Penns Woods Winery, which spans over 40 acres in Chester County, takes sustainability seriously by blending a variety of grape farming methods, writes Leigh Green for PA Eats.
Davide Creato, the vineyard manager, brings a lifetime of experience in the wine industry as he grew up in Abruzzo, Italy. Creato noted that “longevity” is a pillar of sustainable farming, as well as environmental stewardship.
“Sustainability has always been around me. My grandmother back home was very sustainable. Anything she did in agriculture, farming and keeping up with the small animals was about the longevity of what she was doing. She was composting and using the waste of production to regenerate fertility into the soil. She was doing it naturally, using things already on the farm. It was a closed circle,” Creato said.
This closed loop system keeps Penns Woods Winery’s ecosystem thriving, healthy, and native to our regional climate. As Creato goes through each phase of the vineyard cycle, there’s opportunity for sustainability every step of the way.
First, vineyards can practice sustainability in the types of grapes they choose. When grapes naturally thrive in their environment, less pesticides are needed. Hands-on pruning will also lower the need for spraying. Hand harvesting, while time-consuming, also proves to be sustainable for wineries.
Learn more about sustainable grape farming and how Penns Woods Winery in Chadds Ford works to be different from the rest at PA Eats.
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