Wine Grapes Source in SE Pennsylvania

Jon - There may well be closer places, but a lot of folks that post on this newsgroup speak well of Presque Isle, which I believe is in NE Pennsylvania. Check out their web site at

I haven't bought grapes or juice from them (I'm in Minnesota) but their site lists a pretty good selection of varieties. They are probably near the outside of your 2-3 hour range, but worth checking out.

Happy fermenting --

Doug

I think Presque Isle may be a bit of a haul from the Philly area, it's near Erie (Northeast, PA). I buy most of my supplies there, they are great. they do a lot of FA hybrids and it sounds like that is what you are looking for. You would want to order them and check with them before you leave if you do that, they get a little crazy busy there that time of year.

What about the Finger Lakes area? You are 3 hours from Binghamton NY and that borders the Finger Lakes. You may want to consider that too.

I know there are suppliers of fresh grapes and juice from the central valley of California in Philly, one of them is 'something Italian name Brothers' (Apologies, can't remember, I thing it started with a P or F.)

PA and NY Hybrids are tougher to make well because both the sugar and acid rarely work out to be balanced well when picked, usually one is fighting the other or both are fighting the weather; a compromise has to be made often.

I have an overly tannic 98 Chancellor still in bottle, some day it will be drinkable. I can wait it out, I try one every year and wait again...

You could do a search on local supply houses and ask them too. Regards, Joe

They are listed with an Easton address on

and have a website at

Vigna del Monte 220 Browns Drive Easton, PA 18042 Jack Fulton (610) 258-1046 Email address: snipped-for-privacy@jacksgrapes.com Website:

(August 22, 2003)

Steve

Jon,

I feel your pain. I live in Chester county and have never been able to convince local wineries to sell me any grapes. I have used Central Valley grapes with disappointing results, but what I've found to be far superior is frozen must. I've been very happy with frozen musts - red and white - from Peter Brehm

They are expensive but the quality is outstanding. Keystone Homebrew Supplies in Montgomeryville, PA. carries both types of grapes in the fall. I have also used frozen musts from Presque Isle with excellent results. Presque Isle will ship frozen musts via UPS.

I realize this is not exactly the information you were looking for but I hope it helps. Best of luck, RD

Keystone will also be taking orders for grapes from Oak Grove Vineyards in Lodi this year. Tim

I've purchased my French/American grapes from a vineyard on the east coast of Keuka Lake in NY that grows some excellent quality grapes. Made a Seyval Blanc a few years ago that was outstanding. If it's not too far for you, you might want to check out:

Marcy Mitchell is your contact.

Cheers!

-Paul

Have you tried the food district in South Philly? They sell 6 gallon buckets of grape [wine] juice around September. I believe they also sell grapes as there is a large Italian population there.Try contacting PBS Procaci Brothers Sales 1-800-523-4616 they sell juice.

Procacci Brothers, that was the name I could not remember. That 30 gallon french oak barrel is really a good price, that is worth a 5 hour drive to Philadelphia for me... Thanks Joe

Joe , check before you go as the prices are last years I think. Juice will be there right after LABOR DAY. I called them the other day as they list juice on their web page to find out that was last years pricing. Tom