The US state on the mid-Atlantic coast with the capital Harrisburg covers 119,283 km² and was one of the 13 founding states of the USA. It is named after its founder, the Quaker William Penn (1644-1718). The land, rich in forests and lakes, stretches from the coast across the Appalachian Mountains to Lake Erie - one of the five Great Lakes. The oak used for the production of American barrique barrels grows in the extensive forests.

Viticulture was already practised in the 17th century. From 1683, French Huguenots expelled from their homeland brought their knowledge of viticulture with them. Towards the end of the 18th century, the historic Alexander grape variety was discovered near Philadelphia. Thanks to the American viticulture pioneer Philip Wagner (1904-1996), French hybrids were increasingly introduced and spread in Pennsylvania from the 1940s onwards.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena