A month full of special events in August at Galen Glen

Luau Weekend
Saturday, August 2, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, August 3, noon to 5 pm

We chose this theme because August is the anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state, plus it was a bottle of wine from Hawaii that inspired Galen & Sarah to plant the first vines. On Saturday, the Love Food Truck will be here selling tropical-themed menu items and on Sunday, we welcome Food on a Roll--Ellen's Edibles with Hawaiian-inspired comfort food items. Plan to purchase a great lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine on one of our patios.

Walking Tours of the Vineyard and Wine Cellar
August 2, and 3; 30 and 31

On these dates we will hold one walking tour each day at noon. You will depart the tasting room with your guide and meander through the vines to our wine cellar then back to the tasting room. The tours are held weather permitting and we advise wearing sturdy foot gear (sneakers or boots). Tours are complimentary and no reservations are required.

S'more Days of Summer
Saturday, August 9, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, August 10, noon to 5 pm

The last month of summer is here already. Gather your peeps and join us for a complimentary, fun wine and s'more pairing that is sure to evoke campfire memories.

Appetizer and Cheese Wine Pairing 
Saturday, August 16
1 pm - $10 per person
Reservations required

Enjoy a sit-down wine, cheese and appetizer pairing with five of our favorite wines and foods. There is very limited seating, and reservations are required with payment at time of reservation. Please call the winery during normal business hours at 570-386-3682 to make your reservation.

Love Hot Dog Company Returns
On Sunday, August 17 from noon to 5 pm, Jason and the crew from Love Hot Dog Company will make their monthly pilgrimage to the vineyard with a truckload of gourmet sausages and dogs. Recently, one of our customers described the bacon jam like a religious experience. You won't want to miss this. Purchase lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine while you drink in our spectacular views.

Winemaker's Dinner
Please plan to join us for our next winemaker's dinner at The Broadway Grille and Pub.
Thursday, September 4 at 7 pm.
See the menu here.

So Long Summer Slushies
August 23 and 24
As summer draws to a close we say goodbye to a favorite treat, our wine slushies. Wrap up summer with this frozen wine treat. One taste of our legendary wine slushies and you will be imagining pitchers of this frozen concoction at your next party. Slushies will be available for sampling on the wine bar and for purchase at $4 a glass each day while supplies last.

Tolino holding while wine sale and end of summer sangria event with recipes

Stop in to see us any day of the week. We are open Monday through Friday from 3 - 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon - 6 p.m. Visit us online at www.tolinovineyards.com or call us at 610.588.9463 for more information and to inquire about hosting your next event at Tolino Vineyards.

Carl Jr. and Carl III are famous again. Check out the Discover Lehigh Valley video "Live Like a Local with George" as he visits Tolino Vineyards, Galen Glen, and Vynecrest.

Join us for End of Summer Sangria Sunday

Visit the Winery to enjoy a glass of sangria, live music, and some tasty salsa on Sunday, August 24 from noon - 6 p.m. We will be serving glasses and pitchers of sangria all day.

White Citrus Sangria 
2 bottles of Tolino Vineyards 2010 Pinot Grigio
or 2012 Vidal Blanc for a sweeter version.
1 lemon
1 orange
½ a pineapple
2 oz of fruit punch vodka
2 oz of triple sec
24 ounces sparkling water
¼ cup of sugar

Minty Margarita Sangria
2 bottles of Tolino Vineyards Pinot Grigio
2 lemons
2 limes
4-5 mint leaves
2 oz of lime gin
2 oz of triple sec
24 ounces sparkling water
¼ cup of sugar

Red, White & Blue Sangria
2 bottles of Tolino Vineyard 2011 Chardonnay
½ lb of strawberries
1 sliced pear
1 sliced plum
2 oz of triple sec
2 oz of vanilla vodka
24 ounces sparkling water
¼ cup of sugar

Summer White Sale
We are having a sale on our 2010 and 2011 White and Rosé wines. Purchase 1 bottle for 15% off, 6 bottles for 25% off, and a case is 50% off. What a great deal on delicious wine that is perfect for summer sipping.

Easton Farmers' Market Weyerbacher Wednesdays
It was so much fun (and so delicious!) to participate in Weyerbacher Wednesday at the Easton Farmers' Market. We are at the market from 4 - 8 p.m., June through September in Centre Square.  We love being a part of the local food movement.  Hope to see you next week.

Blind Tasting: California Vs. Pennsylvania at Nectar in Berwyn
Pennsylvania wines won four out of eight awards in a blind tasting against California wines at Nectar Restaurant in Berwyn, PA.  We were honored that our 2012 Chardonnay was accepted into this competition.  See event photos here.

Winners are announced for two ticket contests - Wine on the Mountain

We're excited to announce the winners of our two contests, one on our Facebook page and one on our web site, giving away pairs of tickets to next weekend's Wine on the Mountain event at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe.

Contest #1 - Facebook

The winners are:

Bernadette Burton
Dave Cohen
David Emmons
Karen Jones
Cory Manning
David McCarthy
David Polley
Nancy Schwartz
Ross Thomson
Lisa Wesley


Contest # 2 - LVWT Web Site

The winners are:

Karen Batson
Judy Bryant
Jessica Coleman
Richard Dewey III
Michael Kracum
Joseph Miscavage
Kathie Nelms
Sheila Potts
Alfreda Pugliese
Donna Saliby
Kammie Verdolina
Susan Walter

Each of them will receive in the mail next week of pair of complimentary tickets.

Thank you to everyone who entered! Tickets are still on sale for our wine festival and can be purchased online here (credit card only) or in person at one of our 9 member wineries (cash only).

Franklin Hill Vineyards brings back Where's Walter social media photo contest

OUR WHERE'S WALTER SUMMER COMPETITION IS BACK!

Take Sir Walter's Red on vacation with you for a chance to win a free case of wine. Take a picture of a bottle of Sir Walter's Red at your favorite vacation destination. Upload it to either our Twitter or Facebook page using the hashtag #FHVwhereswalter.

On September 22 we will select our favorite entry by commenting on the winning picture with instructions on how to redeem your prize. Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

YOGA IN THE VINEYARD
July 20 at 10 am

Our summer series continues with an hour of restorative and rejuvenating yoga led by Silver Kim of Kula Heart Yoga. Afterwards we invite you to join us on the deck for a light brunch complete with refreshing sangria. Our tasting room will be open for complimentary tastings and a tour of the winery will be offered at noon. This popular event sells out, so please contact the winery to reserve your patch of grass - 610-588-8708.

BYOM (Bring your own mat)
$20 per person
Can't make it? Join us on August 17 for our last event of the series.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: SUMMERTIME SANGRIA 

To create this beautiful and tasty summertime crowd pleaser, take fresh limes, lemons, strawberries, raspberries and muddled mint, add in our Katie's Creek or Vidal Blanc, and then bubble it up
with seltzer. It's a perfect and refreshing sangria. (You can even add some blueberries to give it a festive look!)

Vynecrest to celebrate 40 years in business this weekend!

Join us July 19 & 20 as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in conjunction with Christmas in July. We will have a tent set up in the picnic area, awesome food pairings and live music Saturday and Sunday. More details can be found below.

It is that time of year again - July 17 through July 20, mention this blog post and get 25% off 12 or more bottles. For customers who can't make it to the winery, we are offering free shipping on 6 or more bottles during the same time period, July 17 - 20. No discount code is needed at checkout; you just need to have 6 or more bottles in your cart. This discount applies to online orders only; phone-in orders will be subject to normal shipping prices.

July Specials 
- Wine of the Month - Lemberger - additional 10% off*
- 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold $25*

*available at winery only

Upcoming Events at the Winery

July 17 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm

July 17-20 - Christmas in July, 25% off a case or more (at winery only)

July 19 & 20 - Anniversary Weekend, 11 am - 5 pm

You are cordially invited to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery

* Tent will be set up in the picnic area

* Live music in the tent: The Rotten Apples 1:30 - 4:30 pm on Saturday, and AMoS Duo (guitars) 1:30 - 4:30 pm on Sunday

Food for purchase from The Fud Truk coordinated to complement our wines:

• Spicy Sweet Chili chicken Wrap - Crisp Chicken, tender bib lettuce & Traminette pickled carrots and red onio
• Peppery Arugula Wrap - Herb Boursin cheese, fresh orange segments & dried cherries tossed w/Chardonnay vinaigrette
• Hickory Smoked Bratwurst - served on a crusty roll w/caramelized onion Chambourcin marmalade
• Tender Short Rib Sandwich  - Lemberger-braised short rib topped with creamy Brie & spicy Arugula
• Grilled Cheese - smoked Gouda & roasted red peppers & Summertime Red Chimichurri spread

Hot Dogs - Because you gotta have hot dogs

July 24 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7pm

July 26 & 27 - Wine on the Mountain

Hit the road and head to Penn’s Peak in nearby Jim Thorpe for this festival which includes wine samplings from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries in your own commemorative glass. Relax with a glass of wine on the panoramic outdoor deck with a view of Beltzville Lake and the Pocono Mountains. Or stay inside in air conditioned comfort while listening to live musical entertainment.

Browse through the displays from local artisans and crafters selling handmade décor, accessories, and food items. Or purchase food to pair with your wine from the Penn’s Peak kitchens.

All of the wineries will also be selling wine by the bottle and the case to take home with you. So come prepared to shop. Live musical entertainment will be provided both days. Tickets are required for this event. The event hours are noon – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

TICKETS: $15 in advance or $20 at the door the weekend of the event. (Tickets are good for ONE day of the event, not both days.)

WHERE TO BUY: Tickets for Wine on the Mountain are now on sale via EventBrite (credit card only) here, and also at our nine member wineries (cash only) for in-person sales.

July 27 - Vineyard & Winery Tour at noon, $5 per person

July 31 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7pm

Upcoming Events at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown

July 18 & 19 - Anniversary weekend celebration

Anniversary weekend: light appetizers from Wholesome Food, live music, and plenty of wine. Come celebrate with us from noon - 6 pm. Live music starts at 4 pm. Drawings will be held every hour to celebrate our event.

July 25 - Painting with Wine

Join us for a glass of wine, light appetizers from Wholesome Food, and wine glass to paint. $15 per person reservations a must. Price includes a glass of wine, a small appetizer plate, paints, brushes, one “empty” wine glass, and instruction. Aprons not provided. Painting a glass will not last three hours. You may come anytime with in the three hour time slot. RSVP by July 24 at sheri@vynecrest.com or 484-641-5149.

July 26 - A Summer Evening to Wine

Join us Saturday night for wine, appetizers from the Kutztown Tavern, and live music. Relax inside or on our back patio and enjoy the sounds of the season. The evening festivities will last from 5 - 8pm at $12 per person. Reservations a must. Email your RSVP to sheri@vynecrest.com or call 484-641-5149.

Enter the Cooking with Wine Seafood Soup Contest using Clover Hill wines at the Allentown Fair

Take a ride into the beautiful countryside of Berks County where you will find Clover Hill’s largest vineyard and a quaint tasting room. This gorgeous farm was purchased by John and Pat Skrip to expand Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery in 1991. The original farm and house date back to the late 1800's, owned by the Filbert family who operated it as a dairy farm. In the 1980’s the farm changed hands and was purchased by New York City transplants, Bill and Shirley Fritz, who had a dream of starting a vineyard in the country. Needless to say, Bill and Shirley Fritz were not cut out for country living and quickly opted to move back to the city.

In 1986, when John and Pat Skrip acquired the property, they began expanding the six acres of vines to the current size of 44 acres and built a small tasting room, which opened in October 1991, to sell Clover Hill wines. The Vineyard in Robesonia is open Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday for tastings and sales from 11 am - 5:30 pm, Sundays from noon - 5 pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. There is a small patio where you can enjoy wine by the glass, and we also have a selection of local cheeses available for purchase to enjoy on the property. We look forward to your escape into rural Berks County and a visit to the Vineyard in Robesonia.

July Specials

• Monday Funday – Every Monday at the Winery in Breinigsville all still wines are $4 by the glass.
• Senior Days – Every Tuesday at the Winery in Breinigsville seniors 65+ years old receive a 10% discount on their wine purchase.
• Fabulous Friday – Every Friday at the Winery in Breinigsville all sparkling wines are $5 by the glass.

Wine and Food Inspiration at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market
Saturday, July 12 from 11 am - 4 pm

Visit the wine shop at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market on Saturday, July 12 for a summer grilling inspired wine and food pairing. We will be featuring samples of Clover Hill’s DeChaunac paired with Summer Sausage from Peters Brothers Meats.

2014 Vineyard and Winery Tour Series
The Winery in Breinigsville
July 13 at 2 pm
July 21 at 2 pm

Join Clover Hill Winery for an inside look at our vineyards and production facility. Let us show you our winemaking process from the grape to the glass. The tour is approximately 1 ½ hours long and includes wine tastings along the way. Reservations are required and space is limited. Under 21 is free and we are handicap accessible. For reservations please call 610-395-2468. Tour tickets are $12 per person, under 21 is free.

Enter the Cooking with Wine Seafood Soup Contest at the The Great Allentown Fair
Applications must be received by August 2
Judging will take place on August 29

Do you love to cook with wine? Why not enter the Clover Hill sponsored ‘Cooking with Wine Seafood Soup Contest’ at the Great Allentown Fair? Simply create an original seafood soup, bisque, chowder or stew recipe using a Clover Hill wine as one of the ingredients. 1st prize is a $200 Clover Hill gift card and there are also prizes for 2nd – 5th place. You can see all of the contest details and an application for by clicking here.

Enjoy wine cocktails, a winemaker's dinner, and gourmet hot dogs this month at Galen Glen

Celebrate America's Independence Day with Wine Slushies & Tours
We will create a special "Red, White & Blue" Slushy featuring ice (white) and flavors of raspberry and pomegranate (red), blueberry (blue).
 
We will offer one complimentary walking tour each day on Friday, July 4; Saturday, July 5; and Sunday, July 6 at noon. The tour takes you on a meandering stroll through the vineyard, to the wine cellar and back to the tasting room. Tours are weather-permitting and we suggest sturdy foot gear.   Our terrain is great for grape vines but not good for flip-flops and stilettos.  No reservations are required for the tour.

Wine Cocktails -
Sunday, July 13 from noon to 5 pm (or while supplies last)
Join us for Groovy Cosmo Day. Gather your besties and come to sample this fun wine drink using our white wine. Enjoy a sample on the wine bar or purchase a glass for $4 to enjoy on our patio while you also drink in our breathtaking views.
 
Saturday, July 19 from 10 am to 5 pm (or while supplies last)
Join us for 80's Wine Cooler Day. This great wine cocktail features our white wine. Enjoy a sample on the wine bar or purchase a glass for $4 and savor the memories as you enjoy some time on our terrace.
 
Winemaker's Dinner
Sunday, July 13 - 6 pm
Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville, Pa.

Sarah is continuing her summer road trip and is inviting you to join the ride. Join us next at Mountain Valley Golf Course located in Barnesville, Pa. The Golf Club is offering some great stay & play packages so you can golf before the dinner or the next day. For reservations and more information about staying or playing, call Mountain Valley at 570-467-2242 extension 3.

Love Hot Dog Co. & Love Food Truck Company
On Saturday, July 12 from 10 am to 5 pm, Jason and Bob return with the Love Food Truck. They serve hot and cold sandwiches and salads, ribs, and many other gourmet menu items that are different from the dog truck. Bob is a Culinary Institute of America trained chef, and he and Jason enjoy putting their own loving spin on every menu item.
 
On Sunday, July 20 from noon to 5 pm, enjoy a lunch you will never forget. Love Hot Dog Company will be onsite and selling gourmet sausages and dogs and delicious toppings like the now-famous bacon jam. Invite your carnivore friends, everyone is welcome to purchase a little lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine on one of our patios while sharing the love of summer sunshine.

Walking Tours of the Vineyard & Cellar
Throughout the summer months we offer walking tours of our vineyard and wine cellar on scheduled weekends. These tours are held weather permitting and we strongly urge you to wear sturdy foot gear (sneakers, hiking shoes, etc.) While the vines thoroughly enjoy it, stilettos and flip-flops do not bode well on our  rocky soil. The tours usually last about one hour and offer the opportunity to see how your wine develops from the vines in our vineyard to our crush pad and tank room and finally to the bottles that you take home.

While in the cellar you will learn our famous Hollywood connection too.  The tour provides a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our history, our wines, our awards and why we are passionate about what we create. Tours are complimentary and no reservations are required. Tours depart the tasting room at noon on the following dates: July 4, 5, 6, 13 & 19.

Pinnacle Ridge wines featured in new Easton restaurant

Pinnacle Ridge at Ginny's Bistro
   
Recently, Mr. Thomas A. Campbell Jr. opened Ginny's Bistro at 612 Northampton St. in Easton. The restaurant is a tapas-style bistro and features a menu with an eclectic mix of dishes that are rich in local flavors. Chef Peter Chioda is well-versed in a variety of cooking styles and likes to use the finest local and seasonal ingredients in his kitchen. In addition to the fine local cuisine, the menu features a selection of Pinnacle Ridge wines, each chosen specifically for the particular dish.
   
Ginny's also serves as a cozy gathering spot that guests can pick up bottles of Pinnacle Ridge wine to take home to enjoy. So, take some time to check out this new location, enjoy some food and wine and take some to go, as well.

Restaurant Week in Easton is July 27 through August 2. Ginny's is open Monday thru Saturday 4 - 10 pm and Sunday, from 11 am - 6 pm with brunch specials from 11 am - 3 pm. Ginny's will also be featuring live entertainment and daily specials. Show your Case Club Card at Ginny's and receive 10% off your meal.

Results from the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine Competition

This year, Pinnacle Ridge sent wines to the 2014 Los Angeles Wine Competition, for its 75th  Anniversary. The competition received over 3,000 wines from 946 different wineries in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, Uruguay and the U.S.

Pinnacle Ridge wines showed nicely against some of the best in the world - our Blanc de Blanc came back with a Bronze Medal. Also, our 2013 Dry Riesling and our newly-released 2013 Traminette won Silver Medal Honors. We are also very proud to announce that our 2013 Dry Vidal Blanc won Gold Medal honors and that our 2013 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc was awarded a Best of Class Gold Medal and a 92 point rating.

This month’s Case Club Members event

White Wines 101: The Wonders of White Wines
Do you love white wines? Are you a reds-only kind of person? Are you just curious about which of the white wines to select for your bottle of bliss? Come out and take part in our White Wines 101 Seminar led by owner/winemaker Brad Knapp on Sunday, July 27 beginning at 4 pm.

Brad will be talking and tasting us through a selection of popular white wines, as well as some of our own Pinnacle Ridge selections, to discuss the differences in varietal, style and flavor profile. Besides, who amongst us does not enjoy a refreshing glass of wine on a warm summers eve? Come experience the wonder and variety of white wines.                          

Reservations are required. Please call us at (610) 756-4481 or e-mail us at pinridge@aol.com for reservations and details.

Summer Open House Concert Series Continues

This month we will be welcoming two musical guests to continue our Open House Concert Series in the barn. Come on out on Saturday, July 12 from 2 - 5 pm to see the musical group, TimeWhy?s. We will be welcoming them for the first time and will have food and wine available to enjoy while you take in the performance.

On Saturday, July 26 we will also be hosting the Cheek2Cheek trio (Mike Dugan & Friends) from 2 - 5 pm in the barn. Come enjoy great music, award-winning wine and some wonderful food prepared by Chef Adam Gluskin.