South Shore Wine Company
by
K.L. Sullivan
Summary: South Shore Wine Company is a not to be missed winery. Behind the doors of this winery, visitors will discover history from 1864 to the current wines produced under the South Shore Wine label.
We met Kathleen Mazza, after her son Mario, enologist at the family owned Mazza Vineyards, told us we should visit South Shore Wine Company. The building is astounding and its history is fascinating. Kathleen spent hours researching the history of the building. She discovered that the first annual meeting of the Lake Shore Grape Grower’s Association took place here. The Mazza family was granted permission to use the original nineteenth century name for the winery.
Kathleen gave us a guided tour and talked about the structure of the building and what they did to bring it back to life. Originally, the 1864 building was home to the South Shore Wine Company. It was the first commercial winery in Erie County until Prohibition when it was vacated. In 1920, the building was purchased and renovated to be an inn, years later the facility became a restaurant. A room had also been set aside as a ballroom. Eventually the building became vacant again and the Mazza family purchased it. Renovations began in the sub-basement that still had the original stonewalls from 1864. To create the cavern in 1864, the workers mounded soil until it reached the size and shape they wanted for the cavern. Workers set local stone into the shaped soil. When it was dry the workers removed the soil from the inside. More than a century later, the stonewalls were almost like new. Throughout the wine tasting area, the new owners repaired floors and ceilings. By September 2007, the winery reopened.
The building holds many memories for people. During the 1950s, the ballroom was used for proms. A recent 50th high school reunion group returned and relived many memories. Kathleen has plans to add a memory wall.
When you visit, be sure to notice the arch over the doorways. The arch has stones set upright in a semi-circle known as “soldiers course.” The Mazzas chose this as their logo and use it on their wine labels. It is very elegant.
After walking through the doors to the tasting room, a short flight of steps leads down to the large cavern. Walking to the back of the cavern into another room, a large tasting room is available. The u-shaped tasting counter constructed from poured cement fits in well with stonewalls. Kathleen displays a few artifacts on the walls. The tasting counter is large and can accommodate large groups.
Above the tasting room there is a large event room that can host an assortment of events. It provides one of the largest venues at area wineries and vineyards. Next to the dining area there is a rectangular room with fireplace on one end and elegant styled tasting counter flanked by windows. From this room the scenery looks out onto vineyards. Even on a snowy day in November the acres of vineyards look impressive.
The wines are produced at Mazza Vineyards. They differ from the wines in the Mazza Vineyards portfolio and are kept separated from the wines that Mazza produces.
White Wines
Unwooded Chardonnay offered an aroma and taste of apple and pear nuances. The finish began with apple and pear and changed to a slight citrus.
Red Wines
Lemberger 2007 had an aroma of black fruit and pepper with earthiness. There was black fruit on the taste and the wine finished with mild tannins.
Specialty Wines
Forte of Chambourcin was a port styled wine with a light translucent red-purple color, much lighter than other ports. The aroma offered black fruit and spice nuances. The taste had earthiness and black fruit. The finish was crisp yielding to sweetness.
All of the fruit wines are produced from 100 percent fruit. The Blueberry with 11 percent alcohol offered an aroma of blueberry. It was light bodied, sweet with blueberry flavor. It was dry and balanced on the finish. Sangria was a light purple color. The aroma and taste were sweet and fruity. The finish lingered. Honey Mead was a yellow golden color with a honey aroma and taste. The wine was medium bodied and balanced.
This is a one of a kind facility and not to be missed. Take time to visit and enjoy the South Shore wines, history and architecture.
South Shore Wine Company
1120 Freeport Road (Route 89)
North East, PA 16428
GPS: N42° 13.753' W79° 49.991'
