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Grape expectations: A sampling of local wineries

Grape expectations: A sampling of local wineries

Here is a taste of some, certainly not all, wineries located a leisurely drive from Downtown. And, yes, it's perfectly fine to have, er, grape expectations. Cheers!

Bovine Wines

3693 Route 40, Washington

Owners: Mike and Lynne Young

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Established: 2006. What began as a backyard hobby for Mt. Lebanon teacher Mike Young 20 years ago turned into the real deal when he bought land next to a Longhorn cattle farm in Washington County and indoctrinated wife Lynne into the life of -- if not pressing (as in the iconic "I Love Lucy" episode) -- at least selling the grape.

Specialties: 20 fruit blends from 36 varieties. All Bovine wines feature cow images with witty names to match: Half and half here is not cream, but a blend of Niagara and concord grapes.

Grapes: Purchased from Lake Erie shores

Acres: 50

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Sold last year: 3,000 bottles

Details: bovinewinespa.com; 724-228-9463

Christian W. Klay Winery

412 Fayette Springs Road, Chalk Hill, Fayette County

Owner: Sharon M. Klay

Established: 1997. When Ms. Klay, who worked in New York City, and husband John, a surgeon, relocated here in the 1980s, they searched to find the right location for a home and vineyard. They found a dandy in the Laurel Highlands. The grounds and winery -- named for their son -- are about 50 miles from Downtown. The winery's home is an 1880s barn with Queen Anne cupolas where guests sample wines while enjoying the views from series of Palladian windows.

Specialties: Washington Tavern Red

Grapes: Grown on site on two vineyards with 14,000 vines

Acres: 215

Sold last year: 10,000 gallons

Details: cwklaywinery.com; 724-439-3424; info@cwklaywinery.com.

Deer Creek Winery

3333 Soap Fat Road, Shippenville, Clarion County

Outlets in Clearview Mall on Route 8 in Butler County and Cranberry Mall on Route 322 in Venango County.

Owners: Denis and Rhonda Brooks

Established: 2009. The Brooks started planting raspberries on the five-generation family farm in 2006 "to start their dream," Mr. Brooks said.

Specialties: Raspberry (sweet), raspberry royale (dry)

Grapes: Juice from Lake Erie region, berries harvested on the family farm

Acres: 99

Sold last year: 7,500 gallons

Details: 1-814-354-7393; www.deercreekwine.com.

Greendance

306 Deer Field Road, Mt. Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County

Owner: Susan Lynn

Established: 2007. The winery is on the same farm as the popular Sand Hill Berries, and that farm's fruits -- along with grapes grown in other regions of the state -- are used to make the many whites and reds. The winery is part of a site that has been a farm for nearly 250 years. The barn cornerstone is carved with the numerals 11-1779, and Gen. Edward Braddock camped on the farm July 2-3, 1755, on the way to his defeat at Fort Duquesne. Mrs. Lynn pointed out that when the winery was added to the farmland, great pains -- and lots of red hemlock siding -- were used to keep the authentic rustic look.

Specialties: Raspberry

Grapes: Most grown on site

Acres: 11 of vineyards, 150 of farmland for the berry farm that's owned by four couples, including Susan and husband Richard Lynn

Sold last year: 10,000 gallons

Details: 724- 547-6500; www.greendancewinery.com

Stone Villa Wine Cellars

1085 Clay Pike, Acme, Westmoreland County

Owners: Randy and Debbie Paul

Established: 2000. Mr. Paul grew up around wine; his grandfather was know for his homemade batches. The tradition of their close-knit family continues in the winery's aesthetics: All the masonry was done by Jimmy Paul, the owner's father.

Specialties: Stonegria, a blend of five grapes, and Vistonia, a semidry cabernet blend

Grapes: Most from Lake Erie region, some grown on five acres of vineyards

Acreage: 250

Sold last year: More than 15,000 gallons

Details: 724-423-5604; www.StoneVilla.com; info@StoneVilla.com

The Vineyard by Mellon

640 Freeport Road, Freeport, Armstrong County

Owner: Frank Mellon

Established: 2000. This is a private winery that sells at its store and to restaurants only. Mr. Mellon and girlfriend Del Hauer did all the planting and oversaw construction of the store and a "press house," where wine is made.

Specialties: Cabernet sauvignon and Del's Diamond, white

Grapes: Grown on site

Acres: 30, 13 of them vineyards

Sold last year: 3,200 bottles

Details: 412-377-9204; www.thevineyardbymellon.com

Rustic Acres

234 Crisswell Road, Butler

Owners: Gary and Eirlys Matson

Established: October 2005. "The first in Butler County," Mrs. Matson pointed out. The Matsons live and work on site "educating people about local wines and the merits of locally grown food," she said. The winery's website has recipes and advice for wine and cheese pairings.

Specialties: Ice wine , dandelion ("Think of lemons and limes from Grandma's garden," Mrs. Matson explained), fruit blends and hot pepper wine

Grapes: Grapes and juice from town of Northeast, apples and other fruits grown locally

Acres: Five

Produced last year: 4,500 gallons

Details: 724-283-6236

www.rusticacreswinery.com

Volant Mill Winery

1225 Main St., Volant, Lawrence County

Owners: Bryan Rhodes and Gary Rhodes

Established: 2004. The Lawrence County father and son were experienced businessmen who said they wanted a venture they could enjoy. Gary learned how to grow grapes and make wine; Bryan takes care of the business.

Specialties: Volant red, Cocoa Vino (blackberry)

Grapes: Most grown on site, about 20 percent bought from Lake Erie region

Acres: 25 of vineyard

Sold last year: 96,000 bottles

Details: 724-533-2500; 724-591-5699; Info@volantmillwinery.com

Walnut Hill Winery

638 Turner Drive, Blairsville, Indiana County

Owner: Samantha Crissman

Established: 2005. Tired of her job on the road, Ms. Crissman wondered "what to do" with the second half of her life. On a brother's suggestion -- he is a winemaking buff -- she bought a home with acreage and started a winery.

Specialties: Blairsville blush

Grapes: Buys raw juice, processes on site

Acres: Three

Sold last year: Slightly fewer than 5,000 gallons

Details: 724-459-0132; www.walnuthill.com

C.T. Miller Vineyards

24 Clarke Lane, Avella, Washington County

Owners: Ted and Janet Miller

Established: 2001. Raised in a traditional Italian family, Mrs. Miller has as one of her favorite childhood memories the aroma of homemade wine. Once the couple was successful at growing vines, they refurbished a barn on their 102-acre farm to house a wine cellar and shop.

Specialties: Chambourcin, vidal blanc

Grapes: All grown on site

Acres: Five of vineyards

Sold last year: Unavailable

Details: 724-345-9989; www.ctmillervineyards.com

La Casa Narcisi Winery

4578 Gibsonia Road (Route 910), Richland

Owners: Dennis, Sara, Randy, Tony Narcisi

Established: 2001. The family has been making wine for generations, starting in Giulianova, Italy. Raphael Narcisi in the early 1900s settled in the Pittsburgh area and constructed a large wine cellar. He passed on his expertise.

Specialties: Stella (red), Rosabella (white)

Grapes: 5 percent grown on site, rest from Lake Erie region

Acres: 10, one of which is vineyard

Sold last year: 20,000 gallons

Details: 724-444-4744; www.narcisiwinery.com

Raspberry Acres Winery

250 Clawson Road, Blairsville, Indiana County

Owners: Paul and Sally Cunkleman

Established: 2000. Mrs. Cunkleman's father, George Clawson, has made his own wine for years. When the couple retired -- she was a nurse, he was an electrician -- they decided to open a winery using dad's recipes.

Specialties: Raspberry, chardonnay

Grapes: All from Lake Erie farms

Acres: 137

Sold last year: 1,200 gallons

Details: 724-459-0611

Skocik's Plumrun Winery Inc.

550 National Pike, West Brownsville, Washington County

Owner: Joe Skocik

Established: 2000. Mr. Skocik said he got into winemaking as a hobby in the late 1990s, then "because I don't do anything small," the former insurance salesman said he bought 80 acres and was "off and running."

Specialties: Mead, a wine made from fermented honey

Grapes: Grows 90 percent

Acres: 10

Sold last year: 1,000 gallons

Details: 724-632-3147

More wineries

In addition, the Southwest Passage Wine Trail is a route that includes a map with stops at seven wineries, some mentioned here. Details: www.southwestpassagwinetrail.com.

For a fuller list of Pennsylvania wineries -- 172 of them at this writing; we have some catching up to do with California, which lists 2,133 -- visit www.catchwine.com/wineries/pennsylvania or www.pennsylvaniawine.com.

First Published: August 11, 2011, 4:00 a.m.

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