Vynecrest Anniversary Weekend is just a few days away!

New Releases
2015 Autumn Gold - The 2015 growing season was very good for Autumn Gold. If you're a fan of this wine you are going to love this vintage! $9.99

#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

July Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Chardonnay - 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 First Blush for $25
(available at winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers.)

Upcoming Events

July 16 and 17 - Vynecrest Anniversary Weekend
Live Music in the picnic area - Saturday - The Rotten Apples, 1-4 pm and Sunday - Billy Bauer, 1-4 pm
Fud Truck, both days, featuring the return of the "Lemberger," and many other great food items - 11 am - 5 pm

July 31 - Barre 3 Yoga, Food Truck, Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour
Barre 3 Yoga in the Vineyard, contact Barre 3 to register, 610-841-8200
Jazz Sunday, Live Music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm
Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck - 10 am - 5 pm
Vineyard and Winery Tour - 1 pm, $5 per person, reservations suggested

Glass Half Full
Maizey Landis - July 17, 2003 - March 10, 2016

John, Jan and Sam Landis took care of Maizey for 12 ½ years, but she really belonged to everyone at Vynecrest. We picked her out of a large litter on a farm in Morgantown in September 2003 and our neighbors picked out her sister Morgan (Morgan crossed the Rainbow Bridge 2 ½ months after Maizey). The two puppies spent a lot of time together growing up.

Maizey truly was a winery dog, she actually spent more time at the winery than at home. She loved hanging out and greeting people. A typical Labrador, she was gentle and wagged her tail for everyone big and small, young and old. At 4:30 on weekends, she would go down to the Vyneskeller to greet everyone and clean up all the crumbs on the floor.

During the week, she could be found sitting in the window seat in the upstairs Tasting Room. And in her puppy years, she followed John everywhere in the vineyard, loved riding in the golf cart with Sam and getting into trouble in the wine cellar.

In her memory, we have renamed the North Vineyard the Maizey Vineyard. The Lemberger grapes are in this vineyard and it’s a favorite picture spot for visitors. We know you all miss her as do we.

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 welcomes food trucks on weekends in March

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Vino in the Valley passport program event is underway. No worries if you don't have a passport; we are still open to the public for sales and complimentary tastings. If you do have a passport, come on in, head right downstairs to have your passport stamped and get your food pairing.

To escape the weekend crowds, don't forget we are open every day until 5 pm and open until 5:30 on Fridays. Fresh bread is available Friday through Sunday. Stop in Friday after work to pick up fresh bread, local cheese and local wine.

As a special treat in March, when tasting our Cherry DiVyne wine at the winery, you will be treated to a complimentary chocolate covered pretzel from Billy's Candies. Since so many people will be traveling the Wine Trail in March, we will have small bags of these delicious pretzels available for $5 to take along with you. We will also have boxes of Billy's Easter candy available for sale during March. They are a wonderful small candy company in Temple, Pa. that we are proud to have available here at the winery.

March Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Autumn Gold - 10% off
* 3-Pack of the Month - 3 Niagara for $25

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

Upcoming Events

March 19 - Live music in the Vyneskeller - Steve Myers on the baby grand, 1 - 4 pm. Free admission.

March 19 and 20 - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck - 10 am - 5 pm Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm Sunday

March 26 - Bob-B-Q Food Truck - 10 am - 5 pm

March 27 - Easter Sunday - CLOSED

April 2 and 3 - Bear Creek Spring Wine Festival - noon  - 6 pm both days

April 9 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller - Steve Myers on the baby grand, 1 - 4 pm. Free admission

April 17 - Brunch and a Ball Game - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck will be dishing out some great food from 11 am - 5 pm and the Phillies will be taking on the Nationals at 1:35 pm.

Glass Half Empty by John Landis

When March arrives I think about St Patrick’s day, spring, Easter, NCAA March Madness and of course the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s Vino in the Valley event. This is the 16th year for the ticketed passport program event which features wine and food pairings at each of the nine wineries.

Just for fun, I checked the Internet to see what else happens in March and I found that there are 113 “national holidays” in March including National Mulled Wine Day on March 3. Then there are another 100 state and local “days.”

So if you’re looking for some reasons to come to our winery and celebrate, there is always some special day available. For Vynecrest, March is also the time of year we start bottling some of our 2015 harvest as our 2014 wine supply diminishes. And, in March we will be releasing our No. 37 wine, which represents the best of the best of the reds from our 37th harvest (2014). Last year, No. 36 was predominately Merlot; No. 37 will be predominately Cabernet Franc.

Vynecrest celebrates Valentine's Weekend with goodies, live music and jewelry

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.

Copies of our 2016 calendar of events are available to pick up at the front register at the winery and at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown. While it's still a work in progress, we've added some exciting new things this year, including more live music in the Vyneskeller and food trucks. Our Winemaker Tours of the vineyard and wine cellar are listed on the calendar as well.

We have been partnering with Billy's Candies from Temple, Pa. for the last few months and we now have small heart-shaped Valentine's boxes of their delicious candy on sale at the winery. We have boxes of assorted milk and dark chocolates and boxes of nonpareils for $10.75.

▪ Wine of the Month - Lemberger - 10% off*
▪ 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Summertime Red - $25*

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

February 13 and 14 - Valentine's Day Weekend

Our Vyneskeller wine bar will be opening early for Valentine's Day Weekend. Both days from 10 am - 1 pm we will sell $3 mimosas. Pastries, croissants and chocolate-covered strawberries will be available for purchase as well. Reservations suggested. Call 610-398-7525.

Steve Myers will be playing the baby grand piano in the Vynskeller on Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm and Sunday from 1 - 4 pm. In addition, we will be partnering with Sorrelli’s Jewelry in the main tasting room on Saturday February 13.

February 28 - Jazz Sunday

Dan Harakal on the guitar and Mike Spangler on the Piano, 1-4pm, free admission

March 19 - Vynecrest Wine Dinner at Virginville Hotel - 6:30pm

$60 per person, all inclusive
Reservations: 610-562-7072

Spinach and Crab Flat Bread - A blend of fresh spinach jumbo lump crab and asiago cheese, baked on flat bread, accompanied by Naked Chardonnay

Grilled Romaine heart salad-fresh romaine hearts marinated and grilled topped with a house-made grape tomato bruschetta, drizzled with a balsamic glaze, accompanied by Traminette

Lamb Lollipops - fresh lamb chops sauteed with a leak orange rosemary saute. Served with red skinned garlic mashed potatoes and snap peas, accompanied by Chambourcin

Poached Pears, accompanied by Vynecrest White

Vynecrest's annual Super Bowl Chili Saturday event returns this month

We have a few cases of Spiced Winter Red and Spiced Winter White left to help take the chill off.

We have reopened after a quick break and are back to our normal hours:
Breinigsville - Open seven days a week, 11 am - 5 pm (Friday open until 5:30 pm)
Kutztown - Open Thursday - Sunday, noon - 6 pm

January Specials 
- Wine of the Month - Nouveau Beaujolais, additional 10% off
- 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter White, $35
(*at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

Upcoming Events

Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm

January 30 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday

We are celebrating a week early and will be sampling red and white Chili at Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville made by Mr. Bill's from the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.

The red turkey chili is made with local grown, antibiotic free, skinless turkey meat blended with tomatoes, beans, and spices.

The white chicken chili is a blend of chicken breast meat and ground chicken with a puree of white beans and sautéed onions, garlic, celery and a unique spice blend.

The winery is open 11 am - 5 pm, and bowls of both chilis will also be available for purchase in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar along with wine by the glass and bottle. Admission is free and reservations are not needed.

January 31 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

February 13 and 14 - Valentine's Day Weekend

Our Vyneskeller wine bar will be opening early Valentine's Day weekend. From 10 am to noon, both Saturday and Sunday, we will be selling $3 mimosas and pastries & croissants. Chocolate covered strawberries and Valentine boxes from Billy's Candies will be available for purchases as well. A great beginning to Valentines Day! Limited seating, please call ahead for a reservation. 610-398-7525

We will have live music in the Vyneskeller on Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm, and Sunday from 1 - 4pm.

In addition, we will be partnering with Sorrelli's Jewelry in the main tasting room on Saturday. They will be debuting their 2016 spring collection. Any Sorrelli purchase made at Vynecrest that day will entitle you to 10% off a 6 bottle purchase (normally a 5% discount).

February 6 - Super Bowl Saturday - Wear your favorite NFL gear and get an additional 10% off your wine purchase

February 28 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

Glass Half Empty by Malachi Duffy

We are getting ready for our annual meeting to go over 2015, what went right, what went wrong, and what can we do better. We go over sales numbers, events, personnel, new wines and anything else we don't get a chance to really delve into throughout the year. Last year was great. Looking back on what made it great makes you realize how many pieces there are to this crazy Vynecrest puzzle.

Though it takes all of the pieces coming together to get the job done, the most important are the people in and around Vynecrest. Every facet of this business relies on the support of great people. We have friends and neighbors who are there to help us fix equipment and maintain the property. We have an awesome staff who go above and beyond and make Vynecrest a fun place to work. We also have great customers whom we love making all of this wine for.

So, cheers to all of you who helped make 2015 great. Here's to an even better 2016!

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 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.

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

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

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

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

October Specials

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

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

Upcoming Events

October 16 - Wine Glass Painting, Vynecrest on Main

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

October 17 & 18 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Chambourcin Weekend

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

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

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

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

Glass Half Empty by Jan Landis

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Visit Vynecrest this month to celebrate Maizey's birthday and the winery's 41st Anniversary

July Wine Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Traminette - 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Summertime Red for $25.

*available at winery only

The Cellar Experience

A new addition in the winery is our Cellar Experience bar in the tank area of the wine cellar itself. We often get jammed with groups mid-afternoon on weekends at our regular Tasting Bar and have to turn away big groups. Now we have a special place to serve groups from 8-20 people who either call in ahead of time or just show up.

We created a new bar in the wine cellar to accommodate these groups. For $5 per person, a group will get a tasting of either six sweet or six dry wines with an experienced server - often one of the owners, away from the hubbub of the Tasting Room. We had fun making the bar top ourselves by slapping down old Vynecrest wine labels, some dating back to the early '90s. We can also use this bar for future barrel tastings, tastings at the end of a group tour, or any number of special occasions. We also spruced up the adjacent old bathroom which is now painted barn red. Come check it out the next time you visit!

Upcoming Events

July 10 - Maizey's Birthday Bash

Our beloved winery head honcho Maizey is turning 12 years old on July 10. As thanks for all of the crackers, cheese and other crumbs that she has eaten off the floors here for years, she wants to finally give back. On July 10, both Autumn Gold and Summertime Red (Maizey adorns both labels) will be 25% off all day from 11 am - 5:30 pm at the winery.

In addition, Vynecrest will be donating $1 from the sale of each of those wines on that day to the Sanctuary at Haafsville in honor of Maizey. In lieu of gifts for Maizey, feel free to bring in any pet food or supply donations as we will be collecting them for the Sanctuary.

July 16 - 19 - Receive 25% off a case or more and free shipping for online orders only.

July 18 & 19 - 41st Anniversary Celebration

Join us as we celebrate our 41st anniversary in conjunction with Christmas in July. We will have a tent set up in the picnic area, awesome food from the Fud Truck, and live music Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's live music features The Rotten Apples.

Slow Roasted “Chambourcin” Lamb Sandwich
Pulled lamb shoulder with Chambourcin cherry glaze, fresh mint mayo and fresh arugula on a buttery brioche roll

The Vynecrest “Lemberger”
Fresh ground beef seasoned with Lemberger salt and #36 Smoked Pepper, local Pennsylvania Jack cheese and crispy onions on a buttery brioche roll

Fresh Crisp Falafel Pita
Fresh, crisp falafel with smoky golden babaganoush cut with Dry Riesling served in a pita with tender bibb lettuce

#36 12 Hour Pork Shoulder
Tender Smoked Pork (using #36 oak barrels) served w/zesty Carolina mop sauce and housemade garlic dill pickle slices

Grilled Shrimp “Ceviche” Wrap
Grilled shrimp tossed w/charred lemon & Pinot Grigio vinaigrette, grilled sweet corn salsa and peppery arugula

Crispy Sweet Chili Chicken Wrap
Crisp chicken, tender bib lettuce and Traminette pickled carrots and red onion

Cherry DiVyne” Funnel Cake Fries
Crisp funnel cake fries topped with powdered sugar and Cherry DiVyne syrup

Blueberry Cobbler Sundae
Fresh blueberry cobbler using Vynecrest 100% Blueberry wine with vanilla bean ice cream

For the little ones:
Hot dog with fries or chicken fingers with fries


July 24 - Glass Painting at Vynecrest on Main

Join us at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown from 6 - 8 pm for "Painting with Wine." The cost is $12 per person which includes a glass to paint, a glass to drink, and all painting supplies. Appetizers are available for a nominal charge. Please call our Kutztown location at  484-641-5149 to make reservations. There are only 15 spots available so reservations are a must. This month's painting will be of a peacock.

July 26 - Vineyard & Winery Tour & Jazz Sunday

The Vineyard & Winery tour begins at noon and is $5 per person. Tour will end in time to enjoy free live Jazz in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm.


Glass Half Empty by John Landis

July means being outdoors as much as possible. Picnics, swimming, fireworks, ball games, festivals, and drinking summer wines on the patio. In July, we celebrate the Fourth, Maizey's birthday, our 41st year as a vineyard, and a trip to Maine for me and Jan.

In July I love to watch the explosive growth of the vines and the ripening of the grapes. So far, this year's crop looks great. Without tornados, hail or hurricanes, we'll be good to go! Keep your fingers crossed.

Winery news includes painting party, wine specials and awards, live music, and a new wine release

Franklin Hill 

Paint Party in the Vineyard
June 27 at 2 p.m.

Find your artistic side at Franklin Hill Vineyards - we'll bring the supplies, you bring your creativity!  Local artist Claire Lukas has created a one-of-a-kind piece for you to replicate as you take in the breathtaking views of the vineyards and of course, sip a glass of wine. Purchase your tickets here.

Vynecrest

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

Vynecrest June Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Chardonnay, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Niagara for $25.00

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

June 28 - Vineyard & Winery Tour & 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 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge 

The 2013 Veritas is now available for purchase. It is a bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and, for the first time ever, Petit Verdot.

We are very excited to announce that we have won more awards for the following wines at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition:

Traminette
Gold Medal
(rated 90points out of 100)

Brut Rosé
Silver Medal

Naked Chard
Bronze Medal

Blue Mountain

Italian Night
July 11 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Our wine may be more French, and our heritage more German, but this event is all about Italia! Join us as we celebrate all things Italy. Featuring food from Giovanni's Gourmet Italian Catering and live music from Lucas Lasagna. Enjoy food, music, dancing, and your favorite wines. Space is limited to 125 guests. Tickets are $24.50 per person, includes wine tasting, dinner, live music, and a souvenir glass to keep (free to Wine Club members).

This weekend's winery events - live jazz, cupcakes and wine, and dinner in a vineyard!

This Sunday, May 31 at Vynecrest - Jazz Sunday: live music in the Vyneskeller from 1-4 pm. FREE.

May 30 at Blue Mountain Vineyards
Run The Vineyards 5K

Run the beautiful and scenic trail course through the vines of Blue Mountain Vineyards. The 5K is a course with chip timing and online results. There are awards for Top 3 Overall and Age Group winners. There is a tech shirt and wine glass for all participants. We'll also have food vendors on site. Enjoy post run live music and a tasting at the wine bar. Register online at www.GoodDayforaRun.com.

Wine and Cupcake event this weekend at Galen Glen

Saturday, May 30 - 11 am - 5 pm
Sunday, May 31 - noon - 5 pm

Happiness Cakes from Las Vegas Chef, Natalie Morgan.  Natalie grew up locally in Palmerton and is now the Executive Pastry Chef at Portafino and Tom Colicchio’s Heritagesteak.  She will be in the tasting room for a meet & greet from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, May 30th.  Both days we will be selling her “Happiness Cake Pops” made from our award-winning Riesling wine paired with 3 ounces of Late Harvest (formerly Erin’s Auslese) for $3.  You may also purchase full-sized versions of the Happiness Cupcake and Natalie’s favorite, Lemon-Blueberry Cupcake for $2.50 while supplies last.

Dinner in the Vines event
Saturday, May 30 at Tolino Vineyards

Like to dine alfresco? How about in a vineyard? Tolino is partnering with DeFranco and Daughters Catering for a family-style Italian meal in the vineyard. Bring your friends and family and dine like you are in Tuscany. $49.95 per person includes two glasses of wine, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Purchase tickets over the phone, in person, or online.

Pinnacle Ridge's Second Annual Case Club Member Barrel Tasting
Sunday, May 31 starting at 3 pm

The case club barrel tasting event will feature a look at our new wines from the 2014 vintage prior to blending and finishing as well as the finished 2013 Veritas. You will also get a chance to taste the Petit Verdot prior to blending.

The 2013 Veritas is a Bordeaux blend that consists of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and for the first time ever Petit Verdot.

Owner/winemaker Brad Knapp will be leading the event to answer any questions you might have about the 2014 vintage. Case Club members will get a chance to purchase the 2013 Veritas before the general public at the end of this event.

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.

Vynecrest invites wine lovers to join them for Brunch and a Ballgame on April 19

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 2015 growing season.

April Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Riesling, 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

April and May - Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm. Free admission.


April 19 - Brunch and a Ballgame

Come out and celebrate spring as we showcase Food, Wine and the Phillies on April 19 from 11 am - 5 pm. Highlights include the following:

* Signature sangrias on special for $3 from 11 am - 1 pm.

* FUD truck on site all day.

* Phillies vs. Nationals in the Vyneskeller starting at 1:35 pm.

* Patio will be open.

Pop on in, catch a few innings, grab a bite to eat and glass of wine, and kiss winter goodbye.

Sunday, April 26 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm.

May 16 and 17 - Spring Wine and Cheese Event

This event features the pairing of cheeses with local wines at each of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's nine member wineries. This year’s event theme is “Local Wine with Cheeses from Around the World.” 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.

Glass Half Empty
by Jim Hutchings

With the arrival of April, I look back on the busy month we leave behind. March is the true beginning of the year for me from a winery perspective. It’s when the vines start to awaken and the weather typically begins to turn from the blustery cold winter to the beautiful springtime.

Vino in the Valley is what brings many of our longtime customers out of hibernation as well. While I see many customers several times throughout the year, there are others who I look forward seeing on their annual pilgrimage each March. It’s a good time to reflect on what’s new on our wine list from their last visit and think about what’s in the works for the year to come.

This year we saw Cabernet Franc (a favorite grape of mine) taken off of the list but in its place is a real winner: No. 36, a Merlot-based blend which shows how great Merlot from the Lehigh Valley can be. Some of our Cabernet Franc has made it into this blend as well, so that old friend is not too far away.

The conclusion of March also officially kicks off our 2015 festival season - we’ll be setting up with some of our other winery friends this Saturday, April 4 at Bear Creek Mountain Resort for their Spring Wine Festival. That fun festival gets us chatting with our fellow winery workers and prepares us for the rest of the summer festivals including Split Rock in June, Penn’s Peak in July, and of course the many Lehigh Valley Wine Trail events hosted at each of the nine member wineries for the rest of the year. March is over, winter is over… we’re looking for the next new and exciting release out of our winery so bring on the summer and another fantastic growing season in the vineyard!

Save on Chambourcin and Traminette this month at Vynecrest

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail passport program is underway. No worries if you don't have a passport - we are still open to the public for sales and complimentary tastings. If you do have a passport, come on in, head downstairs to have your passport stamped and get your food and wine pairing.

To escape the weekend crowds, don't forget we are open every day until 5 pm and open until 5:30 pm on Fridays. Fresh croissants and baguettes are available Friday through Sunday. Stop in Friday after work to pick up some fresh bread, local cheese and local wine.

March Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Chambourcin, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Traminette for $30.00

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

Upcoming Events

March 29

Jazz Sunday - live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

April 4

Easter Saturday - live music with pianist Steve Myers, 1 - 4 pm

April 4 - Bear Creek Mountain Resort Spring Wine Festival

Join us on Saturday, April 4 for the Spring Wine Festival. Guests will enjoy wine and food samples and live jazz music from noon - 4 pm. Each guest will receive a commemorative wine tasting glass, event program, free samples, and have access to the wine check service. Tickets are $30 at the door or $25 online.

Glass Half Empty by John Landis

March! It’s the month when spirits rise as the earth awakens from the cold and snow of winter. It’s the month when we see many old friends that hit the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail for our Passport Program. It’s the month that grass turns green, grapes get pruned, our 2014 vintage wines start to find their way into bottles, and our patio fills with wine lovers enjoying the outdoors. It’s the month of March Madness Basketball, and the eternal hope of every baseball fan that this is the year for their team, and yes maybe we can start to wear shorts and t-shirts.

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.

Vynecrest makes plans for Valentine's Day weekend at the winery

We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays... with some Vynecrest wine, of course! We have reopened after a quick break and are back to our new normal hours. We listened to your feedback and have extended our Friday hours to 5:30 pm at the winery in Breinigsville. Hopefully this will give a few more people a chance to grab a bottle of wine and some bread on their way home from work.

Breinigsville - Open seven days a week, 11 am - 5 pm (Fridays open until 5:30 pm)
Kutztown - Open seven days a week, noon - 6 pm

January Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Pinot Grigio, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Dry Riesling, $30

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

Upcoming Events

January and February - Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm

January 25 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

January 31 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday
Get ready for the Super Bowl on Saturday, January 31 by sampling red and white chili at Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville made by Mr. Bill's from the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.

The Red Turkey Chili is made with local grown, antibiotic free, skinless turkey meat blended with tomatoes, beans, and spices. The White Chicken Chili is a blend of chicken breast meat and ground chicken with a puree of white beans and sautéed onions, garlic, celery and a unique spice blend.

The winery will be open 11 am - 5 pm, and bowls of both chilis will also be available for purchase in the Vyneskeller along with wine by the glass and bottle. Admission is free and reservations are not needed.

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 player baby grand piano. Pastries, croissants and chocolate covered strawberries will be available for purchase. A great beginning to Valentines Day! Reservations suggested. 610-398-7525. We will have live music in the Vyneskeller later in the day from 1 to 4:30 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 tickets available for the March Passport Program. The winery will be open for tastings during this month-long event, but all food pairings are exclusively for passport holders. Passports are $35 each and can be purchased online or at the winery.

Glass Half Empty
by Jan Landis

Happy New Year! I’m a glass half-full kind of person, optimistic rather than pessimistic. And the start of a new year is a wonderful way to have new beginnings, plans, and hopes for the future. Maybe they won’t all come true or get done, but the promise of new things to come is exciting!

We’re excited about some new ideas here at Vynecrest. First of all, we will now be open Fridays till 5:30 pm, allowing customers to stop in on their way home from work to pick up wine. We always get a lot of last minute calls from customers on Friday afternoons and have been trying to stay open a few more minutes to allow for last minute purchases, so hopefully this change will help.

We’re excited to do Chili Super Bowl Saturday on January 31 once again. I must admit, we’d be more excited if the Eagles were in the Super Bowl, but hey - there’s always next year! For Valentine’s Day we're trying something different with an early start to the holiday in our Vyneskeller from 10 am -noon with $3 Mimosas and chocolate-covered strawberries. In addition to Jazz Sundays on the last Sunday of every month, we hope to add more live music to weekends this year. Number 36 wine was a big success, so look for Number 37 this year—perhaps a white wine? There will be more Spiced Winter White too, closer to the holidays. It was a great white wine year in the vineyard last year, so look for some great white wines this spring.

We hope you are excited about 2015 as well and we hope to see you all at some point at the winery. In the meantime, cheers to your good health and new beginnings!

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.

Taste and buy wine at the Vynecrest booth at Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem starting this weekend

The 2014 harvest is over and it feels good to take a breath before the busy holiday season begins.

Vino in the Valley 2015 passports are now on sale for $35 each. Christkindlmarkt starts Nov. 20 and runs through Dec 21. It is open Thursdays 11 am - 6 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 11 am - 8 pm, and Sundays 11 am - 6 pm (closed Thanksgiving Day).

Our winery's gift area has locally made products that make wonderful gifts for teachers, hostesses, family and friends. Soy candles, crackers, 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.

November Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Spiced Winter Red 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - Pinot Grigio, 3 for $35

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

Thank you to everyone who purchased our wine of the month during October. One dollar of every bottle purchased during October went towards a donation to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. We sold over 500 bottles. Thank you.

New Vynecrest Website

Check out our new website, www.vynecrest.com. We have updated our website with additional information on our wines, more pictures of the vineyard & winery and have made it easier to order wine online.

To help kick things off we are going to pick randomly select one person who ordered during the month of November to win a Vynecrest gift basket.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 20 - Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem at SteelStacks opens for the holiday season. Visit our booth for wine tastings and sales.

Nov. 30 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm

Glass Half Empty by John Landis

Harvest! When I mention harvest to people, everyone has their own perception of what that is.

For us harvest is the culmination of eight months of vineyard effort to produce grapes of high quality. For us harvest is the camaraderie of working together to hand pick, crush and press the grapes.
For us harvest is being outside enjoying the cool clear days with spectacular fall colors of gold, orange, brown and red.
For us harvest is relief that no major disaster like hurricanes or tornadoes damaged our vineyard.
For us the 2014 harvest has been exceptional.
Finally, for us harvest is the anticipation and excitement of tasting the wines that will be produced. Harvest - what a wonderful time of year!