Mar 6, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 3 min read

Courtesy Christian Klay Winery

Christian Klay Winery is one of 326 wineries in Pennsylvania.

Courtesy Thistlethwaite Vineyards

Boutique vineyard Thistlethwaite Vineyards in Jefferson, Greene County, grows French hybrid grapes.

Christian Klay Winery in Chalk Hill, Fayette County, produces an average of 12,000 to 14,000 gallons of wine annually.

Observer-Reporter

Jamie Thistlethwaite, co-owner of Thistlethwaite Vineyards, prunes vines in this 2019 file photo.

Jamie Thistlethwaite, co-owner of Thistlethwaite Vineyards, prunes vines in this 2019 file photo.
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]Move aside, Oregon.

Pennsylvania now ranks fourth for overall grape production across the United States, up from fifth place in 2018.

Grape production in the Keystone State has grown by about 970 tons per year since then.

That’s according to findings recently released from a 2023 study from the state Department of Agriculture.

The study, Economic Impact of the Pennsylvania Grape & Wine Industry, found that the industry supports 10,756 jobs, paying wages of $518.2 million, and directly contributing $1.77 billion to the state economy annually.

Pennsylvania is home to 326 wineries, which generate around $747 million in tourism revenue every year.

Pennsylvania wineries produced upwards of 12.4 million gallons in 2023.

“Pennsylvania’s wine and grape industry is a tremendous asset to our economy and undeniably adds to quality of life in every region of the state,” said state Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding. “The thriving industry brings visitors to our countryside and small towns, provides nutritious juice for our youngest consumers, and wines that pair with locally grown foods on restaurant and family tables.”

Pennsylvania trails California, Washington, and New York in wine production. It ranks ahead of Oregon and Michigan.

“My first reaction is wow, that’s really exciting. But I’m not surprised because Pennsylvania has been growing in the past few years as far as wine production,” said Scott Bradford, manager of Christian Klay Winery in Chalk Hill, Fayette County.

The winery, which grows 47 varieties of grapes, produces an average of 12,000 to 14,000 gallons of wine annually.

The study encompassed data on wine and juice grape vineyards, juice processors, wine wholesale and retail sales, research and education, wineries, and wine tourism. Fresh table grapes are not included in the data.

The study estimates that about 7,659,000 people made over 25.2 million visits to Pennsylvania’s wineries and vineyards. In addition to spending in the wineries and vineyards on wine, food, and events, those people spent an estimated $889.5 million in other parts of the Pennsylvania economy.

Thistlethwaite Vineyards in Jefferson, Greene County, founded in 2000, is among a growing number of vineyards in Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“I do know from the time we started in 2000, we’ve increased in wineries (in Pennsylvania), nearly doubled,” said Jamie Thistlethwaite, co-owner of the boutique vineyard. “I’ve known (Pennsylvania wineries) have come up in the world, and I feel pretty good about it.”

Thistlethwaite Vineyards grows nine varieties of French hybrid grapes on 5 1/2 acres.

As wine producers in California face challenges including climate change and its rising temperatures and prolonged droughts in the state, Pennsylvania is well-positioned to continue to grow its wine production, Thistlethwaite predicts.

“In the southwestern region of the state, we deal with frost and freezing temperatures, but you pretty much can grow grapes across the state,” said Thistlethwaite. “According to climate scientists, this northeast region of the country could be optimum to grow grapes.”