Pennsylvania Farm Show to feature expanded Winery Row
Among the wineries featured will be Naylor Wine Cellars in Hopewell Township.
Dan Potter prunes the vines in the fields of Naylor Wine Cellars on Thursday. Naylor's wines will be among those from 23 other wineries featured on Winery Row next week at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. (Daily Record/Sunday News - Jason Plotkin)
The Pennsylvania Farm Show is not all butter sculptures and 4-H potato grading and honey-extraction demonstrations.
It's wine, too.
For years, the show has showcased some of the state's wineries at Winery Row. But when the 94th farm show opens Saturday in Harrisburg, Winery Row will have expanded to feature 24 wineries. And the show's wine contest has expanded, too.
The farm show is all about Pennsylvania agriculture, and winegrapes and wineries are a key segment of the state's agricultural sector, said Jim Sharp, farm show manager for competitive agricultural events.
The boost
Naylor Wine Cellars has been part of Winery Row for about 10 years, said owner Dick Naylor.
The farm show draws people from across Pennsylvania and surrounding states, which is great exposure for the Hopewell Township winery, Naylor said. And having the booths is good for industry.
Most people, Naylor said, don't think of Pennsylvania when they think of wine. But the industry is growing here, and good wine is being made. The more people get to taste the state's wines, he said, the faster the perception of the state will change.
Naylor will be offering tastings at Winery Row on Wednesday and Thursday.
Wine facts
Pennsylvania has more than 140 wineries, which make a $2.35 billion economic impact on the state's economy.
Pennsylvania is the nation's fifth-largest winegrape producer and ranks seventh in wine output.
Pennsylvania is home to the two highest-elevation vineyards east of the Rockies.
The contest
This is the sixth year the farm show has held a judged wine show, and 46 wineries entered 237 wines, up dramatically from last year.
The judges tasted the wine last month and already marked their scores, Sharp said.
The wines were judged against a standard, Sharp said, meaning every wine had the ability to win a gold medal. In the end, 25 earned a gold medal, 62 won silver and 109 bronze, Sharp said.
The results will be unveiled 2 p.m. Saturday.
Winery Row schedule
The 24 wineries at the show will rotate, with each winery getting two days at the booths.
Saturday and Sunday
Mazza Vineyards
Hunters Valley
Adams County
Sand Castle
Kog Hill
Grovedale
Monday and Tuesday
Chaddsford
Bastress Mountain
Blue Mountain
Eagle Rock
Allegheny Cellars
Starr Hill
Wednesday and Thursday
Shade Mountain Winery
Naylor Wine Cellars
West Hanover Winery
Flickerwood Wine Cellars
Nissley Vineyards
Glades Pike Winery
Friday and Jan. 16
Brookmere Winery
Winery at Wilcox
Benigna's Creek
Long Trout Winery
Christian W. Klay
Mount Hope