Galen Glen's Memorial Day Weekend and June festivities

 Galen Glen Winery in Andreas is open this holiday weekend and welcomes you to their vineyard.

Walking Tours:   
May 27, 28, 29 & 30
One tour each day leaving at noon.
We share our intimate knowledge of the vineyard. Please wear sturdy foot gear, as our hillside location is great for grapes, but difficult for people to navigate. No reservations required and weather permitting. 

Holiday Weekend Wine Tasting Hours:

• Friday, May 27 - Noon - 5 pm
• Saturday, May 28 - 10 am - 5 pm
• Sunday, May 39 - Noon -5 pm
• Monday, May 30 - 10 am - 4 pm

 
Upcoming Events:

June 4 & 5
Summer Slushy Season Starts!
Sample a sweet frozen wine treat. One taste and you'll be imagining pitchers of slushies at your next party.

June 18 & 19
Father's Day Weekend - Bring Dad for our 9th Annual Winter Mountain Red Wine Slushy Tour! 
Tractor and Wagon tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4pm, weather permitting.


Regular Winery Hours:   

• Friday: noon - 5 pm
• Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
• Sunday: noon - 5 pm

Local wineries get hip to social media!

We're delighted that so many of our wineries have embraced social media and now have presences on Facebook and/or Twitter. We hope you are already a fan of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Facebook fan page and are also following us on Twitter.

Here is the list of our wineries that are active in social media and links to their accounts so you can become a fan and follow them too!

• Blue Mountain - Facebook, Twitter

• Franklin Hill - Facebook, Twitter

• Galen Glen - Facebook

• Clover Hill - Facebook

• Pinnacle Ridge -  Facebook

• Vynecrest - Facebook, Twitter

Wine in Bloom is THIS WEEKEND!

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will present a new event called Wine in Bloom this weekend Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 22 from noon – 5 p.m. It will be a fun and educational event that celebrates bud break on the vines and the growing season. 

Wine in Bloom also highlights the importance that terroir (soil) plays in the development of the grapes, their flavor and the resulting taste of the wine, and stresses the importance of the A.V.A. designation (American Viticultural Area) in further legitimizing the Lehigh Valley for wine making. Each winery will offer its own variety of activities, from vineyard tours and food and wine pairings, to live entertainment and even a scavenger hunt.

•    Amore Winery in Nazareth will celebrate Wine in Bloom with a Strawberry Festival featuring strawberry wine paired with a variety of mild cheese, mixed white chocolate treats, and assorted strawberry deserts.

•    Big Creek Winery in Kresgeville will be pairing their dry white Seyval with corn chowder a' la Seyve Villard.

•    Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli is sampling a selection of our wines paired with gourmet cheeses to compliment them. Visitors can also show off their singing talents at the first ever Rob-aoke, live karaoke with Rob on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. playing guitar and backing up any willing participants that have a favorite song they’d like to showcase. Sunday is Sangria Sunday from 2-5 p.m., with live entertainment by Leechboy. Admission is $5.

•    Clover Hill Vineyards in Breinigsville will be hosting their annual scavenger hunt.  Check in any time during the day in the tasting room they we will set visitors up with the scavenger hunt details. Whoever finishes the hunt with the correct answers gets a prize. 

•    Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor will offer tastings and tours of their facility, as well as music on the deck. Cheese plates from Klein's Farm will be available for purchase, and guests are welcome to walk around the vineyards and see how the vines have developed for the new vintage. There will also be specials.

•    Galen Glen Winery in Andreas will be sampling the new Berry Pom-A- Rita Wine Slushy. All natural with the tart, sweet flavor of pomegranate and blueberry blended with wine and ice. See the vineyard in bloom on tractor & wagon tours of the vineyard and wine cellar. Free tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.

•    Pinnacle Ridge Winery celebrates with free tours of their estate vineyard. Tours will depart on the hour from 1 - 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Along with their regular wine tastings, they’ll also be pairing asparagus baked in phyllo dough and the 2010 Riesling using asparagus freshly harvested from the Pinnacle Ridge family garden. Sunday kicks off the summer 2011 season Sunday Jazz with Skip Moyer from 3 to 6 p.m. $5 cover charge.

•    Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville will continue their 2011 Winemaker Tour series on Saturday at 1 p.m. for $5 per person. This tour is titled "Bud Break." Reservations are suggested. In addition, they will feature Art's Acoustic Oldies in the Vyneskeller from 1-4:30 p.m. - no cover charge.

May happenings at Vynecrest Winery

Here are highlights from the May e-newsletter from Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville.

Greetings Friends,

Things are starting to come alive at Vynecrest, both inside and out. Inside we have music in the Vyneskeller every Saturday from 1 to 4:30 pm. Outside, the vines have been pruned and the buds are starting to burst open. It's a great time of year to visit the vineyard.

Five wines received medals from the 2011 Pennsylvania Wine Competition:

• Dry Riesling - Gold Medal
• Traminette - Silver Medal
• Autumn Gold - Silver Medal
• Riesling - Bronze Medal
• Vynecrest White - Bronze Medal

May Specials:

Wine of the month - Pinot Grigio, 10% off**
3 Pack of the Month - 3 Chardonnay for $35**
** at winery only; 3 pack specials not to be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events:

• May 7 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne Rox
• May 14 - Music in the Vyneskeller , Connie Edinger
• May 21 & 22 - Wine in Bloom, Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event. Vynecrest will continue their 2011 Winemaker Tour series on Saturday at 1pm for $5 per person. This tour is titled "Bud Break." Reservations suggested. In addition, we will feature Art's Acoustic Oldies in the Vyneskeller from 1-4:30pm (no charge).
• May 28 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Andy Warren & Dan Harakal
  Music is from 1 to 4:30 p.m., free admission

In The Vineyard

Winter was kind to the grapevines this year. We did not have any winter damage. Other parts of the state saw a few nights well below zero and some damage to the vines.

We planted another 1.5 acres of grapes this year, Cabernet Franc, Lemberger & Riesling. It will be 3 years before we can harvest fruit from these new plantings.

Over the next few weeks we will try to keep up with the constantly growing grass and monitor the weather and humidity so we know when to spray to prevent any disease from occurring.

Here's hoping for another vintage like 2010!

March Madness 2011 Passport Winners

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is pleased to announce the winners of our March Madness passport prizes.

•    Kandi Moyer        $25 Gift Certificate        Spectators Bar & Grill
•    Matt Bergey        $25 Gift Certificate        Spectators Bar & Grill
•    David Peters        $25 Gift Certificate        Vinny D’s New York Style Deli
•    Amy Schreffler        $25 Gift Certificate        Vinny D’s New York Style Deli
•    Karen Steigerwalt    $50 Gift Certificate        Cherry’s Sunset Family Restaurant
•    LuAnn Brightbill    $50 Gift Certificate        Country Junction
•    Jim McArdle        $50 Gift Certificate        Country Junction
•    Jim Witman        $50 Gift Certificate        Antelao Restaurant
•    Terri – Jean Walch    $50 Gift Certificate        Moya Eclectic Cuisine
•    Ed Forstoffer        $100 Gift Certificate        Main Street Inn Bed and Breakfast
•    Lisa Adams        $50 Gift Certificate        Fogelsville Hotel
•    Judy Lentz        $50 Gift Certicate        Cab Fryes Historic Tavern
•    Peter Zelesnikar    Mid week night for 2        Longswamp Bed and Breakfast
•    Rose Franco        $145 Gift Certificate        Hawk Mountain Bed and Breakfast
•    Maria Klementovic    1 Overnight Stay        The Hotel & Bear Creek
•    Genaro Latchic        $50 Gift Certificate        Amore Farms & Greenhouses
•    Richard Sopko        $50 Gift Certificate        Amore Farms & Greenhouses
•    Frank Straub        $50 Gift Certificate        Amore Farms & Greenhouses
•    Sheri Wenerowicz    1 Overnight Stay        Blue Mountain Summit Bed & Breakfast
•    Miguel Galovza        1 Overnight Stay        Holiday Inn
•    Jeffrey R. Joyce    1 Overnight Stay        Holiday Inn
•    Adria Nemeroff        $50 Gift Certificate        Multi Sport Fitness
•    Linda Ranski        $50 Gift Certificate        Multi Sport Fitness
•    Rob Yenkowski        $50 Gift Certificate        Grapes Alive Glassware
•    Ginny Fehnel        Facial or Massage        Sandalwood Spa
•    Steve Infurna        $25 Gift Certificate         Camillo’s Restaurant
•    Judith Ravenzahn    $25 Gift Certificate        Pampered Chef
•    Jan Cannon        $50 Gift Certificate        Curious Goods

Nearly Famous Drink Recipes from Franklin Hill Winery

Ever think of using wine in a cocktail? Elaine Pivinski, owner of Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor, offers the following "Nearly Famous Recipes" on her web site using her wines. Try a few and let us know how they turn out!

Mango Tango Martini

3 parts Franklin Hill Vineyards Desire
1 part Vodka (Kettle One, Grey Goose or Ciroc)
Triple sec Liqueur (splash)
1/4 lime
Tang brand drink mix

Rim martini glass with Tang. Pour Desire, vodka, and a splash of Triple Sec liqueur into glass with ice. Squeeze lime into glass. Stir and strain into rimmed martini glass then garnish with an orange slice.

Blueberry Pie Martini

3 parts Franklin Hill Vineyards Bliss
1 part Stoli Vanilla Vodka
Crushed graham crackers

Rim martini glass with graham cracker crumbs. Pour Bliss and vodka into glass with ice. Stir and strain into rimmed martini glass. Top with whipped cream and fresh blueberries.

White Sangria Punch

1 Bottle Franklin Hill Vineyards White Sangria
1 - 2 liter bottle of Sprite soda
1 - 64 oz container orange pineapple juice
1 can of frozen orange juice concentrate
oranges and cherries for garnish
Pour all ingredients into a large punch bowl, add ice. Add sliced oranges and maraschino cherries. Float frozen orange juice concentrate in big scoops in bowl. Invite plenty of friends over and enjoy!

Kate’s Mango Sangria

1 Bottle FHV Desire Wine
24oz. Lemon/lime soda
12oz. Mango sparkling beverage
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1/3 cup Triple Sec Liquor
1 mango
1/2 papaya
1/2 pineapple
1 apple
1 cup frozen strawberries
3-4 tablespoons fresh mint

Cut fruit in 1” cubes. Mix all ingredients in large punch bowl. Adjust our fruit or try other fruit combinations to create “your” signature sangria. We use Santa Cruz Organic Orange Mango Beverage and lemon lime soda.

Jell-o Shots

4 small boxes (or 2 big boxes) Jell-o brand gelatin
1 cup boiling water
2 cups Franklin Hill Vineyards Wine
48 -1 oz paper cups (available at restaurant supply stores)

Dissolve Jell-O in boiling water. Add Franklin Hill Vineyards Wine (Passion, Desire, Bliss, or Goat). Cool slightly and pour into paper cups. Chill.

Use Franklin Hill wines for great Jell-O shots. Passion with strawberry Jell-O. Desire with apricot or peach Jell-O. Fiesta with Grape or Orange Jell-O. Or invent your own flavor.