The story of Adams County Winery took an exciting turn in 1998 when John Kramb and Kathy Bigler discovered the winery during a visit to the Gettysburg area. While on holiday, the pair stumbled upon a wooden sign that read, “Winery this way.” Little did they know that following those signs would lead to the start of a 25-year journey of wine, history, and innovation.
“As we headed down Route 30, we saw a little wooden sign that said, ‘winery this way,’ and so we came back later that weekend and followed the signs,” Bigler recalls. “We mentioned that we had been looking at properties in North Carolina for starting our own winery, and [then-owner Tom Campbell] said, ‘Well, that’s too bad, I just put this on the market last week.’ So, we asked to look around. I remember as we walked up the hill in the vineyard, we were so excited because John loves Civil War history, and we had been looking for a place to retire to.”
By the end of that weekend, Kramb and Bigler had purchased Adams County Winery from Tom and Beverly Campbell, including the Campbells’ beloved blends and recipes for wines like the iconic Tears of Gettysburg.
The early years were a whirlwind of learning and perseverance. Bigler continued her military career in Washington, D.C., while Kramb managed the winery solo, diving headfirst into vineyard management and winemaking.
“It was a learning experience,” Kramb admitted of those first few years. “I had made wine at home, so I thought I knew enough… I was wrong. I found out almost all the different ways you could ruin a batch of wine. Of course, back then, when we ruined a batch of wine, it was only 50 gallons, not 3,200 gallons.”
Despite the challenges, Kramb’s passion and determination paid off. In 1999, he introduced Rebel Red, a blend of Niagara and Concord that quickly became a guest favorite and earned the winery its first gold medal. Since then, Adams County Winery has won over 150 awards for its wines.
Over the past 25 years, under the guidance of Kramb and Bigler, the winery has grown exponentially. Annual production skyrocketed from 2,300 gallons to more than 45,000 gallons, solidifying Adams County Winery as a leader in Pennsylvania winemaking.
To commemorate this incredible milestone, Adams County Winery is bringing back a cherished favorite: Memory Lane. This complex red blend, featuring notes of apple, blueberry, and orange blossom, will be available exclusively at the Farm Winery in Orrtanna and the downtown Gettysburg Wine Shop starting Saturday, September 16th.
In celebration of the release, the Farm Winery is hosting a special event on September 16th from 1–4 p.m. Guests can enjoy live music by the Jazz Me Band, inspiring remarks from guest speakers, and plenty of fun activities. Visitors can also take advantage of discounts on Adams County Winery branded merchandise and a one-day, 25% case discount.
Adams County Winery has been a fixture of the Gettysburg area since 1975, proudly serving as Pennsylvania’s fifth-oldest operating winery and the area’s original winery. Nestled on more than 75 acres of rolling hills and farmland, the winery operates out of an 1860s historic PA bank barn.
The vineyard spans more than 12 acres and grows five grape varieties, creating the foundation for beloved wines like Tears of Gettysburg—a classic introduced in 1988 and one of Pennsylvania’s oldest continually made wines. Over the years, Adams County Winery has become a 10-time winner of Best Winery in Gettysburg’s Greatest Awards and a cherished destination for locals and visitors alike.
We invite you to celebrate our 25th anniversary with us and enjoy a glass of Memory Lane while reflecting on our journey from a simple wooden sign to becoming a cornerstone of Pennsylvania wine.
For more information, call us at 717.334.4631 or visit www.adamscountywinery.com.