Pinot Noir (2022)

About this wine

This Pinot Noir shows Pennsylvania in a very charming light, with bright red fruit, an easygoing feel, and enough spice to keep it lively. Roasted cherry and raspberry lead the way, followed by a soft note of tea leaf and a touch of straw that gives it an airy, savory edge. The texture is polished and clean, with the kind of smooth finish that makes Pinot Noir so appealing in cooler growing regions. Penns Woods has invested heavily in Pinot Noir over the years, and that focus shows in a wine that feels confident rather than heavy. Southeastern Pennsylvania has quietly become one of the more interesting places for this grape on the East Coast, and this bottle captures that mix of freshness, delicacy, and understated depth.

About the grape

Pinot Noir is an ancient Burgundian grape that has been grown for centuries for its thin skin and sensitivity to site, and Pennsylvania growers like Penns Woods select cool climate sites to showcase its delicate character. At Penns Woods the variety is managed in small blocks across their southeastern Pennsylvania estates, with tight yield control around 2.7 to 3.5 tons per acre and careful canopy work to preserve acidity and ripening balance. In the cellar the fruit for the 2022 bottling is handled gently, typically destemmed with whole berries preserved and aged in a mix of new and neutral oak to respect the grape and the site. The winery also emphasizes sustainable soil care and composting between vineyards, which helps maintain vine health and long term consistency for their Pinot Noir plantings.

Quick facts

• 🍾 The 2022 Pinot Noir was a very small-production release of roughly 328 cases, making it relatively rare outside the tasting room.
• 🌱 It is crafted from 100% estate-grown Pinot Noir fruit sourced largely from the Sandy Hill site, so the bottle is essentially a taste of their own vineyards.
• 🌄 Sandy Hill sits at about 860 feet on sandy, rocky soils with mineral-rich clay and an unusually high population of earthworms, which the winery credits for healthier soils and brighter fruit.
• 🍇 Winemaking for the 2022 vintage used a ‘destemmed but not crushed’ approach and 12 months of aging in a blend of new, second-use and neutral oak, a style choice that preserves Pinot’s delicate textures while adding subtle oak spice.
• 🎓 Penns Woods donates a portion of its sales to regional research — roughly a dollar from select bottle sales supports Penn State viticulture and enology research, so this Pinot helps fund local wine science as you drink it.

Palate profile

Producer

Penns Woods Winery was founded in 2001 by Italian immigrant and USMC veteran Gino Razzi, who transitioned from decades as a wine importer to winemaking in Pennsylvania. After rehabilitating a vineyard in Chadds Ford, he began producing premium, Euro-style wines that highlight the unique flavors of the region. The winery has expanded to over 40 acres across three sites in Southeastern Pennsylvania, cultivating 11 different varietals. Notably, Penns Woods Winery is one of only two wineries in the U.S. situated on a national park, offering access to miles of trails in the First State National Historical Park.