Mazza was recently featured in this article listing the oldest wineries in the state still in operation. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Limited Winery Act, which allowed for the production and sale of wine in Pennsylvania. See the original article here
By Paul Vigna | pvigna@pennlive.com
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Limited Winery Act, which allowed for the production and sale of wine in Pennsylvania.
That law was officially named Act 272, which was introduced in June 1968 and passed after midnight on the final day of that session when the Senate approved the bill by a 36-9 vote. Gov. Raymond P. Shafer made it official with his signature on July 31 of that year and created an industry that today exceeds 300 wineries, according to the Pennsylvania Wine Association (PWA) website.
It’s as suitable time as any to list the oldest wineries in the state still operating, in a format a little bit different from the one five years ago that featured the oldest wines still being made. Here’s a list of the Pa. wineries, in younger to oldest, that have reached at least 35 years of age: The age is what the winery will celebrate this year.
Some of this information was gleaned from “Pennsylvania Wineries,” written by Linda Jones McKee and Richard Carey.
(see original article for full listing)
Age 51: Mazza Vineyards, North East, Erie County
Mazza Vineyards is one of several Lake Erie wineries that have contributed heavily to Pa.’s wine industry. An area that for years was largely used by Welch’s to grow Concord grapes for its juice, the opening of Presque Isle Wine Cellars and Penn Shore Vineyards influenced brothers Bob and Frank Mazza to open a winery in 1972 while they still were both attending nearby Gannon University. At the time, they already were managing their father’s 20-acre grape farm. Today, Robert Mazza Inc. (“Mazza”) is a wine, spirits and craft beer producer with operations in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. Established in 1972 with a single vineyard, Mazza now operates three primary locations in the Lake Erie AVA: Mazza Vineyards in North East, Pa.; South Shore Wine Company in North East, Pa.; and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars in Westfield, N.Y., that serves as home to Five & 20 Spirits & Brewing – making it New York State’s first combination winery, distillery and brewery. Robert Mazza recently was lauded as one of Wine Industry Network’s most inspiring people for 2023.