Papa Joe's Wine Cellar

Papa Joe’s Wine Cellar (est. 2013) is a small, family-owned winery in Western Pennsylvania. We pride ourselves on creating great wine with the same hard work and passion our ancestors put into their wine. It is with this strong devotion to familial and cultural tradition that we strive to share the wine that our Papa Joe would have proudly served on his table. Our label pays tribute to our past, proudly displaying a photo of Papa Joe’s village Sersale, in the Catanzaro region of Calabria.

Products

Red Wines

Vino da Tavola

Vino da Tavola, our dry red table wine, is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese grapes from the Lodi region (AVA) in California. It is a medium bodied wine with hints of black cherry, licorice, and black pepper flavors. Tannins are moderately high, and acidity is moderate. Alcohol content ranges from 12-15%, depending on the vintage.

Montepulciano 2020

Montepulciano di Abruzzo, is a dry red wine, originally from the Abruzzo region of Southern Italy. It is a full bodied wine with plum, black fruit, prune and chocolate flavors as well as earthy and tobacco notes . Our Montepulciano is an Italian varietal from the Lodi region (AVA) in California. Alcohol content is 13%

Tannat 2019

Tannat is a fruity, full bodied dark red wine with high tannins, good acid balance, and hints of raspberry, blackberry, and leather. Originally from France and the Basque region of Spain, immigrants brought Tannat to South America; it is considered the national grape of Uruguay. Our Tannat is grown in the Clarksburg region (AVA) in the Sacramento Valley, CA. Alcohol content is 15.5%

Teroldego 2019

Teroldego is a deeply colored red wine with intense fruity flavors and a bright acidity. It does have significant astringency, but in spite of this, it has a subtle, soft character. Our Teroldego has unmistakable raspberry and plum flavors with an earthy/smoky character. Our Teroldego is grown the Clarksburg region (AVA) in the Sacramento Valley, CA. Alcohol content is 15%

Petite Sirah 2020

Petite Sirah is a deeply colored red that is high in tannins with hints of blueberry, chocolate, plums and black pepper. It is originally a French grape that is grown widely in the Central and Sacramento Valleys in California. Ours is grown in the Lodi region (AVA) in California. Alcohol content is 14%.

Barbera 2020

Barbera is a medium to full body red, originally from the Piemonte region in Northern Italy. Known as Italy’s forgotten wine, Barbera is grown in the same region as Nebbiolo (Barolo), where the locals sell the Nebbiolo for a premium price, and drink the Barbera themselves. Barbera has bright acidity that brings out the tart cherry, blackberry, raspberry, and plum notes. Ours is grown by Lanza Vineyards in the Suisun Valley Region (AVA) in California. Alcohol content is 14%.

White Wines

Frascati

Frascati is a dry white table wine made from a blend of primarily Malvasia and Trebbiano grapes, imported as juice from the Lazio Region of Italy, near Rome. Known as the “Wine of the Popes,” Frascati was said to have run out of the fountains of Rome during the coronation of 2 Popes in the 16th Century. Frascati has a citrus aspect from the Malvasia grapes and some floral notes and acidity from the Trebbiano grapes. It is a light bodied wine ideal chilled. Alcohol content is 11.5%.

Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio, a dry white table wine, originated in the Burgundy Region of France. It is known as Pinot Gris in France and Pinot Grigio in Italy. Ours is imported from Italy as juice. It is a medium bodied wine with hints of lime and pear flavors. A moderately high acid content provides a uniquely refreshing character. Alcohol content is 12.5%

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a moderately dry, light bodied white wine, fruity and refreshing with a moderate acid content, and hints of lime, green apple, and peach. Originating in the Bordeaux Region of France, ours is from Lanza Vineyards in the Suisun Valley Region (AVA) in California. Alcohol content is 14.5%.

Dry Riesling

Riesling is a light bodied white wine originally from Germany. The Germans generally sweeten their Riesling; ours is more in the Alsatian tradition from France, and has no residual sugar. The fruity nature gives even a dry Riesling a slightly sweet character. The high acidity enhances the fruit flavors of lime, green apple, apricot, and citrus. Ours is from the Lake Erie Region (AVA), specifically from North East, PA in Erie County. Alcohol content is 12%

Yinzer Prosecco

We like Prosecco, but could not procure the Glera grapes from the Prosecco DOC in Northern Italy, so we did something (just a little) better. We blended Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio, and conducted a secondary fermentation in the bottle using the Champagne method. We loved the results! Our Yinzer Prosecco is brut, with notes of apple and pear. Alcohol content is 13%.