As November arrives in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, our vineyard is settling into its winter rhythm—but there’s plenty of activity happening across the farm.

The growing season has come to an end, the days are getting shorter, and the hills surrounding Todhunter Vineyards are transitioning from autumn color to the quieter landscape of late fall. While the grapevines are preparing for winter dormancy, our work around the vineyard is far from finished. November is an important month for maintaining the property, protecting our vines, and preparing for the next growing season.

And this year, we have something especially exciting happening: the foundation for our new Cellar Door winery building is ready, and we’re moving into the next phase of construction!

The Final Mows of the Season

One of our priorities this time of year is completing the final rounds of mowing and grounds maintenance before winter weather arrives. Keeping vineyard row middles and surrounding areas managed helps us enter winter with an orderly property and prepares the ground for spring operations. We’re also paying attention to drainage, low spots, and areas where excess vegetation or debris might interfere with water movement during winter thaws and spring snowmelt. Our approach to grounds management emphasizes maintaining healthy soil and useful vegetation while keeping the vineyard accessible and reducing unnecessary disturbance. As we continue developing the vineyard, these seasonal maintenance activities are an important part of building a sustainable, productive agricultural landscape.

Fence Repairs, Trellis Maintenance, and Winter Protection

Deer remain one of the more persistent challenges of growing grapes in our part of Pennsylvania. As natural food sources become less abundant, grapevines can become attractive browsing targets, particularly where deer can gain access to young plantings. This makes late autumn an important time to inspect our perimeter deer fencing, repair damaged sections, check gates, and identify potential entry points before winter.

We’re also walking the vineyard rows to inspect trellis posts, wires, anchors, and vine supports. Any damage or loose components are easier to address now than during the rush of spring. Young vines are particularly vulnerable to winter damage, so we’re keeping an eye on trunk condition, vine ties, and other areas that may require attention.

Preparing the Vineyard for Dormancy

Although the vines may appear inactive as their leaves fall, important biological changes are underway. As temperatures decline, grapevines move into dormancy, conserving energy and increasing their tolerance to cold temperatures. Late autumn is a useful time to assess vine health, document any disease or pest problems observed during the growing season, and make plans for next year’s management program. We’re also reviewing soil conditions, vineyard drainage, and the performance of our different grape varieties.

Major dormant pruning will wait until later in winter, when we can better evaluate cold injury and make pruning decisions appropriate to each variety. For now, our focus is on protecting the vines, maintaining the infrastructure, and giving the vineyard the best possible start when spring returns.

Big Progress on Our New Cellar Door!

Perhaps the most visible transformation at Todhunter Vineyards this autumn isn’t happening among the grapevines at all. It’s happening at the construction site of our new Cellar Door winery! After months of planning, engineering, permitting, and site preparation, the concrete foundation has been prepared for our new 5,000-square-foot building.

This is a major milestone for our family farm and for the future of Todhunter Vineyards. The Cellar Door will bring together our winemaking operations, tasting room, retail space, and areas for gatherings and special events, creating a permanent home where we can welcome guests and share the wines and landscape of the Laurel Highlands.

What’s Next?

Our immediate construction priorities include septic system installation and completing the necessary site and utility preparations. We’re also preparing for the building structure to go up in December. Watching the project move from architectural drawings and engineering plans to an actual foundation has been enormously rewarding.

There’s still a great deal of work ahead, including putting up the shell of the building itself, interior construction, equipment installation, and finishing the spaces that will eventually welcome our visitors. But each milestone brings us closer to the day when we can open the doors and invite everyone inside.

Looking Ahead to Winter—and Spring

The coming weeks will bring a different pace to the vineyard. Outdoor work will increasingly depend on the weather, while planning, equipment maintenance, construction coordination, and preparation for the 2027 growing season will occupy much of our attention. We’re especially looking forward to watching the new Cellar Door take shape against the winter landscape.

Recently designated by the PA Department of Agriculture as a Century Farm, this land has been part of our family’s heritage for generations. This new chapter represents our commitment to preserving that heritage while building something that can be enjoyed by the community for years to come.

Thank you for following along as we grow, build, and prepare for the future.

We’ll continue sharing updates from the vineyard and construction site as the seasons change.

Here’s to a productive autumn, a peaceful winter, and all the exciting things ahead!

Todhunter Vineyards™ & Winery
Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania