We feature a full line of award-winning Glades Pike Wines that come from Steve & Karen Addleman's winery in Somerset, western Pennsylvania.

Your hosts:

Grace Vito Capriola, Lucy Vito Lendacky, Carolyn Capriola and Mimi Capriola.

About Vito Vino Wine Shop:

Vito Vino Wine Shop is a place where the Vito family and friends gather to taste and enjoy the finest of Pennsylvania wines which we have found in Glades Pike Wines. Our shop is a lifelong dream we have shared for a warm, cozy place to sample fine wines and engage in friendly conversation. We are proud to inherent our love for all kinds of wines from our name-sake, James Vito, who bottled his first red wine almost a century ago in Garrett Hill, Pennsylvania.

About James Vito:

James was born in Pescara, located along the coastline of central Italy, where he swam in the Adriatic Sea as a child. He went to live in an orphanage in Naples when he was about 5 years old and the records of his growing up in Italy fade from there. He came to America as a young man in his late teens and joined the U.S. Army infantry services and fought in many campaigns in the First World War. His discharge papers confirm his becoming a U.S. citizen during his military service. He then married Maria Tancredi, a recent Italian immigrant to America, after a brief courtship. They had five children: Daniel, James Jr., Grace, Dominic, and Lucy. James Vito provided for his family throughout post-war depression years that posed challenges for new Americans. He worked at Baldwin, a train manufacturing plant in Chester, Pa. When the family moved to Devon, Pa., James worked at Betner Paper Manufacturing Company, also in Devon. To supplement the family's income, James worked at odd jobs that included a mix of entrepreneurship; for example, James was a sought-after bouncer for some popular speak-easy establishments, and he also worked as a professional bodyguard. Not bad for a man hardly the stature of 5'3”! But most important of all, he was an accomplished wine-maker.

James Vito, the Wine-Maker:

James' real father owned a vineyard and olive grove in Pescara, so it was no surprise that James was born with an inherent talent for wine-making. James' gift of wine chemistry was also reinforced by his step-father who also was an accomplished wine-maker. James learned from his step-father how to make a special dry red wine that was a blend of Muscat (a white grape), Concord, and deep red Montepulciano grapes to make a complex, full-bodied red wine. He shared his vintage every year with his neighbors and friends. His wife, Maria, took exception when all his friends would show up at bottling time, but James was happy with the growing audience and proud to share it with anyone who appreciated the fruits of his efforts.

Today:

Vito Vino Wine Shop is living the tradition of James Vito everyday by inviting you into our cozy shop to enjoy good wine and hearty conversation. Welcome. And, please, do not forget to come back soon. Ciao.