News Release, May 19, 2010

Vintner’s Circle Continues to Expand in North Jersey, Pennsylvania

Vintner’s Circle continues its expansion in the Mid-Atlantic region with the Grand Opening of two locations, Andover, NJ and Dickson City, PA. HACKETTSTOWN, NJ, May 19, 2010 – The two locations, both of which celebrated their Ribbon Cutting ceremonies last April, are now officially open for business. The Andover winemaking shop is the first Vintner’s Circle in Sussex County, New Jersey, and the Dickson City location is the first of its kind in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Though in different locations, and with different franchise owners, each shop represents the strong, growing interest in American wine culture.


Wine consumption in the United States has steadily risen in the past fifteen years, according to the Wine Institute. In 2008, Wine Spectator reported that the US became the second largest wine market in the world, edging out Italy in terms of total wine consumed. Wikinvest states that American wine consumption grew thirty percent in the past decade, with an increased demographic: new consumers are not only in their 40s and 50s, but in their 20s and 30s.

With increased wine consumption comes increased general interest in wine. A natural extension, it seems, of learning about wine is learning about how wine is made. Vintner’s Circle winemaking shops have filled a unique niche: they provide the space, tools, and professional guidance for budding vintners eager to craft their own wine. At Vintner’s Circle, there is a variety of options for those interested in learning about wine and winemaking: customers can schedule individual winemaking sessions, join group winemaking classes, or enroll in wine education courses.


Vintner’s Circle winemaking shops, though, go beyond the physical tools and the finished product. For both customers and the franchise owners, the shops provide a warm, comfortable space to enjoy both good wine and good company. For Todd Billingsley, franchise owner of Vintner’s Circle Andover, running the shop is a wonderful way to spend time with his wife, Janine, as “Vintner’s Circle a place for family and friends to gather and spend time with one another through tasting, making and enjoying wine.” Stan and Joanne Triplett, franchise owners of Vintner’s Circle Dickson City, are able to spend time with one another while indulging their passion for wine. Stan says, “the franchise is a dream come true for Joanne and me. We have worked together in the past, and we welcomed the opportunity to do so again.”

Vintner’s Circle began in 2005, with a barrel and a dream, in President and Founder David Schmeltzle’s basement. In 2006, the first winemaking shop opened, and four years later, there are six locations across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The company is looking to expand, to further supply the high demand for wine, and the wine making experience, in America.


About Vintner’s Circle
Vintner’s Circle is a place for friends and family to gather, spend time with one another, and enrich their lives through making, tasting, and enjoying wine.
Corporate phone number: 908-979-9463
Vintner’s Circle Andover phone number: 973-940-7348
Vintner’s Circle Dickson City phone number: 570-383-0224

Contact:
Jolan Turkington

www.vintnerscircle.com

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