Penn Wood Winery Assumes Management of Equivine Farm

Penn Woods Winery said it will take over the management of Equivine Farm, an historic horse farm, 13 acres of vineyards and a bookable country retreat with guest accommodations overlooking the farm’s rolling countryside, vineyards, and ponds in Chester County, Penn.

Brian Dickerson, a viticulture specialist, decided to retire after a freeze wiped out blooms and in some cases grapevines throughout the mid-Atlantic. That left Equivine without someone to manage the vineyards. Penn Woods lost over 70% of its crop during the April 2026 freeze, including entire varietals including Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc & Moscato Canelli.

Equivine avoided the worst of the freeze and is expected to produce between 15 and 20 tones of grapes this harvest. “Because we know (Penn Woods) won’t produce a full crop in the coming years, we can redirect our labor, energy, and financial resources to acreage that will. Instead of simply cutting back, we’re investing in acres that are producing grapes and preserving vineyards that might otherwise be lost,” Davide Creato, the Penns Woods winemaker and vineyard manager,

The decision to assume management of Equivine's vineyards "reflects Penns Woods Winery’s longstanding belief that the future of Pennsylvania wine depends on protecting and cultivating high-quality vineyard sites throughout the region."

"When I saw the site, for me it was a no-brainer, I had to take it on. Rather than see productive vineyard land disappear, we chose to invest in it and preserve it for the future. “ Creato said.