Artisan wines. Locally grown. Family owned.
John Halbrendt says “it’s the winery that worms built,” since his career as a plant nematologist brought him to Pennsylvania. Moving here allowed the opportunity for the family to acquire the property, plant the vineyard and refine their craft through a home winery.
This husband and wife journey began in 1999 when they moved to the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, where they would build a home and a business. Over the next ten years, the vineyard was established while both held full-time jobs at the Penn State University Fruit Research & Extension Center. Noemi, being a plant pathologist, developed a sustainable vineyard management program that produces high-quality fruit that makes Halbrendt fine wines and has also been sold to other local wineries.
Years long before the plan for a winery, the family cared for their 5 acre vineyard, and sold most of the grapes to many of the surrounding wineries. A small lot was reserved for hobby winemaking…and the ball kept rolling.
John has been a hobby winemaker for almost 13 years and was encouraged to take his hobby further after winning several medals in international amateur competitions. When he retired from Penn State in 2014, we obtained a winery license and turned his garage into his wine lab. His goal is to produce fine wines showcasing the potential of Pennsylvania’s South Mountain region. Wine are made from estate and locally grown fruit and became first available to the public in 2015. We offer varietal wines and blends made from Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Cayuga White, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, Niagara and local fruit.