Penns Woods Winery founder Gino Razzi discovered he had a knack for winemaking and talked his daughter, Carley, into turning his hobby into a proper business, writes Leigh Green for PA Eats.

Now 15 years later, Penns Woods Winery in Chadds Ford is busy and successful, benefitting from Razzi’s winemaking roots, Carley’s business savvy, and a family maxim, “Wine first.”

These days, Carley is president of the business, helped by winemaker Davide Creato, who is the vineyard manager.

It all started with Gino Razzi starting a wine import company in the Ridley Park area with his brother and sister.

Gino wanted to try his hand at winemaking. Carley and her father decided around 2009 that they could start a winemaking business with Chadds Ford grapes.

“At that point, it was just a little tasting room,” Carley said, open only on weekends.

They did everything they could to familiarize themselves with the wine industry.

Creato came on board as an intern in 2011.  

Now Creato manages 40 acres, 12 varietals and four vineyards, offering nine local reds, six local whites and two local roses.

Read more about the wines at Penns Woods Winery and what it takes to create them in PA Eats.