Seven Galen Glen wines have earned a 90 or above after a recent tasting by renowned wine critic, James Suckling.

As a winery in Pennsylvania, it is extremely difficult to get reviewed, let alone have multiple varietals rated exceptional and highly recommended.

Although Pennsylvania may be an uncommon site for distinguished wines, Galen Glen shed that stereotype and was privileged to be invited by Senior Editor of James Suckling, Stuart Pigott.

As a world expert in his wine category, Pigott rated seven of Galen Glen’s submitted wines - a high honor. In his tasting notes, Pigott called the entire portfolio “exciting.”

Stone Cellar

Three of Galen Glen’s Stone Cellar wines, their highest-tiered collection, scored above the coveted 90-point rating. Grüner Veltliner 2022, 94 points, Riesling 2021, 92 points, and Cabernet Franc 2021, 91 points. Receiving the highest praise was the Grüner Veltliner which Pigott noted, “might well be the best wine from Austria’s signature grape variety that has ever been made in the United States.”

Galen Glen, located in Andreas, was among the first American vineyards to produce Grüner in 2003. Today, it is heralded as its flagship grape, earning Galen Glen the title of the “first family of Grüner.” Grüner Veltliner has become the most prominent varietal on the family farm and is a bestseller.

Pigott noted the Galen Glen 92-point Riesling under the Stone Cellar label has “very good aging potential.” The only red to be submitted was the 2021 Cabernet Franc. Considered a difficult vintage, it earned 91 points.

Vinology

Vinology is Galen Glen’s house label. As the Master’s in Vinology, the wines in this label are produced with decades of wine knowledge and attention to detail. The two wines submitted for a rating were the Grüner Veltliner 2022, 92 points, and Fossil Vineyard Riesling 2021, 93 points.

Galen Glen’s Grüner Veltliner is easily the most recognized wine in the portfolio. Boasting a 92, Stuart noted this bottle has a “spritz of carbon dioxide lifting the palate beautifully,” and “pulls you back for more.”

The Fossil Vineyard Riesling is special to Galen Glen. Just like the rest of the vineyard, the Riesling vines grow in glacially deposited soils.

But, on one specific site, hundreds of ancient fossils populate the soils providing the name for this two-time Best-in-State winner. You can see the fossils on display in the tasting room as you taste this single vineyard wine.

Erin Elizabeth

Galen Glen’s newest wine is also their first signature label, named after the vineyard’s head winegrower and 7th-generation farmer, Erin Troxell. Featuring two of their most prominent grapes, Erin Elizabeth sparklings are wines with feminine fluency. Both bottles were rated high by Pigott. Erin Elizabeth Grüner Veltliner Sparkling 2021 earned 90 points, and Erin Elizabeth Riesling Sparkling 2021 was awarded 92 points.

Rating wines

Wines are scored on a 100-point scale. Professionals taste wines blindly to avoid biases. The reviewer typically uses a score card to determine the ratings and notes characteristics such as appearance, aroma, flavor, and finish. Any score above 90 is considered exceptional and highly recommended by critics.

Masters in Vinology

Galen Glen Winery is owned and operated by the Troxell family. The foundation for success was set by spouses Sarah and Galen, whose past experiences in chemistry and mechanical engineering, respectively, have transitioned into running an award-winning winery. Their daughter Erin earned a degree in viticulture and enology from Cornell University, followed by a master’s degree from the Vinifera Euromaster program in Germany and France, and brings a new level of expertise to the vines.