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.
