RESEARCH REPORTS drick, 1908). However, the modern Farms in the northwestern part of Characterizing wine industry in Pennsylvania was es- the state were considerably larger (just Wine Grape tablished in 1968, when the Pennsyl- over an average of 30 acres (12 ha) vania grape industry sponsored legisla- than those in the southeast or other Production and tion which permitted the establish- parts of the state, which averaged ≈10 ment of small farm wineries (Pennsyl- acres (4.1 ha). The greatest majority of Producers in vania Liquor Code, 1968). While this respondents from the southeast and industry has developed and grown since other region of Pennsylvania used the Pennsylvania: that time, surprisingly little is known grapes grown for their own wineries. about its composition, including in- Remaining grapes which were pro- Results of a formation on acreages planted, culti- duced in those regions were sold to Recent Survey vars produced, prices received, regions other Pennsylvania wineries. This was of production, and grower demograph- in contrast to the wine grape produc- ics. In response to this dearth of infor- ers in northwestern Pennsylvania, who Barbara L. Goulart and mation, a survey instrument and mail- sold ≈50% of their grapes to other ing list was developed. The survey was states’ wineries. Given the close prox- Kathleen Demchak fielded to 113 growers in the spring of imity of this part of the industry to 1995. Ohio and New York, this was not The objectives of the survey were surprising. However, the grapes which ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Vitis to characterize the industry, distribute go out of the state represent an unused vinifera, Vitis labrusca, French– this information to the industry for its resource for Pennsylvania wineries, American hybrid grapes, small use, and to use the information to particularly in light of the fact that the business, wineries, grape management better address the educational and re- limited winery act of Pennsylvania re- search needs of the wine grape indus- quires that all of the fruit in the wines SUMMARY. While the Pennsylvania wine try in Pennsylvania. The information be grown in Pennsylvania (Pennsylva- industry was established early in the presented in the remainder of this pa- nia Liquor Code, 1968). history of the European settlement in CLIMATIC PARAMETERS. the state, the current industry was per is the result of 38 completed sur- Predictably, spawned relatively recently by virtue of veys, representing a 34% response rate, growers in the southeast had the largest the Pennsylvania Winery Act in 1968. which is fairly typical for this type of number of frost-free days, as well as a The industry is widely distributed, survey (Dillman, 1978). wider perceived variation in soil pH with wineries and wine grape produc- LOCATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF (Table 1). The low number of frost-free tion throughout the state, however the GRAPE GROWING SITES. The largest por- days cited by one grower (13) may not primary center of production is in tion of the wine grape producing re- be a mistake, since many low lying areas southeastern Pennsylvania, where spondents were located in the south- on the lake can have very unpredictable climatic conditions allow for the eastern portion of the state, however a frosts. Twenty-nine percent of the south- production of some of the hardier cluster of respondents were also located eastern and 22% of the other region European wine grapes. A second, much smaller cluster of production is along in northwestern Pennsylvania, where producers collected weather data, with Lake Erie, within the zone of more juice grape growers often plant some Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of temperate weather induced by the lake. wine grapes to supplement their income respondents to wine grape survey in A third region is scattered throughout (Fig. 1). There were a surprisingly large Pennsylvania. one respondent. the harsher environments of the rest of number of wine grape growers scattered Diagonally hatched area = southeast the state. These regions are character- throughout the rest of the state, which region; vertically hatched area = ized not only by climatic differences, will be referred to as the “other” region northwest region; unfilled area = but by differences in producer demo- throughout this paper. other region. graphics, clientele, pest complexes, cultivar preferences and obstacles to production. The industry is built primarily on French-American hybrid Erie production, however European grapes Susquehanna Tioga Bradford Warren McKean Potter are being produced, are in demand, Way Crawford and as such, are commanding relatively Lackawanna high prices. Wyoming Forest Cameron Sullivan Elk Lycoming Venango Mercer Clinton Luzerne Montour Clarion Jefferson he wine industry in Penn- Colombia Monroe Lawrence Clearfield sylvania is centuries old, Centre Union North- Carbon umberland with wine being produced Butler Armstrong Snyder Northamp Schuylkill T Indiana Mifflin Beaver Lehigh from grapes as early as the 1600s (He- Juniata Berks Cambria Perry Dauphin Allegheny Blair Department of Horticulture, Pennsylvania State Uni- Huntingdon Lebanon versity, University Park, PA 16801. Westmoreland Montgomery Cumberland Washington The cost of publishing this paper was defrayed in part Lancaster Bedford by the payment of page charges. Under postal regula- Chester Somerset Fulton Franklin York tions, this paper therefore must be hereby marked Greene Fayette Adams advertisement solely to indicate this fact. Delaware P 70 ● January–March 1999 9(1) Table 1. Climatic and terrain parameters, as reported by wine grape growers in Pennsylvania, by region.z Climatic parameter Northwest Southeast Other Minimum temperature °F (°C) –10 to –20 15 to –20 –15 to –26 (–23 to –29) (–9 to –29) (–26 to –32) Maximum temperature °F (°C) 100 (38) 90 to 105 80 to 105 (32 to 41) (27 to 41) Number of frost-free days 13–180 150–240 120–160 Soil pH 5–6.5 5.5–7.4 5.5–6.8 Terrain Mostly flat, slightly rolling Flat-steep hillsides Mostly rolling to steep hills Percent of respondents collecting weather datay 02929 zNorthwest, southeast, and other regions delineated in Fig. 1. yMost collect temperature data only. none of the northwestern respondents 50% between the ages of 30 and 40 post-high school education varied collecting such data. Time and cost years. This trend was the opposite in the widely among regions. Those in the constraints were the primary reasons for southeastern part of the state, with 60% northwest received the majority of their not collecting weather data. of the growers 50 years or older. degrees in agriculture or business. EDUCATION. Winegrape growers Those in the southeast and other area Grower characterization were a well-educated group with all received the vast majority of their edu- AGE. Only one respondent was completing at least high school. Those cation in nonagriculture areas, includ- under 30 years of age. Growers in the in the southeast received the most ing business, math, chemistry, physics, northwest were the youngest group with years of formal education. Areas of the arts or social sciences. Table 2. Grape acreage in production and planted in Pennsylvania, 1995, by region.z Acres in production Additional acres plantedy Cultivar Northwest Southeast Other Northwest Southeast Other Vinifera, red Cabernet Franc 0.0 4.1 2.5 0.0 4.5 2.8 Cabernet Sauvignon 0.0 10.4 2.0 0.0 3.8 2.0 Merlot 0.0 2.0 0.0 --- --- --- Pinot Noir 0.0 3.2 2.0 0.0 2.0 1.0 Vinifera, white Chardonnay 0.0 14.4 4.3 0.0 10.8 4.0 Gewurztraminer 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 Pinot Gris 0.0 4.3 0.0 0.0 8.3 0.0 Riesling 0.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.1 Sauvignon blanc 0.0 0.2 0.0 --- --- --- French-American hybrid, red Chambourcin 2.0 19.0 6.3 3.0 4.3 7.6 Chancellor 0.8 4.0 0.8 0.0 2.0 0.1 Chelois 0.0 0.2 1.3 --- --- --- De Chaunac 0.0 3.5 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 Foch 1.0 4.3 2.3 0.0 0.1 2.1 Villard 0.0 2.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 French-American hybrid, white Aurore 0.0 0.0 0.3 --- --- --- Cayuga 0.0 3.0 0.3 0.0 2.0 0.1 Chardonnel 0.0 1.6 0.5 0.0 0.3 1.1 Rayon D’or 0.0 1.2 0.0 --- --- --- Seyval blanc 5.0 14.5 9.5 0.0 0.8 1.1 Vidal blanc 10.8 25.0 3.9 0.0 2.5 0.0 Vignoles 0.0 13.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 American Catawba 40.5 0.6 0.0 0.0 2.1 0.0 Concord 163.0 1.3 0.8 0.0 0.1 0.0 Delaware 0.0 0.4 1.0 --- --- --- Niagara 0.0 0.0 0.1 --- --- --- Norton/Cynthiana 0.0 0.0 0.1 --- --- --- zSoutheast, northwest, and other regions delineated in Fig. 1. y1 acre = 0.4047 ha. ● January–March 1999 9(1) 71 RESEARCH REPORTS COMPUTER USE AND LITERACY. which may make them feel less in need French-American hybrid cultivars. Half of the growers in the northwest of additional training. It should be noted that 1993 was owned computers, while in the south- a year in which higher than average east and other region, 4 out of 5 Grape types, cultivars, yields were realized, while 1994 was growers owned computers. IBM-com- yields, and prices the season which followed the coldest patibles outnumbered Macintosh com- received winter of the century, and the lower puters by nearly a 3 to 1 margin consis- French-American hybrids (Vitis yields in that year were a reflection of tently across the state.