After a friend sent them a bottle of wine from Hawai’i, Sarah and Galen Troxell were inspired to explore their own dreams of winemaking.

In 1995 they left their corporate jobs to start Galen Glen Winery in Andreas, Pennsylvania. With little formal education in winemaking, they embarked on a crash course to learn the ins and outs of the industry. Sarah used her background in chemistry to her advantage, while Galen drew on his experience with fruit trees from his childhood on the farm. Together, they planted white grapes that were well-suited for the soil, terrain, and climate of their land, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and the light, crisp Grüner Veltliner. This last grape became the signature style of their winery. Over the years, Sarah and Galen have worked tirelessly to improve the quality of their product and refine their processes.

Sarah has persevered and excelled despite the challenges of being an American winemaker without the same long, multigenerational tradition as her European counterparts. Her intuition and ability to transform the fruit grown on their farm into something special is an invaluable strength. Sarah’s passion for winemaking has also been passed down to her daughter, Erin, who returned to Galen Glen as head of the wine-growing team after studying Viticulture and Enology at Cornell. Sarah’s story is definitely a testament to the impact of #womeninwine and the beautiful legacies we can create!

Pick up a bottle of Galen Glen Gruner Vinology Lehigh Valley ($23) at Tipsy!

Tipsy is a woman-owned wine and spirits shop in New York City. We offer more than 200 varietals for every palate and budget, as well as artisanal gifts and glassware. Want to get regular, curated wine deliveries to your door every month? Join the Tipsy’s Wine Club! Tell us what kind of wine you like and how many bottles you want each month. We pick out the bottles, personalized to your taste, and ship out the bottles either monthly or bi-monthly, whatever is best for you. Find out more about our Wine Club here.