HAMILTON TWP., WARREN COUNTY — Valley Vineyards has expanded its sales footprint: its wines will now by available in 15 counties in northern Kentucky.

The winery south of Lebanon has signed a distribution agreement with Buckeye Distributing, which also distributes Valley Vineyard wines to retail outlets in Ohio, according to Joe Schuchter, director of sales and marketing and third-generation member of the family that founded Valley Vineyards. Buckeye will distribute Valley Vineyards wines such as its Honey Mead, White Reflections, Red Reflections and sparkling Champagne-style wine to multiple outlets in northern Kentucky, including the Party Source and Kroger locations, Schuchter said.

The expansion of Valley Vineyards’ distribution footprint — its first outside Ohio — “means that we are being recognized for making high-quality wines from the Ohio River Valley,” Schuchter said. The wines are also sold directly to consumers at the winery at 2276 East U.S. 22 and Ohio 3 near Morrow.

Valley Vineyards, which was founded in 1969, is coming off of an eventful year: Last February, the winery introduced its Cellar Dwellers line of craft beers produced at the winery, announced it would launch a microdistillery at the winery, and also captured, for the second consecutive year, a “best red” designation from the Ohio Department of Agriculture for its 2010 Syrah and its 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, both of which tied for the designation.