Presque Isle Wine Cellars

Hours: Year Round

Winery History

Presque Isle Wine Cellars shares with nearby Penn Shore Vineyards the distinction of being the first wineries to obtain Pennsylvania winery licenses following enactment of the Limited Winery (Farm Winery) Act in 1968. We and others began research on the practicality of restarting a wine industry in the state, which had begun in the 1820's , but which had died out because of disease problems and the rise of Prohibition sentiment. A legislative effort was begun in 1968 and because of very fortuitous circumstances a Farm Winery Bill was passed in that same year. The Pennsylvania industry has grown to 173 licensees as of June 2010 with at least 125 of them reporting sales.

We introduced the growing of Vitis vinifera (European) grapes to the Lake Erie Region in the late 1950's and we were key participants in the successful effort to establish the LAKE ERIE American Viticultural Appellation in the early 1980's.