Lehigh Valley Wine Trail announcement

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail has announced the departure of Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards winery in Saylorsburg from the non-profit group effective April 11.

The decision was made by Cherry Valley to refocus its efforts on being a family-owned and run winery serving the needs of local customers, and promoting their business in their local community. Cherry Valley has been a member of the Wine Trail since its founding in 1997.

The owners of the Wine Trail’s remaining eight wineries wish the Sorrenti family success in their future endeavors.

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. For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com or connect with them on Twitter and their Facebook fan page.

Wine education classes new at Pinnacle Ridge Winery

Wine educators Dean and Lisa Foster, team up with Pinnacle Ridge Winery in Kutztown for a new educational series on wine. The seminars will be held at Pinnacle Ridge in a newly renovated space designed for special events and wine tastings. Seminars run 2.5 hours and cost $35 per person.

Red and White: Wine Appreciation Basics 
Thursday, May 12, 6:30-9 p.m. and Friday, May 13, 1:30-4 p.m.

Learn more about wine, wine tasting, wine and food pairing, and the world of wine.  In this seminar, you’ll learn by tasting, discussing, and comparing three of the world’s most popular red wine types and three of the world’s most popular white wine types.  Taste, Learn,
 
What’s in a Name?: Wine Appreciation Basics
Thursday, May 26, 6:30-9 p.m. and Friday, May 27, 1:30-4 p.m.

Wine names and labels can be confusing. In this seminar, you’ll learn how wines get their names so you can more intelligently shop for and enjoy different kinds of wine. You’ll learn by tasting, discussing, and comparing six wines that get their names in several different ways. Taste, Learn, Enjoy!

For more information contact:
Dean and Lisa Foster
Wine Educators and Consultants
610-469-6164 or 610-310-9942
vintageconnections@comcast.net

Celebrate Easter with local Lehigh Valley wines

The wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail would like to share with you their recommendations for wines to pair with your Easter meal this Sunday. All of them are open Friday and Saturday so you can stop in to taste wines and purchase the ones you want to share with your family and friends.

Amore Vineyards - Try our Pink Passion with ham, or pork and sauerkraut.

Franklin Hill Vineyards - Start your Easter celebration with Pomegranate Martinis. A splash of vodka with our newly released Pomegranate wine with appetizers. For dinner, try Seyval or Kiss; both pair well with turkey or ham. Simply Red goes great with desserts.

Blue Mountain Vineyards - The light fruity flavor of our newly released 2007 Pinot Noir will compliment a glazed Easter ham. Our Riesling and White Merlot would also compliment the smoky flavor of ham.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery - Recommends our 2010 Riesling, our 2009 Oasis and for dry red lovers our 2009 Chambourcin with all the classic Easter dinners. Ham and scalloped potatoes or leg of lamb with sides of asparagus and roasted garlic mashed potatoes.

Clover Hill Vineyards - Sparkling wines are a wonderful choice to pair with your Easter ham and kielbasa. 
Sparkling Pinot Noir ~ our pick for the Easter Holiday. Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this bubbly is dry, but very fruity. 
Brut ~ a dry, traditional sparkling wine made predominately from Chardonnay.
Cuvee ~ semi-sweet, yeasty and rich flavored sparkler.
Blackberry Sparkler ~ a sweet bubbly made with an addition of local blackberries. 

Vynecrest Winery - Vynecrest First Blush a semi-sweet wine similar to a White Zinfandel, that exudes an elegant body with a clean finish. A great Easter wine and it's our Wine of the Month of April -  regularly $9.99, now 10% off.

We'd like to wish everyone a wonderful Easter holiday!

A word from Franklin Hill Vineyards

From our grapes to your glass... 

Spring is here and that means Easter is close at hand! Let us help you find that perfect wine to pair with Easter Dinner... Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc, or Rose perhaps? Or consider pairing something different with your holiday dinner and try our Apple Wine. Remember that we offer complimentary tastings at all four of our locations.

We had so much fun seeing you during March Madness and hope you enjoyed your experience at FHV! Thank you all for coming up to see us at the Winery. Visit us on Facebook to view recently posted March Madness pictures!

Cheers,
Franklin Hill Vineyards
www.FranklinHillVineyards.com

Sidewalk Sale at our Downtown Bethlehem location
April 21 - 24
Come visit us for complimentary wine tastings and fun wine accessories on sale during Downtown Bethlehem's Sidewalk Sale!

While you are finding great deals downtown, remember to Keep Bethlehem Beautiful!
Join us for Northside Clean-Up in celebration of Earth Day on Saturday, April 23.

Vynecrest Winery now open 7 days a week

The latest e-newsletter from Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville is out! Find out what's going on this month.

With March Madness subsiding here in the Lehigh Valley we can now look forward to beautiful April spring conditions. What better way to ring in April than snow showers. You may ask yourself what can I do to subside my spring fever? Drink wine!

Vynecrest Winery is now open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and we are very excited to roll out a brand new Vyneskeller Schedule this year where we will feature live music every Saturday from 1 - 4:30 p.m. Our wine list is almost back to full strength with the addition of Lemberger and our new Sparkling Chambourcin. Hope to see you soon.

April Specials:
3 Pack of the Month - 3 semi-sweet Riesling for $30
Wine of the Month - First Blush, additional 10% off (20% off on cases)
Both wines featured all month long as great additions to Easter Meals

Winemaker Tour this Saturday
 This weekend kicks off the 2011 vineyard tour season. This year we have decided to break up the tours according to the time of year the tour is given. This Saturday, April 16, find out how the vines have weathered the winter and what we have done to prepare them for the 2011 growing season. In the months to come, look for tours about bud break, cluster thinning, veraison and harvest.

Tours are $5 per person and begin at 1 p.m. Reservations are suggested as they fill up quickly.
  
Live Music in Vyneskeller - April
1 - 4:30 p.m. - Free admission

• 16 -  Brian Xander 
•  23 - Art Acoustic Oldies
•  30 - Rob & Marty

Annual Barrel Tasting event returns to Blue Mountain Winery

Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli will hold its Annual Candlelight Barrel Tasting event on Saturday, April 30 from 5 - 9 p.m. Join them for a tasting of the 2010 vintages, which coincidentally was one of the winery's best harvests to date!

Head Wino Joe Greff and his wife Vickie will showcase their wines accompanied by hors d'oeuvres and live music by the Red Light Runners band.

Reservations are preferred and can be made by calling 610-298-3068. Admission is $17.50 per person and includes a souvenir glass.

Vynecrest introduces vineyard tour program "Follow the Grape"

Ever wanted to learn how a vineyard grows and what it takes to successfully grow grapes and turn them into award-winning wines?

Vynecrest Winery is introducing a tour program to "FOLLOW THE GRAPE." The tour highlights the different stages in the grape development throughout the season. Come out and watch the vines as they move towards harvest:

•    Saturday, April 16 - Vine Pruning
•    Saturday, May 21 - Bud Burst
•    Saturday,  June 25  - Cluster Thinning
•    Saturday,  August 6 - Verasion Ripening Time
•    Saturday, September 10 - Harvest

All tours begin in the vineyard at 1 p.m., go through the Wine Cellar and end up in the Tasting Room. The cost of each tour is $5 per person and reservations are suggested.

Vynecrest is open 7 days a week, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Call 610-398-7525 for more information.