ABOUT
Richard and Dana, while raising their
family have lived near some of the best grape growing areas of America from the Finger Lakes in New York to California and many points in between.
Richard is a ‘real’ Meteorologist and Environmental Engineer who was bitten by the weather bug when he was just a child. He brings a scientific mind to the grape growing and wine making process wanting to know how it all works from beginning to end and never stops asking why or how. Dana is a nurse by day who with a nurturing nature, never ending dedication to quality and keen sense of marketing makes a perfect team with Richard at Weathered Vineyards.
So how did they come up with the name “Weathered Vineyards”? Well both Richard and Dana spent a long time pondering this question. Maybe they could use their initials…R&D Winery didn’t ring right who’d want to go to a winery where they do Research and Development…so the next iteration came up with D&R Winery but that was too much like DR. So back to the drawing board. Then in a stroke of genius, Dana suggested why not call it Weathered Vineyards? For it captures both of Richard’s passions in life, weather and a vineyard. Richard quickly agreed knowing a good idea when he heard one, what better way to meet new people than to talk about the weather over a glass of wine. Hence the idea for Weathered Vineyards was born.
THE WINE
In the spring of 2013 four varieties or 2500 vines were hand planted on 3 acres at Weathered Vineyards in New Tripoli, PA. The four varieties included Cirrus (Cayuga and Riesling hybrid), Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Winter 2013/2014 was very hard on the Sauvignon Blanc and we choose to replace it with a hardier Chardonnay.
The winery and tasting room are now complete and we look foward to welcoming visitors.
Why Eastern PA?
But why eastern Pennsylvania? Richard and Dana both believe that truly great wine can only come from exceptional grapes harvested at the peak of ripeness, but one question that is always asked can eastern Pennsylvania grow exceptional grapes? Surely it’s not one of the best grape growing areas in America is it? So a few years before laying down roots for a winery so to speak, Richard, being the scientist asked a question, what do you need to grow good grapes? The proper vine in the right terroir is the answer. The terroir (ter’wär) is a French term defined as the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including the factors such as the soil, topography, and climate. So Richard set out to define Weathered Vineyards terroir and then more importantly asked what other wine growing regions in the world are similar? Why? Because Weathered Vineyards should make and grow what grows best in its terroir. He first checked on the climate, where are wet springs, hot summers and occasionally wet falls common with what is seen at Weathered Vineyards? What about Weathered Vineyards proximity to the mountains and ocean? Finally, and one of the most important aspects of terroir is the soil. Who has a soil profile like the rolling hills around Weathered Vineyards where a deep mix of clay and loam soils contain a large percentage of a well-drained and fractured ancient shale with a sprinkling of quartzite? While not an exact match, the answer much to their surprise was Bordeaux, France, one of the greatest grape growing regions of the world. So the decision was made and Weathered Vineyards was established in 2013 in the scenic, rolling hills of western Lehigh County.
Address: 7670 Carpet Rd New Tripoli, PA 18066
Phone: 610-984-2867
Hours: Thursday - Monday 11 am - 6 pm