Vynecrest Vineyard & Winery

Vynecrest Vineyard & Winery
172 Arrowhead Lane
Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
USA 18031
Phone: (610) 398-7525
http://www.vynecrest.com

Contact: Sam Landis
Email: [email protected]

Fine wines begin in the vineyard. Our vineyard is an eclectic mix of traditional Old World grapes such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Lemberger; hybrids such as Seyval Blanc, Vidal, Chambourcin and Vignoles and New Age grapes such as Traminette, Noiret, Cayuga and the promising NY81. Our vineyard provides the winemakers with a rich selection of grapes with which to create outstanding varietals and interesting blends.

John and Jan Landis' path into the ancient art of winemaking began in 1972 as Jan was editing a book called "Homesteading." Piqued by the possibilities, they purchased a 5 acre farm in Breinigsville, PA in 1973. Extensive research into soil and weather conditions led them to plant their first fifty vines in 1974. John applied his chemical engineering background to courses in enology and viticulture. Vynecrest Winery officially opened its doors in 1989.

When Vynecrest first opened, the lower level of the barn, currently our Vyneskeller wine bar, contained the entire winery; tasting room, winemaking and wine storage. We offered six wines and were only open on Saturday and Sunday. In 1994, the Landis' purchased an additional 23 acres of land adjacent to the existing vineyard and began planting the first of many separate vineyard blocks. When the new vines started producing grapes in 1998, John retired from Air Products and Chemicals to concentrate on growing the winery.

In 1998, Vynecrest became a charter member of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail and moved its tasting room from the lower section of the barn into a newly renovated upper section, which today still remains the featured tasting area. In 1999, Vynecrest started a partnership with Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem where their German Gluhwein, "Spiced Winter Red," remains a seasonal favorite.

In 2002, Vynecrest became a Limited Liability Company (LLC), as John and Jan’s youngest son Sam came back into the business. In 2003 Vynecrest completed a modern facility connected to the original barn that is used for producing and aging wines. At an increase of two acres of wine grapes per year, Vynecrest is currently producing 12,000 gallons a year with a goal to reach 20,000 gallons. Over 85% of all wines produced at Vynecrest are estate bottled. With the acquisition of an additional forty acres of outstanding grape growing land in 2007, Vynecrest has enough land to continue further expansion.

The partners of Vynecrest are John and Jan Landis, their son Sam, and Malachi Duffy. John has a Ph.D. of chemical engineering and is the winemaker at Vynecrest. In addition, he recently was the president of the Pennsylvania Wine Association (PWA) and presently serves on the PA Wine Commodity Board. Jan was president of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail for four years and has initiated events such as the Passport Program - March Madness for Wine Lovers - and the Wine Trail Harvest Weekend. Sam, a 1998 BA graduate of Williams College, rejoined the family business in 2002 after working in California for E&J Gallo. Sam is the general manager of Vynecrest and currently the President of PWA. Vynecrest’s newest partner is Malachi Duffy. Ky joined Vynecrest during the 2008 harvest. He has a science background from his time spent in the U.S. Navy, which aids in his involvement in the winemaking. He is the winery’s IT specialist and also assists in the general management of the vineyard and tasting room.

Vynecrest’s wines speak to the dedication of the partners in producing fine wines. With over twenty wines ranging from red to white, and dry to sweet we are committed to make only quality wines. Our recent “17 medals for 17 entries” in state and international wine competitions reflects that commitment. New vine varieties, new yeast varieties, and new methods to age red wines are part of our ongoing effort to make better wines. We enjoy what we are doing and we hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Winemaker: John Landis

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