Vynecrest Continues to Be a Leader in the Leigh Valley (PA)

Vynecrest has long been one of the better quality producers in the Leigh Valley. Recently, I stopped by there on way back from the Eastern Winery Exposition in Lancaster, PA. I had tried their wines over the years but had not been to the tasting room in a while.

In the Spring of 1974 after purchasing a five acre farm in Breinigsville PA, John and Jan Landis planted 50 grape vines on the crest of the hill. Vynecrest is the oldest existing vineyard in Lehigh County. Vynecrest officially became a licensed winery in 1989. They originally offered six estate-bottled wines. In 1994, they purchased the adjoining 28 acres. In 1998, we became a charter member of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.

In 2002, their youngest son Sam came into the business and they redesigned their winemaking space. In 2007, they purchased additional adjoining acres giving them 75 acres. During the 2008 harvest, Malachi Duffy joined them and became the fourth partner and their lead winemaker. In Spring 2012, they opened a satellite store on Main Street in Kutztown, about 15 minutes west of the winery.  Vynecrest currently produces 22,000 gallons of wine per year, 85% of which is from their vineyard in the Lehigh Valley AVA. That translates to approximately 9,000 cases a year.

The wine I instantly fell in love with was the Vynecrest Traminette Estate 2016 Sparkling Traminette. It is off-dry, meaning it has a hint of sweetness without being too sweet. It's just enough sugar to let the fruit shine without tripping into the semi-sweet market. And the lovely bubbles are very light, just enough to tickle, but not as obvious as other sparklers. More frizzante! It is a delightful wine, expressing on the best attributes of a fine Traminette or Gewurztraminer. Absolutely lovely. Well balanced. Complex. Exquisite!

The Traminette Estate 2016 has a lovely, floral nose, backed by tropical fruits. Lovely notes of pineapple and mango and lychee with a lovely, zippy, acidic ending.

Vynecrest Lemberger Estate 2017 is a lovely medium bodied red wine with big notes of cherry up front, and a lovely ending with notes of spice, pepper and black tea. A lovely drinking red.

Chambourcin is the mostly widely planted grape of the Leigh Valley. Vynecrest Chambourcin 2017 with cherry and black berry exploding out of the glass. Lovely notes of mocha and vanilla with some solid tannins and a big dry finish. A lovely, lovely varietal expression of the grape!

Vynecrest continues to be a leader in the Leigh Valley!