Starr Hill Winery vinter Joe Kendrick and owner Ken Starr pour a sample of wine for Darlene Distler, co-owner of DD’s Bakery on Erie Ave., where the winery opened its newest outlet store over the weekend.

By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff

Patrons of DD’s Specialty Bakery and Cafe may now taste and peruse the many selections of vino offered by Starr Hill Vineyard and Winery of Curwensville, now located inside the Erie Ave. bakery.

On Friday and Saturday, Starr Hill and the bakery teamed up to host a wine tasting event for the public to kickoff the winery’s new St. Marys location.

“St. Marys is a great town and it’s great to be back,” said Ken Starr, winery owner.

Starr explained his family once owned a former St. Marys business, the Village Shop, a craft store on Erie Ave. between 10 and 15 years ago.

St. Marys is just one of the winery’s outlet stores including those located in Clearfield and Clarion. In the future Starr is considering opening a location in State College or possibly Pittsburgh.

Wine connoisseurs may choose from a selection of 22 wines offered at the bakery while Starr Hill’s complete wine lists consists of 35 different wines.

According to Starr, he was initially contacted by DD’s Bakery co-owner Rob Dixon at the same time he was considering opening a store in St. Marys.

“We feel the new outlet will compliment the bakery,” Starr said. “Wine is the perfect thing to go along with sweets.”

The new St. Marys outlet’s hours will coincide with those of the bakery, from Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended holiday hours open until 8 p.m.

Starr Hill Winery is a subsidiary of Starr Financial Group, established in 1991. The financial group targets a senior citizen market with many clients in Elk, Clearfield and McKean counties.

The winery opened in August 2005 during which year they produced 3,000 gallons of vino. In 2006, 8,000 gallons were produced and this year Starr said the winery will produce 15,000 gallons.

Among the winery’s offerings are 10 types of dry wines, five types of semi-dry, six types of semi-sweet, nine types sweet, seven types fruit wines, two types of carbonated wines.

Starr Hill’s sweet wine Bailey Rd. Red was named an International Gold Medal Winner during a recent contest in Indianapolis, IN, in took a top prize over 3,000 entries from 20 different countries. Other Starr Hill award-winning wines are the semi-dry Pinot Grigio, semi-sweet Pink Catawba, Steuben, and Traminette and the sweet Brittany Blush and Diamond.

Starr added that Food Network celebrity cook Paula Deen served the winery’s Cranberry Bog fruit wine during her Thanksgiving dinner this year.

The winery is located on 12.5 acres on Bailey Rd. in Curwensville. Starr said he learned the art of wine making from his father in 1952. He added that his father’s wine making hobby began after he was stationed with the U.S. Air Force in Germany. In 1967 his two brother produced their first bottle of wine naming it “Starr Brothers”.

The Starr family planted vines in the early 90’s and now work with a total of 300 vines which are harvested in the fall, with the overall process completed by spring. Starr said the winery is capable of making wine year round.

In addition Starr said the winery is equipped with a new Microbloc machine which allows small to medium size wineries to automate their bottling process. Starr said the winery the first in North America to install this type of machine manufactured in Italy by the Criveller Company.

The Microbloc is equipped with a gravity filler, vacuum or gas injection corker, spinner and shrinker with improved bottle holding system and a pressure sensitive labeler all in one machine. It can produce up to 60 cases an hour.

In the future Starr said he hopes to increase wine production and open another outlet store.

As for the St. Marys outlet he would eventually like to host business to business social functions, food pairings and group tastings.

“Just like anything in life you have to like what you’re doing and we really have fun at this,” Starr said.