Sand Castle Winery

The original property was purchased in 1974; an additional purchase in 1987 gave Sand Castle a 72 acre estate. The first vines were planted in 1985, and the first vintage sold to the public in 1988.

Until 1990, all of the vines were pruned and bu ried in the winter, then uncovered by hand each spring to ensure survival during the cold Pennsylvania winters. Varieties of grapes included Chardonnay, Johannisberg Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. All vines were selected from the Mosel Valley of Germany and the Burgundy and Bordeaux regions in France. All vinification is done on the estate in Sand Castles 7,000 square foot wine cellar, blasted 30 feet deep into the hillside, to ensure a consistently cool, undisturbed environment. Winemasters are flown in from the Old Country, and combine the great potential of Pennsylvania with the tradition of Europe.