Clover Hill spring events

Buck A Bottle Shipping Special
All Clover Hill locations and online at www.cloverhillwinery.com
April 6-9
This is your chance to stock up on Clover Hill wine for the Spring and Summer. Purchase 6 or more bottles and we will ship them for only a 'Buck A Bottle' shipping cost. We will ship your favorite Clover Hill wines right to your door - must order a minimum of 6 bottles. If you order a case, 12 bottles, or more we will also give you our 10% case discount. Shop at www.cloverhillwinery.com or call 610-395-2468 to place your order.


Spring Flights - Pierogie Party
The Winery in Breinigsville
May 6, 7, 8 & 9 from noon - 4 pm each day
Reservations Required (limited availability)
$12 per flight

Who does not love pierogies? Here at Clover Hill we love pierogies so much we are going to offer flights of various types of pierogies. You can decide if you want a sweet flight or a dry flight and we will have wines and pierogies prepared accordingly. Each flight will include 3 different pierogies and will end with a dessert. It doesn't get much better than that! Be sure to make your reservation as soon as possible because these tickets are sure to sell out fast. Give us a call to reserve your tickets and let us know if you want the sweet flight or the dry flight. Please call 610-395-2468 to reserve your flights.


Mother's Day Special
The Winery in Breinigsville
May 14 from noon - 4 pm

It's Mom's Day and what better way to say "Thanks Mom" or "I Love You Mom" than with a glass of wine and a bottle to take home. Join us at the Winery in Breinigsville for discounted wine by the glass specials.

Six new wine releases at Clover Hill this summer

Our Winemaker John Skrip III has been busy and is excited to share six new Clover Hill wines with you. 2015 was a kind vintage to our red wines. We had great quality with our red grape varieties, but the trade off is we have very little yield. That means all of the 2015 vintages listed below are in limited supply. Taste them while you can! Tasting is complimentary for these wines at all Clover Hill locations.

• 2015 Dolcetto: a dry rosé that is light, fresh, and fruity with a green apple finish. This release of Dolcetto has just a slight bit of fizz. $13.99 
• 2015 Sangiovese: a medium bodied dry red wine. Sangiovese shows rich flavors of black cherry and ripe plum with toasty American (PA) oak undertones. $16.99 
• 2015 Pinot Noir: This vintage of Pinot a bit fuller bodied than previous years and it is truly a superstar! The wine is full of classic strawberry characteristics and soft oak notes. $16.99 
• 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon: This Cabernet is packed with rich oak flavors of vanilla and spice from French oak aging and ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, blackberry and cherry. $17.99 

These two wines are limited release and are available for sale at all locations while supplies last, but ONLY available for tasting at the Winery in Breinigsville on a regular basis. Due to the very limited nature of these wines, there are tasting fees.

• Sparkling Vidal Blanc: Welcome Clover Hill's newest sparkling wine. This bubbly is made from 100% Vidal Blanc with crisp flavors of lemon and grapefruit with soft, yeasty undertones. $16.99/bottle; $3 for a 1oz tasting fee 
• 2016 Vidal Ice Wine: Our Ice Wine is back! This Ice Wine was hand harvested in January 2016. The berries were dehydrated, frozen solid and rich in flavor and sweetness. The harvest was basket pressed and yielded 1,500 bottles of Vidal Ice Wine; or as we like to call it...liquid gold. The flavors are complex and rich including honeycomb, orange blossom and bright acidity. $32/bottle (187ml); $6 for a 1oz tasting fee

1st Tuesday Tours
The Winery in Breinigsville
Tuesday, August 2 at 2 p.m.
Reservations suggested; $8 per person (Tuesday special)
No charge for under 21.

Join Clover Hill Winery for a Tuesday tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass! Tours last approximately 1 ½ hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Harvest Flights with Bites
The Winery in Breinigsville
August 13, 14, 15 and 16, noon - 5 p.m. all days
Tickets required - $12 per flight

Purchase your flight ticket, pick your day you plan on attending, and choose between the winemaker (dry flight option) or the vineyard worker's flight (sweet flight option). Each flight will consist of four samplings of food each paired with a different wine. Check back for the menu. Please call 610-395-2468 or visit the Winery in Breinigsville for your tickets.

Vynecrest announces new wine releases, May specials, and springtime events

The buds are out on the vines and another acre is planted, we are ready for the 2016 growing season! We have a little bit of everything this month: live music, food trucks, yoga in the vineyard and more.

We are also excited to announce Vynecrest will be the official winery of the Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival held at Coca-Cola Park this Saturday, May 14.

New Releases 
#37 - In celebration or our 37th harvest we have produced this wine which reverts back to our roots. Cabernet Franc has been a staple in our vineyard for over 20 years. In 2014 it took the lead and is a perfect demonstration of what a cool climate red wine should taste like. Complimented by Merlot, Chambourcin and Lemberger. $23.99

2014 Chardonnay - aged on french oak for 9 months, comes right after you with intense aromas and notes of butterscotch and vanilla. $14.99

May Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Traminette, 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25

available at winery only, 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers.

Upcoming Events

May 14 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller

Steve Myers on the Baby Grand Piano; 1-4 pm, free admission

May 14 - Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival

Join us at the stadium. Vynecrest is the official winery for the first annual Food Truck Festival at Coca-Cola Park.

May 15 - Yoga in the Vineyard

Barre 3 Yoga Studio in Allentown will be conducting a yoga class in the vineyard at 10 am (rain date: May 22) for free. Bring your own yoga mat. Come in afterward for a free wine tasting. Contact Barre 3 to sign up: 610-841-8200

May 21 and 22 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Wine and Cheese Pairing Event

This event features the pairing of cheeses with local wines at each of our nine member wineries. Each winery will select one of its fine wines to pair with the perfect cheese and will offer complimentary tastings of the pairing to wine lovers who will explore how the texture, acidity, fat and tannin compliment or contrast each other.

Guests will also learn tips to help them skillfully develop their own pairings. Cheeses will be offered for sale so that guests can recreate the wine and cheese pairings at home.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

May 28 - Summer Kick-Off Party

The Füd Truck will be here from 11 am-5 pm with a special menu including "The Lemberger". Ryan Peters on guitar in the Vyneskeller from 1-4pm

May 29 - Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour

Live Jazz in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm. Free admission. Winemaker's tour of the vineyard at 1 pm for $5 per person. Reservations suggested: 610-398-7525.

June 4 - 4th Annual Spring Fling Event with Clover Hill Winery

Saturday June 4 noon-5pm. $12 per person. Go to both Vynecrest and Clover Hill wineries (2 miles apart) and receive at both a glass of sangria, a cheese and wine pairing, and a dessert and wine pairing. Plus 10% off your purchases at both wineries that day. Come with friends. It's a great way to spend a lovely spring afternoon.

June 11 - Taste of Kutztown

Saturday from noon-5pm taste wines from 15 wineries, beers from 10+ breweries with live music, food, and more.

Get to know... Tina Rauenzahn of Clover Hill

Our new blog series continues in which we interview staff members at our trail's nine member wineries. This week we are profiling Tina Rauenzahn of Clover Hill.

1.         Which winery do you work for and how long have you worked there?
 
I work for Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery just shy of six years, but I have been drinking Clover Hill wines since they opened their doors as a winery.

2.     What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and why? What do you like to pair it with?

I always enjoy Clover Hill Pinot Noir and Three when they are available, but since they are typically available only for limited times I would have to say my year-round favorite is Chambourcin. The earthy and spicy flavors from the American Oak aging add a nice contrast to the subtle cherry flavors of the Chambourcin grape. A good aged cheddar, roasted vegetables, or a cheese lasagna are some of my favorite foods to pair with our Chambourcin.

3.          What is the most popular question you get asked by visitors about Lehigh Valley wine or wineries, and how do you answer it?

Customers routinely ask when the next coordinated event will be. I offer details of when the next event is scheduled and give them the wine trail brochure, direct them to the website for information, and encourage them to sign up for the monthly e-newsletter so they do not miss any of the fun activities.

4.          What do you like most about local, Lehigh Valley wine and wineries?

I love that local wine tasting is growing in popularity and folks are finding out for themselves that PA wines are competitive to wines of other parts of the country. The Buy Fresh Buy Local idea has taken off in all facets of our lives.

5.          What is the one piece of advice you offer to wine lovers traveling along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail?

I point out that Chambourcin is the only grape all 9 of the wine trail wineries have in common, but that they all produce the Chambourcin grape in different styles. I suggest they try it at each winery to find what style of Chambourcin appeals to them. I also suggest they travel the trail over the course of a couple of days (not trying to visit all nine wineries in one day) and I always offer them the LVWT brochure.

Customer Appreciation Weekend at Vynecrest going on now!

Another great year is coming to a close and as our way of saying thank you from Thursday, December 10 through Sunday, December 13, Vynecrest will offer 25% off 12 or more bottles. Just mention the promotion when checking out to receive your discount. This discount is valid at the winery in Breinigsville or the wine shoppe in Kutztown only and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Beat the crowds and join us Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11 for extended hours. We will be open until 8 pm both days. Join us Friday evening for music in the Vyneskeller featuring Steve Myers playing Christmas tunes on the baby grand piano.

We will also have Steve Myers playing in the Vyneskeller Saturday & Sunday from 1-4 pm.

While you are visiting the winery don't forget to pick up a gift for the wine lover in your life. We have Cherry DiVyne packaged with chocolate (makes a great hostess gift), wine-scented candles, and many more gifts.

Vynecrest September wine specials, new wine releases, and harvest update

Harvest update - Traminette has been picked and is in the winery fermenting, and we’ve also finished picking the Pinot Gris and Cayuga. We picked Pinot Noir and crushed it to become a Pinot Noir Dry Rose.

What's new - We have recently released the 2014 Lemberger, Vynecrest White, Vynecrest Red and Riesling.

September Specials 

* Wine of the Month - Summertime Red, additional 10% off 

* Three pack of the month - 3 First Blush for $25

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

September 27 - Vineyard & Winery Tour and Jazz Sunday

Vineyard and Winery tour begins at noon. $5 per person. Tour should wrap up just in time to enjoy some live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm.

Glass Half Empty by Sam Landis

We started our 39th harvest here at Vynecrest this week and let me tell you there is nothing so romantic, poetic and inspiring as picking, pressing and fermenting the first grapes from a new year's vintage....booooooring.....let's take a quick peak into what "harvest" really is.

Yes, of course there is some inner beauty of growing and producing a future wine right from your own soil. There is the change of seasons and the maturation of the vines from spring through fall. There is the reward of all the hours spent in trying to fine tune 25 acres of grapes each plot of vineyard needing its own specific blueprint. There is the marrying of minds between the Vineyard Manager John and the Winemaker Malachi. There are notes, numbers, graphs and data to ensure the when that stem is clipped and that bunch of grapes falls into our press we have done the best we can for that future wine.

Then there is the other 90 percent of harvest which entails doing the same thing over and over and over. Once all of the intellectual capital is expended harvest really is all about shutting your mind off and becoming a robot. Set up, pick up, lift up, stack up, clean up, repeat. Mind you, this is not that terrible a thing in the least. You would be amazed at how quickly 10-12 hours disappears when you are not tethered to your iPhone, iPad or laptop (which I am as guilty of as anyone). It's actually incredibly liberating and lends itself to the best eight weeks of every year.

When a telemarketer calls to try and set up a meeting I tell them "Sorry, it's harvest season." 

Trash night at my house... "Sorry, it's harvest season." 

Can you do a special free tasting for our club, you will get such great exposure... "Sorry, it's harvest season." 

Sam, you are up on this month's newsletter write up... "Sorry, it's harvest season."

60 percent of the time it works every time.

Vynecrest winemaker's thoughts on all that goes into making a great red wine

August is a great time of year to come out, taste some wine, and enjoy the view of the vineyard. The grapes are just about ready to go through veraison, where they stop growing and start ripening. The red grapes will turn from green to red and the sugar levels start to rise. This change in color is also a signal for the birds the grapes are about ready to eat.

Just a reminder, the Vyneskeller is open seven days a week. So after you are done tasting you can grab a glass of wine and relax downstairs.

August Specials:
* Wine of the Month - Vynecrest Red - additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Bear Naked Chardonnay for $35

*available at the winery only

Aug 30 - Vineyard & Winery Tour, and Jazz Sunday

Vineyard and winery tour begins at noon. $5 per person. Tour should wrap up just in time to enjoy some live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm.

Glass Half Empty
by Malachi Duffy (left, pictured with Sam Landis)

When I have a glass of Lemberger I think about what went into making the wine that is in that bottle. Arguments over what to plant 4, 5, 6 years or more earlier. Remembering in 2008 we seriously considered ripping all of it out and not making it any more (thank goodness we didn’t follow through with that idea!). Wondering if the vines were going to make it through the sub-zero temps of the winter. Watching bud break and deciding how many clusters to keep. The awesome crew of guys in the vineyard who handle pruning, hedging, picking and everything in between. Prior to harvest, putting together the order for what yeast to use, enzyme and tannin additions, whether to cold soak or not. Tasting Lemberger on the vine when it gets close to harvest time. Arguing (again) over when to pick each lot of Lemberger. Finally picking and fermenting it.

Sam Landis and I having sand wedge contests over who can chip a golf ball into the fermenting red wine (the loser had to punch the caps). Sam punching the caps. Pressing the almost-dry wine and tasting the wine that runs out of the press as it is being crushed. Letting the wine sit for a few months before we put it on oak. Inevitably thinking that I have completely screwed up this vintage and I should have stuck with what I did last year. The following day retasting and not being so scared.

Oak additions to the wine a couple of months later: Some went to oak barrels, some went to Flex Tanks with oak staves and some with oak chips. At the end of the day (sometimes in the middle of the day) pulling samples and making sure everything is “progressing as it should.” That wonderful day when we have to come up with the final blend for Lemberger. Hopefully bottling before the current year runs out so we don’t have empty shelves. Grabbing a bottle as I head out the door to enjoy during dinner with the family.

It’s awesome to have a story about the drink you have in front of you. I am lucky enough to be involved in the process of producing that bottle. But hopefully you also have a story about Vynecrest wine. Maybe you had a great time in the Vyneskeller with friends and family, or you had Vynecrest wine at someone’s wedding. That’s the great thing about local wine, you don’t just go pick it up at the store, there is an experience associated with it. The wines are great by themselves (hopefully) but you can’t buy the moments off the shelf. The moments are what make that wine taste even better.

So, cheers to all the moments!

Food trucks, vineyard tours and sangria, oh my!

Clover Hill 2015 Vineyard and Winery Tour Series
The Winery in Breinigsville

Saturday, July 11 at 1 and 2 pm
Monday, July 13 at 2 pm
Sunday, July 19 at 2 pm
Monday, August 10 at 2 pm
Sunday, August 16 at 2 pm
Saturday, August 22 at 1 and 2 pm

Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery is proud to be celebrating our 30th Anniversary! Join us for an inside look at our vineyard and production facility. Let us show you our winemaking process from the grape to the glass and sample our premium Pennsylvania wines. The tour is approximately 1 ½ hours. Reservations are required and space is limited. Under 21 is free and we are handicap accessible. For reservations please call 610-395-2468. Tour tickets are $12 per person, under 21 is free.

Food Truck Fridays at Galen Glen this summer
                                 
Mark your calendar now and plan to join Galen Glen Winery for one or all of these rare, Friday evening events in the vineyard. Plan to purchase a great dinner to pair with a glass of wine. The event is held rain or shine (we have indoor seating). No reservations are required and all are welcome.

Friday, June 26 , 5-8 pm - Full of Crepe - savory and sweet crepes and sandwiches

Friday, July 24, 5-8 pm, - Bob-B-Q Sliders & Sides

Friday, August 28, 5-8 pm, Vince's Cheesesteaks

Clover Hill Sangria

Ingredients:
~ 1 bottle Clover Hill Concord
~ 8oz. Cherry Juice
~ 5oz. Cranberry Juice
~ 1 Lemon
~ 1 Orange
~ 1 Lime

Cut lemon, lime and orange into thin 1/4" wedges or slices. Add to wine. Add cherry and cranberry juice to desired taste. For additional variation, add orange juice or other fresh fruit.

Vynecrest and Clover Hill plan annual Spring Fling event in early June

The vineyard is starting to come back to life after the harsh winter. The vines are pruned and buds are starting to open up. We planted an additional 800 Chardonnay vines last week and replanted 300 vines that were lost to winter injury.

The Vyneskeller is now open seven days a week from 1 - 5 pm. Monday through Friday it is self service. You can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, crackers) and take it with you downstairs to the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday is business as usual with our full staff.





May Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Naked Chardonnay - additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25

(*available at winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers.)

June 6 - Third Annual Spring Fling

Spring signals new beginnings and new releases at the wineries. Join Clover Hill and Vynecrest Wineries in Breinigsville in celebrating with three wine pairings at each winery – with cheese at Clover Hill and with dessert at Vynecrest. Tickets on sale now at both wineries and the day of the event. Tickets are limited so call Clover Hill 610-395-2468 and Vynecrest 610-398-7525. (Ticket includes 10% discount on your purchase on the day of the event.)

Clover Hill:

Vidal Verde paired with Buche de Chevre. Vidal Verde is Clover Hill’s newest release, a dry white wine that is patterned after the Portuguese Vinho Verde wines. In the wine you will taste pineapple and citrus flavors with a hint of effervescence. The wine is complemented by Buche de Chevre, a goat’s milk cheese with a rich yet tangy taste.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Collier’s Cheddar. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is full of rich, ripe flavor and hearty tannins. This is a perfect partner to serve with an aged cheddar cheese like the Colliers.

DeChaunac paired with Red Dragon. DeChaunac is a semi-sweet red wine that shows both fruity and earthy characteristics. Red Dragon is a smooth, firm cheddar cheese made with mustard seeds. The hint of heat in the cheese is perfectly complemented by the bit of sweetness in the wine.

Vynecrest:

2013 Semi Sweet Riesling with coconut macaroon. Our Riesling is one of our staple grapes in our vineyard as well on our wine list. This wine exhibits a floral nose and clean, tart finish with a hint of sweetness which balances perfectly with the moist texture and rich decadence of the macaroon.

2013 Blueberry with frosted lemon pound cake. Made from 100% blueberries, we just get out of the way and let the fruit speak for itself… think roadside farm stand. While it can be difficult to pair with, we have found that it lends itself perfect when married with lemon and throw in the frosted exterior of the pound cake and you have yourself a homerun.

2013 Chambourcin with chocolate chip brownie.“The Jewel of the Lehigh Valley” our 2013 Chambourcin is no exception focusing on ripe, jammy fruit and soft delicate tannins on the back end. Because of that combination, you get the balance of the cherry flavors with the rich Brownie cake and the subtle French oak finish melding together perfectly with the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Glass Half Empty by Sam Landis

We get questions all the time about the wine making process and how it works. For the most part, it is a very detail-oriented process. It starts in the vineyard as we look at blocks of vines and prune them and cluster thin so as to get the desired sugar and acids that we want reflected in those wines. Then we look at spreadsheet upon spreadsheet of sell out dates and projected sales and then crunch numbers and do trials and blends. We end up with wine plan after wine plan constantly updating, reallocating and finalizing.

But every once in awhile, we just wing it! That's what happened the other day when we were blending our 2014 First Blush. The blend was so unique (excess Riesling, Traminette and Pinot Grigio) that when we tasted it we said this is really, really good!

So on the spot we "stole" 300 gallons of that wine and said we are going to make a Dry Rose this year. Instead of finishing it off with some fruit-forward semi-sweet Chambourcin like we have in our First Blush, we added some dry, tannic, slightly oaked Chambourcin and presto... Dry Rose was born. While on paper the move does not make sense, I believe its things like this that keep you sane in the wine cellar and continue to push to make the best wines you can regardless of what a spreadsheet spits out. Winging it never looked and tasted so good!

So look forward to our new creation, Dry Rose, in June. An added plus is that my dog, Sadie, got on her first label, much to the happiness of my wife, who has been gently reminding me for seven years that my parents' dog Maizey is on three labels, and Sadie doesn't have any.

Valentine's Wine Dinner and Kutztown Tavern Wine & Beer Dinner coming up at Vynecrest

February is a great month to visit the winery. It's a little less crowded on the weekends with less tourist traffic. You can beat the March crowds and enjoy a tasting upstairs or a glass of wine downstairs in the Vyneskeller wine bar.

▪ Wine of the Month - Late Harvest Vidal, additional 10% off*
▪ 3 Pack of the Month - Three Vignoles for $30*

*at winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers.

Upcoming Events

February 13 - Valentine's Wine Dinner at Camillo's Restaurant, 7 pm

Reserve your seats for our Valentine's Wine Dinner featuring Vynecrest Winery - call 610-683-5637.
Five courses paired with wine - $49 per person

MENU:

Appetizer - Eggplant Roulade (eggplant stuffed with feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic rolled and baked with our house tomato sauce) paired with Vynecrest Red

Salad - Burrata over mixed greens topped with balsamic glaze, paired with Naked Chardonnay

Pasta - Penne alla vodka, paired with Chambourcin

Second Dinner Course - Salmon pesto, paired with Pinot Noir

Dessert - Raspberry cheesecake, paired with Late Harvest Vidal

February 14 - Valentine's Day

Our Vyneskeller wine bar will be opening early for Valentine's Day. From 10 am to noon we will be selling $3 mimosas and featuring Frank Sinatra on our iPad baby grand piano. Pastries, croissants and chocolate covered strawberries will be available for purchase. Reservations suggested. 610-398-7525

We will have live music from Steve Myers in the Vynskeller later in the day from 1 - 4 pm.

February 22 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1- 4 pm

March - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Vino in the Valley Passport Program

There are still passports available for the annual wine trail March event at member wineries, though our winery is sold out. The winery will be open for tastings, but all food pairings are exclusively for passport holders. Tickets can be purchased online too.

March 12 - Kutztown Tavern Beer and Wine Dinner
6:30 - 9 pm

Tired of the same old dinner, join us for a interactive beer and wine dinner at the Kutztown Tavern on March 12. Head Brewer Colin Presby from the Kutztown Tavern and Sam Landis from Vynecrest go head to head on a five course dinner asking you "who paired it better?" You will not only be exposed to a great evening of beer, wine and great food but a chance to win prizes and come away with some great take home gifts. Stay tuned to our website's "What's Happening" page for more information regarding menu, reservations and final details. Reservations must be made through Kutztown Tavern - 610-683-9600.

Glass Half Empty by Malachi Duffy

Why is the Lehigh Valley such a great place to grow wine grapes? Some people might say it's not. I would agree with them, if the goal is to create consistently reproducible vintages.

That's not what this area is about and that's what makes it so great. Every year is different and we get to shape the grapes we grow and the wine we make to best fit that particular year. Just because the grapes are different from year to year doesn't mean they are of lower quality. It just means some years are better suited for certain varieties than others. That's why we grow 24 different varieties of grapes with different clones and rootstocks within those varieties.

Don't get me wrong. Some varieties are a little frustrating some years. Pinot Grigio a couple of years ago comes to mind and it can be a huge pain in the ass in the vineyard. It is a small cluster variety and the grapes are tightly packed together in that cluster. With the right combination of time of year, temperature and rainfall, rot can be a big problem. But, you have to take the bad with the good. That same year produced a Lemberger that won a double-gold medal.

The Lehigh Valley is a great location because we do get variation in weather but it's not so extreme that it kills off the vine in the winter or creates such unfavorable growing conditions that we don't have anything worth picking come September. What it does create are conditions where everything we pick is going to be good, but a few varieties every year will be great.

Save on Clover Hill's Holiday wine in January

January 1, 2015, marks the start of another new year. January 1 is special to me in that it is the 17th birthday of my oldest grandson, John Skrip IV (aka J.B.) son of John Skrip III, my “BEST” son and my only son, who is the winemaker at Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery.

January 1 is also the third birthday of my Rottweiler dog, DeCha. OK ~ she is half mine and half my wife’s! DeCha was named after one of the grape varieties that we successfully grow and the popular wine we make bearing its name - DeChaunac. Since our kids left the nest, DeCha fills the void nicely. She likes to lick a little wine off my wife, Pat’s, finger, but moments later has to sneeze. We only give her this treat on special occasions like New Year’s Eve. She likes to go where I go whether it be riding shotgun in my golf buggy or accompanying me in my car. She is man’s best friend, and if you pet her you will have a friend for life!

New Year’s Eve is a time for our traditional New Year's Eve roof raising, town painting celebration… senior style. My wife and I, along with my 90-year young mother, Olga, for the past six years have been enjoying a stay-at-home lobster dinner complete with homemade French fries, cranberry sauce, a Spanish hand-dressed salad made by me, and  bubbles… lots of bubbles (that's champagne for all you BEER drinkers!).

But wait it gets better. The final act is the result of too many bubbles. There is a tendency to doze off before the big ball in Times Square touches down at midnight. After giving Pat a big New Year's kiss, toasting with a glass of Clover Hill Sparkling Pinot Noir, and making our new year’s resolution about losing weight for 2015, we retire for the balance of the evening.

Daughters, Kari and Lori, and son, John III, may call us to wish us a Happy New Year if they remember… the youngin's like to party more than us seniors. That is New Year's...Skrip Family/ Clover Hill style - life in the fast lane!

A NEW 2015 resolution for me will be that I spend less time with the grapes and wine business and more time at our second home, appropriately named by Kari as Grape Escape, at Cape Cod. Don’t worry - I’ll be watching Clover Hill but I’ll be watching more of Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Clover Hill will be in good hands with Pat, John III and Kari. As always, I will be available to cut the grass, take the garbage out, and all the other important chores they will ask me to do. Spending more time with my grandkids is also in the equation.

Bottom line is, I wish the BEST to you and yours in 2015. And remember to drink Clover Hill wine in moderation as your key to longevity! - John Skrip Jr.

Owner’s Selection for January 

The holidays may be over, but it is never too late to sip a warmed glass of Holiday wine on a cold night. This is a sweet rose that is jazzed up with cinnamon, cloves and citrus. Now only $9.45.

Try this: mix equal parts of Holiday and brown sugar for a sweet and spicy ham glaze.

Beginner Wine Tasting Class
Saturday, January 10 and 25 at 2 p.m. (almost sold out!)
Tickets required - $25 per person

Join us in a beginner wine tasting class. This 1.5 hour long class will teach you the basics of wine tasting, give you tips on wine and food pairing and help to answer any wine questions you may have. This class is limited in seats and tickets are required: $25 per person and you must be 21+ years old. Call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville to reserve your ticket.

Winter Warmers 
The Winery in Breinigsville
January 17 and 18

Take a wintertime country drive to Lehigh County and sip something special. At Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville we will be offering a trio of warmed wines for you to sample. Recipes will be available.

New wine releases at Vynecrest this holiday season

New Wine Releases 

No. 36 - Vynecrest planted our first vines in the spring of 1974. No. 36 is a celebration of our 36th harvest and will be an ongoing series of dry red blends from the best of the best. Carefully choosing hand-picked vineyard sites and select barrels. A signature wine to showcase our terrior. 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Noiret.

Spiced Winter White - A perfect bookend to our ever popular Spiced Winter Red, this wine captures the holidays in a bottle. Aromas of cinnamon and vanilla give way to a wine that will make any cold winter evening come to life. Serve warm.

December Specials 
* Three Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter Red for $25.00
* Wine of the Month - Traminette 10% off

Vino in the Valley 2015 passports are still available for $35 at the winery or can be ordered online here (fees apply).

Shantz Road is now open, so no more back roads or detours to get to Vynecrest.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem -  12/11 - 12/21
Thursday and Sunday: 11 am - 6 pm; Friday and Saturday: 11 am - 8 pm

While you are visiting the winery don't forget to pick up a gift for the wine lover in your life. We have Cherry DiVyne packaged with Chocolate (makes a great hostess gift), wine scented candles and many more gifts.

Holiday Hours (Breinigsville)
* Dec 1 - 23: 11 am - 5 pm
* Dec 24: 10 am - 2 pm
* Dec 25: closed
* Dec 26 - 31: 11 am - 5 pm
* Jan 1 - 4: closed
* Reopening January 5: 11 am - 5 pm

Holiday Hours (Kutztown)
* Dec 1 - 23: noon - 6 pm
* Dec 24: 10 am - 2 pm
* Dec 25: closed
* Dec 26 - 31: noon - 6 pm
* Jan 1 - Jan 4: closed
* Reopening January 5: noon - 6pm

Glass Half Empty by Sam Landis

My wife and I are moving. After all of the initial congratulatory messages and well wishes there has been a recent shift in tone as the actual move date is becoming more eminent. We are now met with groans and commiseration on the aches and pains of "actually moving." Everyone has their own horror stories of this and that and the general consensus is that "moving sucks." Besides all the packing (my wife has done 99.9%) and the paperwork and the meetings, sometimes you think it's easier to just stay in same place.

Segue into our business here. Years ago we vowed "no more new wines." We said once we hit 22 wines, we were not going to make anything new unless a wine came off the list. Making a new wine "sucks." New bottles, new labels, new wine lists, new equipment not to mention the unknown of how to make it, and at the end of the day how it will be received. It's so much easier to just make the same wines and make small improvements on those year in year out. Why would we want to go through all of that if we are selling out of all of our product? And we just don't need to go through any of the headaches.

Well fast forward to today, we have three new wines - Late Harvest Vidal, Spiced Winter White and No.36. We did not take any wines off the list, so we now have 25 wines. It was a pain, it was a hassle....and it was fun. We learned so much about our vineyard, our wine cellar, and our customers that those lessons will transcend across all of our wines and make them all better.

So my wife and I are moving… and maybe it won't be so bad after all.

Annual Clover Hill Coat Drive happening this week; Ugly Sweater Party coming up next Friday

The holidays are upon us and we can’t think of a better time to pull the cork on a bottle of Clover Hill wine, pour a few glasses and enjoy the spirit of the season with good company.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is getting together with my mom and my sisters to bake cookies. We bake, we laugh, we occasionally fight, and the whole time we sip Sparkling Pinot Noir. The hurried pace of the holidays quickly slows down as we enjoy the simple moments of time together as a family. Of course the glass of bubbles helps to make everything more enjoyable!

I would like to wish you a joyous holiday season and many happy, simple moments enjoyed with a glass of wine.

- Kari Skrip

P.S. Schantz Road is officially opened! No more detours trying to visit the winery in Breinigsville. Cheers to that!

Owner’s Selection for December

Save 10% on your purchase of Niagara. Take a deep whiff of this wine and you will experience an unmistakably fresh, grapey aroma. This sweet white wine tastes like you are eating the grapes right off the vine. Serve well chilled and enjoy with good company.

Now only $8.55. Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase.

Coat Drive at all Clover Hill locations
December 8-14

Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery is hosting our annual coat drive. Give us your coat and we will give you a 10% discount on your purchase. We are collecting all size coats to be donated to The Caring Place in Allentown and Berks Women in Crisis in Reading. Coats can be donated at any Clover Hill location and as a thank you, we will give you a 10% discount on your purchase.

Ugly Sweater Party
December 19
The Winery In Breinigsville

Join us in wearing your favorite ugly Christmas sweater to the Winery in Breinigsville and you will be entered to win a $30 Clover Hill gift card. To help us celebrate, all wines by the glass will be only $4 (even if you are not wearing your ugly sweater).

Sparkling Wine Tasting at all Clover Hill locations
December 26-31

Stop in any Clover Hill location to sample any in stock sparkling wines. Why not pop the cork on a bottle of local bubbly for New Years Eve this year?

Beginner Wine Tasting Class
Saturday, January 10 and 25 at 2 pm
Tickets are required - $25 per person

Join us in a beginner wine tasting class. This 1.5 hour-long class will teach you the basics of wine tasting, give you tips on wine and food pairing and help to answer any wine questions you may have. This class is limited in seats and tickets are required. Tickets are $25 per person and attendees must be 21 years or age or older. Call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville to reserve your ticket. Tickets make a great holiday gift idea.

Clover Hill features Cayuga White as August Owner's Selection

Veraison ~ the final step of ripening in the vineyard and the precursor to grape harvest. The berries begin to change colors, skins and seeds soften, and sugars intensify. This marks an exciting change in the vineyards and another Clover Hill harvest is near. This is also a busy time of year preparing for harvest. In the vineyard, we are still summer pruning, pulling leaves, cluster thinning and maintaining the overall health of the vines and fruit. In the winery, we are busy bottling to make room for the incoming harvest. (Photo by Jim Gavenus)

This is a glorious time to visit Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. Stop in for a tasting, sit on the patio and enjoy a glass of wine. We love having groups visit the winery, but please note that groups of 12 or more are by appointment only so we can best serve all of our visitors. To make an appointment for your group, please contact Tina at 610-395-2468 at least one week prior to your planned visit.

If you are looking for a unique way to experience local wineries we suggest Tastings and Tours - a local, family-owned and operated wine and brew tour business that offers one-of-a-kind, VIP tours in Lehigh and Berks County. They do the driving so you can sit back, relax and take in the scenery while sampling at wineries with no worries. Their special partnerships will provide you with guided, all-inclusive, private VIP tastings, tours and pairings not normally offered to the general public.

We look forward to your next visit to Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. Thank you for choosing to enjoy our locally produced wines. Cheers!

Please note: If you are traveling to the winery in Breinigsville, Schantz Road will be partially closed until July 2015. For detour directions, go here.

Owner’s Selection - August
Cayuga White Save 10% on your bottle purchase and 20% when included in a case purchase.

A semi-sweet, unoaked, soft white wine with mellow aromas and flavors that will leave your mouth coated with tastes of ripe melon, mango, and ruby grapefruit. Pairs wonderfully with lighter fish dishes or John Jr.’s favorite shrimp and rice dish. 
Now only $9.45.

Wine & Food Inspiration

Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market

Saturday, August 16 from 11 am - 4 pm


Visit the wine shop for a delicious tasting featuring a pesto gouda from S. Clyde Weavers paired with Clover Hill’s Vidal Blanc. (Reminder - The Allentown Farmers Market will be closed next week to prepare for the Great Allentown Fair.)

Wine and Food Pairing
Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmer's Market, Reading, Pa.

Saturday, August 16
Visit the Wine Shop at the Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmer's Market for a special sampling of our Cayuga White paired with a shrimp salad from Adelphia Seafoods.

August 21 – 23
Stop in the Clover Hill Wine Shop at the Boscovs’ Fairgrounds Farmer's Market anytime during this week for a sampling of a Pina Colada Wine Cooler made using Cayuga White. Recipes will be available.

Seven Springs Wine Festival
Seven Springs Resort, Seven Springs, Pa.
August 23 and 24 from 11 am - 5 pm

The Seven Springs Wine Festival showcases wineries from all over Pennsylvania offering a tantalizing experience for anyone who loves wine. The festival features complimentary wine sampling from up to 30 wineries, daily seminars, live entertainment, a variety of crafts, and musical entertainment. Show your love for Clover Hill Winery by wearing one of our t-shirts and we will give you a 10% discount on your wine purchase.

Vynecrest to celebrate 40 years in business this weekend!

Join us July 19 & 20 as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in conjunction with Christmas in July. We will have a tent set up in the picnic area, awesome food pairings and live music Saturday and Sunday. More details can be found below.

It is that time of year again - July 17 through July 20, mention this blog post and get 25% off 12 or more bottles. For customers who can't make it to the winery, we are offering free shipping on 6 or more bottles during the same time period, July 17 - 20. No discount code is needed at checkout; you just need to have 6 or more bottles in your cart. This discount applies to online orders only; phone-in orders will be subject to normal shipping prices.

July Specials 
- Wine of the Month - Lemberger - additional 10% off*
- 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold $25*

*available at winery only

Upcoming Events at the Winery

July 17 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm

July 17-20 - Christmas in July, 25% off a case or more (at winery only)

July 19 & 20 - Anniversary Weekend, 11 am - 5 pm

You are cordially invited to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery

* Tent will be set up in the picnic area

* Live music in the tent: The Rotten Apples 1:30 - 4:30 pm on Saturday, and AMoS Duo (guitars) 1:30 - 4:30 pm on Sunday

Food for purchase from The Fud Truk coordinated to complement our wines:

• Spicy Sweet Chili chicken Wrap - Crisp Chicken, tender bib lettuce & Traminette pickled carrots and red onio
• Peppery Arugula Wrap - Herb Boursin cheese, fresh orange segments & dried cherries tossed w/Chardonnay vinaigrette
• Hickory Smoked Bratwurst - served on a crusty roll w/caramelized onion Chambourcin marmalade
• Tender Short Rib Sandwich  - Lemberger-braised short rib topped with creamy Brie & spicy Arugula
• Grilled Cheese - smoked Gouda & roasted red peppers & Summertime Red Chimichurri spread

Hot Dogs - Because you gotta have hot dogs

July 24 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7pm

July 26 & 27 - Wine on the Mountain

Hit the road and head to Penn’s Peak in nearby Jim Thorpe for this festival which includes wine samplings from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries in your own commemorative glass. Relax with a glass of wine on the panoramic outdoor deck with a view of Beltzville Lake and the Pocono Mountains. Or stay inside in air conditioned comfort while listening to live musical entertainment.

Browse through the displays from local artisans and crafters selling handmade décor, accessories, and food items. Or purchase food to pair with your wine from the Penn’s Peak kitchens.

All of the wineries will also be selling wine by the bottle and the case to take home with you. So come prepared to shop. Live musical entertainment will be provided both days. Tickets are required for this event. The event hours are noon – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

TICKETS: $15 in advance or $20 at the door the weekend of the event. (Tickets are good for ONE day of the event, not both days.)

WHERE TO BUY: Tickets for Wine on the Mountain are now on sale via EventBrite (credit card only) here, and also at our nine member wineries (cash only) for in-person sales.

July 27 - Vineyard & Winery Tour at noon, $5 per person

July 31 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7pm

Upcoming Events at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown

July 18 & 19 - Anniversary weekend celebration

Anniversary weekend: light appetizers from Wholesome Food, live music, and plenty of wine. Come celebrate with us from noon - 6 pm. Live music starts at 4 pm. Drawings will be held every hour to celebrate our event.

July 25 - Painting with Wine

Join us for a glass of wine, light appetizers from Wholesome Food, and wine glass to paint. $15 per person reservations a must. Price includes a glass of wine, a small appetizer plate, paints, brushes, one “empty” wine glass, and instruction. Aprons not provided. Painting a glass will not last three hours. You may come anytime with in the three hour time slot. RSVP by July 24 at sheri@vynecrest.com or 484-641-5149.

July 26 - A Summer Evening to Wine

Join us Saturday night for wine, appetizers from the Kutztown Tavern, and live music. Relax inside or on our back patio and enjoy the sounds of the season. The evening festivities will last from 5 - 8pm at $12 per person. Reservations a must. Email your RSVP to sheri@vynecrest.com or call 484-641-5149.

Enter the Cooking with Wine Seafood Soup Contest using Clover Hill wines at the Allentown Fair

Take a ride into the beautiful countryside of Berks County where you will find Clover Hill’s largest vineyard and a quaint tasting room. This gorgeous farm was purchased by John and Pat Skrip to expand Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery in 1991. The original farm and house date back to the late 1800's, owned by the Filbert family who operated it as a dairy farm. In the 1980’s the farm changed hands and was purchased by New York City transplants, Bill and Shirley Fritz, who had a dream of starting a vineyard in the country. Needless to say, Bill and Shirley Fritz were not cut out for country living and quickly opted to move back to the city.

In 1986, when John and Pat Skrip acquired the property, they began expanding the six acres of vines to the current size of 44 acres and built a small tasting room, which opened in October 1991, to sell Clover Hill wines. The Vineyard in Robesonia is open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for tastings and sales from 11 am - 5:30 pm, Sundays from noon - 5 pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a small patio where you can enjoy wine by the glass, and we also have a selection of local cheeses available for purchase to enjoy on the property. We look forward to your escape into rural Berks County and a visit to the Vineyard in Robesonia.

July Specials

• Monday Funday – Every Monday at the Winery in Breinigsville all still wines are $4 by the glass.
• Senior Days – Every Tuesday at the Winery in Breinigsville seniors 65+ years old receive a 10% discount on their wine purchase.
• Fabulous Friday – Every Friday at the Winery in Breinigsville all sparkling wines are $5 by the glass.

Wine and Food Inspiration at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market
Saturday, July 12 from 11 am - 4 pm

Visit the wine shop at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market on Saturday, July 12 for a summer grilling inspired wine and food pairing. We will be featuring samples of Clover Hill’s DeChaunac paired with Summer Sausage from Peters Brothers Meats.

2014 Vineyard and Winery Tour Series
The Winery in Breinigsville
July 13 at 2 pm
July 21 at 2 pm

Join Clover Hill Winery for an inside look at our vineyards and production facility. Let us show you our winemaking process from the grape to the glass. The tour is approximately 1 ½ hours long and includes wine tastings along the way. Reservations are required and space is limited. Under 21 is free and we are handicap accessible. For reservations please call 610-395-2468. Tour tickets are $12 per person, under 21 is free.

Enter the Cooking with Wine Seafood Soup Contest at the The Great Allentown Fair
Applications must be received by August 2
Judging will take place on August 29

Do you love to cook with wine? Why not enter the Clover Hill sponsored ‘Cooking with Wine Seafood Soup Contest’ at the Great Allentown Fair? Simply create an original seafood soup, bisque, chowder or stew recipe using a Clover Hill wine as one of the ingredients. 1st prize is a $200 Clover Hill gift card and there are also prizes for 2nd – 5th place. You can see all of the contest details and an application for by clicking here.

Clover Hill plans wine and food inspiration, and vineyard and winery tours for June

First we had bud burst, now flowering in the vineyard and just like that Clover Hill is in full swing of our 38th year of growing grapes. The sun-soaked days make the endless work feel worthwhile. The worry of too much rain or not enough rain make the nights sleepless, but the joy of growing grapes and farming the land is a labor of love for Clover Hill Winery. This is the perfect time of year to visit the winery in Breinigsville and plan a little extra time to enjoy a glass of wine on the patio and toast our 38th growing season.

We would like to thank you for voting us Best of the Valley for 2014. We look forward to your next Clover Hill visit and thank you for enjoying and sharing our wines.

Please note: If you are traveling to the winery in Breinigsville, Schantz Road will be partially closed until July 2015. Please click here to find our available detours.

Owners Selection for June - Vignoles
$10.34 per bottle - Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase.

Intense and delicate flavors of honey, rose and orange blossom will mingle in your wine glass. The sweet, dessert wine is balanced with rich flavors and striking acidity. Try pairing this wine with a cheese plate after dinner or a rich cheesecake. Find recipes here.

Wine & Food Inspiration at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market
Saturday, June 14 from 11 am - 4 pm

Visit the wine shop at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market for a special wine and food pairing featuring baby back ribs from Billy's Seafood and Rib Shack paired with 2008 Merlot. It is a perfect way to treat Dad for Father's Day.

1st Day of Summer at The Winery in Breinigsville
June 21 & 22

Celebrate the arrival of summer with a glass of Clover Hill wine. Visit the winery in Breinigsville or the vineyard in Robesonia on June 21 or 22 for $4 wine by the glass specials all day. Sip a glass of wine on our patio and welcome summer!

2014 Vineyard & Winery Tour Series at The Winery in Breinigsville
June 21 at 1 and 2 pm

Join Clover Hill Winery for an inside look at our vineyards and production facility. Let us show you our winemaking process from the grape to the glass. The tour is approximately 1 ½ hours long and includes wine tasting along the way. Reservations are required and space is limited. Under 21 is free and we are handicap accessible. For reservations please call 610-395-2468. Tour tickets are $12 per person, under 21 is free.

Vynecrest converting bottling line to screw caps this summer

Bread is now available on the weekends in the Vyneskeller from The Daily Loaf, a fellow vendor from the Macungie Farmers Market. Demi-baguette loaves with dipping oil and spices for $3 in the Vyneskeller and regular-sized baguettes for sale upstairs in the tasting room for $4 to take home. Made with 100% organic flour and delivered fresh every Saturday morning to us. More varieties will be available as the summer goes on.

The Vyneskeller is open seven days a week from 1 - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday it is be self service - you can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, crackers) and take it with you downstairs to the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday is business as usual with our full staff.

June Specials:
Wine of the Month - Blueberry, additional 10% off 

3 Pack of the Month - 3 DiVyne Red for $25.
*available at winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events and Farmers Markets

Happy Hour at Vynecrest on Main - every Friday from 4 - 6 pm. 10% off wine purchases and a free appetizer per couple.

June 12 and 19 - Macungie Farmer's Market, 4-7pm

June 21 & 22 - Split Rock Wine Festival
The Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine & Food Festival is held annually on resort grounds during the beautifully inviting summertime. This two-day, outdoor festival features musical entertainment, many of Pennsylvania's finest wineries, and a wide selection of food and craft vendors. Educational seminars are held during festival hours. Come experience everything you loved about wine fest past and all the great new things happening this year. Noon to 6 pm both days.

June 25 - Wine and Wholesome Food Cafe Event
Join us Wednesday evening in Kutztown for a wine and pairing from Wholesome Food Cafe from 5- 7 pm. $10 per person

June 26 - Macungie Farmer's Market, 4-7 pm

June 29 - Vineyard & Winery Tour
Jazz Sunday - Vineyard & Winery tour begins at noon. $5 per person. Tour should wrap up just in time to enjoy some live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm.

Glass Half Empty
by Malachi Duffy

I was just rereading the Glass Half Empty column I wrote for last June and it was about some of the projects we had recently completed or were underway. It ended with the last big project to be completed for the year, a new bottling line that would hopefully be twice as fast and use screw caps.

Well, 12 months later the new bottling line is in. We now have four wines under screw cap and have an aggressive bottling schedule in place to try to get the 2013 wines in the bottle before the 2012 vintage sells out.

We have had a lot of questions about why we chose to switch from a synthetic cork to screw caps. The answer is pretty simple. It is THE BEST closure for us and the style of wine we make. Every closure has its weakness. Natural cork can be tainted with TCA, so a certain percentage of your wine may be bad and there isn't anything you can do about it. To combat this inconsistency, we switched to a synthetic cork many years ago. Synthetic cork has been great for us but is does have a downside. It lets a little bit of oxygen into the bottle and over time the wine will oxidize. With synthetic corks we are able to guarantee our white wines for two-to-three years and our reds for five years (because red wines are better at protecting themselves against oxygen).

We wanted to have a longer shelf life for both our red and white wines. Screw caps solve all the above problems and offer an easier way to open the bottle of wine. While screw caps do let in some oxygen, it is MUCH less than that of a natural or synthetic cork. This will allow us to guarantee our whites for up to five years and reds up to 10 years (probably much longer).

Screw caps may diminish the drama and romance opening a bottle but it is well worth the sacrifice to ensure a taint-free wine that offers consistent aging, maintained flavor and freshness with optimum quality control. Quality is Vynecrest's number one concern when producing a wine and the switch to screw caps is another example of of that pursuit.

Clover Hill offers "Buck a Bottle" shipping special May 15-18

We are going to take one last look at this past winter, only because it brought us a rare jem of a wine. We are proud to introduce our Generations Late Harvest Vidal. The grapes were hand harvested on a snowy Saturday in January from "The Point" vineyard, located at the point of Schantz Road and Rt. 863. We gently extracted the juice using an old fashion basket press and began the fermentation process. Fast forward four months and the end result is like sipping liquid gold.

The Generations Late Harvest Vidal has a rich lingering mouth feel with complex and intense flavors of dried oranges and peaches. There is a strong acidic backbone that gives this wine a zesty finish.  Only 40 cases of this wine was produced so hurry, before it is all gone!

We look forward to you visiting a Clover Hill location in the near future. We have a number of fun events planned for the month of May, but if you can’t make a trip to Clover Hill, we are offering a shipping special May 15-18.

Please note: If you are traveling to the Winery in Breinigsville, Schantz Road will be partially closed until July 2015. Follow these directions around the road closure.

Owner's Selection
Save 10% on your purchase of Brut or Cuveé.

Brut : A dry sparkling wine; Brut is produced using the traditional method of making a champagne - Methode Champenoise. Brut showcases an elegant combination of yeasty and fruity flavors and is an excellent paired with smoked salmon or mussels.

Cuveé: Cuveé is a French word that translates to ‘vat full’ or ‘blend’. This Cuveé is effervescent, light and semi-sweet. Try this bubbly with sushi or Sunday brunch quiche.

Buck A Bottle Shipping Special
May 15-18
shop.cloverhillwinery.com

Stock up on Clover Hill wines for the summer and have them shipped right to your door. Purchase 6 or more bottles and you pay only $1 per bottle shipping. Purchase 12 or more bottles and you will also receive a 10% case discount along with $1 per bottle shipping charge.

Spring Fling
The Winery in Breinigsville
June 7 from noon - 5 pm

Join your favorite Breinigsville wineries, Clover Hill and Vynecrest for the Spring Fling. Your ticket includes sampling of 3 new releases at each winery. Visit Vynecrest to taste 3 new wines each paired with a locally made cheese. At Clover Hill you will be sampling 3 wines from the 2013 harvest each paired with a dessert. Tickets are $10 per person. Limited availability. Tickets are now available for purchase at both participating wineries.

2014 Vineyard & Winery Tour Series
The Winery in Breinigsville

Join Clover Hill Winery for an inside look at our vineyards and production facility. Let us show you our winemaking process from the grape to the glass. The tour is approximately 1½ hours and includes wine tasting along the way. Reservations are required and space is limited. Under 21 is free and we are handicap accessible. For reservations please call 610-395-2468. Tour tickets are $12 per person, under 21 is free. Click here for dates.

Vynecrest plans for Mother's Day, Wine in Bloom and Jazz Sunday in May

The vineyard is starting to come back to life after the harsh winter. The vines are pruned and buds are starting to open up. We planted an additional 500 vines last week (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon). Hopefully the cold weather didn't claim too many vines.

The Vyneskeller is now open seven days a week from 1 - 5 pm. Monday through Friday it is self serve - you can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, crackers) and take it with you downstairs, on  the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday it is business as usual with our full staff.





May Specials 


* Wine of the Month - Naked Chardonnay, 10% off 

* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Vynecrest White for $25.

*available at winery only, 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events

May 10 - Mother's Day
We will have live guitar music in our Vyneskeller Wine Bar from 1 - 4pm, and will feature our Blueberry Pomegranate cocktail, made with Vynecrest Pinot Noir and Blueberry wines. We will also offer samples of Sugar 'n Spice Black Raspberry Dip with bite-size graham cookies. A great day out for Mom.

May 17 & 18 - Wine in Bloom along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
In addition to the beautiful potted petunias from Amore Greenhouses for the first 25 customers each day, Vynecrest will be doing Winemaker Tours of the vineyard and wine cellar free of charge for the public at noon both Saturday and Sunday.

We have a new PA Preferred Partner - September Farm Cheese from Honey Brook, PA - and we'll be offering samples of many of their delicious cheese in our tasting room along with complimentary wine tastings.

May 25 - Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tours
In conjunction with Jazz Sunday, featuring live jazz music the last Sunday of every month in our Vyneskeller wine bar, our Winemaker Vineyard & Wine Cellar Tours will be held May 25, June 29, July 27, August 31, and September 28 at noon for $5 per person. Come tour the backlot of Vynecrest where the wine is grown and made, and then taste the finished product.

Glass Half Empty
by Sam Landis

Well we had quite a day yesterday as we christened our new screw cap bottling line. After a thorough five hour tutorial on Tuesday, Malachi and I were confident and primed to dominate 1,000 gallons of Blueberry Wine.

Ten minutes in I was holding five bottles of uncapped wine while the machine was spitting out capsules like a machine gun all over the floor. Suffice to say, we eventually figured it out and like most things around here, three months from now it will feel like it's always been there.

But it got me thinking how far this business has come. Growing up we used to bottle where the current Vyneskellar is. I used to have to recruit friends of mine to help alongside my parents and their friends. I believe we had two bottle washers, three manual hand corkers, two people using hair dryers to melt the caps, three hand labelers with glue, and two people putting away final cases. All told, it took 12 people all day to bottle 100 gallons of wine that looked like it was produced by a third grader.

So there we were yesterday, just Malachi and I, bottling 100 gallons every 25 minutes and it got me thinking: you can upgrade all you want but you can never replace the good old days.