Mother's Day, wine slushies, and vineyard and winery tours this spring at Clover Hill

Mother's Day Flights
May 7, 8, 9 and 10 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
Tickets required: $12 per flight

Let us help you celebrate all the beautiful Mothers at Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. We will offer a dry wine flight and a sweet wine flight. Please call 610.395.2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville for your tickets.

Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing Event with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
May 21 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
May 22 - noon - 5  p.m.

Learn the art of pairing wine and cheeses together. We will offer a free sampling of two wines each paired with a cheese. We will feature Riesling paired with a Ghost Pepper Habanero Jack and our Catawba paired with Cotswold. Cheeses will also be available for purchase. Stop in the winery in Breinigsville for this free tasting.

Wine Slushie Weekend
May 27, 28 and 29 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
To kick off the summer season we will be offering a wine slushie for sampling and available for purchase by the glass.

Public Vineyard and Winery Tours
June 12 at 2 p.m.
July 17 at 2 p.m.
Reservations required; $12 per person. No charge for guests under 21 years of age.

Join Clover Hill Winery for a vineyard and winery tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass. Tours last approximately 1½ hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size, so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Get to know... Chantelle Gendron of Big Creek Vineyard

Which winery do you work for and how long have you worked there?

I work for Big Creek Vineyard - specifically, I manage the Jim Thorpe storefront. Between initially working at the vineyard and then Jim Thorpe, I’ve been with Big Creek for over two years.

What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and why? What do you like to pair it with?

I’m extremely fond of the Dulcinea. I tend toward semi-sweet aromatic whites, and the balance of the semi-sweet Seyval at 3% residual sugar is just what my palate loves. I also love our semi-sweet Muscat, which is available later in the summer. I pair both with a big wine glass.

What is the most popular question you get asked by visitors about Lehigh Valley wine or wineries, and how do you answer it?

I have heard, “you can grow grapes around here?” a few times now. Yes, we can! It’s all about the region and the terroir of the vineyard - we personally love vines of Seyval, Regent, Frontenac, etc in our vineyard because they are less finicky, while producing superb wines, but we do grow a few “noble," more high maintenance grapes (e.g. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Muscat) that can handle the growing season and survive harsh winters.

What do you like most about local, Lehigh Valley wine and wineries?

It's hard to pick just one thing. I certainly like the diversity that we all offer to anyone living in or visiting the region. Each one of our vineyards is different and unique, which is a fabulous experience, but I also love being part of a vineyard on the Trail because of the camaraderie between us all. It’s always enjoyable meeting other staff members to swap stories and talk shop. I also love when I get the time to visit other vineyards to do tasting and not be the one pouring wine!

What is the one piece of advice you offer to wine lovers traveling along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail?

Drink what you like. Certainly it’s important to keep an open mind and try wines out of your comfort zone to fully experience what a winery has to offer. I personally like to try a little bit of everything at a winery to get a true sense of what they do. But when purchasing a bottle, enjoy what tastes best to you, and not what you’ve heard you should be drinking.

Wine & Cheese Pairings announced for mid-May Wine Trail event

We're already half-way through April and before you know it may will be here. So mark your calendar now and plan to join us May 21 & 22 at all 9 of our trail's member wineries for our next Wine Trail event - the Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing event.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Complete an event ballot to vote for your favorite wine and cheese pairing and be entered to win one of nine $25 Wine Trail gift certificates.

(While the wine and cheese pairing samples at each winery are complimentary (limit one per person, per winery), most of our member wineries charge a fee for wine tastings. So be sure to ask what the tasting policy is when you arrive at each winery, or consult their respective winery page on this site and look for the Tasting Policy header.)

Amore - will feature a wide array of cheese and crackers, paired with several different wines.

Big Creek - will pair Nouvelle Sunset Late Harvest with Brie or Apple Raspberry with Manchego.

Blue Mountain – their 2011 Merlot will be paired with a wedge of Prima Donna cheese on a cracker, and their 2014 Sauvignon Blanc will be paired with a skewer of watermelon and Sartori basil and olive Asiago cheese. Cheeses will be available to purchase.

Clover Hill – will offer a free sampling of Riesling paired with a ghost pepper habanero jack cheese, and Catawba paired with Cotswold. Cheeses will also be available for purchase.

Franklin Hill - will welcome Aioli Food Truck for Wine and Cheese weekend. They will offer pairings of their wines with a variety of cheese spreads from Klein’s Farm. All of their wines, as well as a special Summertime Sangria, will be available for purchase by the glass to enjoy on the deck. 

Galen Glen – will have their white wine with a skewer of mild local German cheese, a strawberry and a basil leaf, and their red wine with a wedge of local smoked cheddar on a pita cracker. Cheeses will be available to purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge - will pair goat cheese and apricot jam with Blanc de Blanc and 2015 Riesling. On Saturday, May 21, they will feature a performance in the barn from The Brosky Meyer Trio from 2-5 pm. Also, the Stuffed to the Grills food truck will sell gourmet sandwiches.

Tolino - will pair various wines with an assortment of cheeses from BaD Farm in Kempton. Tolino and BaD farms are both vendors at the new Easton Public Market. BaD Farm makes their cheese from raw milk that they produce.

Vynecrest - will pair September Farms Aged Gouda with their 2014 Lemberger.

2016 Vino in the Valley Grand Prize Winners announced!

Congratulations to the following 30 Grand Prize Winners of the 2016 Vino in the Valley passport drawing.

You will receive in the mail in the coming weeks a $25 gift certificate to the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail to be used toward the purchase of wine only. Gift certificates are valid for one year only.

Thank you for participating in this year's passport event!

Gloria Ambolino - Quakertown
Ann Christman - Palmerton
Deb Cinamella - Palmerton
Dave  Furman - Wayne
Diane Granitz - Allentown
Sharon Gross - Collegeville
Ken Hanna - Bethlehem
Brian Hugo - Walnutport
Kendra Kachline - Bangor
Laura Karns - Palmerton
Stacy Kovacs - Allentown
Nicole Larrison - Nazareth
Carol Sue Miller - Bath
Kristy Molitoris - Whitehall
Denise Nolt - Fleetwood
Megan Papuc - Bethlehem
Michele Pierce - Easton
Lisa Rodriguez - Whitehall
Ashley Romanishan - Danielsville
Carla Rowland - Easton
Jim Scheirer - Bethlehem
Paula Schmelz - Saylorsburg
Carl Schumacher Jr. - Easton
Cathy Smith - Allentown
Tammy Smith - Palmerton
Allison Solley - Bethlehem
Michelle Sterner - Allentown
Andrew White - Allentown
Eric Whitters - Easton
David Williamson - Nazareth

Get to know... Cheryl Paynter of Franklin Hill Vineyards

1. Which winery do you work for and how long have you worked there?

I've been coming to Franklin Hill since high school, although at that time it had nothing to do with wine and was to visit my friend Adam. I've been lucky enough to work at FHV full time for about seven years.

2. What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and why? What do you like to pair it with?

When I first started to drink wine Catawba was my favorite. But these days our Seyval Blanc is just beautiful. I enjoy a glass with a ton of vegetarian dishes that I like to prepare. It also pairs perfectly with a book and a blanket at the end of a long day.

3.  What is the most popular question you get asked by visitors about Lehigh Valley wine or wineries, and how do you answer it?

The most common question I get asked about the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is which winery is my favorite and I tell them, well FHV of course! But they're all amazing and have their own way of standing out.

4. What do you like most about local, Lehigh Valley wine and wineries?

Lehigh Valley wineries work together yet maintain their individuality. We create wines using the same grapes but each one is unique from one another. For example each one of us has a Chambourcin wine, but boy are they different! It's amazing and interesting for our customers.

5. What is the one piece of advice you offer to wine lovers traveling along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail?

If you're traveling the wine trail my first piece of advice is to please have designated drivers. Our wineries are quite far apart and some are on remote, back roads. Before anything is the safety of our customers.

Second would be to come early. We at FHV get very busy during the afternoon so the closer to opening time you can arrange your visit, the better. We love what we do and we love to show it off, so if you come early, we can almost always guarantee we'll be able to show you around.

Get to know... Karen George of Galen Glen

1. Which winery do you work for and how long have you worked there?

I’ve worked for Galen Glen for at least 15 years.

2. What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and why? What do you like to pair it with?

That changes from year to year, season to season, day to day. My fave at the moment is Gruner Veltliner.  Or is it Gewurztraminer?  I just made one of my specialties the other night, smoked salmon pasta with GV. If I am heading out for Mexican or sushi, I choose  my best friend Gewurz.

3. What is the most popular question you get asked by visitors about Lehigh Valley wine or wineries, and how do you answer it?

How do I get your job? I am actually related to Galen, so I was coerced into working here! I have a very stressful real job, so this is my "fun" job. You meet the sweetest, sincerest, silliest people on the wine bar.

4. What do you like most about local, Lehigh Valley wine and wineries?

I think it is great that we are so lucky to have vineyards in our backyards. I am ALL about being sustainable and supporting local agriculture. It has also been great watching them grow. Look out Finger Lakes: PA is coming to get you! I have many people tell me they no longer travel to the Finger Lakes for wine. The wine here is better and they can save on drive time and drink local wine instead.

5. What is the one piece of advice you offer to wine lovers traveling along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail?

I always advise them to try the vineyard’s specialty, what they are best known for. I also advise trying something outside their comfort zone, outside the box. If you ONLY drink red, try a new white that you are unfamiliar with. You just might like it! If you ONLY drink sweet wines, try a bit drier wine since your palate might be maturing or changing.

Springtime full of wine events and activities at Tolino Vineyards

Friday Music Series Starts May 27
All summer join us for our Friday Music Series for a relaxing evening at the winery. Live music, wine slushies, food for purchase, family flow yoga, bonfire for s'mores, and yard games for the kids. A great way to spend a relaxing Friday night with the family.

Tolino Vineyards at the Easton Public Market opening April 15
Our spot at the Easton Public Market is nearing completion. Check out our video in anticipation of an April 15 opening.

3rd Anniversary Sale and Food Pairing
April 9 and 10 help us celebrate three great years in business! We will be offering 40% off all 2012 vintage wines, and 15% off the remaining vintages. Papa's Red will be paired with Italian Tomato Pie. Live music by Andrew Moses on Saturday.

Paint your Glass Off with Erika 

April 16 at 2 pm
$35

Ticket includes all supplies and instruction to paint your own wine glass, a glass of wine to sip on while you paint & delicious snacks. Music by Gordon Ward.

Paint and Sip with Anna K  
April 23 at 6 pm
$35

Sip wine, chat with friends and create a masterpiece! The class will be instructed Anna Kaszupski. Tickets are $35 per person and include all art supplies, snacks  and a glass of wine.

Mother's Day Weekend 
May 7 and 8

Join Tolino Vineyards on Mother's Day Weekend for two great events,  cupcakes and yoga! All weekend enjoy a gourmet cupcake pairing by Sweet Girlz Bakery and premier tasting for $8. No tickets required. Or on Sunday, start your day with yoga at 10:30 am, followed by brunch, a cupcake pairing, premier tasting and live music. Yoga is $30/ticket. Live music Saturday by Mike Pilgermayer and Sunday by Peshi.

Spring Wine Dinner by Widow's Tavern and Grille
May 14 at 6 pm
$49.95

Appetizers in the vineyard, dinner in the tank room. Our first dinner of the year will be catered by Widow's Tavern and Grille in Stockertown and will offer a spring inspired menu. Ticket price includes appetizer, dinner, and dessert with wines paired with each. Live music by Andrew Moses. Weather permitting we will stroll down to the vineyard for cocktail hour and appetizers. We will then return to the tank room to enjoy the rest of the meal and the live music.

Dinner in the Vines  
Saturday, June 11 at 5 pm
$49.95

DeFranco's Catering will provide a delicious Italian meal served family style at round tables in the vineyard. Ticket price includes one glass of wine, appetizers, dinner, dessert and live music by Peshi. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to dine among the vines, taking in the sights, sounds and smell of nature.