Lehigh Valley Wine Trail to debut new spring wine and cheese event next weekend

Spring is an important time in the vineyards at the nine wineries that make up the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. It’s when bud break on the vine occurs and the vineyards spring back to life after being dormant all winter. It kicks off the growing season along with all the promise that it holds.

To celebrate the season, the wine trail is hosting a new event, May 16 and 17. The Spring Wine & Cheese Pairing event invites guests to sample wine and cheese pairings at each member winery. The theme of this year’s event is “Local Wine with Cheeses from Around the World.” Each winery has selected a country whose native cheeses pair best with their wine as follows:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth – Italy - Mascarpone with Vidal dessert wine, and Provolone with Cabaret Amore

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville – Spain - Spanish Manchego from LaMancha with Moonlight White

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – France - Cantal cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville – Holland - Vidal Verde with Basiron Pesto (Pesto Gouda)

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor – USA - Mozzarella cheese from Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery in Forks Township topped with a slice of fresh tomato and drizzled with sweet basil oil with Seyval Blanc or Katie’s Creek for our sweet drinkers. They will also offer cheese plates for sale. On Sunday, Full of Crepe from Bethlehem will be onsite with their Big Green Crepe Truck selling sweet and savory crepes as well as cheesy crepes all day.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas – Germany - Butterkase with either dry Riesling or half-dry Riesling, and Allgau Emmental with either Gewurztraminer or Crooked Stick White. The winery will have a cooking demonstration on fondue made with Gruyere & Emmentaler. Small bowls of fondue and bread with 3 oz. of Gruner Veltliner will be for sale for $5.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown – Spain - San Simon smoked cheese with Dry Vidal Blanc

Tolino Vineyards, Bangor – Italy - Smoked provolone from Calandras Italian Cheese in Nazareth with 2013 Chambourcin

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville – The Netherlands - September Farms Smoked Gouda Cheese with 2013 Estate Bottled Chambourcin

Some wineries will offer cheeses for sale so that guests can recreate the wine and cheese pairings at home. Attendees can also complete an event ballot to vote for their favorite wine and cheese pairing and be entered to win one of nine $25 Wine Trail gift certificates.

Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Note: while the wine and cheese pairing samples at each winery are free, many of the wineries charge a fee for wine tastings. Limit one wine and cheese pairing sample per person. For additional event information visit: http://lehighvalleywinetrail.com/springwineandcheeseevent/. 

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. Member wineries have been honored with numerous awards at state, national and international levels.