Vintages

Pennsylvania’s wine landscape is defined by the dramatic interplay between the rugged Appalachian ridges and the maritime influence of the Atlantic. From the frost-prone valleys of the north to the humid reaches of the southeast, the state’s vineyards are a battlefield of climatic extremes. Growers must navigate the constant threat of late-spring freezes, rising nighttime dew points, and the high-stakes gamble of harvest where the remnants of a single hurricane can transform a promising harvest into a race against the rain.

When the weather aligns, as in the benchmark seasons of 2017, 2020, and 2024, the Commonwealth delivers world-class results. These dry, sunny autumns produce electric, mineral-driven Rieslings and structured, savory Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from the well-drained shale and granite slopes of the east. In more challenging humid years, success is born from grit: strategic planting on south-facing hillsides between 600–900 feet (180–275m) and meticulous vineyard management. This evolution in viticulture is proving that Pennsylvania is no longer just a regional player, but a source of sophisticated, site-specific wines built for the long haul.

How Wine Folly Rates a Vintage

We gather the facts about a vintage and how those features affect the wines. This way, you can better find the vintages that fit your needs (whether you're a collector or looking to drink now).

Quality

Generally speaking, the more consistent the vintage, the better the quality.

The crop consistency determines the quality of a vintage. In some years, we see average to high consistency.

On other vintages, quality is much more variable. In these variable years, it's best to look for producers who consistently produce high-quality wines because they can roll with difficulties growing grapes.

Weather

Ideally, producers want consistent temperatures year in and out for consistent quality. Of course, this is not very likely to happen as weather changes frequently. During harvest, rain, hail, and heat waves are key events that can create a difficult vintage.

Seasonal events include frost, hail, drought, and even wildfires. These events affect the quality or size of a vintage.

In warmer climates, getting enough rainfall during the growing season is key for healthy grapes and ripening.

In cooler or more moderate climates, getting enough but not too much rain and getting the right amount of sunshine and heat are important for producing ripe grapes.

Volume

Contrary to popular belief, low volumes do not always equal high quality. Producers can have very high-quality years where volumes are also high.

The opposite is also true, where we might have low yields but the quality may also be low due to disease in the vineyard or poor weather conditions.

So why do we care about volume? If there's more, it can lower prices, and the prices might be higher if there is less.