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.

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.

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 looks forward to spring, bud break on the vines, and Wine in Bloom

The weather is finally starting to warm up. That means the dormant buds on the vine will begin to swell and eventually open, signaling the start of the 2014 growing season. Road work begins this week on the main road used to get to the winery (Schantz Road). Please see below for detour information.

April Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Dry Riesling, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 First Blush for $25.00

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

Upcoming Events

April and May -

Vynecrest Piano & Wine Bar in the Vyneskeller - Open every Saturday & Sunday from 1 - 5 p.m. (free admission)

Sunday, April 27 -

Jazz Sunday - live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 p.m. (free admission)

May 17 and 18 -

Wine in Bloom - a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event. We'll be offering vineyard and wine cellar tours at  1 p.m. both days. The first 25 customers each day gets a potted flower plant courtesy of Amore Greenhouses. Vynecrest will have free samples of cheese and dips available for tasting.

June 7 -

2nd Annual Spring Fling event with Clover Hill Winery & Vynecrest Winery - Ticket holders receive samples of three cheeses and three wines at Vynecrest, and three sweets and three wines at Clover Hill. Additional details to be announced later this month. $10 per person. Tickets available at both wineries.

Local Roadwork

We wanted to give everyone a heads-up regarding a roadwork project that began on April 7. A stretch of Schantz Road will be closed until Spring 2015. This will not affect anyone visiting Vynecrest from Rt. 22/78 and Rt. 100. You will still be able to get to our winery by traveling west on Schantz Road and making a right onto Arrowhead Lane.

For those visiting from the south (Reading/Berks/Kutztown areas) you have two choices to get to us:
1. Follow detour signs, continue on Rt. 222 to the bypass and follow our winery signs in that way.
2. Continue on Schantz Rd. up to where road closure begins and take a left on Adams Road. Once on Adams Road, continue 3/4 of a mile to Arrowhead Lane, make a right onto it and proceed 1 mile. Vynecrest will be on your right.

The section of Schantz Road that will be closed is right after Arrowhead Lane and stretches to the top of the hill where it intersects with Adams Lane. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Glass Half Empty
by John Landis

SPRING!

Today I threw the last piece of ice off my driveway. I look forward to waking up listening to birds chirping, the sun shining, and putting on short-sleeve shirts and shorts.

I look forward to sitting on the patio sipping wine and watching the flowers bloom and the Lehigh Valley turn from white to green. I look forward to the spring planting of grapes and seeing bud break in the vineyard. I look forward to the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s Wine in Bloom Weekend when I can give tours of our vineyard.

SPRING!

It is the start of our 2014 grape growing season and brings excitement and anticipation of another great harvest.

Cheers!

Clover Hill announces dates for Spring Fling and Summer Public Tours

We are pleased to announce some new awards and recognition that Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery has received. Thank you to all that support our second generation family business!

2013 Pennsylvania Wine Competition

• GOLD – Turtle Rock Red
• GOLD – Niagara
• SILVER – Cabernet Sauvignon
• BRONZE – Spiced Apple

Cheers to Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery for being selected 2013 Berks County People’s Choice and 2013 Who’s Who in the Lehigh Valley!

Winemaker, John Skrip III, and his crew are busy in the winery preparing to bottle. Soon the Pinot Grigio, Dolcetto, 2012 Pinot Noir and even the infamous Generations Three will be back in stock. Like us on Facebook to hear more about these new releases as they become available!

Our event schedule is filling up with great reasons to visit Clover Hill Winery. We look forward to your next visit and we hope you will plan a little extra time during your stay to enjoy a glass of wine on the patio!

Owner's Selection
Save 10% on your purchase of Catawba!

A great summertime sipper! Savor the sweet, grapey, and candied flavors of this wine. Don’t forget to sniff first to best enjoy the sweet aromas of grapes in the glass! Try it in our wine cake recipe. Now only $8.55. Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase!

Spring Fling In Breinigsville
Hosted by Clover Hill Winery and Vynecrest Winery
Saturday, May 11 from noon - 5 p.m.
Tickets required - $5 per person

Join your favorite Breinigsville wineries – Clover Hill and Vynecrest – for the Spring Fling. Your ticket will include a sampling of three new releases at each winery. At Clover Hill you will be sampling three new wines from the 2012 harvest and each wine will be paired with a local cheese. Vynecrest will showcase three new releases each paired with locally made chocolates.

For more information on the pairings, please visit our Facebook event.
Tickets are available for purchase at both wineries.
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery
610.395.2468
www.cloverhillwinery.com

Vynecrest Vineyard & Winery
610.398.7525
www.vynecrest.com

Public Tours - Clover Hill Winery, Breinigsville

• Friday, June 21 at  2:30 pm
• Sunday, June 23 at 2:30 pm
• Saturday, July 13 at 1 and 2:30 pm
• Monday, July 15 at 2:30 pm
• Saturday, August 10 at 1 and 2:30 pm
• Monday, August 12 at 2:30 pm

Spend the afternoon sipping and touring Clover Hill. We will share with you our grape growing and wine-making process from start to finish. Please expect to spend 1½ hours at the winery for the tour. Weather permitting we will go into the vineyard, so casual attire is recommended. $12 per person and advance tickets are required.

First-Ever Wine Tourism Day in North America to take place May 11

Clover Hill & Vynecrest Wineries hosting Spring Fling in Breinigsville

The first-ever Wine Tourism Day in North America will take place on Saturday, May 11 with wineries, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses offering a variety of events to the public throughout North America. Clover Hill & Vynecrest Wineries are joining together to offer a special Spring Fling in Breinigsville to mark this day locally.

“There are now over 7,500 wineries in 205 American Viticultural Areas, 38 authorized wine appellations in Canada, and another 40 appellations in Mexico”, says Allan Wright, president of Zephyr Adventures, the active wine tour company organizing Wine Tourism Day. “Most of these wine regions and many of these wineries are dependent on visitors who sleep in hotel beds, eat in restaurants, and buy wine from cellar doors. Wine tourism is very important to the success of many local economies and is a subject worth commemorating.”

Locally, Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery and Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, both in the appellation Lehigh Valley, are offering a Spring Fling in Breinigsville Wine Pairing Event from noon to 5 p.m. at both locations in Breinigsville. Your ticket of $5 per person will include a sampling of three new releases at each winery paired with local cheese and chocolate. Tickets are available for purchase at both wineries. Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, 610-395-2468, www.cloverhillwinery.com and Vynecrest Vineyard & Winery, 610-398-7525, www.vynecrest.com.

The idea for a Wine Tourism Day comes from Europe, where the European Day of Wine Tourism has been ongoing since 2009. Attendees of the 2012 Wine Tourism Conference, an annual gathering of the industry’s leaders, discussed bringing the concept to North America.

Wine Tourism Day is supported by a number of industry partners including LocalWineEvents.com, Touring and Tasting Marketing & Media, WineAmerica, the Wine Industry Network, the Wine Tourism Conference, and Zephyr Adventures, in addition to wine and tourism associations in wine regions throughout North America.

For more information and to find a list of events on Wine Tourism Day, please visit www.WineTourismDay.org.