​Vino fatto con la famiglia e gli amici.

Roccograndi wine

​Top photo - 2011 wines awarded 5 medals

Bottom Photo - Pop's Original Wine Celler

2004 - Fast forward 30 years.... I surprised my dad by entering a bottle of our 2003 Zinfandel into the home winemakers competition at the Vendemnia Wine Festival in South Philadelphia.  More than 125 winemakers entered wine and we were awarded a first place. It was the single greatest experience of my wine making career. I remember the tears of joy my dad experienced when he heard our name called and awarded first place.  This was to become the turning point in my passion for making great wine.  Two years later I repeated with a first place award for a SuperTuscan blend made with Sangiovese grapes. I have since won numerous awards in the Wine Maker Magazine International Amateur Winemaker Competition and the American Wine Society Amateur Wine Maker Competition.​

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2006 - Awarded 1st Place for my 2005 Super Tuscan blend in the 2005 Vendemmia Festival.


2008 - Awarded first gold medal by the American Wine Society for a Washington State Riesling.


2010 - Began mentoring a friend, John Gallagher, on the art and science of wine making.


2011 - Ranked by the American Wine Society (AWS) as #30 for amateur winemaking for the rolling 3 year period 2009-2011.

   

2012 - Ranked by American Wine Society (AWS), placing #24 for the 5 year rolling period (2008-2012). Awarded 5 medals in the 2013 AWS Amateur wine competition.


2013 - Ranked by American Wine Society (AWS), placing #19 for the 5 year rolling period (2009-2013) and 39th on the All Time Top 50 Ranking. Awarded 8 medals in the 2013 AWS Amateur wine competition.


2014 - Awarded 7 medals out of 9 wines entered, 3 silver and 4 bronze.  John G was awarded his first medals. 4 of his 5 wines entered into competition were awarded 4 bronze medals. Moved to #16 and #33 on the AWS 5 year and all time rankings.


2015- Decided to try frozen grapes from Italy.  Very excited to try this high end product from Vino Superiore. Moved up in the American Wine Society all-time rankings from #33 to #25 and moved from #16 to #14 on the Top 25 rolling 5 year period of active winemakers.

Making wine in my family is a tradition dating back nearly 40 years.  In 2004 my sons, Joseph and Daniel started in the tradition and later was joined by our youngest son, Samuel. None of this would be possible without the support of my beautiful and loving wife, Julie. Check out my wine making pictures for great photos of family and friends.


1975 - This is my earliest recollection of making wine.  I remember starting to make wine with my father and brother  when I was just in 10 years old and in 5th grade.  Back then wine making consisted of Zinfandel grades from Central Valley CA using old world wine making techniques of making very dry bold red wine with high alcohol achieved by adding sugar to the fermentation to maximize the alcohol.  Nearly 30 years later I continue to make wine but use new world wine making techniques to create my own distinctive style.

My Short Biography