the Yough Lake. They have seasonal wines and a few standbys. They aren't bad for the price.

[doo dah]

Lake Erie Wine Country, formerly called the Chautauqua - Lake Erie Wine Trail - Wineries, Dining, Lodging, Activities, and more - Lake Erie Wine Country

Southwest Passage Wine Trail

here is the main site:
Home | Pennsylvania Winery Association

I don't like PA wines, I think they are too sweet. I've had some nice Rieslings from the Finger Lakes, in New York, though, Dr. Frank in particular.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by doo dah

Lake Erie Wine Country, formerly called the Chautauqua - Lake Erie Wine Trail - Wineries, Dining, Lodging, Activities, and more - Lake Erie Wine Country

Southwest Passage Wine Trail

here is the main site:
Home | Pennsylvania Winery Association

I don't like PA wines, I think they are too sweet. I've had some nice Rieslings from the Finger Lakes, in New York, though, Dr. Frank in particular.

I am 99.9% a beer person and can't tell a $40 bottle of wine from a $10 bottle but even I can agree with you regarding the sweetness of PA wines.

[gortonator]

PA isn't really wine country, so I suspect fine wines are few and far between. We spent a weekend cycling around the PA Erie wineries last summer, and actually found some very respectable whites at places like Mazza in North East, where many of the wineries are clustered. There were some reds, but in Monty Python parlance we found most of these to be perfect for 'laying down and avoiding'. It's basically too cool to ripen most red varieties.

I've sampled a few of the more local wines at tastings and not really been impressed, but am always willing to try! I suspect the best varieties will be cool climate whites like Riesling, chardonnay, pinot gris, gruner veltliner (the Mazza one was pretty good indeed). There's also a lot of hybrids, which are occasionally ok but really to my taste (too sweet, rich).

A little farther afield, there's some very stuff in the Finger Lakes and Niagara (across the border mostly). These are well worth weekends, and especially in Fingers lakes there's some great white wines at almost bargain process for the quality.

[Moby Hick]

Pennsylvania wines are some of the best wines made from concord grapes that you'll find.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

I am 99.9% a beer person and can't tell a $40 bottle of wine from a $10 bottle but even I can agree with you regarding the sweetness of PA wines.

There was a PA wine tasting at one of the Shadyside street fairs several years ago, and I remember going to a booth and the guy pouring proceeded to give me a glass of their sweet spiced apple flavored wine (or something), smirking "but all the ladies love the sweet wines! This is even better when it's heated!"

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by doo dah

There was a PA wine tasting at one of the Shadyside street fairs several years ago, and I remember going to a booth and the guy pouring proceeded to give me a glass of their sweet spiced apple flavored wine (or something), smirking "but all the ladies love the sweet wines! This is even better when it's heated!"

I've heard that multiple times too! Any time some local PA winery has a sweet fall flavor themed wine they proclaim it is delicious heated. That just does not sound appealing to me.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by gortonator

PA isn't really wine country, so I suspect fine wines are few and far between. We spent a weekend cycling around the PA Erie wineries last summer, and actually found some very respectable whites at places like Mazza in North East, where many of the wineries are clustered. There were some reds, but in Monty Python parlance we found most of these to be perfect for 'laying down and avoiding'. It's basically too cool to ripen most red varieties.

I've sampled a few of the more local wines at tastings and not really been impressed, but am always willing to try! I suspect the best varieties will be cool climate whites like Riesling, chardonnay, pinot gris, gruner veltliner (the Mazza one was pretty good indeed). There's also a lot of hybrids, which are occasionally ok but really to my taste (too sweet, rich).

A little farther afield, there's some very stuff in the Finger Lakes and Niagara (across the border mostly). These are well worth weekends, and especially in Fingers lakes there's some great white wines at almost bargain process for the quality.

This is what I thought. Mazza sounds like a good bet and a fun weekend outing.

Do you think the wine industry here has potential for growth and improvement? Do you think PA's liquor laws have a negative impact on the local industry?

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

I've heard that multiple times too! Any time some local PA winery has a sweet fall flavor themed wine they proclaim it is delicious heated. That just does not sound appealing to me.

Yeah, where is the throw-up smilie when you need it?