Quick Glance
- Deer Creek Winery has been voted First Place – Winery in the Herald-Standard’s 2026 Community Choice Awards.
- Winners are chosen by Herald-Standard readers, who vote once each by ballot or online.
- This is the third year in a row Deer Creek has made the Herald-Standard’s winners list, and the first time at the top spot.
- The award celebrates Deer Creek Winery at Watson Estate in Uniontown, Fayette County.
The results are in, and Deer Creek Winery is honored to share that we have been voted First Place in the Winery category of the Herald-Standard’s 2026 Community Choice Awards. Thank you to every reader who filled out a ballot for us.
What the Community Choice Awards Are
The Herald-Standard is Uniontown’s daily newspaper, serving Fayette County and the surrounding communities since 1797. Each year it runs the Community Choice Awards, a readers’ poll of favorite local businesses, services, and professionals. The 2026 awards mark the program’s 40th anniversary.
The process is simple. The paper publishes a ballot listing the nominees in each category, readers vote once each, either online or by mail, and the business with the most votes in a category earns First Place. Other top finishers are recognized as “One of the Best.”
In the 2026 Winery category, the ballot listed five nominees from across the region: Deer Creek Winery, Stone Villa Wine Cellars, Christian W. Klay Winery, Greendance of Mt. Pleasant, and Thistlewaite Winery. Voting ran in August, and the winners were announced on October 25, 2026.
Three Years on the Winners List
Deer Creek Winery was named “One of the Best” wineries by Herald-Standard readers in both 2024 and 2025. In 2026, those same readers moved us up to First Place.
That progression means a great deal to us, because it comes from people who live here. Many of the votes came from guests who stop in for a glass after work, book a weekend at the bed and breakfast, or bring their families to the café on a Sunday afternoon.
It also comes on the heels of another local honor: earlier this fall, Deer Creek Winery at Watson Estate won Best in Fayette Gold for Winery for the fourth year in a row.
Deer Creek Winery at Watson Estate
Our Fayette County home is Watson Estate, a historic property on Balsinger Road in Uniontown, in the Laurel Highlands. The estate includes:
- A winery tasting room pouring Deer Creek’s sweet FUNTIME wines and dry Classic Collection wines
- A bed and breakfast with rooms in the Estate House and the Harvest House, plus two pet-friendly cottages (see all rooms)
- The Hayloft Barn, an event space for up to 100 guests, for weddings, parties, and company events
- A café, live music, and seasonal events throughout the year
The Herald-Standard profiled the Brooks family and the estate’s history in a 2023 feature, Deer Creek Winery celebrates 15 years. Three years later, we are still growing, and we are grateful the community has grown with us.
Thank You, Fayette County
Awards like this one belong to the people who vote for them. To everyone who took the time to fill out a ballot, and to the Watson Estate team who earn those votes every day, thank you.
If you have not visited yet, we would love to pour you a glass. Plan a visit to Watson Estate, book a stay, or find the Deer Creek Winery location nearest you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Deer Creek Winery win in the 2026 Herald-Standard Community Choice Awards?
Deer Creek Winery was voted First Place in the Winery category. The winners were announced on October 25, 2026.
Who votes in the Herald-Standard Community Choice Awards?
Readers of the Herald-Standard, Uniontown’s daily newspaper. Each reader votes once, online or by mailed ballot, for their favorite businesses in each category.
Has Deer Creek Winery won before?
Yes. Herald-Standard readers named Deer Creek Winery “One of the Best” wineries in 2024 and 2025. 2026 is the first year Deer Creek took First Place.
Which Deer Creek Winery location is in Fayette County?
Deer Creek Winery at Watson Estate in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, which includes the winery tasting room, a bed and breakfast, a café, and the Hayloft Barn event venue.
Where can I see the full list of 2026 winners?
The Herald-Standard publishes the Community Choice winners in print and in its annual winners magazine. The 2026 nominee ballot can be viewed on the Herald-Standard’s Issuu page.
