Thursday, August 25, 2011

Vynecrest's end of summer news and events

August Specials:
3 Pack of the Month - Three First Blush for $25*
Wine of the Month - Autumn Gold, additional 10% off*
*at winery only

Upcoming Events:

August 27 - Music in the Vyneskeller 1 to 4:30pm, Andy Warren & Dan Harakal
Seven Springs Wine Festival, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 11 a.m - 5 p.m.

August 28- Seven Springs Wine & Food Festival, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 3 - Music in the Vyneskeller 1 to 4:30 p.m., Brian Xander

In the Vineyard:

2011 is shaping up to be another GREAT vintage for Vynecrest. Here's hoping the weather cooperates for the remainder of the growing season.

Veraison started at Vynecrest about a week ago. Verasion is when the berries turn color and it signals the start of ripening. The amount of sugar in the berries is increasing and the amount of acid is decreasing. We will be monitoring these levels until it is time to harvest.

Unfortunately, the grapes not only look better to us but to the birds as well. The changing of color in the grapes signals the birds the grapes are ready to be eaten.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Paint the Map Green!

Keep sending in your pics! We have some great pictures of Vynecrest gear all over the country. Send your pics to wine@vynecrest.com or post them on our Facebook page.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Wine slushies, awards and special events at Galen Glen Winery

Sale!
Winter Mountain Red -375mL bottles
Two 375mL - $8.50
One 375mL - $5
We are discontinuing our half bottles. Sale applies only to bottles labeled with Galen Glen Winter Mountain Red Label. No custom label orders accepted. While supplies last! 

Forecast this Weekend at Galen Glen: Slushies & Sunshine
Sat., Aug 20 - 10 am - 5 pm
Sun., Aug 21 - Noon - 5 pm

We're making our favorite wine slushies. One taste and you'll know why they are so popular! Purchase a slushy for $3 to sip on our vineyard patio and watch the grapes ripen.

Awards!
GOLD 2010 Claret (our naughty blend of Pinot Noir & Chambourcin)
SILVER 2010 Zweigelt
at the Indy International Wine Comp

New on the Wine List!
2010 Zweigelt
2010 Claret
2010 Gewurztraminer

Upcoming Events:   

September 3, 4 & 5 at the winery
Labor Day Weekend - Walking tour of the vineyard September 3, 4 & 5 at noon. One tour per day. Please wear sturdy foot gear. No reservations required and weather permitting. Monday, Sept. 5 Labor Day hours - 10 am - 4 pm.

September 4 at Hegins Park
3rd Annual Schuylkill County Wine Festival - 1 - 6 pm. Featuring local wines, a delicious variety of local food and entertainment.

September 10 & 11 at Winery
Harvest Weekend - Tractor & Wagon Tours departing at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Clover Hill Winery's August Events

We are anxiously coming down the home stretch in the vineyard for the 2011 growing season. So far we have had a very warm, dry growing season which is ideal for wine grapes. However these conditions are not ideal for the young vines we planted this spring.

As a result, we have been hand irrigating our new vines. Right now we are beginning to see verasion – this is the critical point in which the grapes begin to change colors, soften and take their final steps to ripening. The final verdict isn’t in on the 2011 vintage, but we are certainly on a good path. Follow us on Facebook if you would like to stay up-to-date on the 2011 vintage. 

We invite you to enjoy this beautiful time of year and celebrate our vineyards by having a glass of wine on the patio in Breinigsville or Robesonia. These locations are open 7 days a week. The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market and the Boscov’s Farmers are also great locations to pick up local foods and your Clover Hill wine! We look forward to your next visit!

Owner's Selection
Clover Hill Cayuga White has soft, mellow aromas and flavors that will leave your mouth coated with tastes of ripe melon, mango, and ruby grapefruit. Enjoy a 10% discount on Clover Hill Cayuga White the entire month of August! Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.

Tuesday is Senior Day
The Winery in Breinigsville and the Vineyard in Robesonia.
Don't forget - every Tuesday is Senior Day at the Winery in Breinigsville and the vineyard in Robesonia. Seniors save an additional 10% on wine purchases. Must have a valid ID. Vintage is always cool!

Yoga in the Vineyard
Breinigsville, PA
Sunday, August 21; 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - $5 per person
Join yoga instructor Jacque Porterfield (from Lehigh Valley Yoga~ www.lvyoga.com) for an intro to Ashtanga yoga class. Beginners are welcome, but please bring your own mat (if you have one) and water. This class will be rain or shine. Reserve your space on Clover Hill's Facebook page.

Public Tour
Breinigsville, PA
Monday, August 22 at 2 p.m.; tickets required - $12 per person, free for under 21
Join Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting, vineyard and winery touring. Enjoy a 1 1/2 hour journey as we explore how we make wine from the grape to the glass. Reservations are required; minors are free. Handicap accessible. For tickets and reservations, please call 610-395-2468.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Pennsylvania Wine Stories: "There’s a Story Behind Every Cork"

Our friends at the Pennsylvania Winery Association have launched a new promotion and they need your help to make it successful. And all you have to do to help is tell a story.

Each of Pennsylvania’s 140 wineries has its own story, and for the people who enjoy drinking it, so does each bottle of Pennsylvania wine. As we like to say, “there’s a story behind every cork,” and we want to hear yours. Visit Pennsylvaniawine.com to share your Pennsylvania wine story and read some of the many tales submitted by other wine lovers. Stories can also be submitted on the Pennsylvania Wine Trails Facebook page and at participating wineries.

For every story submitted, the Pennsylvania Winery Association will add a cork to a collection – which will be turned into a cork sculpture at the end of the season – and donate one dollar per cork to the National Center for Family Literacy, a charity that works to inspire families in their pursuit of education and learning.

Stories can be submitted now through October. When the submission period ends, one story from each of Pennsylvania’s seven wine regions will be chosen as a finalist and a public vote on the PWA website will determine the winning tale. Each finalist will receive a prize package of various wine accessories, dinner for two at a local restaurant and a VIP tour of a Pennsylvania winery. The author of the winning story will receive a “Pennsylvania Wine Weekend Getaway,” which includes a one‐night stay in the Pennsylvania wine region of his or her choice, chauffeured transportation to and from the hotel and multiple wineries, dinner for two at a local restaurant and a VIP winery tour.

Tell us your story using the entry form here. Your entry can be two sentences or two paragraphs. It can be funny, sentimental, reflective or romantic. It can involve you and a friend, you and a loved one, or just you!
 
Everyone has a Pennsylvania wine story to tell. The only question is: What’s yours?

And of course, we'd love you to tell a story that involves one of our eight Lehigh Valley Wineries (hint, hint)...

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Franklin Hill Winery wins more awards and announces August festivals

Franklin Hill Vineyards just won 3 more awards! 

The International Eastern Wine Competition awarded us a Bronze Medal for our Sir Walters Red, Pomegranate Peach, and Seyval Blanc!


Upcoming events:

Our festival staff will be having fun offering bottle sales and complimentary tastings at  "Martin on Main" in Nazareth this Saturday, August 6 from noon - 8 pm. This is a free, family-friendly event. Join us!

Visit our Bethlehem Wine Shoppe during Musikfest, August 5-14. We heard your requests all year long and are listening! We're bringing back complimentary tastings of our refreshing Fiesta Sangria only during Musikfest!

Follow our fun festival staff to Seven Springs Wine and Food Festival, August 27-28  from 11 am - 5 pm. Purchase tickets online or at door.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Pinnacle Ridge preps for Blues in the Barn this Sunday, August 7

 PINNACLE RIDGE JAZZ AND BLUES IN THE BARN

Sunday, August 7 from 3-6 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge’s "music lovers' rendezvous!" This month’s talent includes: Vocalist Christy Allen, Andy Warren on guitar, Nimrod Speaks on upright bass, Alan Gaumer on drums and Pete Souder on saxophone. The music promises to be an amazing mix of jazz and blues.

Wine by the glass or bottle is available as well as light fare for purchase. This is a free event.


THIS MONTH'S RECIPE:  FRESH TOMATO, GARLIC AND BASIL OVER PASTA 
(This recipe is a Knapp-Allen favorite)

  2 pounds local tomatoes
  Hand full of fresh basil
  2 cloves garlic
  ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  ½ cup feta cheese
  Sea Salt to taste

  Chop tomatoes.  Remove most of the pulp and seeds.
  Squeeze out some of the liquid.
  Finely chop basil and add to tomatoes.
  Dice garlic and add.
  Add olive oil and mix.
  Add ½ cup Feta Cheese and toss very lightly.
  Salt to taste and pepper to taste.
 
Serve over fettuccine. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan.  Pair with a big glass of Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Merlot.  Is white your palette's preference? Try the 2010 Naked Chardonnay.