Vynecrest returns to Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem for holiday season

The 2015 Harvest is over (except for our Late Harvest Vidal) and it feels good to take a breath before the busy holiday season begins. Just a reminder that our gift area has locally made products that make wonderful gifts for teachers, hostesses, family and friends. Soy candles, crackers, chocolate, dips, cheese. Remember we have make your own baskets ($5 for basket and wrapping) where you add whatever wine, candles, cheese, crackers, dips, wine gifts you want and we'll make it up for you.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem starts this Saturday, November 20 and runs through Dec 21.

▪ Thursday, Dec 3-17, 11am - 6pm
▪ Friday, Nov 20 - Dec 18, 11am - 8pm
▪ Saturday, Nov 21 - Dec 19, 11am - 8pm
▪ Sunday, Nov 22 - Dec 20, 11am - 6pm

November Specials:

* Wine of the Month - Spiced Winter Red 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - DiVyne Red, 3 for $25

(Wine of the month and 3 pack available at winery only. Three pack can't be combined with other discounts.)

Nov. 21 & 22 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Nouveau Weekend

The nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail debut the first wines from the new vintage during Nouveau Weekend, the last Wine Trail event of the year. Wineries will also feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample. Nouveau wines are bottled very young without barrel aging, and exhibit lots of fruitiness. They are light, fruity and semi-dry to dry red wines.

Vynecrest Winery will feature the release of our 2015 Nouveau Beaujolais, the first wine from the 2015 harvest, made from the traditional Gamay Beaujolais grape, 100% Lehigh Valley Grown and Produced. Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

Nov. 29 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm. Free.


Glass Half Empty by John Landis

November is the month when grape vines slowly shut down for the winter and Jan, Sam, Malachi and I all breathe a sigh of relief as harvest is over with no major disruptions like hurricanes, flocks of grape-eating birds, or early frost to impact the quality of our grape harvest.

A quality grape harvest requires a yearlong effort starting with pruning in late winter and early spring and continuous vineyard maintenance after bud break in early May. This year’s crop was exceptional. The growing season was warmer than the last two years and the fall was dry with cool nights and warm days.

We are excited about our 2015 vintage and you will be able to taste the first 2015 wine when we release our Nouveau Beaujolais on Tuesday, November 17. This month, we also will be introducing a new Vynecrest wine, our 2014 estate -bottled Seyval Blanc. We first planted Seyval Blanc in 1974 and typically we blend this French hybrid grape, but the 2014 Seyval was exceptional so we decide to make a varietal once again. November is the month to stock up for the holidays, so come on out and taste the wines.

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.

Free shipping on online orders of 6 bottles or more from Vynecrest through Dec. 8

Free shipping on 6 or more bottles for online orders through December 8 at www.vynecrest.com. No coupon code is necessary; just be sure you have six or more bottles in your shopping cart.

Normal discounts still apply, 5% discount on 6 to 11 bottles, 10% discount on 12 or more bottles
This promotion is for online orders only. Phone-in orders will be subject to normal shipping fees
Free shipping does not apply if wine is sent to multiple locations. Order must be shipped to one location for free shipping offer to apply

Sorry, we can't ship to AL, AR, KY, MD, MA, MS, MT, NH, UT, HI, AK. Must be 21 or older to order. Adult signature required for delivery of wine. All wine will be shipped via FedEx.

December Specials
* Three Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter Red for $25
* Wine of the Month - Vignoles 10% off

March Passports for the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's 2014 event are still available at the winery for $35 each or can be ordered online.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem - visit our booth for wine tastings and sales during your trip to Christmas in Bethlehem. Thursdays & Sundays: 11 am - 6 pm, Fridays & Saturdays: 11am - 8pm

• 12/05 - 12/08 
• 12/12 - 12/15 
• 12/19 - 12/22

Holiday hours at the winery in 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 - 5: Closed
* Reopening January 6: 11 am - 5 pm

Holiday hours at the wine shoppe in 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 6: Closed
* Reopening January 7: noon - 6 pm

Glass Half Empty
by John Landis

When I reflect back on 2013, what I am most thankful for are all the wonderful people we get to interact with throughout the year.

The friendly farm vendors at the Macungie Farmers Market; the other winery staff who attend wine festivals; the Kutztown University staff who partnered with us on the label for Bear Naked Chardonnay; the volunteers at Christkindlmarkt; Lehigh Valley Wine Trail members; our terrific neighbors who are so supportive; the vineyard crew who helped us harvest the biggest crop in the history of Vynecrest; our family of Vynecrest tasting room staff who interact with our customers; and finally, the customers themselves whose support makes our existence possible.

Jan, Sam, and Malachi join me in thanking you for your support and wish you all Happy Holidays and a healthy 2014!

Wine Trail customer shares his experience with us

We love hearing from customers who have discovered our wine trail and its member wineries. Below is an email we recently received:

"A few years ago my wife was introduced to wine tasting at Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, Pa. by Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery. Every year we try to get away for a few days to celebrate our wedding anniversary.  This year (our 36th) I planned a four-day excursion to nearby Berks and Lancaster counties to incorporate several of my wife's favorite things: chocolate, fabric and quilts, and, of course, beer and wine.

We started the weekend doing a wine tasting together at a winery not far from our home, the Manatawny Creek Winery in Douglassville. We were hooked.  We've also enjoyed the opportunity to sample local wines at a few growers markets in the area.

We enjoyed our anniversary weekend so much that we decided to focus our vacation this summer around the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, and, of course, a few fabric and quilt stores, and chocolate shops. It was a great vacation! We visited all eight of the wineries on the wine trail plus three more. Not only did we get to taste some great wines, but we also saw some beautiful scenery!

One of the most heartwarming features of the winery visits was how all of the wineries support each other.  Final count: we purchased 86 bottles of wine. I think we're going to have a party!

Thanks for a great vacation!"

Joe Evans

Vynecrest shares ideas for original food and wine pairings

It is going to be a busy month at Vynecrest. The power is back on and we are done cleaning up from the storm. The Winery lost power for a few days but other than that there was no damage. Have no fear, Nouveau Beaujolais was ready for release on time!

Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem is now open and we have a wine booth there. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday until December 23 (closed Thanksgiving Day). It starts at 11 a.m. each day and closes at 6 p.m. on Thursdays & Sundays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays.

November Specials:

Wine of the Month -Traminette, additional 10% off
3 Pack of the Month - All American Special, any combination of DiVyne Red or Niagara for $25**

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

Upcoming events:

November 24 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Brian Xander, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
November 25 - Jazz Sunday, Live jazz in the Vyneskeller, Body & Soul, 1-4 pm
December 1 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Rob & Marty , 1:30 - 4:30 pm
December 8 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Jake Kaligis, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
December 15 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
December 22 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Allison Goodin, 1:30 - 4:30 pm

Glass Half Empty 
by Jim Hutchings
Vynecrest Weekend Warrior

Jan's story in the August newsletter covered what some might think of as an 'unconventional' pairing of wine with chocolate, since many people only think of pairing red wine with red meat and white wine paired with chicken or fish. Being such an avid wine drinker, I enjoy wine with meals and even snacks on a regular basis and I've come up with some "interesting" pairings along the way. When I work in the tasting room and share some of these offbeat food pairings, people often think I'm kidding. You see for so many of us wine is not just a drink for a special occasion or nice meal. It's a passion we enjoy daily, so it's only natural to come up with some fantastic pairings from everyday meals and snacks.

When I first heard of wineries offering a pizza wine, even I thought it was a joke. Now I'm surprised when a winery doesn't offer a pizza wine! Ours, of course, is Vynecrest Red. It's great with pizza or anything else with a red sauce. Even though we're past the summer barbeque & picnic season, I still like to enjoy a glass of Cabernet Franc with an all-beef hot dog or cheeseburger from the grill. That's right - our rich and robust dry reds aren't only for drinking with a nice steak. They're good with just about anything that comes off of the grill!

Our sweet and silky Vignoles isn't just for dessert anymore. I think it's a fantastic breakfast wine - try a glass with pancakes and syrup this weekend. Sticking with the sweeter wines, there's no match to Spiced Winter Red and the gingersnap cookies we sometimes pair with at the winery. Also try a warm glass with a piece of cinnamon toast for another breakfast with a kick. Our tasting list says to pair Traminette with Asian cuisine, including Thai food or anything with a bit of spice. This suggestion can go even further, pairing Traminette with Mexican or Indian food. It's just as good with tacos and curry chicken. For my money, though, I think Traminette is at its best with Buffalo wings.

Even recently I've discovered some amazing new pairings. I still have a few bottles left of the Last Syrah from 2008 and it was delicious with homemade beef jerky. The salty, gamey jerky really brought out the ripe berry flavors in the Syrah. I think this year's Chambourcin would also go very well with jerky. Finally, and most surprisingly, I discovered the joy of Sparkling Chardonnay with potato chips. The salty crunch of the chips with the bubbles in the wine (which is perfectly balanced with a touch of sweetness and acidity) creates a pairing that must be experienced to be truly enjoyed.

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with offbeat tastes for pairing wine and food. What other combinations are customers enjoying?