Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks 2023: Bob Mazza — Elevating the Profile of Pennsylvania Wine Since 1972

By Paul Vigna

Bob Mazza has been behind the wheel of his household’s namesake vineyard in northwest Pennsylvania since 1972. And also you’ll discover that driving is an acceptable metaphor to make use of for Mazza, 72, whose marathon profession has allowed him to take pleasure in two passions — wine and auto racing — whereas passing many vital mileposts as a frontrunner within the state’s wine business.

For the sake of the wine

Mazza has pioneered efforts for the wine business on the native, state and nationwide stage, demonstrating a management function all through his profession. He was a part of the preliminary steering committee that based the Affiliation of American Vintners (now WineAmerica). He offered management within the adolescence of the Pennsylvania Wine Affiliation (PWA) — and stepped in once more a long time later. Mazza was instrumental within the formation of the Pennsylvania Wine Advertising and marketing & Analysis Program Board (PWMRB) and first to symbolize the state’s wine and grape industries on the boards of each the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce and the Pennsylvania Farm Present Fee. All through his profession, he’s been concerned with legislative efforts, significantly on the state stage, benefitting the pursuits of the Pennsylvania wine business and its growers.

Says Pa. State Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, “Bob Mazza has been a driving drive behind elevating the profile of Pennsylvania’s wine business and making our vineyards high tourism locations. He was instrumental in bringing the wine competitors and wine sampling and gross sales to the Pennsylvania Farm Present, exposing a whole bunch of 1000’s of tourists yearly to the standard and number of Pennsylvania wines, and the vintners who produce them.”

Household and business

Rising up, Mazza helped preserve his father’s winery in Erie County’s Harborcreek. When he and his brother, Frank, have been seniors at close by Gannon College, they determined to include Mazza Vineyards. Right now, Robert Mazza Inc. (“Mazza”) is a wine, spirits and craft beer producer with operations in northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. Established in 1972 with a single winery, Mazza now operates three main places within the Lake Erie AVA: Mazza Vineyards in North East, Pa.; South Shore Wine Firm in North East, Pa.; and Mazza Chautauqua Cellars in Westfield, N.Y., that serves as house to 5 & 20 Spirits & Brewing – making it New York State’s first mixture vineyard, distillery and brewery.

Mazza served three phrases as president of the PWA, grew to become concerned within the creation of the Wine Advertising and marketing & Analysis Program Board and collaborated with different business leaders to make wine a staple on the annual Farm Present in Harrisburg. 

Requested about which accomplishments introduced him best delight, Mazza says that “not all [of them] have been issues that propelled our enterprise and our enterprise solely. Oftentimes, I labored extra on an agenda that may assist the business but additionally acknowledged that, ‘Hey, if we do that, we’re definitely going to profit from it as nicely.’

“A type of, in fact, was the Farm Present,” he continues. “I feel that’s helped get folks to the purpose of understanding that wine is an agricultural commodity. Consider me, they didn’t really feel that manner within the Nineteen Seventies and ‘80s.”

Getting issues carried out

Mazza elevating the profile of wine in his house state was necessary for the long-term well being of the business, says Jamie Williams, who, alongside along with his household, runs two wineries in Pennsylvania and one other in Ohio. “One of many issues that I feel goes unremarked upon is [Bob’s] affect with the Division of Agriculture and the way he helped persuade the division that vineyards and wineries have been an necessary member of the agriculture business,” he says. “[Bob] is definitely an icon.”

Fran O’Brien, former chief counsel for the Pennsylvania Liquor Management Board (and who would later symbolize the PWA), is nicely acquainted with many people who’ve served in management roles for the business, together with Mazza.

“[Bob] is somebody who seems to be out for the nice of the business: the long-range plans, what we want and the way we repair it; he’ll provide you with a plan and get everybody engaged and transferring ahead,” O’Brien says. “[He’s] anxious about getting one thing carried out, not who’s going to get the credit score for it.” 

Drive on

With all that he’s completed on the wine aspect, Mazza additionally discovered time for his different longtime pursuit. Starting in 1991 as a member of Porsche Membership of America, he remembers, “I had an Early Porsche 911. I at all times tried to combine enterprise with pleasure somewhat bit, to attempt to justify what I used to be doing.” 

For not less than 5 years, the Mazza group was nationwide sponsor for the membership. Later, his pursuits shifted to open-wheel racing. In 2016, Mazza’s firm started a partnership with Sports activities Automotive Membership of America (SCCA). “It’s rewarding to provide again to the Membership that has given me a lot over the past 20 years,” he was quoted as saying when the connection was introduced.

Whereas he has throttled down on the vineyard — son Mario is VP/GM and daughter Vanessa is artistic director — he’s not prepared to hold up the keys for good. He was reached for this interview solely after he was completed pruning within the winery. 

“I’m nonetheless concerned,” he says. “I’m right here each day.”

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Paul Vigna

Paul Vigna is a author and editor in Harrisburg, Pa., who has been masking East Coast wines for 10 years. He was the primary winner of the Atlantic Seaboard Wine Affiliation’s Birchenall Award in February 2018. You could find him on the Wine Classroom at www.pennlive.com and comply with him on Twitter @pierrecarafe

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About Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks: Every year, Wine Trade Advisor chooses 10 people from inside the wine business who showcase management, innovation and inspiration. For the primary time in 2021, WIA opened submissions to the business at massive, and the success of this new nomination course of was rapidly acknowledged, as honorees got here from extra numerous wine areas and had extra distinct tales to inform. With greater than 100 nominees in 2022, the editorial staff chosen the highest 10 people who, they felt, had actually positively impacted the U.S. wine tradition over the previous 12 months.