Lehigh Valley Wine Trail - Valentine's Day/Weekend events

Amore

Weekend of 2/11 & 12 - We will be pairing dark chocolate with Rapport, Blackberry bliss, and Cabaret Dolce. (pairing included in the regular $5 wine tasting fee.)

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Blue Mountain

February is the month of love. Love makes the world go round, but chocolate and wine makes the trip worthwhile. Every Saturday and Sunday in February, savor a delicious cupcake from local baker, The Buttered Crumb, or indulge in three decadent handmade chocolate truffles from local chocolatier, Sweet Finesse. Enjoy them with your favorite wine in their glass-enclosed room with cozy fireplaces overlooking the vineyard.

Wondering what to do for Valentine's Day? Try something a little different! Impress your significant other with a romantic candlelit dinner catered by The Culinary Experience. Enjoy soulful music provided by Jean Therapy Combo, and a souvenir glass to take home to remember this magical night. Tickets must be purcahsed by 2/3/17. Limited tickets. Ages 21 and older only

When: February 10 (snow date February 25)

Time: 6-9 pm; Dinner is served at 6 pm

Where: Blue Mountain Vineyards

Cost: $110/couple (+tax) includes two souvenir glasses, live music, catered dinner, and a glass of wine with dinner.

MENU

Appetizers

Roast Beef Crostinis

Arancini Balls

Mini Pineapple Pulled Pork Sliders

Dinner

Top Round Carving Station

Breaded Chicken Cutlet

Garlic Alfredo Sauce Cavatappi Pasta

Vegetable Medley

Caesar Salad

Fresh Baked Dinner Rolls

Dessert is provided by The Buttered Crumb. Chocolate mousse with handmade whipped cream, fresh berries, and two chocolate hearts on top.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: You can’t go wrong with a limited -dition wine and a simple, but delicious pasta dish to impress your lover on Valentine’s Day. We recommend their 2013 Cabernet Franc, which is a medium-bodied dry red with bright fruit and herb notes, paired with Portobello Mushroom Parmesan. Find the recipe at their website: http://www.bluemountainwine.com/portobelloparmesan.html

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Clover Hill

Beat The Winter Blues with a Wine Slushie Weekend

The Winery in Breinigsville

February 4 & 5 from noon - 4 p.m.

Slushies are available for purchase by the glass.

Forget the cold weather and join us for a little wine slushie fun. They will be wearing their best island outfits, Caribbean music will be playing and will be serving wine slushies by the glass. Slushies will be $6 by the glass (you keep the glass) and $5 refills.

Love Flights

The Winery in Breinigsville

February 11, 12, 13 & 14; noon - 4 p.m. each day

Reservations required (limited availability); $12 per flight

Love Flights is a sweet way to do a casual tasting of 4 wines each perfectly paired with a sweet treat. If you want to join us for Love Flights call us and make a reservation. They will need to know what day you would like to attend, how many people will be joining you and if you prefer dry or sweet wines. Please call 610-395-2468 for reservations.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: They just released the 2013 Merlot. The wine is fuller bodied with a touch of sweet oak and vanilla on the taste. If you are planning a special steak dinner, this wine would be a delightful partner.

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Franklin Hill

Valentine’s Day dinner at Social Still featuring Franklin  Hill’s not-yet-released Cask 530

February 14

$60/person

Join the winery Valentine's Day evening at Social Still and be one of the first to try our soon to be released Cask 530, a bourbon-barrel aged Chambourcin.

Course 1: Appetizer served with a Signature Cocktail

Smoked Beef Carpaccio with preserved lemon, smoked salt, arugula and kalamata olives

or

Prince Edward Island mussels, shallots, garlic absinthe, herbs, with charred bread

Course 2: Salad or Soup

Baby lettuce, blood orange, fennel, roasted beets, with candied hazelnut vinegrette

or

Wild mushroom soup with truffle foam

Course 3: Entree served with Franklin Hill Vineyards Local Wine

Thai style grilled lancaster free range chicken with fingerling sweet potatoes, green papaya salad and a sweet sambal sauce

or

Chimichurri marinated skirt steak, cheesy soft polenta, garlic spinach

Course 4: Dessert

Molten Chocolate cake, berry sauce, with white chocolate ganache

Tickets available online: https://www.opentable.com/social-still

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Galen Glen

Every Saturday and Sunday in February

Wine & Local Chocolate Pairings

Savor a delicious brownie with peanut butter icing from local baker, Mama C’s or three decadent handmade chocolate truffles from local chocolatier, Steve Evans with a glass of their wine.

Saturday, February 11 & Sunday, February 12

Noon to 2 pm

Romance Book Signing

She writes sweet. She writes steamy. Meet local, award-winning author, Autumn Jordan and take home your signed copy of her Valentine’s Day romance novel, Perfect Hearts. She will also be signing Perfect, Seized By Darkness and her newest release, Obsessed By Darkness. Books are $10 each (cash only).  Autumn has been recognized by the Romance Writers of America as a National Golden Heart® finalist and is a Golden Leaf Winner.  Recently, she received a “Best Indie Romance Author” nomination from Amazon’s Kindle Book Reviewers for Seized By Darkness.  More at www.autumnjordon.com.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: Their favorite treats for Valentine’s Weekend, paired with wine:

Galen loves raw oysters with his Stone Cellar Riesling and Fossil Riesling.

Sarah has a glass of their sparkling Gruner Veltliner with tuna and salmon sashimi.

For dessert – Sarah’s homemade tiramisu with their port style Barrel Twenty-Nine.

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Pinnacle Ridge

Weekend of Feb 11-12:

This year we’re teaming up with our good friends at the Mediterranean Café & Grill in Fogelsville. They’ll be baking some crispy, flaky baklava, filled with honey, cashews, pistachios – and most importantly, drizzled with chocolate.

This delectable treat will be paired with our new 2016 Vidal Blanc – a wine made in the classic Germanic tradition of stopped fermentation. Aromas of peaches and nectarines are intermingled with a clean minerality. The naturally retained sweetness blends with the flavors and crispness for a perfect finish.

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Tolino

Valentine's Day Weekend (2/11 and 2/12) Tolino will feature chocolate truffles by JP Hepp of Chocodiem.  JP was named one of North America's top 10 chocolatiers by the Institute of Culinary Education.  Live music on Saturday by George Baier and Erin McClelland on Sunday.

At Tolino’s Easton Public Market booth they will be doing a demonstration on February 8 from 5-7 pm in the community kitchen with JP of Chocodiem pairing their wines with various chocolates.

Wine Pairing Suggestion - pair their Cabernet Franc with dark chocolate for traditionalists, and Lilly with white chocolate for adventurers.

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Vynecrest

Valentine Weekend - February 11 & 12

Vynecrest Winery will be serving brunch in the Vyneskeller from 10 am to 1 pm, reservations required. It is an a la carte menu of mimosas for $3 and an assortment of sweet treats such as chocolate-covered strawberries, almond croissants, cheese pockets, chocolate éclairs, apple Danish and petit fours. They will be taking advanced orders for personal-sized cakes for two to share for $7 each: Oreo Cream and German-Chocolate. Steve Myers will be playing romantic songs on the Baby grand piano 10 am - 4 pm, and 1 – 4 pm on Sunday.

They will also feature both days from 11 am – 4:30 pm a flight of three wines and three chocolates for $10 (no reservations needed).  They will pair the following from Billy’s Candies in Temple, Pa. with their Vynecrest wines:  Sparkling Traminette with Milk Chocolate Covered Strawberries; Vynecrest Red paired with Chocolate Figaro Hazelnut Truffles; and Cherry Divyne paired with solid Dark Chocolate Hearts. Vynecrest.com. 610-398-7525.

Vino in the Valley 2017 Food and Wine Pairings

Amore Vineyards –

Week 1 – Roast pork loin with applejack pan gravy and red skinned mash potatoes – Vidal Blanc

Week 2 – Three-cheese meat lasagna – Red Rapture or Cabernet Dolce

Week 3 – Beef Burgundy and bow tie pasta – Cabaret Amore or Chambourcin

Week 4 – Chicken medallions and pasta Florentine, roasted red peppers, artichokes and mushrooms in a light garlic wine sauce – Rose Amore

Big Creek –

March 4 and 5

Homemade Tomato Bisque with Crispy Pancetta and Grilled Cheese Crouton paired with Seyval for the dry wine drinkers or its sister wine, Dulcinea, fro the sweeter tastes.

March 11 and 12

Melon and Prosciutto with Balsamic Glaze paired with our Joi’, an off dry Muscat

March 18 and 19

Crostini with Beef Tenderloin and Horseradish Cream paired with our dry red wines.

March 25 and 26

Brie in Puff Pastry with Raspberry, Pecans and Green Onions paired with our Dulcinea or Apple Raspberry wines.

Blue Mountain –

All food prepared by Nick & Nikki Sandt with The Culinary Experience.

3/4 and 3/5

French Onion Soup with Toasted Garlic Crostini paired with 2015 Sauvignon Blanc

3/11 and 3/12

Garlic Herb Cavatappi Alfredo paired with 2015 Riesling

3/18 and 3/19

Chipotle Pulled Pork Crostini with a Cole Slaw Shooter paired with 2016 White Merlot

3/25 and 3/26

Mini Fish Tacos paired with 2012 Chardonnay

We are also offering complimentary live entertainment each Saturday from 1- 5 pm.

Clover Hill –

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery is proud to partner again this year with the K-Town Pub Taphouse & BBQ for our Vino in the Valley Food. This year passport holders will be treated to a Wings & Wine extravaganza! Each weekend will feature different wings and a vegetarian side dish perfectly paired with our wine.

March 4 and 5, 11 and 12

Chimichurri wings with a side of Vegetarian Baked Beans.  We will also be serving a new sangria.

Cayuga White will be paired with the Chimichurri wings – Chimichurri is an Argentina style sauce with parsley, cilantro and garlic

DeChaunac will be paired with homemade Vegetarian Baked Beans

March 18 and 19, 25 and 26

White BBQ wings with a side of Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.  We will also be serving a new sangria.

Riesling will be paired with White BBQ wings – White BBQ is an Alabama style sauce made with mayonnaise, cider vinegar and sambal (and Asian chili)

Vidal Blanc will be paired with a K’Town Pub creation of Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad – corn, black beans and pasta with chili, lime and aioli

(Please note: a passport is required to take part in the wine and food pairings or you can purchase a pairing for $6 per person.)

Franklin Hill –

Franklin Hill Vineyards is partnering with their sister business Social Still in Bethlehem for an amazing food and wine pairing each weekend.

Week 1 - Short Rib Street Taco bowls, sweet onion, cilantro, pico de gallo and lime paired with our Trio.

Week 2 - Kiss will be paired with Korean Style Meatballs

Week 3 - White Jade will be paired with Mini Crab cakes finished in a celery root remoulade and peppadew sauce.

Week 4 - Venison Sloppy Joe Sliders and purple cabbage citrus slaw paired with Evanswood.

(Vegan option are also available all four weekends.)

Galen Glen –

Harvest of Land & Sea - a salad of smoked salmon with local vegetables and greens topped with dill, sour cream dressing and a rye toast point

Wine – Gruner Veltliner

Cuisine Partner - Chef Mark Muszynski, owner of farm-to-table restaurant Curious Goods at the Bake Oven Inn http://bakeoveninn.com/

Pinnacle Ridge –

Pinnacle Ridge will be teaming up with the Lehigh Valley's own Taza Egyptian Cuisine Food Truck. Each weekend they'll feature some of their delicious signature recipes, which have been garnering rave reviews since they burst onto the culinary scene.

The Menu (everything is served with homemade pita chips):

March 4-5:

Garlicky Hummus

Baba Ghanoush - Smoky baked eggplant, pureed with homemade tahini and spices

Dry Option: 2016 Gruner Veltliner

Sweet Option: 2016 Vidal Blanc

March 11-12:

Gibna Beyda - Bulgarian feta mixed with spices, tomatoes, scallions, and olive oil topped with paprika

Marinated Eggplant - Lightly fried eggplant marinated with vinegar, fresh lemon and fresh pressed garlic

Dry Option: 2016 Dry Rose'

Sweet Option: 2015 Riesling

March 18-19:

Garlicky Hummus

Baba Ghanoush - Smoky baked eggplant, pureed with homemade tahini and spices

Dry Option: 2016 Gruner Veltliner

Sweet Option: 2016 Vidal Blanc

March 25-26:

Gibna Beyda - Bulgarian feta mixed with spices, tomatoes, scallions, and olive oil topped with paprika

Marinated Eggplant - Lightly fried eggplant marinated with vinegar, fresh lemon and fresh pressed garlic

Dry Option: 2016 Dry Rose'

Sweet Option: 2015 Riesling

Tolino Vineyards –

The Easton Public Market is a great place to drink Tolino wine and sample many different types of food. For Vino in the Valley, Tolino is brining the tastes of the market to the winery in Bangor. Each weekend we will feature a different vendor from the market, with live music every Saturday.

· March 3 and 4 –Chocodiem and live music Saturday by Gordon Ward. We will pair our Cabernet Franc with Chocodiem’s dark chocolate ganache tarts filled with an array of toppings including Himalayan sea salt, coconut flakes, nuts, cocoa nibs and more.

· March 11 and 12- Taza Stop and live music by George Baier. We will pair our Vidal Blanc with Taza’s Egyptian chili loaded with fava beans, ground beef  and lots of spices. 

·  March 18 and 19 - Barred and Broody Bake Shop and live music by Curious Dog. We will pair Papa’s Red with chocolate explosion cake, which is chocolate cake with buttercream icing, chocolate ganache and chocolate sprinkles.

·  March 25 and 26- More than Q and live music by Craig Sailer. Pulled pork from More than Q paired with Chardonnay.

Vynecrest –

March 4 and 5 - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck

Pairing Stuffed to the Grills Smoked Gouda Bites with Vynecrest’s DiVyne Red wine. Using PA Preferred September Farms Smoked Gouda wrapped in puff pastry and deep fried with a DiVyne Red drizzle.

March 11 and 12 - Cibo Italian Food Truck

Domenico will be sharing two of his favorite pizzas all weekend, made fresh on-site from his food truck Cibo. He will offer a vegetarian pizza with peppers and mushrooms as well as a cheese pizza topped with bacon. Both pizzas will be paired with Vynecrest Red, and old favorite and perfect pizza wine.

March 18 and 19 - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck

Pairing Stuffed to the Grills Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad with Vynecrest’s semi-sweet Riesling wine. Roasted eggplant, red onion, peppers, and garlic tossed with orzo, basil, green onions, and feta cheese in a lemon olive oil dressing.

March 25 and 26 - la bottega & dei PANINI

Domenico will be unveiling his new food truck for the first time here at Vynecrest all weekend and will be featuring a wide array of sandwiches, paninis and heroes.  Specifically, for the food pairing, he will be featuring his classic Italian hero, with ham, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, and oil and vinegar. We will pair our Vynecrest White with this masterpiece all weekend.

Get to know our wineries and their wines during our six annual events in 2017

Each year the wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail hold six special events to bring wine lovers together and to introduce newbies to local wine.

All events take place at our nine wineries except for Wine on the Mountain which takes place at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe.

Hours for all events are 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, and noon - 5 p.m. on Sunday, except for Wine on the Mountain which is noon - 5 p.m. both days. We hope to see you on the trail!


Vino in the Valley Passport Program
March 4 and 5, 11 and 12, 18 and 19, 25 and 26, 2017

Purchase a passport for $35 and then visit each of our wineries during the four weekends in March to enjoy food and wine pairings. (See right side column for more details.)

Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing Event
May 20 and 21, 2017

Each winery will select one of its wines to pair with the perfect cheese and will offer complimentary tastings of the pairing to wine lovers.

Wine on the Mountain
July 22 and 23, 2017

Hit the road and head to Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe for this wine festival which includes wine samples from local wineries in a commemorative glass, live music, food for purchase, and local crafters and artisans selling wine-related merchandise.

Harvest Weekend
September 9 and 10, 2017

Our wineries welcome you for 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 producers of other Pennsylvania products.

Chambourcin Weekend
October 21 and 22, 2017

Wine lovers will be introduced to the Chambourcin wine grape, the only wine grape that is grown by all nine of our trail's wineries.

Nouveau Weekend
November 18 and 19, 2017

Our wineries debut the first wines from the new vintage, as well as other new wine releases, during the last Wine Trail event of the year.

Vino in the Valley 2017 Getaway Prize Packages

We've made a fun and exciting change to our Vino in the Valley passport event for 2017:

Instead of giving out small, individual gifts to passport holders as was done in past years, this year they will be entered to win one of 10 Lehigh Valley Getaway Packages! We've partnered with some of your favorite local inns, resorts, and bed and breakfasts to create these fabulous overnight packages in the Lehigh Valley.

(All packages/getaways are subject to availability; prize recipient is responsible for booking/scheduling all components of the package they win. Prize recipient may also be responsible for taxes and/or tips.)

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Purchase a Vino in the Valley passport ($35) in person at one of our 9 wineries (cash or check only) or online via EventBrite.
2. Visit at least 8 of our 9 wineries during the four weekends in March and have your passport stamped at each one while you enjoy food and wine pairings.
3. At the last winery you visit fill out the contact information on the bottom of the passport; tear off the stub and turn it into the winery staff in order to be entered to win one of these great Lehigh Valley Getaway Packages!

Here are details on the packages that you could win:

Bear Creek Mountain Resort Getaway

Deluxe King Suite for two nights with Champagne, champagne flutes, and two pairs of slippers; breakfast delivered to your room and rose petal turndown at night

$200 Spa at Bear Creek gift card to be used toward the pampering services of your choice

$100 Grille at Bear Creek gift card for dinner

Crystal Springs Resort Getaway

Create-your-own getaway with a gift card that can be used for your choice of lodging, spa treatments, rounds of golf, and gourmet dining.

Hawk Mountain Bed & Breakfast Getaway

Two-night stay in a Jacuzzi room, plus transportation to the Blue Mountain Vineyards for a winery tour

Massage and manicure for two at Salon & Spa 309

Tickets for two to the Lehigh Valley Zoo

One-hour Allentown hot air balloon ride (shared) with end of ride celebration with champagne fruits and cheese

Dinner for two at Paese Mio

Blue Mountain Vineyards winery tour and cheese pairing for two - includes souvenir glasses

Couples Pampering Package Getaway at Glasbern Inn

Two-night stay for two at Glasbern Inn

Three-course chef-inspired dinner for two in the main dining room

Two 1-hour Swedish massages

Half-dozen chocolate covered strawberries

Chilled champagne in the room

A chef’s table breakfast for two

A breakfast for two in the main dining room

(Valid Sunday through Thursday nights only and based on availability)

Hotel Bethlehem Getaway

Two-night stay at Hotel Bethlehem in downtown Bethlehem

Dinner for two at Social Still in Southside Bethlehem

Sayre Mansion Getaway

Two-night stay at Sayre Mansion - $500 gift certificate

Friday evening dinner at Bolete - $200 gift certificate

Saturday lunch at Bamboo $50 gift certificate

Saturday evening “Picnic on the Green” at DeSales University outside theater with Wegmans $50 gift certificate (to pack picnic supper) and bottle of Galen Glen Riesling

Saturday evening tickets to Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Show at DeSales University $100 gift certificate

Glasbern Inn Getaway

Two-night stay in a deluxe room or junior suite, and dinner for two.

Shawnee Inn Getaway

Two-night stay at Shawnee Inn in the Sanctuary Suite, two breakfasts, one dinner (at River Room or Gem and Keystone), brewery tour, and beer tasting. (Includes all taxes and gratuity for two people.)

Lafayette Inn Getaway

Two-night stay for two people in a Premier Guest Room with whirlpool tub, fireplace and breakfast daily. Romance basket of treats in room.

Couples massage

Gift card for two tickets to a show of your choice at the State Theatre

Dinner for two at Maxim’s 22 restaurant

Kutztown Main Street Inn

Two-night stay at Kutztown Main Street Inn

Dinner with beer tasting and tour at Saucony Creek Brewery

Randall's on the Orchard restaurant gift card

Welcome gift basket filled with assortment of local food and beverages

$150 Uber Gift Card for Transportation

Personal tour and cellar tasting at Vynecrest with the owner