May 3, 2012: Thirty-one Rotarians and guests (Don Summers wife, Krista) were in
attendance for this presentation by Amy Zimmerman Scorsone, daughter of Shade
Mountain Winery founders Carl and Carolyn Zimmerman. Amy, a Susquehanna
University graduate, and her three siblings all work in the winery. Amy joined
the business in 2006. Her oldest brother is now the vintner, using their
fathers’ recipes and adding his own ideas and varieties. Toby Skinner served as
host. The winery was opened 10 years ago when Carl, who had been growing grapes
for about 20 years and selling to other wineries, realized it was possible to
make this move, leaving traditional farming behind. Grapes are now grown on 70
acres with 30 to 35 different varieties of grapes. While they sell about 50% of
the harvest to other wineries, they now produce 48 different varieties of wine
and are one of the few vine to wine productions in Pennsylvania. Annually they
sell about 35,000 gallons of wine a year, directly from the winery and through
attendance at a wide range of festivals. There are now 10 fulltime employees,
six of whom are family members, with another 10 to 25 part time and seasonal
workers. President Pinkowski shared information about the District Conference
program and identified some further ideas and programs for this club.