For as long as mankind has felt the need to celebrate, there has been wine. It has been romanticized by nearly every great poet, author and philosopher throughout the ages. When it is crafted well you don’t have to be a connoisseur to realize it, and truly great wines come from every corner of the world, including right here in Western Pennsylvania. Here’s a salute to some of the best local winemakers in the area.

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Stone Villa Wine Cellars
1085 Claypike Road
Acme, PA 15610
(724) 423-5604
www.stonevilla.com

There are twelve varieties of grapes grown on the 150 acres of land that make up the Stone Villa Wine Cellars. All told, Stone Villa produces 20 varieties of wine. Favorites include the Vistonia, the Villa Red and the Stonegria. Picnickers are welcome during the summer, and pavilion tables are available by reservation on weekends. For a complete list of Stone Villa’s wine selection click here.

Glades Pike
2208 Glades Pike
Somerset, PA 15501
www.gladespikewinery.com

This Somerset-area winery is open to the public and makes an excellent venue for special events, banquets and weddings. Some favorites at the Glade Pike winery include the Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Norton variety of dry wines. The Pittsburgh Public Market carries wines from Glades Pike as do a number of other local markets. If you stop by the market, be sure to pack a picnic lunch for the perfect day out at these area wineries. Click here to view the Glades Pike wine list.

Related: Guide to Western PA Wineries

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Arrowhead
12073 E. Main Road
North East, PA 16428
(814) 725-5509
www.arrowheadwine.com

The Arrowhead Wine Cellars has produced internationally awarded wines since 1998. While it does import some grapes, most of its wines are made from grapes grown on the 250-acre Arrowhead vineyards. Some of its prize-winning varieties include the Concord, the Dry Riesling and the Dazzling Niagra. 

Seven Mountains Wine Cellars
Decker Valley Road
Spring Mills, PA 16875
(814) 364-1000
www.sevenmountainswinecellars.com

Located near State College, the Seven Mountains Wine Cellars is technically a central Pennsylvania winery, but when you craft a fine wine as well as it does, there’s bound to be some debate over which side of the state you fall on. In any case, the Seven Mountains Wine Cellar is a state treasure. Its attractions include vineyard tours, wine tasting, private events, party venues and even an Adopt-a-Barrel program. Click on the following link to view the Vintner’s Selections page.

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Winfield Winery
1026 Winfield Road
Cabot, PA 16023
(724) 352-9589
winfieldwinery.ipower.com

Winfield Winery features more than 30 varieties of wine, handcrafted in small batches on site. Since opening in 2006, the Winfield Winery has been a major contender among Pennsylvania wine makers. Some of its award-winning red wines include the Vignoles and Concord. In the fruit wine category, Winfield’s black raspberry is a local favorite and an award winner as well. For a complete list of Winfield wines click here. Don’t miss out on stocking up on Wind and Willow cheeseballs and dips here for a snack to soak it all up.

Related: Best spots for a Picnic in Pittsburgh

Marcel Tourdot is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh. His work can be found at Examiner.com.