Rosé (2023)

About this wine

This is a dry rosé from Penns Woods made from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, bottled at about 12 percent alcohol. On the nose it shows underripe strawberry, watermelon and a hint of apricot skin, with some floral lift. The palate is fresh and tangy with red berry flavors that lean toward rhubarb and ripe strawberry, and a brisk, mineral-driven acidity. Texture is light to medium, satin like, and the finish is clean with a slightly savory, herbaceous edge noted by some tasters. The wine is stainless steel fermented and released early to preserve primary fruit and acidity, making it a straightforward, food friendly local rosé.

About the grape

Merlot has its roots in Bordeaux and in this Penns Woods rosé it supplies early ripening fruit and plush mid palate weight from vines grown on their Brandywine Valley sites. Cabernet Franc brings a Loire and Bordeaux lineage, adding aromatic lift and savory structure, and Penns Woods often uses fruit from cooler blocks which preserve its peppery, floral character. Pinot Noir is a cool climate grape with Burgundian origin, Penns Woods planted dedicated Pinot blocks at the higher elevation Sandy Hill site to capture bright acid and delicate color for their rosé blends. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are included in small amounts following their long histories from Bordeaux and Cahors, they add tannic backbone and deep color when needed, and are managed in Pennsylvania with careful canopy work and site selection to ensure ripe phenolics without excessive weight.

Quick facts

• 🍇 The 2023 Rosé blends five red grapes Merlot Cabernet Franc Pinot Noir Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec for a layered rosé profile
• 🏞️ Penns Woods makes this rosé on a winery property that adjoins a national park giving visitors vineyard views and direct access to hiking trails
• 🇮🇹 Founder Gino Razzi is an Italian immigrant and former wine importer who used Old World inspiration to craft this Pennsylvania rosé
• 🌿 Independent tasters noted an unusually green and savory side to the 2023 rosé calling out asparagus and ramps aromas that make it memorable
• 🎓 Penns Woods donates part of bottle sales to Penn State viticulture and enology research helping build the region's wine future

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.