Celebrate the New Year with local sparkling wines

New Year's Eve is almost here and we'd love to be part of your celebration. Several of our wineries offer sparkling varieties that would be perfect at your party or dining room table. So ring in the New Year with a local wine.  Here are some suggestions from a few of our Lehigh Valley wineries. Hope you have a great 2011!

• Blue Mountain suggests making a Sparkling Peach drink. Add a few fresh peach slices to enhance the flavor or orange slices for a “Fuzzy Navel” type drink.
• Clover Hill Winery encourages you to celebrate New Year’s with one of their handcrafted Sparkling wines - Brut, Cuvee, Sparkling Pinot Noir or Blackberry Sparkler. 
• Cherry Valley suggests you try their Blackberry Spumante and White Spumante this year.
• Franklin Hill is promoting their Harvest Berry, an effervescent Rasberry wine.
• Galen Glen recommends toasting the arrival of 2011 with their limited release, 2010 Winter Mountain White. Newly bottled and spritzy, its flavors mimic a semi-sweet sparkling wine. 

Sparkling wines and champagne 101

Our friends at Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville recently sent out an e-newsletter to remind its loyal customers to pick up their sparkling wines for their New Year's Eve celebrations. It included an overview on sparkling wines and champagne that we thought we be of interest to the readers of our blog. So we are borrowing the information below from Clover Hill. Many thanks to Kari Skrip for sharing it with us!

Sparkling Wine Vs. Champagne

Many of you have probably wondered what is the difference between a sparkling wine and a Champagne. The difference lies in the geography. “Champagne” is a sparkling wine that is produced in the champagne region of France according to strict government regulations. That same carbonated beverage if produced in the USA is properly termed “Sparkling Wine” (it is often nicknamed by wine makers as a “Sparkler”). Somewhere along the way Americans started calling some of their sparkling wines “Champagne”, using the word Champagne in a generic sense. Sparkling wine is made in the USA and Champagne comes from the Champagne region of France.

What is Methode Champenoise?

All true Champagnes and most premium quality sparkling wines, (including Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery Sparkling Wine, of course), are made in the traditional method known as “Methode Champenoise”. According to Methode Champenoise, the wine goes through a second fermentation in the same bottle in which it is sold. With the secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wine becomes more complex, different flavors develop, and each bottle becomes slightly different than the others. Each bottle takes on a personality of its own. The end result is a light delicate wine that produces elegant columns of small tingly bubbles. There are other methods of producing sparkling wines but they are not quite the same, so look for the saying “Methode Champenoise” or “fermented in this bottle” on the label, or even better, just look for Clover Hill’s Sparkling Wine!

Sweet Vs. Dry

Sparkling wine labels can often be very confusing and not very user friendly. Usually American wine labels contain a variety of French terms on the label, for instance, Methode Champenoise, which was discussed earlier. Also the level of sweetness is defined using traditional French terms. These French terms are listed below from driest to sweetest.

Brut Natural – 0%-0.5% Sugar – Bone dry
Brut – 0.5% - 1.5% sugar - No perceivable sweetness
Extra Dry – 1.2%-2% sugar - Slight sweetness
Sec - 1.7%-3.5% sugar - Noticeable sweetness
Demi-Sec – 3.3%-5% sugar – Very sweet
Doux – 5.0% plus – Extremely sweet

Holiday wine suggestions from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

Still trying to figure our what wines to pair with your holiday meals?  Here are some suggestions from a few of our wineries:

Amore Winery offers up two holiday wine suggestions:  Spiced Apple and Rapport, a port-style wine (just released).

Blue Mountain Winery suggests Mountain Spice-Aromas of apple and cinnamon, six varieties of apples deliciously blended into a semi-dry wine. Can be enjoyed cold or heated. Try our 2004 Chambourcin with mulling spices. The flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg & orange zest along with the sweetness from the brown sugar, turn the Chambourcin into a wonderful warm, mulled wine.

Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards just released a Blackberry Merlot in a special bottle that is perfect for holiday gift giving. They also have a four bottle split selection with a holiday label of their best 100% PA fruit wines (including Blueberry, Blackberry, Peach and Blackberry Merlot).

Clover Hill Winery loves to celebrate the season with the Holiday wine heated up. Another favorite wine to help spread cheer is their 2009 Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir.  This is a dry sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Noir (limited release).

Vynecrest Winery offers up their version of a German-style Gluhwein call Spiced Winter Red.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery’s favorite food pairing for the holiday is the 2008 Ice Wine and Snowballs. The honeyed character of the nectar of frozen grapes pairs beautifully with the nutty almond flavor of these light cookies.

More holiday news from Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards

HOLIDAY PARTY AND GIFT BASKET SALE - THIS WEEKEND ONLY!
December 18 - 19

Come join us this weekend for our blowout basket sale and holiday party. All gift baskets will be featured at 25% off the original prices. Enjoy free hot mulled wine, free wine & pasta food pairing prepared by Mary Sorrenti, and free holiday treats and cookies all day! We will also be releasing our secret holiday wine, which will be available only until Christmas.

Artisan Jewelry for sale this weekend

Beautiful handcrafted jewelry for under $20 will be on show during the holiday party.   

Limited time Holiday Gift Sets

Included in the set are:
-Blackberry Merlot
-Peach Wine
-Blackberry Wine
-Blueberry Wine

The wines come in a gift box and are priced at $35.         

Custom Holiday Labels - available for a limited time

Free labels with your purchase of two cases or more.

Give the gift of wine this holiday season by ordering custom holiday wine labels for your bottles. We can fulfill orders within 10 days, and they can even be placed over the phone for your convenience. Choose from half-sized bottles at $4/each or from any of our large sized bottles. Visit our website for more information, all 14 of our holiday label choices and an order form that you can fill out and fax or email if you'd like.

Winery:

RR5 Box 5100, Saylorsburg, PA 18353

Phone: 570.992.2255 Fax: 570.992.5083

Easton Location:

22 N. 3rd Street, Downtown Easton, PA, 18042

Phone: 484.373.3208

Clover Hill Winery's holiday message

 The latest Clover Hill Winery e-newsletter is out, and they have some new releases to talk about, as well as a reminder to give the gift of wine this holiday season.

Cheers to the Holidays!  It is a joyous time of year and nothing can warm your soul like sharing a glass of wine with friends and family.  From all of us at Clover Hill - we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and we thank you for celebrating with Clover Hill wines!

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery has extended holiday hours at the Winery in Breinigsville and the Vineyard in Robesonia.  We also have two farmers' market locations: The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers' Market and The Boscov's Farmers' Market.  What could be better than doing your food shopping and being able to sample and pick out your wines all under one roof!  In addition, a selection of Clover Hill wines are available in the Pennsylvania Wine and Spirit Stores and you can always visit www.cloverhillwinery.com.

We have a couple new limited release wines that we are very excited about. Our first release from this year's vintage is the 2010 Generations Riesling. This dry Riesling is bursting with flavors like peach, apricot, honey and cold tea.  The finish is clean and zesty with lingering citrus flavors.

Also newly released is the 2009 Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir. Made in the traditional Methode Champenoise fashion, this sparkling wine is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from our Broxspen Vineyard (Lenhartsville, PA). This dry sparkling wine showcases strawberry flavors mingling with a classic yeasty finish.  Bring on the Bubbles!

Owner's Selection
Enjoy a 10% discount on Holiday, the entire month of December! A sweet rosé that is jazzed up with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus. Try it warm in the winter to celebrate the holidays. Mix equal parts Holiday wine and brown sugar for an excellent ham glaze. Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail 2011 Calendar of Events

We've set the date for our 2011 special events and wanted to share all of them with you so that you can mark your calendars and plan to join us. All events are free of charge and take place at all nine of our wineries unless otherwise noted below.

March Madness - weekends in March. Also known as Passport Weekends.
March 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20, and 26 & 27. A passport is required to experience this event. You can purchase them for $30 prior to 12/31/10 or for $35 starting 1/1/11. A limited supply of passports is available at our nine wineries.


Wine in Bloom - this new event will feature some of the educational components from this year's AVA Weekend, but will also celebrate spring, the warm weather and the bud break taking place around that time of year.
May 21 & 22

Wine on the Mountain at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa. All nine of our wineries in one place!
July 23 & 24
This is a ticketed event.

Harvest Weekend - enjoy the fall harvest season and warm weather at our wineries.
September 10 & 11

Chambourcin Weekend - celebrating the official wine grape of the Lehigh Valley.
October 15 & 16

Nouveau Weekend - your first chance to taste the newest vintage from the recent fall harvest.
November 19 & 20

While visiting our wineries this holiday season, be sure to ask for your free 2011 Events Calendar magnet. Then hang it on your refrigerator and reference it throughout the year.

Connect with our wineries on Facebook

With so many folks using social media today, many of our Lehigh Valley wineries have gotten on-board with Facebook by creating fan pages or groups that you can join. It's a great way to stay in touch with what's going on at each winery such as specials, discounts, promotions, and events.

Click on the name of the winery below that you want to connect with on Facebook to be taken to their fan page or group:

Clover Hill Winery
Vynecrest Winery
Franklin Hill Vineyards
Blue Mountain Winery
Pinnacle Ridge
Galen Glen Winery 
Cherry Valley Vineyards

And of course we'd like you to connect with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail on Facebook too!

Vynecrest Holiday Open House is this weekend

Vynecrest Winery Christmas Open House
December 11 & 12 from 11 am - 5 pm

Enjoy holiday cheer, food, special discounts and live music.

This weekend there will be free samples of Goot Essa cheese and Jose Madrid Salsa, both available for purchase. Spiced cookies served with warm Spiced Winter Red wine and gift baskets made to order for all your gift-giving needs.

In the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4:30 pm, there will be live music by Arianne Rox on Saturday and Rob & Marty on Sunday.

Vynecrest White, a semi-dry dinner wine is specially priced at three bottles for $25 for your holiday feasts, and 10% discount on First Blush, the wine of the month.

Holiday Hours:
Dec 24: 10 am - 2 pm
Dec 25 & 26: Closed
Dec 27: 30: 11 am - 5 pm
Dec 31: 10 am - 2 pm
Jan 1 - 12: Closed

A holiday message from Pinnacle Ridge Winery

The December e-newsletter from Pinnacle Ridge Winery in Kutztown is out and we wanted to share some of it with the followers of our blog:  

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR WINEMAKER!

December has arrived once again and it is a great time to look back at some of the happenings of 2010. 
 
2010 was a great year for awards at wine competitions.Two of our wines were finalists in the Pennsylvania Wine Society competition. Eight medals were captured at the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show including “Best Sparkling” for our Blanc de Blanc. Pinnacle Ridge wines received six medals in the Keystone Wine Competition in April and three medals, including a gold for the 2007 Veritas, in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. 
 
At Pinnacle Ridge, we were very pleased and honored that our winery was chosen to be the cover story for the March/April 2010 issue of Vineyard and Winery Management magazine. This national journal has been in existence for 35 years and Pinnacle Ridge is the only Pennsylvania winery ever to have been chosen to be the cover story!

In 2010 Pinnacle Ridge was included in the newly released “Opus Vino,” a wine reference book that has compiled information about the best 4,000 wineries in the world. Only two wineries were chosen from Pennsylvania and Pinnacle Ridge was one of them!
 
Another wonderful happening in 2010 was the fabulous vintage. Mother Nature cooperated and gave us hot, dry weather that resulted in outstanding grapes from our vineyards. We will have an overview of the vintage and the new wines in the January newsletter. Some of these wines are just now being bottled (Riesling and Naked Chardonnay) and others will continue to arrive as spring approaches. 

All in all, 2010 was a great year for Pinnacle Ridge. As we reflect back about the past year, it is obvious that what really made 2010 great was YOU (our loyal customers). We are fortunate to have so many fantastic customers. Thank You for your business! Have a great holiday and we’ll see you in the tasting room!

Holiday winery events

Make your plans now to attend the various holiday events taking place at several of our wineries this coming weekend, December 4 & 5.

Clover Hill Winery, Breinigsville - Saturday, December 4 from 2 - 5 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season with Clover Hill Winery. Our holiday open house will be packed with an afternoon of fun, activities, and entertainment. Craig Thatcher will be here to entertain you. The Clover Hill elves will offer food and wine pairings, recipes, holiday craft ideas, and prizes to win. There will be will cheese and meats available for sale. Do not forget to bring a gently used coat, to be donated to The Caring Place, and receive a 10% discount on your wine purchases. Happy Holidays!

Galen Glen Winery, Andreas - December 4 from 12 - 4 p.m. - Visit with Santa! Have your photo taken with Santa! Bring a new unwrapped toy for "Toys for Tots" and take as many pictures with Santa as you like. Please bring your own camera.

December 4 & 5 - Dickens Holiday Open House - Decorated and dressed in authentic costumes from days gone by, we're ready to help you select the perfect wine for dining or gift giving. Sample mulled wine paired with an old fashioned treat!


Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Easton wine shop location - Join us for the "Easton Shines" event in downtown Easton December 4 & 5. Each store in downtown will feature a special discount or offering, and gift wrapping will be hosted by a charitable organization in the center square. Our store in Easton will be offering 25% off baskets, free hot mulled apple wine, and free custom labels for the weekend. We will be open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Blue Mountain Winery, New Tripoli - Annual Christmas Open House - December 4 from 5 to 9 p.m.
Please join us for some Christmas Cheer!  Enjoy our delicious wines accompanied by hors d'oeuvres while listening to live entertainment by the Red Light Runners. Reservations preferred. There is no charge for this event.


Sunday, December 5 from 2 - 5 p.m. Blue Mountain welcomes back Scott Marshall & The Hillbilly Souls for another intimate afternoon of original music and the stories behind the songs. For this special holiday performance, we ask that everyone that is attending bring an unopened toy or donation to serve as a Christmas Blessing for the unfortunate children of the Pediatric Unit at the Lehigh Valley Hospital. We will have a selection of gourmet cheeses and fresh baked breads available for purchase or you may bring your own snacks. Reservations recommended - please call 610-298-3068 or email info@bluemountainwine.com.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - Case Club Christmas Casual - December 4 and 5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cherry Valley Vineyards shares holiday plans

Our friends at Cherry Valley Vineyards in Saylorsburg shared their plans for the holiday season in the latest edition of their e-newsletter which came out yesterday. Here are some highlights.

Limited time Nouveau Blush!

Thanks to all you joined us during this past Nouveau Weekend, where we released our very first Nouveau Blush wine. It was a huge hit!

Our Nouveau Blush was bottled fresh from stainless steel, and tastes crispy, clean, fruity and slightly tart. Only a few cases are available at the winery and will likely be sold out this week. If you didn't make it this weekend for your bottle, stop by right away! In addition to it's fresh, young flavor, it's lovely commemorative label makes it stand out!

Attention fans of Mary's Chicken Florentina! The recipe has now been made available on our website. Click here to start cooking!
          
HOLIDAY SALE EVENTS!

At the Winery:

Come join us the weekend before Christmas for our blowout basket sale and holiday party!

All baskets will be featured at 25% off the original prices, and we will be giving away free hot mulled wine, holiday treats and cookies all day! Look out for our holiday wine with special label to be released for that weekend.

Winery:
RR5 Box 5100, Saylorsburg, PA 18353
Phone: 570.992.2255

At our new Downtown Easton location:

Join us for the "Easton Shines" event in downtown Easton, December 4 & 5. Each store in downtown will feature a special discount or offering, and gift wrapping will be hosted by a charitable organization in the center square. Holiday greens will be for sale as well.

Our store in Easton will be offering 25% off baskets, free hot mulled apple wine, and free custom labels for the weekend. We will be open 10 am - 8 pm on Saturday and 10 am - 6 pm on Sunday.

Easton Location:
22 N. 3rd Street
Phone: 484.373.3208


         

Thanksgiving wine offerings from Clover Hill Vineyards

The Skrip family, owners of Clover Hill Vineyards in Breinigsville, recently shared their wine pairings for Thanksgiving Day in their November e-newsletter. What local wines will be on your holiday table?

The air has turned cold, the leaves have fallen, and our grapevines are beginning their deep sleep through the winter months, but the same is not true for the winery side. John, our winemaker, is busy in the winery working on the beautiful 2010 wines. The rest of the Clover Hill family is preparing for the holidays. Below are the Skrip Family wine suggestions in preperation for Thanksgiving.

Pat Skrip will be drinking Sparkling Pinot Noir this Thanksgiving. Why, because it is now back in stock. Also because Pat drinks bubbles with just about everything. She loves to celebrate life with a glass of sparkling wine.

John Skrip Jr. will be sipping Turtle Rock Red with his turkey. You can’t select a better wine to pair with your turkey, cranberry relish and stuffing. Serve your Turtle Rock slightly chilled and it is certain to please everyone in the crowd.

John Skrip III has a sweet tooth and no doubt he will be heading to the pumpkin pie served with a glass of Vignoles. This luscious dessert wine is a match made in heaven with pumpkin pie, apple pie and other delicious desserts.

Kari Skrip will have her glass filled with the Generations Riesling which is also recently released. This dry, zesty Riesling is powerful enough in flavor to stand up to all the different foods served.

All of us at Clover Hill wish you a joyous Thanksgiving. We are honored to have a Clover Hill wine grace your table full of friends, family and love.

Owner's Selection for November:
Enjoy a 10% discount on Cabernet Sauvignon.
Big, flavorful and ready to knock your socks off! Rich oak flavors of vanilla and spice mingle with ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and cherry. Pairs well with grilled steak topped with sauted mushrooms. Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.

What's going on this holiday season at Galen Glen

Here's the latest from Sarah and Galen at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas. 

Thanksgiving Greetings!
This weekend, try our Riesling with authentic Pennsylvania German Potato Filling and Gravy.
Hours: Saturday, November 20 from 10 am -5 pm and Sunday, November 21 from noon - 5 pm.

Let our winery family help you select the perfect wine for your Thanksgiving Meal!

Black Friday Sale!
November 26 from 10 am - 5 pm.
Once a year, we put the winery on sale. 15% off case sales only. Custom label orders and shipped orders are not included. All wine must be purchased at the Winery day of sale. ONE DAY ONLY. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Winery hours for the Holiday Season:

• Open every day beginning Friday, November 19 through January 2, 2011
• Sunday through Friday noon - 5 pm and Saturday 10 am -5 pm
• Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
• Special Exceptions: Christmas Eve and New Years Eve - 10 am -3 pm

Nouveau Weekend highlights

Here is what each of our nine wineries has planned fror Nouveau Weekend, November 20 & 21:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth - will serve assorted hors d’oeuvres along with tank samples of 2010 Cayuga and Chambourcin.  As an added treat they will feature their latest release – Rapport – their own unique version of port wine.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville - will feature Mini Maize Muffins with their Nouveau Red. This year their Nouveau style wine will be made with Marquette, a fairly new grape variety with great potential in their vineyard.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli - Sample their 2010 Nouveau paired with glazed ham. Watch professional blacksmith Luke, a Farrier by trade, demonstrate his hobby of ornamental metalworking with live demonstrations at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. He will be joined by other artisans displaying and selling their work. Live entertainment on Sunday by Leechboy from 2 – 5 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville - will be releasing two new Generations wines: 2010 Generations Riesling and a 2009 Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir.

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor - will be pairing for the best part of Thanksgiving dinner......dessert! They'll be releasing their Nouvelle Seyval Blanc and pairing it with pumpkin bread, apple crisp and chocolate.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas - will feature Silver Medal Riesling tasted with their family’s Thanksgiving favorite, Pennsylvania German potato stuffing and gravy. Locally grown golden yellow potatoes are their secret ingredient.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - will be featuring neighbor Dietrich's Meats' Bratwurst (veal, pork and parsley), Knockwurst (Garlic Wurst) and German Weiners (all beef and seasonings.) Homemade Cabbage and Noodles (vegetarian) will be the perfect side. Sample these German classics with their Traminette or Vidal Blanc. For red lovers, they’ll be pouring their 2007 Veritas.

Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg - will be pairing a Nouveau Blush with a commemorative label and Mary’s new creation, Chicken Florentina.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville - will be pairing their 2010 Vintage Nouveau Beaujolais made from the Gamay grape with pulled roast turkey barbeque sliders. In the Vyneskeller wine bar, Arianne Rox will be playing on Saturday and Rob & Marty on Sunday, 1 - 4:30 p.m. Free admission.

Vynecrest Winery offers free shipping through November 22

Get your holiday shopping started early when you give the gift of local wine from Vynecrest in Breinigsville.

The winery is offering free shipping on three or more bottles starting today for online orders only.

To place an order, go to www.vynecrest.com and use the coupon code "vynecrest" at checkout.

• Get a 5% discount on 6 to 11 bottles and a 10% discount on 12 or more bottles.
• This promotion is for online orders only. Phone-in orders will be subject to normal shipping rates.
• Sorry, but we can't ship to AL, AR, KY, MD, MA, MS, MT, NH, UT.
• Must be 21 or older to order. Adult signature required for delivery of wine. 
• All wine will be shipped via FedEx.

Taste the first vintages of the harvest at Nouveau Weekend

The nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut the first vintages from their most recent harvest at Nouveau Weekend on Saturday, November 20 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 21 from noon – 5 p.m. Wineries will feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample.

March Madness 2011 passports will also go on sale this weekend. Passports are $30 each if purchased before 12/8, and $35 each after that date.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

The nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are:

• Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth 
• Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville 
• Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli 
• Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg 
• Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville 
•  Franklin Hills Vineyards, Bangor 
• Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas 
• Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown 
• Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

Updates from Vynecrest Winery

If you didn't receive the latest e-newsletter from Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville, here is what you missed:

Our 2010 harvest has come to a close at Vynecrest, and our vines are settling in for a long winter's nap. The colors throughout our vineyards are spectacular and well worth a peek over the next few weeks. We will continue to be open seven days a week, 11-5pm, through the end of the year.

November Wine of the Month and 3-pack of the Month:

Stop by throughout the whole month of November and take advantage of the following specials
* Wine of the Month 2009 Chambourcin (new release) 10% off all month
* 3 pack of the month Late Harvest Vidal 3 for $30.00 (over $9.00 off)

Have no fear Blueberry is Here!!! November 6 & 7

Vynecrest Winery is excited to announce the release of our first ever Blueberry Wine. Our Blueberry wine will be officially released this Saturday. Stop by the winery this weekend for complementary samples of the Blueberry wine ($13.99) along with a lemon poppy-seed pound cake made by Hereford Country Store, a fellow vendor with Vynecrest at the Macungie Farm Market, a Buy Fresh Buy Local Market.

November New Releases:

• 2009 Blueberry $13.99
• 2009 Chambourcin $13.99
• 2009 Pinot Grigio $11.99
• 2010 Nouveau Beaujolais $10.99 (November 18)

November News and Events:

• November 6 and 7 - new release 2009 Blueberry and food and wine pairing
• November 13- Live music Art Tartara in Vyneskeller
• November 20 and 21 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Nouveau Weekend - Vynecrest will be pairing our 2010 Vintage Nouveau Beaujolais ($10.99) made from the Gamay grape with pulled roast turkey barbecue sliders (recipe available). In the Vyneskeller wine bar, Arianne Rox will be playing on Saturday and Rob & Marty on Sunday, 1-4:30. Free Admission. Nouveau Weekend is also when passports for March Madness 2011 go on sale. Passports will be $30 each before January 1, 2011 and $35 after that date, so order yours early and remember, they make great Christmas presents for friends and family.
• November 26 - Christkindlmarkt Opens in Bethlehem Vynecrest Winery will once again be the only winery featured at this historic holiday festival which runs for four weeks every Thursday-Sunday.

Pinnacle Ridge shares Chili Cook-off recipes

The latest edition of Pinnacle Ridge's e-newsletter is out and it contains the recipes for the two chilis that owners Brad and Christy made and served to visitors as part of their Chili Cook-off. Here are the details (and the recipes!):

Last month's Chambourcin weekend was a blast. Our customers had a great time voting for their favorite chili. As many guessed, husband and winemaker Brad provided the meat chili recipe. Wife Christy made the  vegetarian chili. The results: Meat won on Saturday, Veggie on Sunday! Meat numbers were slightly higher overall: 180 votes to 167. Not a bad showing for either!
 
Special thanks to our daughter’s best friend, Cait Rodriquez, sous chef, for chopping all the onions, garlic and other veggies that went into two great chilis!

  NOT YOUR MOMMA’S CHILLI
  Serves 6-8

  1 ½ pounds boneless beef chuck cubed
  1 pound pork shoulder cubed
  ½ pound onions, chopped
  1 red pepper, chopped
  1 ½ cans whole plum tomatoes with juice (28 oz. cans)
  ½ cup of Pinnacle Ridge Chambourcin red wine
  1 cup of beef stock
  ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  1 tablespoon cumin
  ¼ cup of chili powder
  Salt
  Black pepper
  1 can black beans (19 ounce can)

Brown cubed meat in small batches in a tall stockpot in vegetable or olive oil. Avoid putting too much meat into the pan at one time; the goal is to quickly brown the meat on all sides. Remove meat and saute onion and red peppers until just slightly soft. Add garlic and chili pepper and sauté until you can smell the garlic being careful not to burn the garlic. Add tomatoes, wine, pork, beef, and beef stock; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and add cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne.  Simmer the chili for at least three hours or until meat falls apart.  Add the black beans and simmer another 20 minutes.  Enjoy with a glass of 2008 Chambourcin Reserve!

  VEGETARIAN CHILI
  Serves 6-8

  1/3 cup olive oil
  2 cups finely chopped onions
  ¾ cup chopped celery
  1 cup chopped green peppers
  1 cup chopped carrots
  1 tablespoon minced garlic
  2 cups chopped mushrooms
  (we used a mix of button and oyster mushrooms)
  ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  1 tablespoon ground cumin
  ¾ teaspoon dried basil
  3 tablespoons chili powder
  ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
  2 teaspoons salt
  ½ teaspoon pepper
  2 cups tomato juice
  ¾ cup bulgur wheat
  2 cups chopped tomatoes
  2 cups (1 20-ounce can) drained kidney beans
  1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  ¼ cup Pinnacle Ridge Chambourcin red wine
  2 tablespoons chopped canned green chilies (or to
  taste)

Have all the ingredients chopped and ready. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.  Over high heat, add the onions and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the celery, green peppers, carrots, garlic, mushrooms, spices, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil, stirring.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes uncovered.  Serve with a bit of shredded jack cheese on top.  Enjoy with a glass of 2008 Chambourcin!

Vynecrest to launch Blueberry Wine

The weekend of November 6 & 7, Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville will release a brand new wine. It’s a Blueberry wine made from 100% blueberries and has a sweet finish. 

It pairs nicely with cake, vanilla ice cream or cream cheese. The winery will be pairing it with lemon, poppyseed pound cake made by Hereford Country Store, a fellow vendor with Vynecrest at the Macungie Farm Market, a Buy Fresh Buy Local market.

So stop by the winery next weekend and try a sample of their new blueberry wine. 

For more information, vynecrest.com or 610-398-7525.

Nouveau Weekend is less than a month away!

The next Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event weekend, and the last one for this year, is coming up in November.
Nouveau Weekend takes place at all nine Lehigh Valley wineries on Saturday, November 20 and Sunday, November 21.

This event is your first chance to taste the young vintages from the most recent harvest. It's also a great time to pick up wines to have with your holiday meals or to give as gifts to family and friends.

Our wineries will be planning a range of activities and specials, ranging from food and wine pairings to live music performances. Highlights include:

• Vynecrest will be pairing their 2010 Vintage Nouveau Beaujolais made from the Gamay grape with pulled roast turkey barbecue sliders. In the Vyneskeller wine bar, Arianne Rox will be playing on Saturday, and Rob & Marty on Sunday, from 1-4:30 p.m. Free admission.
• Franklin Hill Vineyards will be pairing with the best part of Thanksgiving dinner - DESSERT! They'll be releasing Nouvelle Seyval Blanc and pairing it with pumpkin bread, apple crisp and chocolate.
• Pinnacle Ridge Winery will be featuring neighbor Dietrich's Meats' Bratwurst (veal, pork and parsley), Knockwurst (garlic wurst) and German Weiners ( all beef and seasonings.) Home made cabbage and noodles (vegetarian) will be the perfect side. Sample these German classics with their Traminette or Vidal Blanc. For red lovers, they'll be pouring a 2007 Veritas.

Nouveau Weekend is also your first chance to pick up the 2011 March Madness passport since they go on sale that weekend. Watch for complete event details to be announced in mid-November.

Galen Glen Winemaker's Dinner - November 6

 Sarah and Galen from Galen Glen Winery in Andreas have just announced their next winemaker's dinner. Below are the details on it. If you're interested in being a part of it, we suggest you register soon. These dinners are known to fill up quickly!

Winemaker's Dinner: Saturday November 6 at 7 p.m. at Galen Glen Winery, Andreas
Featuring the culinary creations of Tonimarie and her restaurant Macaluso's at The Lantern

Ammocete:
Compliments of the Winery. A casual way to start the Evening,
Let the Conversation begin.......
Wine - Mulled & Spicy Claret

First Course:
Cream of Cauliflower with fresh Jalapeno and Cheddar Cheese
Wine - Stone Cellar Gewürztraminer

Second Course:
Sweet Potato Ravioli served in a Brown Butter and Sage Sauce
Wine - Stone Cellar Riesling

Third Course:
Mediterranean Blend of Garbanzo Beans, Fava Beans, Craisins and Red Onions over Mixed Greens with a splash of Tonimarie's Vinaigrette
Wine - Traminette

Fourth Course:
Pork loin stuffed with Veal Sausage and Fennel accompanied by pan seared Brussel Sprouts
Wine - Stone Cellar Chambourcin

Fifth Course:
Mascarpone Cheesecake with Ginger Snap Crust
Wine - Stone Cellar Vidal Blanc Ice Wine
*Menu and wines subject to change at Chef's discretion.

Cost: $70 per person (please add 6% PA Sales Tax) Gratuity included

Reservations: Only by calling the winery at 570-386-3682. A credit card is required for all reservations. Cancellations after November 3 will be charged the full cost of the dinner.

Seating: We make every effort to accommodate seating requests.In order to use our space efficiently, we may need to combine parties. Also, our largest table can seat 8 guests.

For more information about Tonimarie: www.macalusosdining.com