The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey

What started as a friendly bet between a lawyer and home winemaker has flourished into one of the Hershey Harrisburg Region’s best-loved wineries and event spaces. The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey is a sprawling 40-acre indoor and outdoor space where guests can enjoy a wide selection of local wine, craft beer and ciders, rockin’ live music, and spectacular scenery.

Events Take Center Stage

Before we pull the curtain back on what makes the craft beverages so special, we must talk about the heart of the place – the events. Owner Lynn Day and beer and winemaker Christine agree that what truly drives them is the idea of bringing people together. Whether it’s two friends catching up over a glass of wine to thousands of people soaking up the summer sun for a full concert, they want the Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey to be a place where new memories and new friendships are made. If guests fall in love with a new wine, beer, or cider along the way, that’s icing on the cake.

On the Deck

The laidback, have fun environment of the Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey is appealing and inclusive, where different kinds of people - locals and visitors, young and old, human and canine – come together to enjoy the day. You’ll find friends sharing a few bottles of wine and good conversation, families soaking up the sunshine on picnic blankets in the field, or bachelorette parties making a stop for a toast.

Just as diverse as their clientele, their weekly live music lineup includes crowd-pleasing genres like classic rock, alternative rock, and country. Sometimes regional bands provide day drinking background music and other times the acts take center stage, like at their summer festivals, where The Wallflowers, Gin Blossoms, and Spin Doctors have taken the stage.

Not just a fair-weather friend, The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey has a 4,000 square foot indoor event space for kicking back a glass year-round. Each weekend something is happening, be it an acoustic set, an Adult Prom, 80s Night, dueling pianos, art classes, or a puppy hugging event for charity. (Take note! Guests step it up each year for the adult prom. You’ll see limos, bouquets, and boutonnieres! It’s a night filled with nostalgia, music, and energy.)

Visitors should know that like many vineyards and wineries, the Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey doesn’t have a kitchen. Large events may be catered or have or have food trucks, but most days you’re encouraged to pack an al fresco picnic lunch, even if it’s picking up a pizza on the way.

Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey On Tap

On Tap (and canned!)

The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey can have a new batch of craft beer prepared in a couple of weeks. This short turnaround leaves room for creativity and experimentation. Customer favorite brews include Weize Guy, a light and refreshing Hefeweizen, and Pom Beach, a fun blueberry pomegranate wheat beer.

The flavor variety goes beyond the beer. You’ll find ciders (peanut butter and strawberry!) along with a rotation of seltzers. Try the homemade non-alcoholic root beer or cool down with a root beer slushy infused with a bourbon cream during the summer Decked Out Live series.

On the Vine

It makes a difference to know where your wine comes from, and guests are encouraged to stroll through vines and discover a new appreciation for the grape juice in their glass. You can also get the VIP Tasting Experience where you’ll pair a dry or sweet flight of wines with cheese, chocolate, fruit, and crackers, and learn about the winemaking process from one of their Vineyard Ambassadors. If you’ve visited before, come back again because you’re sure to taste new varieties and seasonal selections.

Fan favorites from the vine? Try Twisted Kiss, an award-winning semi-sweet blush that blends a sweet white Vidal and a dry red Chambourcin. The unoaked Chardonnay and dry Riesling whites offer a refreshing summer splash. There’s something for red wine fans, too, like the Firefly, a full-bodied red blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and dark fruit.

Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey walking through vines

On the Science

Christine likes to say she’s a “serial yeast killer.” It’s all part of the try-and-fail so you can try-and-strike-gold approach to building craft beer flavor profiles that land with the broad tastes of a wide guest pool. For wine, she loves to experiment flavor combinations to give each grape base a new twist. Her goal isn’t so much to make you taste something, as it is to make you feel something. A flavor has the power to transport a person to a place and time. A flavor can remind us of a holiday tradition, a celebration, a milestone, or an achievement. Those moments often revolve around food and drink, and we can be swept back through aroma and flavor.

Wouldn’t it be cool to put your own twist on a craft beer for a private event like a wedding or corporate gathering? Christine says, “let’s do it!” With proper notice and some planning, Christine is happy to talk through making a small batch that leans into the personality of whomever is rending the space. (Tip: beer is easier than wine due to shorter production times.)

On the Future

Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey Beverages

Lynn and Christine both started in guest support roles at the Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey. Now working together as a proud owner and an innovative maker, Lynn and Christine share an enthusiasm for dreaming up – and delivering – “the next big thing.” That could be a new flavor, new event, or new concert announcement. It could be a collaboration with local artists, restaurants, or bakeries. Whatever it is, it will be with an eye toward inviting guests to experience it together. With comfort. With energy. With joy. And, of course, with a cold craft beer or wine made right here in the Hershey Harrisburg Region.