In 2022, young winemaker Kyle Jones made a fateful visit to Kreutz Creek Vineyards (founded 1997) in West Grove, intending to purchase some equipment from the soon-to-be-retired owners Jim and Carole Kirkpatrick. He left – not that exact day, but figuratively – with a new vineyard and winery, Acadian Wine Company.
“There, high on the hill,” wrote Richard L. Gaw for the Chester County Press, “Jones saw the enveloping sweep of the vineyards’ nearly eight acres, tumbling gently eastward… Vines as thick and sturdy as heavy rope were meticulously lined up in neat rows. A small but efficient production facility stood in the center of the vineyard. The spacious and airy home… offered beautiful views of the vineyard below, and could be easily converted into a wine tasting area for guests.”
“I have been making wine for several years,” Jones told Gaw. “Starting from scratch in the wine industry seems like a daunting undertaking, but the potential of our growing regions and taking over a turn-key operation has made this more achievable.”
Jones’s journey began not in vineyards, but in the realm of non-profit work. Driven by a desire to help others, he spent years working in various sectors, from helping subsistence farmers in Nicaragua to assisting with operations for a women’s beekeeping cooperative. In 2016, fate took him to Nissley Vineyards in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, offering him an opportunity to join the team of one of the state’s oldest wineries. Spending the next five years learning about wine production in various PA regions, Jones developed a deep appreciation for the potential of Pennsylvania’s diverse terroir.
“The winemaking region in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania is capable of standing on the world stage,” Jones said. “I will be able to put my wine on the table beside varietals from California, Italy and France and unabashedly say, ‘this is Pennsylvania wine, and it belongs here.’”
Tasting Wines from Acadian
Jones and the Acadian Wine Company team are currently in the midst of a multi-year process to reset and replant much of the Kreutz Creek estate vineyards, which contained Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. For now, they are making wines with purchased grapes, mostly from the Lehigh Valley but also some from Lake Erie.
We tried three Acadian whites – Pinot Grigio, Gruner Veltliner and Riesling – and being honest, these weren’t quite ready for prime time. Loaded with east coast twang, they lacked typicity and balance. After that, however, the one red we tasted — the 2022 Acadian ‘Redbone — came as a welcome surprise.
This bone dry red from Lake Erie grapes was a blend of Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Regent, the latter a German cross between Diana (Silvaner x Müller-Thurgau) and Chambourcin that’s showing great promise in the mid-Atlantic. Though slightly candied – cake batter, even – up front, there was a pleasant tartness on the finish that created a lovely balance. Fresh but savory, this medium bodied red was delightfully drinkable and hopefully a better indicator of what is to come from Acadian going forward.
Image via Acadian Wine Company