August 24, 2026 (Burdett, NY) — Valkyrie Crafted Libations (VCL), a boutique winery overlooking Seneca Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, was founded by Stephen Jeremias and his wife Brenda, with assistance from winemaker Rob Lane. Their collaboration has produced a distinctive portfolio of handcrafted wines unlike anything else currently available in the marketplace.
Their journey began in an unexpected place, not in a vineyard, but at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House. While attending Richard Wagner’s opera Die Walküre, which includes the well-known Ride of the Valkyries anthem, Jeremias became fascinated by the opera’s depiction of the mythical Valkyries serving a sacred elixir to fallen warriors entering the legendary Halls of Valhalla. After the show, the concept inspired an enthusiastic phone call to Rob Lane, his longtime friend and at the time, owner and winemaker at a winery in Pennsylvania. “What characteristics might such a mythical elixir embody?” Jeremias asked. That conversation became the foundation for what would eventually become Valkyrie Crafted Libations.
The team then spent years researching ancient traditions, historical fortified wines, and modern winemaking techniques and developed proprietary recipes designed to create an entirely new style of premium Fortified wine that they named Geistwein™, meaning “Spirit Wine” in German. Jeremias and Lane even wrote and published a book on the history of Fortified wine and their journey with Valkyrie Crafted Libations, which is available to read at the Valkyrie Crafted Libations website at geistwein.com
After the Metropolitan Opera experience, Stephen and Brenda Jeremias purchased property on Seneca Lake and established their boutique vineyard and tasting lodge, where guests experience private, appointment-only tasting sessions in an intimate setting overlooking Seneca Lake. The winery’s philosophy emphasizes personalized hospitality, wine education, and thoughtfully curated tasting experiences designed to encourage conversation about wine, history, mythology, and craftsmanship.
At the heart of the winery’s portfolio is Geistwein™, an innovative style of Fortified wine. Inspired by ancient beverages, Geistwein™ combines premium wine with custom-distilled Brandy, along with carefully selected honey that is lightly integrated into the blend, and uses proprietary blending techniques developed over years of experimentation. Unlike many traditional Fortified wines that are often served solely as dessert wines, Geistwein™ was intentionally created to stand on its own as a premium wine capable of pairing with a wide variety of foods.
“Too often, Fortified wines are either too alcohol forward or too sweet,” Lane said. “We set out to change that perception by purposely crafting our custom libations to be elegantly smooth and deliciously expressive. We know of nothing else on the market like our Geistwein™.” In addition to its signature Fortified wines, Valkyrie Crafted Libations also produces premium estate-grown Riesling and Saperavi wines from their own on-site vineyards, showcasing the unique growing conditions of the Finger Lakes while emphasizing balance, structure, and varietal character.
Although the winery embraces mythology in its branding, the production philosophy is firmly grounded in modern enology and careful craftsmanship. Every vintage is produced using proprietary winemaking methods, custom-distilled spirits, and meticulous blending designed to achieve smooth, balanced, and delicious flavor profiles while preserving the character of the underlying wine. The result is a portfolio intended to challenge traditional expectations of Fortified wines and offer consumers a distinctive tasting experience.
Visitors to Valkyrie Crafted Libations experience wine in a deliberately personal setting. Rather than a traditional tasting bar, guests are welcomed into the winery’s Tasting Lodge for curated tasting sessions by appointment. The experience blends storytelling, mythology, wine education, and hospitality into an immersive visit designed to encourage exploration and conversation. Appointments for tastings may be scheduled by visiting the winery’s website at geistwein.com or by contacting the Tasting Lodge directly at 607-546-2040.
About Valkyrie Crafted Libations
Valkyrie Crafted Libations is a boutique winery and vineyard located in Burdett, New York, in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region overlooking Seneca Lake. The winery specializes in premium handcrafted Fortified and Still wines inspired by mythology, ancient traditions, and innovative winemaking techniques. Its flagship Geistwein™ collection reimagines Fortified wine through proprietary recipes, custom-distilled spirits, and carefully balanced flavor profiles. The winery also produces estate-grown Riesling and Saperavi wines and offers curated tasting experiences by appointment.
