Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's Annual Harvest Weekend event celebrates viticulture, winemaking and farming

As summer winds down, harvest season begins at the nine locally owned and operated wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. It’s the time of year when all of spring and summer’s hard work pays off for these farmers. The grapes they have grown are removed from the vine and their juices extracted for fermenting into the 2016 vintage.

On Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11, the wineries will celebrate the grape harvest with the Wine Trail’s annual Harvest Weekend event during which they will welcome wine lovers for a variety of different activities at each winery such as tastings, vineyard and winery tours, food and wine pairings, and live entertainment. They will also proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. (See below for a list of activities.) Visit www.HarvestWeekendLVWT.com for complete event details.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m.  Harvest Weekend is a free event, however each winery sets its own fee policy for wine tastings, live music, and vineyard and winery tours. Please refer to each winery’s web site for details.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a nonprofit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premier wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. For more information, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.


HARVEST WEEKEND 2016 HIGHLIGHTS
Amore Vineyards, Nazareth - will pair cheese tortellini in a tomato and basil sauce with Cabaret Amore.
Big Creek Vineyard, Kresgeville - will showcase locally grown fruit from Heckman Orchards as well as will have a cheese selection for tasting.
Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – now that fall is in swing, the winery will feature food and wine pairing ideas for the big football game. Culinary Experience Catering will offer homemade mac and cheese bites and mini meatball sliders paired with their 2015 White Merlot. On Saturday, Jordan White will perform live from 1-4 pm (no reservations needed; free). For Sunday Blues, the Sarah Ayers and James Supra Quartet will perform from 2-5 pm (reservations preferred; $5 admission). Guests are welcome to take a self-guided tour through the vineyard.
Clover Hill Vineyards, Breinigsville - Bleiler's Produce Patch will have a farm stand with a supply of farm fresh, organic produce for purchase. In addition, the winery will be celebrating its 31st anniversary and offering a 31% discount on all wines from September 8-11.
Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor – will welcome back fall with the return of its spiced pumpkin wine Potion X to the wine list, and will also be releasing a brand new cinnamon hard cider called Fire. Pumpkin-Rumtini's featuring Potion X and Social Still’s brand new Spiced Rum will be available to sample or to enjoy by the glass. Kendra’s Buttercup Bakery’s brand new food truck will sell their fantastic baked goods. Other local products such as honey and apple butter will be for sale as well. Tours will be offered at noon and 2 pm all weekend.
Galen Glen, Andreas - will feature “Taste the Grape, Taste the Wine.” Experience the flavors of their featured grape and follow it up with a taste of the finished wine. Walking tours will occur both days at 1 pm. Plus, locally sourced gourmet cheese, honey, and fruit plates will be available for purchase.
Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - will partner with La Cocina Mexicana from Kutztown. Sal will prepare chicken chimichangas with either salsa verde or salsa rojo and sour cream and guacamole. This savory delight will be paired with either the winery’s newly released Dry Rose (75% Chambourcin and 25% Cabernet Franc), or its slightly sweet Traminette.
Tolino Vineyards, Bangor - will highlight their partnership with Two Rivers Brewing Company of Easton, a farm-to-table restaurant, and their squash bisque, which will be paired with their 2015 Lilly wine. A seasonal beer from Two Rivers will be for sale by the pint and free samples of beer brewed at Tolino Vineyards will be available to taste. The Chris Cummings Jazz Trio will perform on Saturday, and The Moon Dogs will perform on Sunday.  
Vynecrest, Breinigsville - Stuffed to the Grills, a PA Preferred food truck, will be at Vynecrest 11 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday with their delicious menu including brie bites with raspberry sauce. In addition, the winery will have samples of pumpkin whoopie pies paired with their Autumn Gold wine, and also available for purchase.



Friday, August 26, 2016

Pinnacle Ridge prepares to rock with a prelude to Blues in the Barn this Saturday 8/27

Prelude to Blues in the Barn at Pinnacle Ridge Winery
Saturday, August 27

Pinnacle Ridge Winery kicks off its Blues in the Barn concert series this Saturday, August 27 starting at noon with a performance by The Jay Stollman Band featuring three-time British Blues Hall of Fame Guitarist of The Year Matt Schofield and Scott Spray of the Johnny Winter Band.

Jay Stollman is a “singer’s singer,” a fire and brimstone, Blues shouter with a full throttle, take no prisoners approach to his music.

Stollman has performed the world over to enthusiastic audiences and rave reviews, sharing the stage with James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Bo Diddley, Elton John, The Temptations, Four Tops, Jose Feliciano, Johnny Winter, Joan Osborne, Blues Traveler, Walter Trout and Samantha Fish, to name a few.

Matt Schofield is one of the world’s greatest Blues guitarists. He was voted British Blues Awards Guitarist of the Year 2010, 2011, 2012 which garnered him an induction into the British Blues Hall of Fame. He won Blues Album of the Year (2011) by Mojo Magazine. Penguin Book of Blues Recordings cited Matt as one of only two living British artists to achieve the maximum four-star rating. And he has been voted Guitar & Bass magazine’s Top Ten British Blues Guitarists, of all time.

Scott Spray is one of America’s most recorded bassists, logging thousands of studio hours and appearing on almost 1000 albums. Most recently, Scott spent 15+ years as the recording and touring bassist for legendary Bluesman, Johnny Winter. Spray supplied his smooth and steady bass grooves for Winter’s final album, “STEP BACK”which won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Blues Album. He is a sought-after studio and live performance icon with credits galore.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Sunday Blues and Yoga in the Vineyard this month at Blue Mountain




Sunday Blues 
Join us at Blue Mountain Vineyards every Sunday for music, fun and of course wine. Enjoy live entertainment on our outdoor or glass enclosed deck with commanding views of the mountains and our vineyards. Gourmet cheeses, dips, Virginia peanuts, and fresh baked bread are available for purchase or bring your own snacks.

Reservations preferred because our tables go quickly. Admission is $5 and includes a wine tasting. Payment is required at the time of reservation.

8/14 - Kayla Avitable - new to Blue Mountain

8/21 - The Tommy Roberts - new to Blue Mountain

8/28 - Jake Kaligis and Mike Rauscher - The Dynamic Duo


Yoga at the Vineyard  
Saturday, August 20 from 9 - 11 am

Join us at Blue Mountain Vineyards for a 60-minute gentle yoga class and deep relaxation with Shanti Health & Wellness followed by a wine tasting and snacks.
(Outdoors, weather permitting.)
$25/person, includes yoga class, wine tasting, snacks.
Advance reservations required.