Fall at Vynecrest means events, a fundraiser, and the return of two popular wines

Spiced Winter Red and Spiced Winter White are now available. Last year Spiced Winter White sold out in three weeks. We made a little more this year but you better get it early if you want it.

It is just about time to set our sights on the holidays. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem opens in just a few weeks on November 20.

October is national breast cancer awareness month. Vynecrest is donating $1 for every bottle of First Blush sold to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

October Specials

* Wine of the Month - First Blush, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter White for $35

*at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts

Upcoming Events

October 16 - Wine Glass Painting, Vynecrest on Main

Friday from 6-8 pm, join us at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown for "Painting with Wine."The cost is $15 per person which includes a glass to paint, a glass to drink, and all painting supplies. Appetizers are available for a nominal charge. Reservations required. For reservations 484-641-5149.

October 17 & 18 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Chambourcin Weekend

Vynecrest will be partnering with Vince’s Cheesesteaks, a Lehigh Valley tradition. We will be pairing our 2013 Estate-Bottled Chambourcin wine with a taste of “Mini Vinnies” steak sandwich. The meat in these steak sandwiches will be marinated in our Chambourcin wine before they are grilled. The Vince’s Cheesesteak Food Truck will be at Vynecrest all day both Saturday and Sunday with their full menu of chicken and beef cheesesteaks and other items for purchase.

October 24 - Lehigh Valley Cider & Wine Festival at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown

The Lehigh Valley Cider and Wine Festival – an on-field event featuring hard cider and wine tastings from local and regional cideries and wineries – makes its debut on Sat., Oct. 24 from noon to 5 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park. Attendees each receive a collector’s stemless glass to enjoy their cider and wine tastings and can also purchase a variety of food and crafts from local food trucks, vendors and artisans. The festival – which takes place during Pennsylvania Wine Month -- also includes live entertainment, panel discussions describing the process of making both cider and wine, the ability to purchase wine by the glass, bottle or case and other fun activities such as an apple launch competition.

October 25 - Jazz Sunday, Live Music in the Vyneskeller, 1-4 pm

Glass Half Empty by Jan Landis

Everyone knows what my three partners do at Vynecrest. Don’t get me wrong, in a small business such as ours we all do a little of everything, including cleaning toilets and changing light bulbs. But mainly Malachi is the winemaker, John oversees the vineyard, and Sam’s the boss. Boss sounds good, doesn’t it? But in the small print that means the buck stops with Sam and that’s a tough job. He has to be on top of everything.

So me, what do I do? I do the books, write the checks, do payroll, the nerdy stuff, which actually I love doing. On weekends, I’m the kitchen wench, doing cheese plates and pretzel bowls, helping in the Vyneskeller. However, my new fun job is Engagement Facilitator. Yes, a new job description to add to my resume!

We’ve had a flurry of marriage proposals over the past few years and setting the scene for the Popping of the Question has been a hoot. With the help of Dana we’ve managed to successfully cement a number of romantic relationships. And the scenario has been different for them all! Mostly the gentleman comes up with a rough idea of how he’d like to propose and we simply provide the ways and means to make it happen.

There have been a couple of rough spots, like the young man who when he came in with his intended turned to me and said: “Hi Jan.” I froze and didn’t acknowledge his greeting; after all, he was supposed to be a complete stranger! Luckily, the lovely young lady remained clueless, or so she said. One time we were asked to freeze an engagement ring in an ice cube tray since the lady in question liked ice cubes in her wine. We were petrified that the ring (which they crazily entrusted to us) would get damaged or that once frozen she would somehow swallow it, but we managed to make it through that engagement without incident.

I never used to think that wine was particular romantic; after all my earlier jobs in building up this business mainly consisted of pruning vines, picking grapes, and bottling the wine. But now that I’ve been elevated to Engagement Facilitator, yes, wine is very romantic!