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.

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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.