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Wine recommendations and comments from Dean and Lisa Foster, Vintage Connections Wine Educators and Consultants. Most wines are available in Southeastern Pennsylvania and are priced between $10 and $20. Up-coming "wine events" available in the Pottstown Tri-county area are listed.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wine Tip of the Week - PA Wineries - Vynecrest Vineyard and Winery

Cheers from Vintage Connections  

During June and July we're writing about nearby PA wineries and wine bars.  The weather is great and there are lots of fun activities, in addition to tasting wine, going on at PA wineries.  Take some time, take a drive, and enjoy!  

This week, we're featuring Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, located near the junction of Route 100 and Interstate 78.   

Dean and Lisa Foster
 Vintage Connections: Wine Educators and Consultants





Vynecrest Vineyard and Winery is another one of our favorite, local, family-owned and operated wineries.   
Erin at the bar
Erin pouring samples at the tasting bar
The tasting room is open from 11 AM - 5 PM every day.  Visitors may taste up to 6 wines for free and may purchased wine by the glass in theTom's Vyneskeller (see below).

 Vynecrest is part of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail and is located within the Lehigh Valley AV (American Viticultural Area). 

In addition to producing a wide variety of wines, ranging from bone dry to sweet (so there is something for everyone), they have created the Tom's Vyneskeller in the downstairs of their old, remodeled barn.   
Vyneskeller
Music and Wine in Tom's Vyneskeller 

From 12-4:30, you can buy wine by the bottle or glass and purchase appetizers to enjoy with your wine.  Live music is provided Saturday afternoons.

Vynecrest grows most of their own grapes and is constantly expanding their vineyards.  John started the vineyards in 1974, and opened the winery in 1989.  So, many of their vines are mature and produce wonderful wine grapes.   

John in the Vineyard
John in the Vineyard 














Jan is active in the operations of the winery and was president of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.  She initiated Wine Trail events such as the Passport Program - March Madness for Wine Lovers - and the Wine Trail Harvest Weekend. 
Jan Landis
Jan at the tasting bar. 

Sam (John and Jan's son,) and family's long-time friend and business partner Malachi are both actively involved with management of Vynecrest, the tasting room, and in wine making.

 
Wines at Vynecrest 

Vynecrest produces a wine range of wines including dry, bold reds and whites, to traditionally off-dry and semi-sweet Rieslings and Traminettes, to sweet wines like Cherry DiVyne and Blueberry.  We especially like their Lemberger (known in Austria and sometimes elsewhere as Blaufrankisch), a rare find in PA and across the USA. 

Lemberger
They also produce a wonderfully full-bodied and fruity Chambourcin, the "signature grape" of the Lehigh Valley.  Vynecrest's wines are reasonably priced, with most under $15.  Fully-bodied, oak-aged wines cost a bit more but are still under $20.  Combined with free tastings, wine by the glass in the Vyneskeller, and the friendly owners and staff, Vynecrest is a great winery well worth a visit (we visit several times a year).


Up-coming Events

Music in the Vyneskeller every Saturday. 

Blair Vineyards

Friday, July 8, Happy Hour
Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, Summer Cool Down with food, music and wine.
 Click to events.
 
Pinnacle Ridge
at the Kutztown German Festival, July 2-10
Jazz and Blues in the Barn, Saturday July 10.

Contact us to arrange a customized wine seminar, wine tasting, wine and food pairing, or any kind of wine related event.

Fun Fact  

Lemberger and Blaufankisch are the same grape, found primarily in Germany (Blaufrankisch) and Austria (Lemberger).   

There are significant plantings in Washington State and smaller plantings in PA, NY, VA, and elsewhere in the USA. 

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