Taste of the Trail

March Madness food and wine pairings

2012-02-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

If you are lucky enough to purchase your March Madness 2012 passport before they sell out, you will get to enjoy the following food and wine pairings at our eight wineries next month. Which one are you looking forward to trying the most?

Clover Hill Winery will be featuring American Classic style foods prepared with a modern twist.

Weeks 1 & 2 – The American Classic: Steak sandwiches and vegetable chowder
With a Modern Twist: Pinot Noir marinated tri-tip steak sandwiches paired with 2010 Pinot Noir served with a Vegetable and Orzo Chowder paired with Cayuga White.

Weeks 3 & 4 – The American Classic: Meatloaf with Mac & Cheese
With a Modern Twist: Blue Cheese and Bacon Meatloaf paired with 2009 Merlot served with a side of Aged Super Sharp cheddar Mac & Cheese with jalapenos and scallions paired with Riesling.

Non-passport holders or return visitors can join in the pairings for $6 per person.

Big Creek Winery will serve Sopa de Huevo con Arroz (with eggs from our own flock of free-range chickens) for the first three weekends, and Lisa Marie's Red Velvet Cake for the final weekend.

Galen Glen Winery will tempt your senses with our aromatic white wines paired with Bamboo’s satay chicken. The fragrance of our white wine will sing in your glass as you taste it with satay chicken (chicken dusted in cinnamon, cumin and exotic spices, accompanied by a dollop of Chef Andy’s own peanut sauce). www.thebamboocuisine.com

Vynecrest

March 3 & 4 and 17 & 18
Lisa Morton of Hereford Country Store will prepare Chipotle Mac & Cheese paired with our Traminette 2011. This is a kicked-up, smoky, three-cheese macaroni which perfectly complements the spicy Traminette wine. (recipe available)

March 10 & 11 and 24 & 25
Our Annual Cherry-Chocolate Pairing. This year Cherry DiVyne is paired with rich chocolate cake pops from Sweet Indulgence by Christina. Dark chocolate cake, dipped in dark chocolate icing and decorated with white chocolate and a hint of cherry flavoring, all on a lollipop stick!

Amore Winery

1st Weekend: Chicken Picatta Medallions served over Lemon Butter Tri-colored Orzo paired with Chardonnay

2nd Weekend: Tortellini in a Sundried Tomato & Basil Sauce paired with Cabaret Amore

3rd Weekend: Beef Stroganoff with Bowtie Pasta paired with Chambourcin

4th Weekend: Chicken Medallions and Pasta Florentine, Roasted Red Peppers, Artichokes and Mushrooms in a light Garlic Wine Sauce paired with Gregg’s Gregio

Pinnacle Ridge is celebrating The Year of the Dragon with a tasty assortment of creations by Chef Ben Underwood.

March 3 & 4 - Egg Roll Crowns- Crispy wontons filled with pork, shrimp and cabbage served with an apricot-ginger sauce. This lively Asian dish will be paired with our 2010 Riesling.

March 10 & 11 - Pork Satay- Skewered strips of tender pork sirloin, hickory grilled and served with sesame BBQ sauce paired with our 2009 Merlot or 2010 Quaff.

March 17 & 18 - Mushroom Rangoon- Crunchy Chinese pasta filled with roasted garlic-scallion cream cheese, Portobello mushrooms and drizzled with black bean sauce. This lively dish will be paired with our 2009 Chambourcin.

March 24 & 25 - Moo Shoo Chicken- Stir fried chicken, cabbage, carrots and peanuts in crispy rice paper, served with Peking plum sauce. Perfect with our 2011 Dry Vidal or 2010 Vidal Blanc.

Blue Mountain Vineyards:

Week 1: Di Bruno Brothers’ pasta (penne or ziti) tossed with a gorgonzola cheese spread, topped with their shredded Parmesan cheese paired with our White Merlot. Chocolate fountain with assorted snacks to dip paired with our 2008 Merlot.

Week 2: Baked ham glazed with ginger peach chutney, a Tait Farm Foods (PA Preferred) product, paired with our 2011 Riesling. Chocolate fountain with assorted snacks to dip paired with our Victoria’s Passion.

Week 3: Di Bruno Brothers’ pasta (penne or ziti) with a tomato basil red sauce, topped with their shredded Parmesan cheese, paired with our 2010 Chambourcin. Chocolate fountain with assorted snacks to dip, paired with our 2008 Merlot.

Week 4: Chicken skewers with mango chutney, a Tait Farm Foods (PA Preferred) product, paired with our 2010 Vignoles. Chocolate fountain with assorted snacks to dip, paired with our Victoria’s Passion.

Franklin Hill Vineyards:

We will be featuring foods by b. healthy and Chocolates on Broadway. The RealRyder bikes will drop in and you can see, ryde and win classes to a Healthier You. Learn about all the wellness tips that moderate wine consumption can bring you and by the end of your visit you will know what "Resveratrol" is.

Week One: Caribbean Pumpkin Soup

Week Two: Quinoa Salad

Week Three: Wheat Berry Salad

Week Four: Desserts

Return and non passport holder can purchase our pairing for $5.

Visit the Wine Trail for Valentine's Weekend

2012-02-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Since Valentine's Day falls in the middle of the week this year, spend this coming weekend, February 11 & 12, with your sweetheart on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. Here's a list of specials, events and gift ideas from our wineries.

Amore Vineyards

Our Rapport is awesome with any chocolate or chocolate desert - the bolder the better. Our Vidal Blanc desert wine is great with lighter deserts. And our pink sparkling wine Celebration is perfect for any holiday. If you are adventuresome, our Peach Mist is awesome for making mimosas.

Big Creek Vineyards

Saint Valentine’s Day is always a special day at Big Creek Vineyard and Winery. In celebration we are going to release a very limited bottling of our 2011 Muscat. Sweet as Aphrodite but as serious as Bacchus: aromas of honey, melon, ripe peach, orange and pears dance above the glass. When sipped, curiously and almost without exception, lips curl into a mischievous smile and the eyes twinkle. The 2010 vintage was extremely well received and sold out quickly. The current vintage is a little higher in alcohol, lower in residual sugar and fuller bodied. An Old World style dessert wine that all wine drinkers will delight in tasting.

Blue Mountain Vineyards

Blue Mountain is recommending Victoria’s Passion for a wine drinker who likes something sweet. Our newly released White Merlot, made with Merlot grapes grown in our Leaser vineyard is great for someone looking for something a little dryer. Over the weekend of February 11 & 12 we will have a chocolate fountain that guests can dip snacks in to pair with the Victoria’s Passion and White Merlot. On Sunday the Wow Brothers will be performing from 2 - 5 p.m. ($5 admission).

Clover Hill Winery

Which Clover Hill wines show the ‘look of LOVE’? Sparkling Pinot Noir is back in stock and there is no other wine that is more loving. From its pale pink color, to the fruity, light strawberry flavors it is a simple and elegant wine to serve with white chocolate dipped strawberries. Turtle Rock Red is a favorite of ours to make a romantic pairing with dark chocolates.

Franklin Hill Vineyards

Get "Kissed" this Valentine's Day Weekend at our winery! Visit our winery for complimentary wine tastings featuring chocolate tastings from our friends at Chocolates on Broadway. Complimentary appetizers include Meatballs served with Rothschild Chipotle Sauce, Tomato Pie and, customer favorite, Rothschild Habanero Dip. While you're here, don't forget to get "Kissed." Enjoy 10% off a single bottle of our Kiss - Medium Dry Rose Wine. Wine & Chocolate available for purchase

Galen Glen Winery

Join us February 11 & 12 and again on February 18 & 19 at the winery for our annual St. Valentine's Day Celebration. Celebrate romance with our decadent pairing of Barrel 29 and Sweet Street's Fabulous Chocolate Chunk Brownie. We'll also offer "Sarah’s Favorite Chocolate Lover's Indulgence" to purchase with a Glass of Barrel 29. Barrel 29 is “Reminiscent of the old world, a velvety cask aged Chambourcin dessert wine. The perfect ending to every evening, especially with chocolate.”

Vynecrest Winery

For Valentine’s Day, we will be featuring Cherry DiVyne wine (750ml bottle $13.99) with Chocolates from Sweet Indulgence by Christina from Bethlehem, PA. We will feature chocolates in wine glasses ($14.95), Cherry DiVyne with chocolate ($19.95), as well as any of our wines from our award-winning list. On Saturday, February 11, Jake Kaligis will be playing and singing in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. (no admission charge, open to the public)

Wine Trail Web Site Update

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

If you haven't checked out the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail web site lately, give it another look.

Just Pressed
We've been making regular updates to the Just Pressed page with entries on what's happening at our wineries. This includes upcoming winery events, special promotions and discounts, wines that are back in stock, awards and more!

E-newsletter
Sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter right on our homepage. It's quick and easy to do. All we need is your email address. And we promise not to sell it or give it to anyone else to use. It's safe with us.

Brochure
You can download a PDF of our Wine Trail promotional brochure to print out and take along with you when hitting the trail. It includes short overviews on each of our eight wineries, addresses to plug into your GPS, and driving directions as well.

Or look for a printed copy of our brochure at one of the more than 60 brochure racks around the region managed by Discover Lehigh Valley.

Social Media
And don't forget to connect with us on Twitter and Facebook, and check out our videos on our YouTube channel and our pictures on Flickr.

March Madness passports
Passports are selling like crazy and the supply is limited. Your best bet at scoring a passport right now is to contact Galen Glen Winery or Big Creek Winery. They each have about 100 passports left for sale. Amore and Blue Mountain wineries have about a dozen each left and are bound to sell out this weekend. All other wineries are already sold out. Get 'em while supplies last! $35 each.

Get Kissed at Franklin Hill Vineyards this Valentine's Day

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

From our grapes... to your glass

Congratulations to Franklin Hill Vineyards Winemaker, Bonnie Pysher, for taking home three medals from the 2012 PA Farm Show. Let's toast to Harvest Berry bringing home a Silver Medal, and Pomegranate Peach and Chambourcin winning Bronze Medals!

Our Vineyard Manager, Scott Sandt, has been spending a lot of time outdoors. He just finished pruning DeChaunac and is making progress in the new vineyard as well. And congratulations to our Bethlehem location for winning the 2011 "Doors of Bethlehem" competition! Thank you for all of your votes. We couldn't have done it without you!

Get Kissed this Valentine's Day Weekend at our Winery!

Visit our winery for complimentary wine tastings featuring chocolate tastings from our friends at Chocolates on Broadway. Complimentary appetizers include Meatballs served with Rothschild Chipotle Sauce, Tomato Pie and, a customer favorite, Rothschild Habanero Dip.

While you're here, don't forget to get "Kissed." Enjoy 10% off a single bottle of our Kiss - a medium dry Rose wine. Wine & chocolate available for purchase.

Shop for a Cause
February 17-19
Downtown Bethlehem

Franklin Hill Vineyards' Bethlehem location is participating as Downtown Bethlehem hosts its second annual Shop for a Cause benefiting charities Lehigh Valley-wide.

February is filled with LOVE! Shop, dine, get styled, and relax at the participating locations and 10% of all proceeds spent over the weekend will be donated back to the charity of your choice from a list. It is simple and fun.

Lehigh Valley wines win top honors

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

2011 PA Farm Show medals

Congratulations to Vynecrest, Pinnacle Ridge and Franklin Hill wineries on their medals at the recent PA Farm Show in Harrisburg.

Franklin Hill won a Silver for its Harvest Berry 2010, and Bronzes for Chambourcin 2010 and Pomegranate Peach 2010.

Pinnacle Ridge won Best Vinifera and Double Gold for its Pinot Noir 2010, a Gold for its Late Harvest Vidal 2010, Silvers for Veritas 2008 and Chardonnay 2010, and Bronzes for Riesling 2010 and Traminette 2010.

And Vynecrest won a Silver for its Chambourcin 2010 and a Bronze for its Cabernet Franc 2010.

Vynecrest Winery wins top honors at PA Wine Excellence Awards

Vynecrest Winery of Breinigsville received accolades at the recent PA Wine Excellence X Competition in Harrisburg.

The Pennsylvania Wine Society bestowed top honors to Vynecrest's 2010 Chambourcin Reserve.

Vynecrest's 2010 Cabernet Franc, a bronze medal winner at the Farm Show, also finished in the top 10 at the Wine Excellence X show.

How to read a wine bottle label

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ever get a bit confused by all of the wording on a wine bottle label and wonder what it all means? Here's a quick overview:

1. Winery name

2. Bottle capacity

3. Grape variety/wine name - wines are often named after the grape variety from which they are made. Sometimes, especially with blends, wines are given proprietary names - created, registered and solely used by the winery.

4. Vintage date - if a vintage date is on the label, 95 percent of the grapes must be from the stated vintage.

5. Grape-growing region/appellation - if a label says "Pennsylvania" or names a county, at least 75 percent of the wine grapes must be been grown there. If the label has an American Viticultural Area (A.V.A.) listed, then 85 percent of the wine must have come from that area.

6. Description of wine - descriptions that help identify a style - such as dry, semi-dry, barrel-fermented, oak-aged, and many others.

7. Alcohol content - alcohol content can vary from year to year. Federal standards allow 1.5 percent latitude either way, so many wineries give an average. Other labels may say "Table Wine," which merely means that the wine is between 7 and 14 percent alcohol; it is not an indication of the wine's quality.

8. Estate bottles - this wine is 100 percent from the stated area and is grown, made and bottled by the winery.

Vynecrest Winery goes "green" in 2012

2012-01-18T11:44:00.003-05:00

Going Green in 2012

Vynecrest has just installed a new geothermal system to heat and cool the winery. This energy-saving system was installed by Meisner Services and Kocher's Water Pumps and Tanks, Inc. Vynecrest received support for this installation from US Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This project will reduce Vynecrest's carbon dioxide footprint by 24 tons per year.

While Vynecrest was closed in January we completed and moved into our new offices. We converted the old garage next to the tasting room entrance. This will open up some additional space in the tasting room. We haven't decided what to do with the additional space. Drop us a line if you have any ideas. Vynecrest is now open seven days a week, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

January Specials:

Wine of the Month - Lemberger, additional 10% off**
Three Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25**
**at then winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events

January 28 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Billy Bauer, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
February 4 - Superbowl Chili Saturday
February 11 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Jake Kaligis, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
February 18 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Connie Edinger, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
February 25 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne, 1:30- 4:30 p.m.

An update from Pinnacle Ridge Winery

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

March Madness Passports
Just a reminder that we still have passports available for the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s March Madness event. The Passports are $35 each and we can mail them to you for a $1 mailing fee. You can go to www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com for more information on the event.

Mushroom Event
On January 14 and 15 we will be offering a pairing of mushroom tapas with wines. We haven’t finalized the menu yet but we will have several different tapas each paired with a different wine. This is a new event and should be a lot of fun. The event will run from noon until 5 p.m. on both days.

Great review for our 2010 Chardonnay
Vino Vic is a wine guy who has been making an effort to review Pennsylvania wines. Check out this link to see his review of our 2010 Chardonnay.

2011 Vintage Update
It was a strange year: extreme heat in July (105 degrees!) and extreme rain in August and September. One thing I’ve learned over the last 19 vintages is that there is no such thing as “normal.” The white wines have finished fermenting and are now settling down in tank and barrel. We can begin to see the results of our efforts with these young wines. Overall they are very balanced wines with moderate acidity. Usually in wet years we end up with high acids that result in very crisp white wines.

One of the unusual aspects of 2011 is that it was very, very warm. Even during the wet periods the temperatures were still above normal. The warm weather helps to promote the reduction of acid in the fruit resulting in balanced fruit and, consequently, balanced wines. The wines are not as intense as their 2010 counterparts but they do have fruit-driven aromas with flavors that follow. These whites will be delicious, young drinkers.

Blue Mountain Winery brings back three popular wines.

2012-01-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the latest update from Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli:

Riesling is back!

We are very excited to announce that our Riesling is being bottled in our wine cellar. Also back in stock are Victoria's Passion and White Merlot. In the very near future we will be releasing Sauvignon Blanc. Stay tuned for details.

January Specials

Save $2 on 2007 Pinot Noir/Beaujolais
Save $1 on 2010 Vignoles

Make sure to print this coupon for a great deal on our 2007 Chardonnay.

For daily news and updates "like" us on Facebook! Our page is listed as Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars. Feel free to send us pictures and we'll get them added to our page. And follow us on Twitter too!

Sunday Blues Schedule

01/08 ~ Wow Brothers
01/15 ~ Billy Patrick
01/22 ~ Rob & Marty
01/29 ~ Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

Special Events

We are now booking events for 2012. Use our vineyard as a backdrop for your special occasion. Bridal showers, birthday parties, corporate events, you name it! For information on renting our private room please call or e-mail us.

Custom Labeled Wine Bottles

Custom labeled wine is great for any occasion! We can do any style in any amount. Check our website for samples or send us your own picture to use. Call or e-mail us for more details.

What is an A.V.A.?

2012-01-05T11:17:00.000-05:00

You've probably heard or seen our wineries talk about the Lehigh Valley A.V.A., but what does it mean?

In the United States, winemakers are allowed to label their wines with the state or county in which the grapes are grown. But they can also list the name of the particular growing area if the federal government recognizes it as an "American Viticultural Area" or A.V.A., also called an "appellation." There are more than 200 A.V.A.s across the Untied States including ours here in the Lehigh Valley.

In reviewing applications for approval, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) considers whether the proposed name is one by which the area is actually known locally, and whether this area as defined in the application has distinctive soil and climatic conditions.

To use an approved A.V.A. on a wine label, at least 85 percent of the grapes used must originate from the state A.V.A. and the wine must be fully finished within the state. This helps maintain consistency in the wines made from a particular growing area.

The Lehigh Valley region is an official A.V.A. as designated by the TBB in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley A.V.A. includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Sparkling wines for New Year's Eve

2011-12-28T10:59:00.001-05:00

This year, leave the champagne behind and try a fun, and sometimes fruity, sparkling wine for your New Year's Eve celebration instead. Here are a few suggestions for sparkling wines made by local Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries:

Amore Vineyards

White Mist - Slightly dry, tingly and sparkling.
Celebration - Pink, sparkling, spicy fun.
Blueberry Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural blueberry flavor.
Peach Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural peach flavor. Blend it with orange juice to make a great mimosa.
Strawberry Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural strawberry flavor.

Clover Hill Winery

Blackberry Sparkler - A sweet, sparkling wine made with blackberry
Brut - Produced in the traditional method of making sparkling wine, Méthode Champenoise, our Brut has no perceivable sweetness, showcasing yeasty and fruity flavors.
Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir - Made in the Méthode Champenoise fashion, this sparkling wine is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from our Broxspen Vineyard. This dry sparkler shows delicate flavors of strawberry mingling with a classic yeasty flavor.

Pinnacle Ridge

Brut Rosé
Blanc de Blanc

Franklin Hill

Brut (Methode Champenoise)

Keep in mind that at this time of year supplies may be limited for some sparkling wines. So we suggest calling ahead to the winery you plan to visit to verify they still have the one you want in stock.

Here are a few tips for your sparkling wine, courtesy of Clover Hill:

* Always have your bubbly well chilled prior to opening. We suggest putting the bottle in the refrigerator for a couple hours and then the freezer for 20 minutes prior to opening.
*As much fun as it is to shake the bottle and shoot the cork, you do lose most of the wine when you do so! Remove the wire hood on the bottle and keep your thumb on top of the cork. Hold the cork in one hand and slowly twist the bottle. Always have a towel and a champagne flute close by.
*Sparkling wines always add a festive feel to any celebration, but they are also great food wines. Some of our favorite bubbly pairings include a creamy brie with quince paste, steamed Cape Cod lobsters, crab stuffed mushrooms or smoked salmon.

Happy New Year!

Holiday wines at Clover Hill Vineyards

2011-12-22T11:19:00.001-05:00

The holidays are upon us and there is no better time of year to enjoy a glass of Clover Hill wine with friends and family. Here are a few suggestions to put you in the Holiday spirit.

2010 Pinot Noir
This new vintage is just released and we think it is an amazing wine! 2010 was the best growing season Clover Hill ever experienced and as a result this Pinot Noir is full of the classic flavors of strawberry, leather and berry. Pairs perfectly with your holiday ham or turkey.

Holiday
Of course this is our favorite wine to help you spread holiday cheer. "Holiday" is a spin off of German Glühwein with its sweet flavor. It is spiced with cinnamon, clove and citrus. Pull the cork, set the bottle in a crockpot on low heat and celebrate the holidays!

Boysenberry
This is the newest limited addition to the Clover Hill line up. Boysenberry is a sweet dessert wine made from both boysenberries and grapes. Decadently delicious served chilled after dinner or add a splash of Boysenberry to a glass of sparkling wine for a festive champagne drink.

December Owner's Selection
With Clover Hill's 2009 Chardonnay you will initially notice strong aromas of toasty oak. On the palate there is a tickle of pear and apple. The finish is lingering with a persistent butter flavor. Enjoy a 10% discount on Chardonnay the entire month of December. When included in a case purchase, we will take an additional 10% off.

Beginners Wine Tasting Class
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2 p.m.
At the winery in Breinigsville

TICKETS REQUIRED- $25 per person
Learn how to taste and talk wine. Join Clover Hill Winery for a fun 1 & 1/2 hour tasting class. We will teach you the basics of how to taste wine, learn what style you like, how to describe what you taste, and learn to talk like a wine pro. Tickets make great holiday gifts for any wine lover or wine enthusiast. For tickets call 610.395.2468.

Food and wine pairing suggestions for holiday meals

2011-12-20T13:34:00.001-05:00

Several of our wineries wanted to share their suggestions for food and wine pairings for your holiday meals. All are open for business this week and ready to help you select the right wines to go with your dinners or to give as gifts.

Vynecrest Winery - our holiday favorite is Cherry DiVyne paired with chocolate and gift wrapped at the winery. It makes a great hostess or grab bag gift for anyone. For a special food and wine pairing, try Vynecrest Spiced Winter Red served warm with homemade Christmas cookies!

Blue Mountain Winery - Our 2011 Nouveau will taste great with your holiday turkey and ham. Our 2009 International Award Winning Petite Syrah pairs nicely with a beef entree. Victoria's Passion is a wonderful semi-sweet red wine that would taste delicious with a chocolate dessert. If you plan on making brownies, try substituting the wine instead of water in the recipe.

Stop by one of our locations and pick up a mulling spice packet to mix with our 2004 Chambourcin to make spiced wine. We also have our apple wine called Mountain Spice that is best warmed up with a 1/2 cup of brown sugar mixed in (per bottle). Add club soda to our Mountain Frost with some sliced peaches for a sweet cocktail.

Galen Glen Winery recommends the following for your holiday feasts:
•    Vin Gris with Honey Glazed Ham
•    Riesling with Roasted Turkey, Shrimp and other seafood delights
•    Wine cocktails – Bring a taste of summer to the holiday season with a Wine-a-Rita. One kit and a bottle of our wine will make two pitchers of icy wine slushies. Our favorites are Peach Bellini and Berry Pom-a-Rita.

Amore Vineyards – Our pairing recommendations include:
•    Turkey or seafood: Gregg's Gregio, Chardonnay or Vidal Blanc
•    Pork/Ham: Cayuga or Rosé Amore
•    Beef: Chambourcin or Cabaret Amore
•    After dinner: Rapport or Vidal Blanc Dessert
•    Bubbly: Celebration or White Mist for toasting; Peach Mist for morning mimosa

Pinnacle Ridge Winery - What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a glass of local sparkling wine. We recommend either our Brut Rose or Blanc de Blanc as a great way to welcome guests to your home. Just pair some savory appetizers with the sparkling wine for a winning combination.

For the rich holiday meals we suggest "bigger" wines. Try our Veritas with lamb or beef dishes, Pinot Noir with roast pork, Chardonnay with roast turkey or chicken and our Oasis with ham. For dessert try our Late Harvest Vidal Blanc with pumpkin roll, creme brulee or cheesecake.

Clover Hill Vineyards - Make a holiday ham glaze using 1 cup of Clover Hill Holiday Rosé and one cup brown sugar. Dissolve and use this glaze to baste your holiday ham. We love to serve this with our Riesling. Our Holiday Wine is a sweet rosé that is spiced with cinnamon, cloves and citrus flavor.

For sparkling wines, a favorite is the Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir. It is a dry sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Noir fruit. Festively pink in color with fresh strawberries and a yeasty characteristic. We have also been whipping up a wine cocktail called a Wicked Turtle. It is 2oz. Turtle Rock Red, 1oz. passion fruit rum, and 2oz. lemon/lime soda. Try it!

Franklin Hill Vineyards recommends the following food and wine pairings -
•    Kiss, Vidal, Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc and White Jade are all wonderful whites to pair with ham, turkey or fish.
•    Chambourcin and Simply Red go well with lasagna.
•    For anyone intrigued by black cherry, our Fainting Goat added to Chambourcin or Evanswood is a great pairing. There is no sweetness but the hint of black cherries with chocolates or try it with barbecued ribs is fantastic.
•    For dessert, Harvest Berry is great with cheesecake or anything chocolate. This effervescent wine is perfect with cranberry juice instead of a mimosa.

For a wine cocktail, mix Pomegranate Peach with cranberry juice, lots of ice, and seltzer or lemon-lime soda to make it bubbly. Or try Bliss with vodka for a martini, or Bliss with lemon-lime soda for a festive spritzer.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Franklin Hill Vineyards celebrates Christmas in Bethlehem

2011-12-14T13:05:00.000-05:00

In addition to its winery in Bangor, Franklin Hill also has a wine shoppe in historic Downtown Bethlehem on Main Street inside the Main Street Commons. Check out what they have going on there this holiday season.

Vote for our door in the Doors of Bethlehem contest!

Vote for our "Door of Bethlehem" and be entered to win the $1,000 shopping spree in Downtown Bethlehem! Click here to vote! Voting ends Dec. 24.

Live Advent Calendar

Franklin Hill presents on Friday, Dec. 16 at 5 p.m.
On the steps of the 1810 Goundie House in Downtown Bethlehem

Come to Downtown Bethlehem and see us at the Live Advent Calendar. We will be presenting on December 16 as our very own Vineyard Manager, Scott Sandt will be performing live holiday music.

There will also be complimentary mulled Sir Walters Red tastings for the adults, goodies for the kids and prizes for 10 lucky adult audience members! Free Admission. For more Live Advent Calendar information, click here.

Visit the Weihnachtsmarkt

Our mulled Sir Walter's Red is being featured as the Gluhwine at Downtown Bethlehem's new Christmas City Village. Christmas City Village is an open-air Christmas market, fashioned after the traditional German Weihnachtsmarkt (pronounced vy-naukts-markt). It features 20 wooden huts, where vendors will sell a variety of holiday crafts and gifts.

Enjoy traditional German fare, or our hot mulled Sir Walter's Red every weekend in December as you meander through the market. No admission fee!

Vynecrest Winery offers free shipping for online orders

2011-12-08T15:42:00.001-05:00

This holiday season, don't forget to pick up a gift for the wine lover in your life. Vynecrest Winery has Cherry DiVyne packaged with chocolate for $20 (makes a great hostess gift), wine scented candles, and much more. They also have a few March Madness passports left ($35 each), but they will sell out soon.

They are also offering free shipping on three or more bottles of wine for online orders at www.vynecrest.com. No coupon code is necessary; just select three or more bottles in your shopping cart to get free shipping offer. Free shipping runs through next Monday, December 12.

5% discount on 6 to 11 bottles; 10% discount on 12 or more bottles
This promotion is for online orders only. Phone-in order will be subject to normal shipping fees.
Sorry, but we can't ship to AL, AR, KY, MD, MA, MS, MT, NH, UT.
Must be 21 or older to order. Adult signature required for delivery of wine. All wine will be shipped via FedEx.

News & Events

December Specials

Three Pack of the Month - All American 3 Pack, DiVyne Red or Niagara, any combination, $25.00
Wine of the Month - Blueberry 10% off

Events

December 10 - Live music in the Vyneskeller, Billy Bauer, 1 - 4:30 p.m.
December 17 - Live music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne, 1 - 4:30 p.m.

Holiday Hours

Dec 1 - 24: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Dec 25: closed
Dec 26 - 31: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Jan 1 - 13: closed
Reopening January 14: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Galen Glen's holiday open house continues this weekend

2011-12-06T11:47:00.001-05:00

Last weekend's Holiday Open House at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas continues this weekend too!

December 10 & 11 - the food and wine pairing is Galen's treat. Surprise!

Visit with Santa! - December 11 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Take your photo with Santa for charity. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or make a monetary donation for Toys for Tots. Please bring your own camera.

Give wine as a gift this holiday season

There's still plenty of time to order custom labels for wine bottles. Minimum purchase of one case (12 bottles) - up to four wines per case. Email Sarah (sarah@galenglen.com) for label selections or use your own photo.

Check out our December Facebook promotion

We are giving away one bottle of wine a week through our Facebook page for the month of December.

1. "Like" us - Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery - on Facebook.
2. Post a comment for the week you wish to enter, or comment every week!

Our elves will select one person at random (must be over 21) from everyone who comments that week to pick up a free bottle at the winery. (Reminder - there are four weeks in December.)

Lehigh Valley wineries to hold holiday events this weekend

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Several Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries are hosting holiday events or open houses this weekend and you are invited to attend!

Pinnacle Ridge's Annual Case Club Casual - Two weekends in December
December 3 & 4 and December 10 & 11
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge owner and winemaker Brad Knapp, his wife Christy and the Pinnacle Ridge staff invite all to sample wine and shop for the holidays. We’ll be serving an array of savory and sweet delicacies and making wine pairing recommendations for your holiday meals. This event is free for Case Club members or $5 per person if you’re not a case club member. Buy a case of wine on the day of the event and the food is free.

Clover Hill's Holiday Open House at the Winery in Breinigsville
December 3 from noon - 5 p.m.

Let Clover Hill help you get into the holiday spirit with our annual holiday open house.

Craig Thatcher will be playing from noon - 5 p.m. and Chef Nathan Grube will be preparing tapas style small plates for $6 each. Making a return appearance will be Unique Pretzel Bakery of Reading. Plus, not new to Clover Hill but new to our Breinigsville location will be Lori Savidge of Lorilee Baskets. Lori has been weaving very beautiful and unique baskets for about 20 years.

We will also feature a new holiday punch which we will sample and sell by the glass. There will be a featured wine of the day for which Clover Hill will donate $1 of every bottle sold to the Mason Shaffer Foundation.

Blue Mountain Winery's Christmas Open House
Saturday, December 3 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Join Blue Mountain for some holiday cheer! Enjoy a wine tasting ($5, which is credited towards the purchase of a bottle of wine), music by Rob & Marty, and hors d'oeuvres. Reservations are preferred, so call us today: 610.298.3068.

Galen Glen's Holiday Open House - Two Weekends
December 3 & 4 - Raspberry wine with locally made cannoli dessert
December 10 & 11 - Galen's treat

Also at Galen Glen on December 3 & 11 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. visit with Santa! Take your photo with Santa for charity. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or monetary donation for Toys for Tots. Please bring your own camera.

Winery Hours: Sunday - Friday: Noon - 5 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge's holiday news and announcements

2011-12-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

NEW RELEASES

We've been getting lots of questions about these two wines and we have finally released our 2009 Chambourcin Reserve and our 2010 Cabernet Franc. To keep up with everything going on at Pinnacle Ridge please visit our Facebook page.

GREAT REVIEW FOR OUR 2010 PINOT NOIR

See this link for a review of our 2010 Pinot Noir by Vino Vic. He really liked it.

PINNACLE RIDGE'S ANNUAL CASE CLUB CHRISTMAS CASUAL - TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER

December 3 & 4 and December 10 & 11
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

‘Tis the season! Pinnacle Ridge owner and winemaker Brad Knapp, his wife Christy and the Pinnacle Ridge staff invite all to sample wine and shop for the holidays. We’ll be serving an array of savory and sweet delicacies and making wine pairing recommendations for your holiday meals. This event is free for Case Club members or $5 per person if you’re not a case club member. Buy a case of wine on the day of the event and the food is free.

WINE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The winter holidays are a time of year when folks get a little more creative with their wine choices. At Pinnacle Ridge we have several wines that you might want to consider for your holiday celebrations. Our Brut Rosé or Blanc de Blanc sparkling wines are a great choice to have with appetizers before a special
meal. If you are having a casual gathering with munchies, these wines will add a special elegance to the occasion.

But don’t wait to long to pick up your bubbly as we may sell out near the end of December. Another specialty wine to consider for that special meal is our 2010 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc. This is a classic dessert wine that pairs beautifully with fruit desserts, crème brulee, or cheesecake. Your guests will be impressed.

Clover Hill Winery hosts a coat drive and holiday open house

2011-11-28T14:48:00.001-05:00

Coat Drive for The Caring Place at Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville
Monday, November 28 thru Sunday, December 4

So often we go to our closet and try to decide which coat we are going to wear for the day. Did you know there are many people, young and old, in our own back yards that do not have any coat to reach for to keep themselves warm?

Clover Hill be collecting gently used coats of any size (from babies to adults) to be donated to The Caring Place in Allentown. Last year The Caring Place supplied over 2,000 coats to those in need, so let's work together to replenish their stock.

The Caring Place is a youth development center that reaches out to youths in the Lehigh Valley who may be facing adversity. It enables young people to overcome the pressures and disadvantages of their environment.

For your donation of a coat, Clover Hill will offer you a toasty warm 10% discount on your wine purchase (20% on case purchases) throughout this week of giving.

Holiday Open House at the Winery in Breinigsville
December 3 from noon - 5 p.m.

Let Clover Hill help you get into the holiday spirit with our annual holiday open house.

Craig Thatcher will be playing from noon - 5 p.m. and Chef Nathan Grube will be preparing tapas style small plates for $6 each. Making a return appearance will be Unique Pretzel Bakery of Reading. Plus, not new to Clover Hill but new to our Breinigsville location will be Lori Savidge of Lorilee Baskets. Lori has been weaving very beautiful and unique baskets for about 20 years.

We will also feature a new holiday punch which we will sample and sell by the glass. There will be a featured wine of the day for which Clover Hill will donate $1 of every bottle sold to the Mason Shaffer Foundation.

So come out spend a little time shopping and the rest of your afternoon relaxing with us!

Thanksgiving food and wine pairing recommendations

2011-11-21T12:36:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving is a great time to buy local by serving Lehigh Valley wines with your family's meal. Here are some food and wine pairing suggestions from our wineries, as well as their Wednesday business hours for last minute wine sales. All wineries are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Vynecrest - Young and fruity Vynecrest Nouveau Beaujolais is a great wine to serve with turkey. Vynecrest is open from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Galen Glen - Try their semi-dry Riesling, dry Vidal Blanc or - if you’re looking for the WOW – the 2010 Gewurztraminer, which is the Best White Wine by a woman winemaker. They are open on Wednesday from noon - 5 p.m.

Clover Hill -

Riesling ~ whether you choose the dry Generations Riesling or the semi-sweet Riesling the bright peach and apricot flavors with strong acidity is a classic white wine to pair with your Thanksgiving foods.
Pinot Noir ~ The Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir will be sure to make your holiday table sparkle. The dry, red Pinot Noir is the classic red wine pairing with the turkey, stuffing and more.
Vignoles ~ Serving this sweet, late harvest wine is the perfect accompaniment to your pumpkin pies and other desserts.

They are open Wednesday from 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Amore - For pairing with white meat go with Gregg's Gregio and Vidal Blanc. With dark meat, try Blushing Beauty or Rose Amore.

Franklin Hill - Try the 2011 Seyval Blanc, White Jade (which is slightly dryer with a hint of oak) or their Kiss wine to pair with your Thanksgiving turkey. Serve their Pomegranate Peach wine as a martini with appetizers. It was just awarded a Gold medal at the 5th Annual International Women's Competition.
The winery is open until 5 p.m. Wednesday evening, and the Easton and Tannersville locations until 7 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge - Traminette is a great pairing for the traditional holiday meal since it has enough structure and "stuffing" to hold up to the bold flavors of stuffing and cranberry relish. Alternatively, a light red like their 2009 Chambourcin would work perfectly well. They will be open from noon - 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Blue Mountain - Their 2011 Nouveau is very soft on the pallet with hints of strawberry and cherry and will be a great compliment to Thanksgiving meals. Mountain Spice (an apple wine) is wonderful this time of year. Heat it up slowly in a crock pot or on the stove and add half cup of brown sugar per bottle. They are open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

Big Creek Winery - will be open on Wednesday from noon - 5 p.m.

Taste the vintages of the harvest during Nouveau Weekend, 11/19 & 20

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut vintages from their recent harvest this weekend, November 19 and 20, during Nouveau Weekend, their last Wine Trail event of the year. Wineries will also feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample.

Nouveau Weekend is a great opportunity to purchase wine to give as holiday gifts or to complement holiday meals.

March Madness 2012 passports will go on sale this weekend. Passports are $35 each. A limited supply of passports is printed and often sells out well in advance of the month-long event, so event-goers are encouraged to purchase them early.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com, and connect with them on Twitter and their Facebook fan page.

NOUVEAU WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth will feature our new release Cabaret Amore with homemade barbecue.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville will pair its Nouveau Marquette with Millie's Chili.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli will serve authentic Nouveau made from Pinot Noir grapes paired with roasted ham glazed with Tait Farms cranberry chutney. Sample other products produced locally by Tait Farms as well. They will also be releasing their 2008 Merlot and 2010 Chambourcin. On Saturday, Rob will be performing from 1 - 4 p.m. On Sunday from 2 - 5 p.m. will be Sunday Blues featuring Billy Patrick ($5 admission for live music).

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville will have the first release from this year’s harvest of Boysenberry. Boysenberry is a sweet wine which is a marriage of grapes and Boysenberries in every bottle. Boysenberry displays a very upfront and intense Boysenberry aroma and finishes sweet and crisp. Their partner will be Sorrelli Jewelry from Kutztown who will be onsite Saturday and Sunday hosting a trunk show. Sorrelli will offer a 10% discount on jewelry purchases during the event.

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor will release their 2011 Seyval Blanc paired with Ginger Butternut Squash soup. Delices Europeennes will be giving samples of her European treats. They will also be releasing their 2010 Evanswood. Try it with Robert Rothchild's Chipotle sauce over meatballs for a perfect pairing.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas will feature the Troxell family Thanksgiving favorite, potato filling with their Riesling. Potato filling is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, and every family has their own version. Galen and Sarah learned to make theirs under the tutelage of Galen’s mother.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown will serve salmon chowder made with fresh fennel and dill, potatoes, cream and salmon fillet. They will be pairing the soft and fruit-forward 2010 Naked Chardonnay or their crisp and slightly sweet 2010 Riesling with the chowder.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville will pair their Nouveau Beaujolais 2011 wine made from the Gamay Beaujolais grape with Hereford Country Store Provencal basil dip and Rip Rap artisan whole grain crackers, both of which will be available for sale. Smooth jazz sounds in the Vyneskeller from Dan Harakal and Andy Warren on Saturday from 1 - 4:30 pm. No charge.

Galen Glen Winery makes it into final round of Pennsylvania Wine Stories contest

2011-11-14T15:01:00.001-05:00

The stories have been submitted to the Pennsylvania Wine Stories contest by the Pennsylvania Winery Association and one of our eight Lehigh Valley wineries has made it to the final round of competition!

A story about Galen Glen Winery in Andreas is competing against seven other stories about wineries from across the state. Go to this page http://www.pennsylvaniawine.com/WineStories/Voting.aspx and scroll to the bottom to see the following Galen Glen story:

A Beautiful Escape

Shawn E

Galen Glen Winery - Lehigh Valley and Berks County

My friends and I often go to Galen Glen on a Sunday afternoon to get away from life for a few hours. Over the past several years, my friends and I have shared many laughs, and stories, and have made many unforgettable memories over bottles of their wine. The thing we love the most about this location is sitting out back and looking over the winery grounds. It’s so relaxing, and makes us feel so far away from reality. We love the fact that we have such a beautiful escape only a few miles away.

Then be sure to give it your vote! You can vote as many times as you want between now and December 11. Help us win by voting frequently.

Read more of the wine stories that were submitted about other Lehigh Valley wineries here.

Celebrate German heritage at Blue Mountain Winery this weekend

2011-11-07T12:22:00.001-05:00

Join Blue Mountain Vineyards in New Tripoli this Saturday, November 12 for their annual German Night event from 5 - 9 p.m.

It will be a celebration of German heritage offering authentic German food, music and dancing. Reservations are preferred.

Admission is $18.50 in advance or $19.50 at the door and includes a souvenir glass. Call 610-298-3068 or email info@bluemountainwine.com to make a reservation.

November & December events at Pinnacle Ridge Winery

2011-11-04T14:32:00.001-04:00

LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL - ANNUAL NOUVEAU WEEKEND

Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, November 20 from noon to 5 p.m.

Come celebrate Nouveau Weekend at Pinnacle Ridge. We will be serving delicious Salmon Chowder with chunks of French bread. Our chowder is made with fennel bulb and dill, fresh cream, potatoes and salmon fillet and is sure to warm the spirit on a chilly November day!

We will be pairing our soft and fruit forward 2010 Naked Chardonnay or our crisp and slightly sweet 2010 Riesling with our homemade chowder.

PINNACLE RIDGE'S ANNUAL CASE CLUB CHRISTMAS CASUAL

Two Weekends in December:
December 3 and 4, and December 10 and 11
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. & Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

‘Tis the season! Pinnacle Ridge owner and winemaker Brad Knapp, his wife Christy and the Pinnacle Ridge staff invite all to come and sample wine and shop for the holidays. We’ll be serving an array of savory and sweet delicacies and making wine pairing recommendations for your holiday meals.

This event is free for Case Club members or $4 per person if you’re not a case club member. Buy a case of wine on the day of the event and the food is free.

Pinnacle Ridge Case Club Members do have more fun!

Franklin Hill Vineyards hosts wine dinner and charity fundraisers

2011-11-02T14:22:00.001-04:00

From our grapes to your glass

Nouveau Weekend at the winery is coming up on November 19 and 20. Franklin Hill Vineyards will be releasing our 2011 Seyval Blanc paired with Ginger Butternut Squash soup (just perfect for these chilly days). For an extra treat Delices Europeennes will be giving samples of her amazing European treats, you'll definitely want to bring some home.

We will also be releasing our 2010 Evanswood, a vintage we are so proud of. Try it with Robert Rothchild's chipotle sauce over meatballs for a perfect pairing. And, don't forget, Lehigh Valley Wine Trail March Madness passports go on sale Nouveau Weekend. They sell out quickly so get yours soon. Passports are available at all four Franklin Hill Locations.

Franklin Hill Vineyards hosts Mount Airy Casino Resort wine dinner

November 4 with seatings at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Hosted by Franklin Hill Vineyards. Join us in this delightful culinary event. We will be pairing our wine with the wonderful cuisine from La Sorelle Cucina. Reserve tickets and see the preview menu here.
Reservations Required

Charity for Children Monte Carlo Night Gala

November 5 from 6-9:30 p.m.

Join us while we toast to a good cause! Franklin Hill Vineyards will be serving our wine during this fun casino-themed night. Dinner, dessert, coffee, and playing chips included. $75.00/person.

For tickets and more info, contact: Janet Cimino 610-767-9138

Blue Mountain Winery to host HalloWine tasting this Satuday

2011-10-27T12:01:00.001-04:00

Visit Vickie and Joe at Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli this Saturday, October 29 for their annual HalloWine Tasting event from 5 - 9 p.m.

Come in costume to add to the fun! There will be prizes for best costumes in several categories (costumes are optional).

Enjoy their delicious wines while listening to live acoustic music by Billy Patrick. They'll have chili, nachos, cheeses and fresh baked bread available for purchase or feel free to bring your own snacks.

Reservations are preferred. Admission is $7.50 and includes a souvenir glass. Call 610-298-3068 or email info@bluemountainwine.com to reserve your space.

Galen Glen Winery plans HalloWine Weekend promotion

2011-10-26T11:40:00.003-04:00

HalloWine Weekend is this weekend at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas, Pa.! Saturday, October 29 - 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, October 30 - Noon - 5 pm

"Booty in a Bottle" t-shirts!
Our most requested t-shirt has been redesigned just in time for Halloween! $10 each

Mulled wine season is here
With cooler weather arriving, we're tasting our famous mulled wine. The recipe is simple: one packet of our free mulling spices and a bottle of our Claret warmed on the stove with sugar and a bit of water. After 30 minutes your house smells inviting and you'll be toasting away the chill of autumn or winter.

Upcoming Event
2010 Chambourcin Release - November 5 & 6
Already collecting rave reviews from California and Pennsylvania wine critics, we're ready to officially debut this wine and let you be the judge.

WE NEED YOU:
Help us decide what to serve Nouveau Weekend. Vote for your Thanksgiving favorite on our Facebook fan page.

Our winery hours year round:

Friday: Noon - 5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday: Noon - 5 PM
Closed: Monday - Thursday

Winery hours for the Holiday Season 2011:

Open every day beginning Friday, November 18 through December 31
Sunday through Friday, Noon - 5 pm, and Saturday 10 am- 5 pm
Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Special exceptions: Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve both 10 am - 3 pm

Live in PA? You can noworder wine anytime at galenglen.com.

Save the Date for Nouveau Weekend

2011-10-21T10:38:00.001-04:00

Save the date for the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's next event, Nouveau Weekend, Saturday, November 19 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, November 20 from noon – 5 p.m. This is also our last event for 2011.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut the first vintages from their most recent harvest at this popular annual event. Wineries will feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample.

March Madness 2012 passports will also go on sale this weekend. Passports are $35 each.Saturday,

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor
Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

Vynecrest heads into fall with events and specials

2011-10-18T12:02:00.000-04:00

The grapes are all in and the 2011 harvest is officially complete for Vynecrest. Time to start making some wine! We have some great upcoming events at the winery as well as a one day festival at Bear Creek this month. We are now taking reservations for March Madness Passports. Send an email to wine@vynecrest.com to reserve your tickets.

New Releases:

2010 Spiced Winter Red

October Specials:

Wine of the Month - Lemberger, additional 10% off**
Three Pack of the Month - 3 Blueberry for $30**

**at winery only, 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events:

October 22 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Billy Bauer, 1 - 4:30 pm
October 23 - Bear Creek Harvest Wine Festival - If you love great wine and good food, don't miss Bear Creek's Harvest Wine Festival on Sunday, October 23 from 1-5pm. Guest can taste and select wine from a variety of regional vineyards and sample fine foods while being entertained by live music. Each guest will receive a commemorative wine-tasting glass, an event program, and will have access to our Wine Check service. Festival accommodations are available at The Hotel at Bear Creek. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Click here for more information.
October 28 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Peter Scapegrace, 1 - 4:30 pm
November 5 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Connie Edinger, 1 - 4:30 pm

In The Vineyard

It's a nice feeling to have all of the grapes in, even if we had to pry the last few out of the birds mouths. We will be finishing up fermentation over the next couple of weeks and starting to work on the early release wines.

This vintage was a roller coaster. The summer started dry and hot and as we moved into August the rain started. We were able to pick between the rain drops and got everything in. We are looking forward to our first release, the 2011 Nouveau Beaujolais, released the third Thursday in November.

Cheers,

John, Jan, Sam Landis & Malachi Duffy

For more information, visit www.vynecrest.com

Open seven days a week, 11 am - 5 pm

Clover Hill Vineyards celebrates the completion of harvest season

2011-10-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

The 2011 grape harvest at Clover Hill’s six vineyards is complete and what a year it has been. This harvest we battled the rain, wind, birds, bees and some days we battled each other, but we did survive!

The growing season was going picture perfect. We had dry, warm heat with brilliant sunshine day after day in mid to late summer. Then Mother Nature changed her tune and gave us wet, humid conditions day after day. We worked exceptionally hard to continue to ripen our fruit and keep it clean and clear of any disease. We finally made the decision to continue picking as quickly as possible in order to harvest the fruit intact. On September 30 we picked the last grape from our vineyards and celebrated the end of a difficult season with a glass of Sparkling Pinot Noir! Right now we are going to now catch our breathe from harvest, but we promise to write a detailed summary of the 2011 grape harvest and post it to our website in the very near future.

The fall feeling is in the air and it is the perfect time of year to enjoy Spiced Apple warmed! We also have posted some delicious fall recipes for you to enjoy. Let us know on our Facebook page what your favorite fall wine is – we will email you a present for sharing!

Enjoy the season and we would like to thank you for your support and choosing to drink locally grown and produced wines! We look forward to your next visit.

Owner's Selection
Catawba lets you sip on the sweet, grapey, and candied flavors of this wine. Don't forget to sniff first to best enjoy the sweet aromas of grapes in the glass.

Enjoy a 10% discount on Catawba the entire month of October. Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included in a case purchase.

Chambourcin Weekend
At the winery in Breinigsville, PA
Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 from noon - 5 p.m.

Cheers to the Chambourcin grape! Chambourcin is known as the grape of the Lehigh Valley and if you’ve ever tasted it you will agree it makes a wonderful glass of wine. Chef Nathan Grube will make a return appearance to do cooking demonstrations to be paired with our 2009 Chambourcin and Turtle Rock Red (made with 100% Chambourcin grape). Cooking demonstrations will take place at 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. both days.

The harvest at Franklin Hill Vineyards and fall events

2011-10-10T12:01:00.002-04:00

From Our Grapes to your Glass: Harvest continues at the Winery!

Fruit is still rollin' on in at Franklin Hill Vineyards! Now is a great time to visit us at the winery since our equipment is still out and in use. Come on over and see the beginnings of the wine-making process. Meet our winery staff, have a conversation with our winemaker, Bonnie, or our assistant winemaker, Maria, and watch as the magic happens! Experience the cool crisp fall weather and the beautiful leaves changing color on our trees here at Franklin Hill. Now is a perfect time to visit us at the winery so you can see just how your favorite wine is made!

On the Road Again... Surprise!

Our Festival Crew loves what they do so much that they are heading out to one more festival. See you at Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie for the Bear Creek Harvest Wine Festival on Sunday, October 23.

Winery Events:

Chambourcin Weekend
Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. -5 p.m. and Oct. 16 from noon - 4 p.m.

Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday we will be featuring Pivinski's Premier Polish Prince's Pierogis for tasting, paired with our outstanding 2010 Chambourcin or Simply Red. You may also purchase Pierogis to eat at the winery or, better yet, we will have them for sale by the dozen to take home with a bottle of your favorite wine! While you enjoy the Pierogis, also enjoy the tunes as Penn's Peak performer Robert Michaels entertains with great acoustic guitar...maybe he'll even play a polka for us! Come and enjoy the day!

Yoga+Wine Fall Festival (RESCHEDULED!)
Sunday, October 30 at the Winery

Due to rainy weather, we have rescheduled the Yoga+Wine Fall Festival! Dalien from Kula Heart Yoga will return and take us on a journey into our hearts as we celebrate the Harvest with music, sound, yoga followed by wine and cheese at Franklin Hill Vineyards.

This event will fill fast, please call to register and reserve your space. 610-746-5852 (kula). Visit www.kulaheartyoga.com to find out more!

Pennsylvania Wine Stories: "There's a Story Behind Every Cork"

Do you love us? Let the Pennsylvania Winery Association know! Send them your favorite story about visiting Franklin Hill Vineyards and enter a chance to win!

Win a Pennsylvania Wine Weekend Getaway or prize package. A story from each of Pennsylvania's seven wine regions will be selected as the finalists, and the grand-prize winner will be selected online via voting.
For every story submitted, $1 will be donated to the National Center for Family Literacy and a cork will be added to a sculpture created by a Pennsylvania based artist.

Submit your story here.

Chambourcin Weekend details announced!

2011-10-06T13:33:00.003-04:00

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will once again celebrate the region’s official winegrape during Chambourcin Weekend on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16.

TheChambourcin is the only wine grape grown by all eight area wineries. In thegreater Lehigh Valley, there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin, whichferment into 150,000 bottles of wine. Chambourcin is very versatile in the winecellar and the wineries craft it into several styles of wine including Nouveau,Rosé, Semi- Sweet, Sweet, Dry Barrel Aged, Sparkling and Port.

Winerieswill feature wine tastings, live entertainment, food and wine pairings, andother activities. Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Chambourcin Weekend is a free event,however some wineries charge for wine tastings. Check the Wine Trail web sitefor details.

CHAMBOURCIN WEEKENDHIGHLIGHTS

Amoré Vineyards& Winery, Nazareth - Amore will feature five styles of hand-craftedChambourcin wine pared with an assortment of artisan breads, dipping oils andcheeses.

Big Creek Vineyardand Winery, Kresgeville - Big Creek Vineyard will pair a "SoupeChanterelle," made with local Chanterelle mushrooms, with their 2010Chambourcin.

Blue MountainVineyards, New Tripoli - Saturday: Di Bruno Brothers out of SouthPhiladelphia will be sampling their cheeses to pair with Chambourcin. Rob willbe playing as free entertainment from 1-4 p.m.

Sunday:They will offer winery tours every hour from 1-5 p.m. Join them for SundayBlues from 2-5 p.m. featuring Scott Marshall & The Hillbilly Souls ($5admission to Sunday Blues; includes wine tasting).

Clover HillVineyards & Winery, Breinigsville - Cheers to theChambourcin grape! Chambourcin is known as the grape of the Lehigh Valley andif you’ve ever tasted it you will agree it makes a wonderful glass of wine.Chef Nathan Grube will make a return appearance to do cooking demonstrations tobe paired with their 2009 Chambourcin and Turtle Rock Red (made with 100%Chambourcin grape). Cooking demonstrations will take place at 1, 2, 3, and 4p.m. both days.

Franklin HillVineyards, Bangor- Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday Franklin Hill will feature Pivinski's PremierPolish Prince's Pierogis for tasting paired with 2010 Chambourcin or SimplyRed. Guests may also purchase pierogis to eat at the winery or for saleby the dozen to take home with a bottle of their favorite wine. While youenjoy the pierogis, enjoy the tunes as Robert Michaels entertains with greatacoustic guitar.

Galen Glen Vineyard& Winery, Andreas- Fiesta for your taste buds. Zesty Taco soup prepared by charismatic Gary andKathy, who are independent Pampered Chef consultants, will be paired with thewinery’s Gold medal Chambourcin or Cellar Red.

Pinnacle Ridge,Kutztown- Pinnacle Ridge will beserving tender beef French dip with their Chambourcin wine reduction au jus.For vegetarians they'll be serving sautéed vegetable French dip withChambourcin wine reduction vegetarian au jus. Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Chambourcin, 2008 Chambourcin Reserve and SweetSeduction (100% Chambourcin) will be their featured wines.

Vynecrest Winery,Breinigsville- Vynecrest Winery will be partnering with The Farmhouse, a farm-to-tablerestaurant, to present the following tasting menu to pair with samples of thewinery’s Gold Medal 2010 Chambourcin Wine. Chef Javin Small will be at thewinery at 1 p.m. both days and will be conducting a cooking demonstration onSunday.

Saturday’sMenu: Mediterranean herby hummus with Rip Rap artisan crackers. Assortedgrilled pizzas with seasonal toppings and manchego cheese with red and blackcurrant jam on French baguette slices. Connie Edinger performs live from 1-4:30p.m.

Sunday’sMenu: Chinese five spice hummus with Rip Rap artisan crackers, seared herbedlamb lollipops with fire roasted poblano pepper walnut pesto and manchegocheese with red and black currant jam on French baguette slices.

October events and harvest update from Pinnacle Ridge

2011-10-04T13:21:00.001-04:00

FROM THE VINEYARD: HARVEST 2011

Every year we anxiously await the moment when the harvest starts. We check all our equipment to make sure everything is working. We order yeast and the various supplies we need to get us through the busy season. We plan to make sure we have enough barrels and tank space and help to get through the busiest season in the winery year.

When the decision is made to start picking the fruits of our labor its off to the races. This year the harvest started on September 12 with Cayuga for our Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine. Sparkling wine grapes are always the first to be picked. We look for a crisp, less alcoholic wine as the base for sparkling wines. We also picked Chardonnay for sparkling wine. Pinnacle Ridge has not produced a sparkling chardonnay for a number of years. This year we are making the Cuvee again instead of the Brut Rose. Patience! In a couple of years you’ll be able to taste our Cuvee Chardonnay.

Chardonnay for Naked Chardonnay and our barrel-fermented Chardonnay has been harvested as well Riesling, Syrah and Pinot Noir for our Quaff. We’re fully in the middle of harvest at this point and it will continue for another four weeks or so.

For those of you “tuned” into the local grape scene, you may have noticed that it has rained a bit this year. Grape growers are not very fond of rain during pre-harvest and harvest. Rain can cause a number of issues with grapes, including increased disease pressure, more difficulty in scheduling harvest activities and bloated fruit.

2010 was a really great vintage with hot dry weather throughout most of the harvest period. However, we face less than ideal conditions pretty regularly. 2009 was an example of a very cool, wet year that ended up
producing some very nice wines.

The good news for the 2011 vintage is that it has been warm. I’m sitting here writing in my living room on September 29 in shorts and t-shirt. The windows are open and it is warm and muggy. Much like a late August day. The warm weather has kept the acidity in the grapes at a good level and has allowed flavor
development. I think we will get some balanced and very pretty aromatic wines!

PINNACLE RIDGE'S JAZZ IN THE BARN

Sunday, October 9 from 3-6 p.m.

Our last live music of the 2011 summer season! Musicians Andy Warren on guitar, Nimrod Speaks on upright bass, Alan Gaumer on drums and Pete Souder on saxophone. They’ll be playing great jazz standards. You can sit and relax with a glass of wine. Light fare will be available for purchase.

LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL'S CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND

Saturday October, 15 & Sunday, October, 16 - Noon to 5 p.m. both days

Celebrate the harvest of the 2011 Lehigh Valley’s Chambourcin. Pinnacle Ridge will be serving samples of Tender Beef French Dip with our Chambourcin wine reduction au jus. For vegetarians we'll be serving sautéed Vegetable French Dip with Chambourcin wine reduction vegetarian au jus. Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Chambourcin, 2008 Chambourcin Reserve and Sweet Seduction (100% Chambourcin) will be our featured wines.

Lehigh Valley wineries in the news

2011-09-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

A few of our Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries have been in the news this month, so we thought we'd share with you a few of the stories:

Franklin Hill Winery was featured as the Business of the Week by Patch.com for its recently redesigned wine shoppe in the Nazareth area. Click here to read the online article.
Pinnacle Ridge Winery received a nice write up on their Blues in the Barn event in Berks-Mont Newspapers. The last Blues in the Barn of the season is coming up on Sunday, October 9. Click here to read the article.
Big Creek Winery and its owner Dominic Strohlein were the focus on this article by food and wine writer Marc d'Entremont for Culinary Travel. Click here to read the story.
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery was featured in an article in the The Morning Call on this year's winner of the Clover Hill Cooking with Wine Competition. Click here for the details.
And while not technically "news," Vynecrest Winery recently unveiled its newest commercial on YouTube. Be sure to watch the spot all the way through to its humorous end!

Save the Date for Chambourcin Weekend

2011-09-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will once again celebrate the region’s official wine grape during Chambourcin Weekend on Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, October 16 from noon – 5 p.m.

The Chambourcin is the only wine grape grown by all nine area wineries.

Wineries will feature wine tastings, live entertainment, food and wine pairings, and other activities. Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

Chambourcin is a very versatile wine grape. Local wineries craft it into a wide range of styles, from rosé and sparkling, to dry barrel aged and port. In the greater Lehigh Valley there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin which will ferment into 150,000 bottles of wine.

Details on each winery’s food and wine pairings for the event will be announced the week of 10/5.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail include:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
Franklin Hills Vineyards, Bangor
Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

Yoga... in a vineyard?

2011-09-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

Refresh your body, mind and spirit with a little yoga at two of our Lehigh Valley wineries. That's right, we said yoga. Sound like strange bedfellows to you? Well yoga at vineyards is all the rage right now, and both Clover Hill Vineyard in Breinigsville and Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor are getting in on it.

Each winery is offering their own yoga experience this coming Sunday, September 25. Details are as follows:

Yoga in the Vineyard at Clover Hill Winery, Breinigsville, Pa.
Sunday, September 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
$5 per person

Join yoga instructor Jacque Porterfield (from Lehigh Valley Yoga ~ www.lvygoa.com) for a intro to Ashtanga yoga class. Beginners are welcome, but please bring a mat (if you have one) and water. This class will be rain or shine. Reserve your space on Clover Hill's Facebook page.

Yoga+Wine Fall Festival at Franklin Hill Winery, Bangor, Pa.
Sunday, September 25

Back by popular demand! Dalien from Kula Heart Yoga will return and take us on a journey into our hearts as we celebrate the harvest with music, sound, yoga. Followed by wine and cheese at Franklin Hill Vineyards.

This event will fill fast, please call to register and reserve your space - 610-746-5852 (Kula). Visit www.kulaheartyoga.com to find out more!

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail introduces a new promotional brochure

2011-09-20T12:13:00.000-04:00

Wine tastings, vineyard tours and special events draw thousandsof visitors to the eight family-owned and operated wineries that make up theLehigh Valley Wine Trail in eastern Pennsylvania each year. To help them plantheir visit, the Wine Trail has introduced a new promotional brochure thathighlights the wineries and their special events.

Designed by Dina Hall of Dina Hall Graphic Design inBethlehem and printed by Nacci Printing in Allentown, the new brochure featuresdetailed listings on each of the wineries including hours of operation, drivingdirections, wine shop extensions, and amenities provided at each location.

Also included is a map of the wine trail on which each winerylocation is plotted, and information on each of the organization’s six annualevents. The events include:

March Madness – also known as Passport Weekends
Wine in Bloom – May
Wine on the Mountain at Penn’s Peak – July
Harvest Weekend – September
Chambourcin Weekend – October
Nouveau Weekend – November

A PDF version of the brochure can be downloaded on the homepage of the Wine Trail’s web site: www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.

The printing of the brochures was underwritten in part byDiscover Lehigh Valley, the designated destination marketing organization ofLehigh and Northampton counties. The non-profit organization will alsodistribute the free brochure through its network of more than 60 brochure racksat local hotels and attractions. Brochures can be requested by mail on thetourism bureau’s web site: www.DiscoverLehighValley.com.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization ofwineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere winedestination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All ofthe member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national andinternational levels.

The Lehigh Valley region is an official American ViticulturalArea as designated by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April2008. The Lehigh Valley AVAincludes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroecounties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 75% ofthe grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineriesin the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growingregion on their labels.

A harvest season update from Franklin Hill Vineyards

2011-09-16T17:33:00.001-04:00

From our grapes to your glass - Harvest is in the air!

2011 is turning out to be another wonderful vintage for Franklin Hill Vineyards. We're getting ready to head out to the vineyard to start picking those lush wonderful grapes whose juice will be soon filling your glass.

Vines are looking great as usual. The birds would agree as we are seeing some signs of them feeding on the grapes. At this point we would like to see the weather dry out since grapes love dry weather in the weeks prior to harvest. The dry weather allows the sun to bring the grapes to the perfect ripeness.

Depending on the variety, we pick at at certain "brix." Measuring levels of "brix" allows us to determine the grapes' sugar levels. We aim for our grapes to measure anywhere between 20 and 23 brix. Grape picking should begin by next week.

Meanwhile, our wonderful winery staff is busy bottling Cabernet Franc and Katie's Creek...and...for all of our dessert wine lovers, our Breathless has made its highly-anticipated return. We can tell you that the wait was well worth it. This bottling is not only superb, there is no doubt that one sip will simply take your Breath away. Come in to any of our locations for your own bottle.

Get ready for some more wonderful wine coming your way from our 2011 Harvest.

Celtic Classic - Sept. 23, 24, & 25 in Historic Downtown Bethlehem

Don your kilts and ghillie brogues and be sure to visit Franklin Hill's Bethlehem Location for a complimentary wine tasting during Bethlehem's 24th Annual Celtic Classic Festival.

Franklin Hill Vineyards - Bethlehem
Main St. Commons,
567 Main St.
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610)-332-9463

Yoga+Wine Fall Festival - Sunday, September 25 at the Winery

Back by popular demand! Dalien from KULA HEART YOGA will return and take us on a journey into our hearts as we celebrate the Harvest with music, sound, yoga! Followed by wine and cheese at Franklin Hill Vineyards! This event will fill fast, please call to register and reserve your space. 610-746-5852 (kula)
Visit www.kulaheartyoga.com to find out more!

Pennsylvania Wine Stories: There's a Story Behind Every Cork

Send in your story about visiting Franklin Hill Vineyards to win a Pennsylvania Wine Weekend Getaway or prize package. A story from each of Pennsylvania's seven wine regions will be selected as the finalists, and the grand-prize winner will be selected online via voting.

For every story submitted, $1 will be donated to the National Center for Family Literacy and a cork will be added to a sculpture created by a Pennsylvania based artist.

Vynecrest Winery weathers Hurricane Irene and wins new awards

2011-09-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Harvest has started at Vynecrest Winery! We are picking Traminette, Pinot Noir and a few others this week. Needless to say, it has been an interesting year in the vineyard. Irene caused some damage in the vineyard, more on that later, but the vines survived and we are excited to get the grapes into the cellar.

In the Vineyard:

The last month has been a whirlwind! The vineyard did sustain some damage from Irene but it could have been much worse. The wind knocked down five rows and snapped a few of the anchors at the end of the rows. Luckily the fruit was not damaged. We were able to get the rows propped up, the anchors back in place and we are back in business. We will do a complete fix in the late winter, after we prune, when the vines are not so heavy.

Harvest has begun and the fruit that is coming in looks great. Looking forward to another exciting vintage!

Recent Awards - Indy International Wine Competition:

2010 Chardonnay - Double Gold
2010 Chambourcin - Silver
2010 Cabernet Franc - Silver
2010 Cherry DiVyne - Bronze

September Specials:

Wine of the Month - Blueberry, 10% off
Three Pack of the Month - Double Gold Special - 3 Chardonnay for $30

(at winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers.)

Upcoming Events:

September 17 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Connie Edinger, 1- 4:30 p.m.
September 24 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne, 1 - 4:30 p.m.
September 25 - Taste of the Lehigh Valley, Melt Restaurant in the Promenade Shops. The freshest local ingredients. The finest local chefs. The most imaginative cuisine. Tickets for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.: $30 in advance/$35 at the door. VIP hour from noon - 1 p.m.: VIP tickets $60 (limited to 150). Tickets available for purchase at the winery or online at www.BuyLocalGreaterLehighValley.org.
October 1 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Jake Kaligis, 1 - 4:30 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery prepares for annual "Blues in the Barn"

2011-09-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

On September 10 and 11, Pinnacle Ridge Winery will hold its annual two-day event “Blues in the Barn.” This free event is held rain or shine.

On Saturday, September 10, The James Supra Blues Band will perform from 1 - 4:30 p.m. followed by the Kelchner Brothers Blues Band from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, September 11, The Wallace Brothers will perform 1 - 4:30 p.m. with the Kelchner Brothers performing again from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Food will be available for purchase from local food guy Jack Sinnitz, a.k.a. Heaven on a Bun. He’ll be serving up his heavenly burgers and fries.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery’s tasting room will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Its staff will be on-hand for wine tastings, and wine by the bottle or glass will be available for purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery has plenty of room in its 1850's Pennsylvania German Bank Barn. With the barn's high ceiling and old wooden interior, the acoustics are amazing.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery is located in the heart of idyllic "Pennsylvania Dutch Country," along Old Route 22 outside of Kutztown, PA. The winery is one mile from the I-78 Krumsville exit and six miles north of the town of Kutztown.

If you are coming north on Route 737, the road is closed due to a bridge repair but the detour is easy. Travel time is about the same. For more information go to the Pinnacle Ridge web site: www.pinridge.com or call 610-756-4481.

Clover Hill celebrates 26th anniversary

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery is turning 26 on September 11, and we are celebrating with an anniversary sale.

From September 8-11, we will be giving a 26% discount on all 750mL wines for 26 years of business at all Clover Hill locations and online orders (375mL and custom label orders excluded).

It has been a wonderful and wild 26 years of business and we strive for many more years of Clover Hill wines to come! Thank you for your support of our second generation family owned winery. We would love to hear from you on our Facebook page. Let us know how long you have been a Clover Hill customer!

Please remember that the anniversary sale is one of our busiest times at the winery. We appreciate your patience. 26% discount is the greatest discount available. Cheers!

The 2011 vintage is on its way and it has certainly been the year of extremes. July brought us extreme dry weather. August gave us a very wet month, huge flocks of birds who love eating our grapes, an earthquake, and a hurricane. September is off to a rocky start with heavy rainfall and more birds, and we are only a couple days into the month. Every year harvest comes with its challenges, but we have to wonder why this year is so extreme.

In the meantime, we will try to stay calm and hope Mother Nature settles down. If you would like to keep current with our 2011 vintage, be a fan on our Facebook page to hear what we are harvesting and see pictures from this beautiful time of year.

Labor Day Weekened at Galen Glen Winery

2011-09-02T14:22:00.001-04:00

WINTER IS HERE! (Wait, what?)

There is no snow, cold or wind, just our two best selling winter wines!
Winter Mountain White and Holiday Raspberry are available at Galen Glen Winery starting Friday, September 2.

Both are limited in quantity, and we expect to sell out!

Special Labor Day Hours & Tour Schedule:
Wine Tasting:

Friday: noon - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: Noon - 5 pm
Monday: (Labor Day) 10 am - 4 pm

Walking Tours: One tour at noon on Saturday, Sunday & Monday.

Upcoming Event Sept 10 & 11:
•    Free Tractor & Wagon Tours departing at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m. Our tour route travels through the heart of the vineyard, down the hillside to our wine cellar in the " little glen" and, of course, back up the hill to the Tasting Room.
•    Sinfully scrumptious European desserts by famed baker Marlis. Available to purchase with a glass of wine. (Warning: looking at her website will cause cake cravings!)
•    Renowned local wild life artist Dave Hughes will have his art on display. deertrailstudio.weebly.com

Details on Harvest Weekend announced

2011-09-01T06:00:00.000-04:00

OnSaturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11, the eight wineries of the LehighValley Wine Trail in eastern Pennsylvania will celebrate the start of harvestseason with a special event. Harvest Weekend will welcome wine lovers fortastings, vineyard and winery tours, food and wine pairings, and liveentertainment.

Thewineries will also proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” programby partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcasetheir high level of quality. Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m.

The Lehigh Valley WineTrail is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promoteagri-tourism and to create a premier wine destination and grape growing regionwhile promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region.

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth - Amore will beserving bourbon chicken, assorted breads and dipping oils, along with aselection of cheeses from Goot Essa Farms. They will also feature a new wine,Cabaret Amore.

Big Creek Vineyardand Winery, Kresgeville - Harvest Weekend at Big Creek traditionally means freshly picked, tree-ripened apples from their friends at nearby Heckman Orchard along with local artisan cheeses.

Blue MountainVineyards, New Tripoli - Stroll through the vineyard and witness the last fewdays before the grapes of 2011 begin the process of becoming wine on aself-guided vineyard tour. Back by popular demand, sample the products of TaitFarms that are grown and produced in Pa. Di Bruno Brothers from South Phillywill be sampling some of their incredible cheeses that have kept them inbusiness for over 70 years. The winery will be releasing its 2008 Merlot, whichwas an excellent vintage. On Sunday, join them for Sangria Sundays with ScottMarshall & The Hillbilly Souls on the deck ($5 admission).

Clover HillVineyards & Winery, Breinigsville - During this harvest celebration, CloverHill will partner with Unique Pretzel Bakery, Inc. of Reading, Pa. Like CloverHill, Unique Pretzels is a family-owned business that has grown for sixgenerations. The family from Unique Pretzel Bakery will be on site to sampleand sell their scrumptious pretzels. There is nothing tastier than a Uniquechocolate covered pretzel paired with a glass of Turtle Rock Red.

Franklin HillVineyards, Bangor- invites guest to help them celebrate the harvest with walks through thevineyard and tours of the winery. There will be local cheeses by Klein's Farm,cider and apples for sale, and light snacks for purchase. Try a glass of applewine.

Galen Glen Vineyard& Winery, Andreas- Free tractor and wagon tours will depart on the hour from 1 - 4 p.m. Tourstravel through the heart of the vineyard, down the hillside to the wine cellarin the little glen and back up the hill to the tasting room. Sinfully scrumptiousEuropean desserts by famed baker Marlis will be available to purchase with aglass of wine. Renowned local wild life artist Dave Hughes will also have hisart on display.

Pinnacle Ridge,Kutztown- Pinnacle Ridge will be celebrating the beginning of the 2011harvest with livemusic all weekend. On Saturday, the Wallace Brothers will play their mix ofBlues and Country from 1- 5 p.m. On Sunday, the day of music starts at 1:30 p.m.with the Kelchner Brothers. Jacob, 15, is an excellent guitar player while youngerbrother, Janson, 11, plays harmonica and sings. The Wallace Brothers will beback on Sunday from 3 - 6 p.m. There will be wine by the bottle or glass forpurchase all weekend. The food vendor for the weekend is Jack Sinnitz and hisfriendly Heaven on a Bun crew.

Vynecrest Winery,Breinigsville- Vynecrest has asked fellow vendors from both SteelStacks and Macungie farmersmarkets, as well as Eagle Point Farm Market, to join them from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.both days to celebrate PA Preferred and Buy Fresh Buy Local Lehigh Valley. Therewill be fresh produce available for sale from Bleiler's Fresh Produce Patch(locally grown, pesticide free), delicious baked goods from Lisa Morton ofHereford Country Store, and mums for sale from Eagle Point Farm Market. Inaddition Vynecrest will be pairing samples of its Blueberry wine with Lisa'slemon poppy seed pound cake. On Saturday at 1 p.m., will be the finalwinemaker's tour of the season with an emphasis on the upcoming harvest ($5 perperson). Live music will entertain in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar from 1 - 4:30p.m. by Art's Acoustic Oldies (no charge).

Vynecrest's end of summer news and events

2011-08-25T17:25:00.000-04:00

August Specials:
3 Pack of the Month - Three First Blush for $25*
Wine of the Month - Autumn Gold, additional 10% off*
*at winery only

Upcoming Events:

August 27 - Music in the Vyneskeller 1 to 4:30pm, Andy Warren & Dan Harakal
Seven Springs Wine Festival, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 11 a.m - 5 p.m.

August 28- Seven Springs Wine & Food Festival, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

September 3 - Music in the Vyneskeller 1 to 4:30 p.m., Brian Xander

In the Vineyard:

2011 is shaping up to be another GREAT vintage for Vynecrest. Here's hoping the weather cooperates for the remainder of the growing season.

Veraison started at Vynecrest about a week ago. Verasion is when the berries turn color and it signals the start of ripening. The amount of sugar in the berries is increasing and the amount of acid is decreasing. We will be monitoring these levels until it is time to harvest.

Unfortunately, the grapes not only look better to us but to the birds as well. The changing of color in the grapes signals the birds the grapes are ready to be eaten.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Paint the Map Green!

Keep sending in your pics! We have some great pictures of Vynecrest gear all over the country. Send your pics to wine@vynecrest.com or post them on our Facebook page.

Wine slushies, awards and special events at Galen Glen Winery

2011-08-18T16:13:00.000-04:00

Sale!
Winter Mountain Red -375mL bottles
Two 375mL - $8.50
One 375mL - $5
We are discontinuing our half bottles. Sale applies only to bottles labeled with Galen Glen Winter Mountain Red Label. No custom label orders accepted. While supplies last!

Forecast this Weekend at Galen Glen: Slushies & Sunshine
Sat., Aug 20 - 10 am - 5 pm
Sun., Aug 21 - Noon - 5 pm

We're making our favorite wine slushies. One taste and you'll know why they are so popular! Purchase a slushy for $3 to sip on our vineyard patio and watch the grapes ripen.

Awards!
GOLD 2010 Claret (our naughty blend of Pinot Noir & Chambourcin)
SILVER 2010 Zweigelt
at the Indy International Wine Comp

New on the Wine List!
2010 Zweigelt
2010 Claret
2010 Gewurztraminer

Upcoming Events:

September 3, 4 & 5 at the winery
Labor Day Weekend - Walking tour of the vineyard September 3, 4 & 5 at noon. One tour per day. Please wear sturdy foot gear. No reservations required and weather permitting. Monday, Sept. 5 Labor Day hours - 10 am - 4 pm.

September 4 at Hegins Park
3rd Annual Schuylkill County Wine Festival - 1 - 6 pm. Featuring local wines, a delicious variety of local food and entertainment.

September 10 & 11 at Winery
Harvest Weekend - Tractor & Wagon Tours departing at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.

Clover Hill Winery's August Events

2011-08-15T14:25:00.000-04:00

We are anxiously coming down the home stretch in the vineyard for the 2011 growing season. So far we have had a very warm, dry growing season which is ideal for wine grapes. However these conditions are not ideal for the young vines we planted this spring.

As a result, we have been hand irrigating our new vines. Right now we are beginning to see verasion – this is the critical point in which the grapes begin to change colors, soften and take their final steps to ripening. The final verdict isn’t in on the 2011 vintage, but we are certainly on a good path. Follow us on Facebook if you would like to stay up-to-date on the 2011 vintage.

We invite you to enjoy this beautiful time of year and celebrate our vineyards by having a glass of wine on the patio in Breinigsville or Robesonia. These locations are open 7 days a week. The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market and the Boscov’s Farmers are also great locations to pick up local foods and your Clover Hill wine! We look forward to your next visit!

Owner's Selection
Clover Hill Cayuga White has soft, mellow aromas and flavors that will leave your mouth coated with tastes of ripe melon, mango, and ruby grapefruit. Enjoy a 10% discount on Clover Hill Cayuga White the entire month of August! Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.

Tuesday is Senior Day
The Winery in Breinigsville and the Vineyard in Robesonia.
Don't forget - every Tuesday is Senior Day at the Winery in Breinigsville and the vineyard in Robesonia. Seniors save an additional 10% on wine purchases. Must have a valid ID. Vintage is always cool!

Yoga in the Vineyard
Breinigsville, PA
Sunday, August 21; 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. - $5 per person
Join yoga instructor Jacque Porterfield (from Lehigh Valley Yoga~ www.lvyoga.com) for an intro to Ashtanga yoga class. Beginners are welcome, but please bring your own mat (if you have one) and water. This class will be rain or shine. Reserve your space on Clover Hill's Facebook page.

Public Tour
Breinigsville, PA
Monday, August 22 at 2 p.m.; tickets required - $12 per person, free for under 21
Join Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting, vineyard and winery touring. Enjoy a 1 1/2 hour journey as we explore how we make wine from the grape to the glass. Reservations are required; minors are free. Handicap accessible. For tickets and reservations, please call 610-395-2468.

Pennsylvania Wine Stories: "There’s a Story Behind Every Cork"

2011-08-11T14:20:00.000-04:00

Our friends at the Pennsylvania Winery Association have launched a new promotion and they need your help to make it successful. And all you have to do to help is tell a story.

Each of Pennsylvania’s 140 wineries has its own story, and for the people who enjoy drinking it, so does each bottle of Pennsylvania wine. As we like to say, “there’s a story behind every cork,” and we want to hear yours. Visit Pennsylvaniawine.com to share your Pennsylvania wine story and read some of the many tales submitted by other wine lovers. Stories can also be submitted on the Pennsylvania Wine Trails Facebook page and at participating wineries.

For every story submitted, the Pennsylvania Winery Association will add a cork to a collection – which will be turned into a cork sculpture at the end of the season – and donate one dollar per cork to the National Center for Family Literacy, a charity that works to inspire families in their pursuit of education and learning.

Stories can be submitted now through October. When the submission period ends, one story from each of Pennsylvania’s seven wine regions will be chosen as a finalist and a public vote on the PWA website will determine the winning tale. Each finalist will receive a prize package of various wine accessories, dinner for two at a local restaurant and a VIP tour of a Pennsylvania winery. The author of the winning story will receive a “Pennsylvania Wine Weekend Getaway,” which includes a one‐night stay in the Pennsylvania wine region of his or her choice, chauffeured transportation to and from the hotel and multiple wineries, dinner for two at a local restaurant and a VIP winery tour.

Tell us your story using the entry form here. Your entry can be two sentences or two paragraphs. It can be funny, sentimental, reflective or romantic. It can involve you and a friend, you and a loved one, or just you!

Everyone has a Pennsylvania wine story to tell. The only question is: What’s yours?

And of course, we'd love you to tell a story that involves one of our eight Lehigh Valley Wineries (hint, hint)...

Franklin Hill Winery wins more awards and announces August festivals

2011-08-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

Franklin Hill Vineyards just won 3 more awards!

The International Eastern Wine Competition awarded us a Bronze Medal for our Sir Walters Red, Pomegranate Peach, and Seyval Blanc!

Upcoming events:

Our festival staff will be having fun offering bottle sales and complimentary tastings at "Martin on Main" in Nazareth this Saturday, August 6 from noon - 8 pm. This is a free, family-friendly event. Join us!

Visit our Bethlehem Wine Shoppe during Musikfest, August 5-14. We heard your requests all year long and are listening! We're bringing back complimentary tastings of our refreshing Fiesta Sangria only during Musikfest!

Follow our fun festival staff to Seven Springs Wine and Food Festival, August 27-28 from 11 am - 5 pm. Purchase tickets online or at door.

Pinnacle Ridge preps for Blues in the Barn this Sunday, August 7

2011-08-01T12:41:00.000-04:00

PINNACLE RIDGE JAZZ AND BLUES IN THE BARN

Sunday, August 7 from 3-6 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge’s "music lovers' rendezvous!" This month’s talent includes: Vocalist Christy Allen, Andy Warren on guitar, Nimrod Speaks on upright bass, Alan Gaumer on drums and Pete Souder on saxophone. The music promises to be an amazing mix of jazz and blues.

Wine by the glass or bottle is available as well as light fare for purchase. This is a free event.

THIS MONTH'S RECIPE: FRESH TOMATO, GARLIC AND BASIL OVER PASTA
(This recipe is a Knapp-Allen favorite)

2 pounds local tomatoes
Hand full of fresh basil
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ cup feta cheese
Sea Salt to taste

Chop tomatoes. Remove most of the pulp and seeds.
Squeeze out some of the liquid.
Finely chop basil and add to tomatoes.
Dice garlic and add.
Add olive oil and mix.
Add ½ cup Feta Cheese and toss very lightly.
Salt to taste and pepper to taste.

Serve over fettuccine. Sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan. Pair with a big glass of Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Merlot. Is white your palette's preference? Try the 2010 Naked Chardonnay.

Wine lovers unite at 8th Annual Wine on the Mountain festival this weekend at Penn’s Peak

2011-07-25T12:41:00.000-04:00

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail take a road trip north to the Pocono Mountains this weekend for the eighth installment of its popular Wine on the Mountain wine festival.

The event takes place on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31 from noon to 5 p.m. both days at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe.

Wine on the Mountain features wine samplings and sales from all eight of the Lehigh Valley’s wineries, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, and light fare available for purchase from Roadies Restaurant. There is also live musical entertainment both days with Bob Gonzalves performing on the guitar on Saturday and Chuck Donches on the piano on Sunday.

Vendors will feature everything from gourmet foods and dipping oils, to hand-made jewelry and scented candles. They include:
•    Watermark Glass Designs
•    Randi’s Gourmet Foods
•    Country Glo Candles
•    Princess and the Pony
•    J.D. Gourmet
•    Top Shelf
•    Larona Jewelry and Gifts

Penn’s Peak offers breathtaking, panoramic views of Beltzville Lake and the surrounding Appalachian mountainside from its large open-air deck.

Tickets are required for this event and are $14 in advance or $16 at the door the weekend of the event. They are on sale now at all eight Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries (see list below), as well as online: http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/378296. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. Wine on the Mountain is a rain or shine event.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are:
o    Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
o    Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
o    Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
o    Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
o    Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor
o    Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
o    Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
o    Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

For driving directions to Penn’s Peak, visit their web site - www.pennspeak.com.

For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit the organization’s newly redesigned web site www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com, and connect with them on Twitter and their Facebook fan page.

Vyncrest Winery to go green!

2011-07-18T14:05:00.000-04:00

The statement below was issued by Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville recently:

Vynecrest Winery has received a grant from the USDA and a loan from the PA Dept of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to assist in the conversion of the winery to a geothermal cooling and heating system.

This includes the wine cellar, wine storage, offices, tasting room, and Vyneskeller Wine Bar.

By replacing the existing oil and standard air conditioning systems, Vynecrest will use less energy and reduce its carbon footprint by 36 tons per year.

8th Annual “Wine on the Mountain” event returns to Penn’s Peak on July 30 & 31

2011-07-11T13:51:00.000-04:00

Tickets are now on sale at all eight Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries and online!

The eighth edition of the Wine on the Mountain wine festival takes place at Penn’s Peak on Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31, from noon – 5 p.m. both days. It includes wine samplings from eight Lehigh Valley wineries, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, light fare available for purchase, and live musical entertainment.

(*PLEASE NOTE: These dates are different from the dates originally announced for this event due to an error. This year’s Wine on the Mountain event is the last weekend of July.)

Tickets are required for this event and are now on sale at all eight Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries (see list below). They are $14 in advance or $16 at the door the weekend of the event. Admission includes a commemorative tasting glass. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

For the first time, advance tickets can be purchased online through the web site Local Wine Events - http://www.localwineevents.com/events/detail/378296.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor
Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

Visit the wine trail online at www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com.

July events at Clover Hill Winery

2011-07-08T09:00:00.002-04:00

Summer is in full swing and hopefully you are enjoying this gorgeous season with friends and family while sharing good wine and food! Our favorite summer sipping wines are the 2010 N~Chard, Clover Hill Rosé and Turtle Rock Red. They are perfect for the warm summer days with their fresh, light and clean flavors. Click here for great summertime wine and food recipes and start sipping!

The summer schedule at the winery is full of tours, music and tapas on the patio and even yoga in the vineyard! The vineyard in Robesonia is now open seven days a week: Monday-Saturday, 11 am - 5:30 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Both the Winery in Breinigsville and the Vineyard in Robesonia have beautiful patios where you can enjoy a glass of wine and local cheeses any day of the week! We look forward to your next visit.

Special thanks to the readers of Lehigh Valley Magazine, Clover Hill Winery was once again voted “Best of the Valley 2011 – Best Winery." We are honored!

Owner's Selection

Clover Hill Rosé is a soft, mild taste with floral and fruity flavors. The sweetness is rich and mouth coating. Enjoy a 10% discount on Clover Hill Rosé the entire month of July! Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday is Senior Day at The Winery in Breinigsville and the Vineyard in Robesonia
Don't forget every Tuesday is Senior Day at the Winery in Breinigsville and the vineyard in Robesonia. Seniors save an additional 10% on wine purchases. Must have a valid ID. Vintage is always cool!

Public Tour - Breinigsville
Tickets Required; $12 per person, free for under 21

Saturday, July 16 at noon & 2 pm
Monday, July 18 at 2 pm
Saturday, August 13 at noon & 2 pm
Monday, August 22 at 2 pm

Join Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting, vineyard and winery touring. Enjoy a 1 and a 1/2 hour journey as we explore how we make wine from the grape to the glass. Reservations are required; minors are free. Handicap accessible. For tickets and reservations, please call 610-395-2468.

Wine and Food Tasting
Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Saturday, July 9; 11am - 4 pm

Visit the wine shop at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market for a special wine and food pairing treat. Stop in any time between 11am and 4pm to sample wine and food pairings from various market vendors.

Music & Tapas on the Patio
Breinigsville
Saturday, July 9; 1 - 4:30 pm

Sit back and relax with good wine, food and music. There is no charge to enjoy the music on the patio, but please no outside alcohol and no pets. Tapas style small plates are available for $6 per plate. Reservations for tapas are suggested; please call 610-395-2468. Lehigh Valley performer Craig Thatcher will be performing live.

Tapas Menu:
~ Skewered Chicken Meatballs over cucumber, carrot and chili slaw
~ Grilled Vegetable Napoleon prepared with zucchini, tomato, eggplant, beets, red pepper in a jalapeño basil pesto
~ Slow Roasted beef rolled with cucumber, marinated green onion and garlic served over cucumber, carrot and chili slaw
$6 per plate

Yoga in the Vineyard
Breinigsville
Sunday, July 10; 10 am

Join yoga instructor Jacque Porterfield (from Lehigh Valley Yoga ~ www.lvyoga.com) for a free intro to Ashtanga yoga class. Beginners are welcome, but please bring a mat (if you have one) and water. This class will be rain or shine. Reserve your space on Clover Hill’s Facebook page.

Clover Hill Night at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center
Breinigsville
July 22; 5:30 pm the track opens; 7:30 pm the racing starts!

Clover Hill Winery is proud to be the official wine at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. On July 22, we will be at the Cycling Center doing a mini wine tasting all evening long. We will also have a raffle to enter and prizes to win if you stop by our table! Enjoy a night at the races with a glass of wine in your hand. For more information on the Valley Preferred Cycling Center please visit www.thevelodrome.com. Whenever you are there to watch the racing you can have a glass of Clover Hill wine!

Tapas Tuesday at Bear Creek Mountain
Macungie
Sunday, July 26 ; 6-8:30 pm: reservations required

Beat the heat and stay out of the kitchen by joining Clover Hill Winery at Bear Creek Mountain Resort for an evening of tapas and wine in their Grille Restaurant. The menu will include 5 different tapas, small plates of food, paired with 5 Clover Hill wines. Clover Hill Winery owner, Kari Skrip will be on hand to explain the paired wines with each tapas offered.

The tapas menu includes:

Sliced Serrano Ham & Fresh Fig Drizzled with Truffle Honey
Chilled Shrimp in a Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise
Grilled Calamari with Tomatoes, Leeks and Garlic over Black Pasta
Veal & Sheep’s Milk Cheese Meatballs with Wild Mushrooms
Roasted Mussels with Chorizo Oil and Fresh Corn

Reservations are required at $25 per person (inclusive of tax and tip) and limited to 50 guests, so don’t wait to reserve your night out of your kitchen. For more information or to place your reservation go to: www.Bcmountainresort.com.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail launches a new web site!

2011-07-06T12:17:00.000-04:00

The web portal for the Lehigh Valley’s eight wineries that make up the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail has been revamped with a fresh look and improved features.

The new web site, designed by Liz Buck of EB Designs in Reading, highlights the group’s six annual wine-themed events and its social media presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Taste of the Trail blog. There’s also an e-newsletter signup box on the homepage for the organization’s free monthly emailed information.

Each of the eight member wineries also has its own detailed information page with address, telephone number, web site link, directions, hours, and description. Retail outlet locations and tasting polices are also featured.

Other pages include:
•    Events – overviews of March Madness, Wine in Bloom, Wine on the Mountain at Penn’s Peak, Harvest Weekend, Chambourcin Weekend, and Nouveau Weekend along with dates.
•    Just Pressed – announcements regarding awards, honor and other accolades for the member wineries and the wines they produce.
•    Trail Friends – a list of local restaurants that sell Wine Trail wines, and hotels, inns and B&Bs for overnight accommodations.
•    Media – a section is for the press which includes recent press release announcements.
•    Directions – features a Google map with each winery’s location pin pointed on it. One click on a pin launches the Google Maps application with driving directions from one winery to another.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a 501c6 non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

Members include:
•    Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
•    Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
•    Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
•    Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
•    Franklin Hills Vineyards, Bangor
•    Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
•    Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
•    Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

The Lehigh Valley region is an official American Viticultural Area as designated by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 75% of the grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Franklin Hill Winery is ready for summer!

2011-07-01T12:42:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest e-newsletter from Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor.

Let the Fireworks FLY! We're polished-up and ready-to-go! We've given our Easton Location a refreshing face-lift and it looks GREAT! Come join us to celebrate the transformation!

Franklin Hill Vineyards - Easton Location Grand Re-Opening Ribbon Cutting and Mixer
Thursday July 21 from 5 - 7 pm
3625 Nazareth Road (248), Easton, PA

-Ribbon Cutting at 5:30 pm
-Wine Tasting
-Raffle/Prizes
-Great Friends and FUN!

Look What's Going on in Bethlehem!

Taste our refreshing wine at the various events going on in Downtown Bethlehem this July! Be sure to stop by our Bethlehem location to pick up your favorite bottle!

Rooftop Beach Party
July 8 from 5:30 - 8:30 pm
Tickets on sale at our Bethlehem wine shop!

Movies by Moonlight
Thursdays only, July 7-21

SteelStacks Farmers' Market
Come see us for complimentary wine tastings.
Tuesday, July 26 from 3 - 7 pm

Bethlehem's Art Walk
Visit Franklin Hill on the Art Walk & Wine Trail
July 30 from 4 - 9 pm

Sidewalk Sale
July 28-31

On the Road Again

July is HOT and so are we! Our Festival Crew is on fire and can be found buzzing around, having fun at the following sizzlin' wine festivals. Why not join them?

Wine on the Mountain
July 30 and 31
at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA

Hit the road and head to Penn's Peak in nearby Jim Thorpe for this festival which includes wine samplings from each of our nine wineries in your own commemorative glass. Relax with a glass of wine on the panoramic outdoor deck with a view of Beltzville Lake and the Pocono Mountains. Or stay inside in air conditioned comfort while listening to live musical entertainment. Tickets on sale at all four Franklin Hill Vineyards locations!

Martin on Main - August 6 - Nazareth, PA
Seven Springs Wine & Food Festival - August 27-28 - Seven Springs, PA
Gettysburg Wine & Music Festival - Sept 10-11 - Gettysburg, PA

From Our Grapes to Your Glass

Our brand-new building is complete! Like the beautiful vines out in our vineyard, our winery is also growing and moving right along. This new space will function as a tank room used to house some of our larger tanks. We now have more room to make more of your favorite Franklin Hill vino.

Join us at the winery for live music on July 16, from noon - 4 pm. Robert Michaels will be performing live acoustic music at the winery. We will be giving tours of the facility, including the new building, all day long. Wine, music, fun, and food, all for free, as usual. So, come on down to check out the new addition to our winery!

Vynecrest announces three wine releases

2011-06-27T13:17:00.000-04:00

A great year in the vineyard produces great wines and the 2010 vintage was no exception.

The San Francisco International Wine Competition results were just released and the Vynecrest 2010 Chambourcin won a gold medal and our 2010 Lemberger won a silver medal. This is the first gold medal we have received from this competition.

We are now back to our full lineup as we release our 2010 Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Blueberry. This week is also your last chance to take advantage of the June specials:

3 Pack of the Month - 3 Niagara for $25
Wine of the Month - Chardonnay (additional 10% off)

Our winery is open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Also, if you're on Facebook like we are, please become a fan of our Vynecrest fan page and follow us on Twitter too!

Our favorite Lehigh Valley summer food and wine pairings

2011-06-22T11:04:00.000-04:00

During the summer months there is much to be done in the vineyards on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. After long days tending to the grapes, attention from farming turns to evenings filled with great wine and food! Read on for delicious food and wine pairings from your friends on the trail:

AMORE, our peach, apricot and blueberry wines are great served cold on a summer day. For a more traditional palate, we recommend our Cayuga or Riesling chilled to 55 degrees. The Cayuga and Riesling are perfect with grilled chicken, fish and veggies. The fruit wines pair nicely with mild cheese or can be used in summer sangria.

Up at BIG CREEK we are enjoying fresh fruit salads and our Rosé, Vin di Pasqualina.

BLUE MOUNTAIN will be sipping the newly released White Merlot with your favorite barbecued chicken or rib recipe. This refreshing semi dry wine is crisp and fruity with a long lingering finish. Happy grilling!

CLOVER HILL VINEYARDS & WINERY'S favorite summertime treat is clams steamed open on the grill then drizzled with a lemon, garlic and chive butter sauce and served with a cool glass of Pinot Grigio.

FRANKLIN HILL VINEYARD'S favorite is the newly produced Pomegranate Peach. Serve it as a fun martini by adding vodka and sliced peaches. We love to pair it with crab crakes or shrimp... absolutely delicious!

GALEN GLEN recommends our refreshing 2010 Half Dry Riesling (silver medals from Finger Lakes and CA Wine Competitions). Bursting with golden apple, ripe pear and honey melon, it is delicious with grilled shrimp, risotto and greens from the garden.

It is grilling season at PINNACLE RIDGE! Brad takes our garden grown vegetables (peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, asparagus, new potatoes and tomatoes) and roasts them slowly on the grill. The vegetables are dressed in extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, pepper and a handful of fresh herbs, also from our garden! The t-bone hits the grill next. Angel hair pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and feta cheese arrives at the picnic table just as the steaks are being pulled from the grill—done to perfection! We suggest a glass of Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Chambourcin.

VYNECREST's summer favorite is salmon cooked on the grill with a mango salsa, served with our Dry Riesling, which has a tropical nose and a bold crisp finish. Great combination.

Specials and upcoming June events at Clover Hill Vineyards

2011-06-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Owner's Selection for June
Pinot Grigio is the quintessential summer sipper. This crisp, dry white wine is packed with citrus flavors like pink grapefruit and lemon. Best served chilled with shellfish and fresh garden salads. One of our favorite pairing is Pinot Grigio with littlenecks steamed on the grill and served with a lemon, garlic, butter sauce.

Enjoy a 10% discount on Pinot Grigio the entire month of June! Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday is Senior Day at The Winery in Breinigsville
Don't forget - every Tuesday is Senior Day at the Winery in Breinigsville. Seniors save an additional 10% on wine purchases. Must have a valid ID. Vintage is always cool!

Public Tour in Breinigsville - Tickets required - $12 per person; free for under 21

Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 12pm & 2pm
Monday, July 18, 2011 at 2pm
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 12pm & 2pm
Monday, August 22, 2011 at 2pm

Join Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery for an afternoon of wine tasting, vineyard and winery touring. Enjoy a 1 & 1/2 hour journey as we explore how we make wine from the grape to the glass. Reservations are required; minors are free. Handicap accessible. For tickets and reservations, please call 610-395-2468.

Music & Tapas - Breinigsville
June 18 from noon-5 pm
Join us for a relaxing afternoon on the patio with good wine, food and music. Chef Nathan Grube will be on the grill offering tapas style plates for $6 per plate. Sip your wine while listening to the smooth sounds of Margaret and Randy Ritter live on the patio. Reservations are suggested for tapas. There is no charge for the music. Please, no outside alcohol and no pets. For reservations call 610.395.2468.

Saturday 6 Pack Sale - June 18 at ALL CLOVER HILL LOCATIONS
Stock up for summer with our 6 Pack Sale Saturday, June 18 only. Visit any Clover Hill location and receive a 10% discount on 6 bottles or more and a 20% discount on 12 bottles or more! You will also receive a free six bottle carrying tote. Stock up for summer!

Clover Hill Night at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, Breinigsville
June 24 - 5:30 pm the track opens; 7:30 pm the racing starts!

Clover Hill Winery is proud to be the official wine at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. On June 24, we will be at the Cycling Center doing a mini wine tasting all evening long. We will also have a raffle to enter and prizes to win if you stop by our table! Enjoy a night at the races with a glass of wine in your hand. For more information on the Valley Preferred Cycling Center please visit www.thevelodrome.com. Whenever you are there to watch the racing you can have a glass of Clover Hill wine!

Help get Vynecrest on the map!

2011-06-16T09:00:00.002-04:00

Here's the June update from Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville.

We just finished a great festival at Longwood Gardens and look forward to the our next festival at Split Rock this weekend.

The Vyneskeller patio is open and we just added new tables and chairs outside. Don't forget we have live music every Saturday.

June Specials

3 Pack of the Month - 3 Niagara for $25*
Wine of the Month - Chardonnay (additional 10% off)*

*at winery only, 3 pack specials not to be combined with other offers

Paint the Map Green!

Show off where you have taken Vynecrest wine or Vynecrest gear. Send a picture to wine@vynecrest.com or post a picture on Vynecrest's Facebook page and we will add you to the map and possibly put you on the following month's slide show at the winery. We need to get at least one picture from every state. So far we have Pennsylvania, Maine & Montana covered. Help us paint the map green!

Upcoming Events

June 18 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne Rox
June 18 & 19 - Split Rock Wine Festival, noon to 6 pm both days - The two day outdoor festival will be held on the grounds of Split Rock Resort located in beautiful Lake Harmony. The festival will feature continuous musical entertainment on three separate stages, Pennsylvania’s finest wineries and a wide selection of food vendors to tempt your taste buds. Educational seminars will be held during the festival so check them out and learn some new things about wine. Split Rock also offers a weekend package for our overnight guests. Each festival attendee will receive a commemorative wine tasting glass. Purchase tickets here.
June 25 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Andy Warren & Dan Harakal. Also a vineyard tour with the winemaker at 1 pm, $5 / person, reservations suggested.
July 2 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Acoustic oldies with Art

*All music starts at 1 pm and is free of charge.

In The Vineyard - Flowering Chambourcin

The weather was been great the past couple of weeks and as a result the vines have started to flower. We will soon have small grape berries growing on all of the vines. We are busy removing excess shoots from the vines and positioning the remaining shoots for optimal growth.

June Winemaker's Dinner at Galen Glen

2011-06-09T14:51:00.000-04:00

The menu for the Galen Glen Winery June Winemaker's Dinner has been announced and reservations are rapidly being taken. Get yours in today if you plan to attend!

Winemaker's Dinner:
Friday June 17 at 7 p.m.
Featuring the Culinary Creations of Tonimarie and her restaurant Macaluso's at The Lantern.

Compliments of the Winery:
A casual way to start the Evening,
Let the Conversation begin.......
Frozen Peach Wine-a-Rita
Made with our Cellar White

First Course:
Hot & sour soup
Wine - Claret, new vintage

Second Course:
Sesame encrusted ahi tuna with wasabi & soy
Wine - Riesling Rheingau

Third Course:
Palate cleansing salad - arugula & baby spinach tossed with a pineapple ginger vinaigrette & toasted almonds
Wine - Gewürztraminer

Fourth Course:
Char siu beef short ribs, steamed jasmine rice & bok choy
Wine - Chambourcin

Fifth Course:
Asian inspired green tea dessert
Wine - Vidal Blanc Ice Wine

Cost: $70 per person - Please add 6% PA Sales Tax. Gratuity is included.
*Menu and wines subject to change at Chef's discretion.

Location:
Galen Glen Winery
255 Winter Mountain Dr.
Andreas, PA 18211

Reservations:
Only by calling the Winery at 570-386-3682. We require a credit card for reservations. Cancellations after June 13 will be charged the full cost of the dinner.

Seating:
We make every effort to accommodate seating requests. In order to use our space efficiently, we may need to combine parties. Also, our largest table can seat 8 guests.

Summer at Franklin Hill Vineyards - June enewsletter

2011-06-07T09:00:00.001-04:00

What's new at Franklin Hill Vineyards this summer? Find out from their latest e-newsletter below.

Summer's on its way... which means it's time for some of our refreshing WINE! It's time to spend some time outside and come see Franklin Hill at summer wine festivals, local concert series, and spend some time toasting on our deck at the winery. Read below for all the places you can find Franklin Hill Wine this June!

FourSquare Discount!

When FourSquare users check into Franklin Hill on their phones, they will see our "SPECIAL" offer. Just show our staff member your phone displaying the discount and you'll receive that special offer!

Tunes at Twilight in Downtown Historic Bethlehem at the Sun Inn Courtyard
Come see fab bands at the 2011 "Tunes At Twilight" concert series!

Be the first to preview Downtown Bethlehem's new Christmas City Village "Weihnachtsmarkt" premier Hut where you can grab a glass of Franklin Hill's refreshing wine! Other refreshments on sale by the glass.

Franklin Hill Vineyards - Bethlehem - Main Street Commons
567 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-332-WINE(9463)
www.FranklinHillVineyards.com

We're On the Road Again...
Our Fun FHV Festival Staff will be at the following wine festivals!

21st Annual Great Tastes of PA Wine & Food Festival - Split Rock Resort
June 18 & 1 from noon - 6 pm

Sabor! Latin Festival - SteelStacks Campus - Bethlehem
June 18 - noon -11 pm and June 19 - noon - 5 pm.

From our Grapes to your Glass...

Cheers to another Franklin Hill Vineyards GOLD Medal Winner!

Raise your glasses to our brand-new Pomegranate Wine, GOLD Medal winner at the Taster's Guild International Wine Competition!

Congratulations to our other medal winners:

Simply Red - Silver
Seyval Blanc - Silver
Sir Walters Red - Silver
Chardonnay - Bronze
Katie's Creek - Bronze

Ask the Winemaker with Pinnacle Ridge - American vs. French oak barrels

2011-06-01T11:45:00.000-04:00

Josh E. from Bethlehem, PA writes: “I enjoyed reading about the origin of oak barrels. Can you tell your readers why you choose American over French oak barrels for example or vise versa?”

Answer from Brad Knapp, Owner, Pinnacle Ridge Winery:
Where a barrel comes from strongly affects the flavors that the barrel is able to impart to wine in the barrel. In the United States white oak from barrels comes from several regions: Appalachia (most notably Pennsylvania), Minnesota, the northern Midwest and Missouri. The species of white oak that naturally grows in these areas is Quercus Alba and is characterized by afast growth, wide grain structure with high levels of aromatic compounds and low tannin levels. In France and Hungary (and other European countries) the most common species of white oak is Quercus Petraea characterized by a finer grain structure and lower aromatic impact on the wine and higher levels of tannins than Quercus Alba.

The origin of barrels that are widely available are American, French (also with specific choices for regions within France) and Hungarian. American oak barrels are characterized by high aromatics often described as vanilla and whiskey-like aromas. French oak barrels have lower levels of the sweet vanilla aromas and tend
to be more spice and toast driven. French barrels impart more tannins into the wine which results in a more pronounced “mouthfeel” in the wine. Hungarian barrels are similar to French barrels but often display more spiciness than French barrels.

So how does a winemaker decide what types of barrels to use for a specific wine? Think of barrels like a cook thinks of spices. If a chef prepares a delicate dish with a mild fish such as tilapia the selection of spices would be limited to small amounts of mild spices (salt, pepper, maybe chervil or tarragon). Stronger spices like cayenne, cumin or oregano would probably not be used. This is analogous to the situation with Chardonnay. Most winemakers would select a less aromatic barrel for Chardonnay so that the fruit doesn’t
get buried by the aromatic profile of the barrel. French oak is a common choice for Chardonnay. French oak is a good choice for lighter reds such as Pinot Noir. At Pinnacle Ridge we exclusively use French oak barrels for both our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

For the case of red wines that are more aromatic one can start to look at American oak as a wise choice. We use American oak (largely sourced from Pennsylvania) for our Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin. These wines can stand up to the large aromatic impact of the American barrels. We use Hungarian barrels for our Chambourcin Reserve for its spicy character and also for the increase in tannins. Our Veritas has been produced and aged in predominately American barrels.

Galen Glen's Memorial Day Weekend and June festivities

2011-05-27T11:25:00.000-04:00

Galen Glen Winery in Andreas is open this holiday weekend and welcomes you to their vineyard.

Walking Tours:
May 27, 28, 29 & 30
One tour each day leaving at noon.
We share our intimate knowledge of the vineyard. Please wear sturdy foot gear, as our hillside location is great for grapes, but difficult for people to navigate. No reservations required and weather permitting.

Holiday Weekend Wine Tasting Hours:

Friday, May 27 - Noon - 5 pm
Saturday, May 28 - 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, May 39 - Noon -5 pm
Monday, May 30 - 10 am - 4 pm

Upcoming Events:

June 4 & 5
Summer Slushy Season Starts!
Sample a sweet frozen wine treat. One taste and you'll be imagining pitchers of slushies at your next party.

June 18 & 19
Father's Day Weekend - Bring Dad for our 9th Annual Winter Mountain Red Wine Slushy Tour!
Tractor and Wagon tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4pm, weather permitting.

Regular Winery Hours:

Friday: noon - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday: noon - 5 pm

Local wineries get hip to social media!

2011-05-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

We're delighted that so many of our wineries have embraced social media and now have presences on Facebook and/or Twitter. We hope you are already a fan of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Facebook fan page and are also following us on Twitter.

Here is the list of our wineries that are active in social media and links to their accounts so you can become a fan and follow them too!

Blue Mountain - Facebook, Twitter

Franklin Hill - Facebook, Twitter

Galen Glen - Facebook

Clover Hill - Facebook

Pinnacle Ridge - Facebook

Vynecrest - Facebook, Twitter

Wine in Bloom is THIS WEEKEND!

2011-05-20T17:58:00.000-04:00

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will present a new event called Wine in Bloom this weekend Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 22 from noon – 5 p.m. It will be a fun and educational event that celebrates bud break on the vines and the growing season.

Wine in Bloom also highlights the importance that terroir (soil) plays in the development of the grapes, their flavor and the resulting taste of the wine, and stresses the importance of the A.V.A. designation (American Viticultural Area) in further legitimizing the Lehigh Valley for wine making. Each winery will offer its own variety of activities, from vineyard tours and food and wine pairings, to live entertainment and even a scavenger hunt.

•    Amore Winery in Nazareth will celebrate Wine in Bloom with a Strawberry Festival featuring strawberry wine paired with a variety of mild cheese, mixed white chocolate treats, and assorted strawberry deserts.

•    Big Creek Winery in Kresgeville will be pairing their dry white Seyval with corn chowder a' la Seyve Villard.

•    Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli is sampling a selection of our wines paired with gourmet cheeses to compliment them. Visitors can also show off their singing talents at the first ever Rob-aoke, live karaoke with Rob on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. playing guitar and backing up any willing participants that have a favorite song they’d like to showcase. Sunday is Sangria Sunday from 2-5 p.m., with live entertainment by Leechboy. Admission is $5.

•    Clover Hill Vineyards in Breinigsville will be hosting their annual scavenger hunt. Check in any time during the day in the tasting room they we will set visitors up with the scavenger hunt details. Whoever finishes the hunt with the correct answers gets a prize.

•    Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor will offer tastings and tours of their facility, as well as music on the deck. Cheese plates from Klein's Farm will be available for purchase, and guests are welcome to walk around the vineyards and see how the vines have developed for the new vintage. There will also be specials.

•    Galen Glen Winery in Andreas will be sampling the new Berry Pom-A- Rita Wine Slushy. All natural with the tart, sweet flavor of pomegranate and blueberry blended with wine and ice. See the vineyard in bloom on tractor & wagon tours of the vineyard and wine cellar. Free tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.

•    Pinnacle Ridge Winery celebrates with free tours of their estate vineyard. Tours will depart on the hour from 1 - 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Along with their regular wine tastings, they’ll also be pairing asparagus baked in phyllo dough and the 2010 Riesling using asparagus freshly harvested from the Pinnacle Ridge family garden. Sunday kicks off the summer 2011 season Sunday Jazz with Skip Moyer from 3 to 6 p.m. $5 cover charge.

•    Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville will continue their 2011 Winemaker Tour series on Saturday at 1 p.m. for $5 per person. This tour is titled "Bud Break." Reservations are suggested. In addition, they will feature Art's Acoustic Oldies in the Vyneskeller from 1-4:30 p.m. - no cover charge.

May happenings at Vynecrest Winery

2011-05-14T12:44:00.000-04:00

Here are highlights from the May e-newsletter from Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville.

Greetings Friends,

Things are starting to come alive at Vynecrest, both inside and out. Inside we have music in the Vyneskeller every Saturday from 1 to 4:30 pm. Outside, the vines have been pruned and the buds are starting to burst open. It's a great time of year to visit the vineyard.

Five wines received medals from the 2011 Pennsylvania Wine Competition:

Dry Riesling - Gold Medal
Traminette - Silver Medal
Autumn Gold - Silver Medal
Riesling - Bronze Medal
Vynecrest White - Bronze Medal

May Specials:

Wine of the month - Pinot Grigio, 10% off**
3 Pack of the Month - 3 Chardonnay for $35**
** at winery only; 3 pack specials not to be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events:

May 7 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne Rox
May 14 - Music in the Vyneskeller , Connie Edinger
May 21 & 22 - Wine in Bloom, Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event. Vynecrest will continue their 2011 Winemaker Tour series on Saturday at 1pm for $5 per person. This tour is titled "Bud Break." Reservations suggested. In addition, we will feature Art's Acoustic Oldies in the Vyneskeller from 1-4:30pm (no charge).
May 28 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Andy Warren & Dan Harakal
Music is from 1 to 4:30 p.m., free admission

In The Vineyard

Winter was kind to the grapevines this year. We did not have any winter damage. Other parts of the state saw a few nights well below zero and some damage to the vines.

We planted another 1.5 acres of grapes this year, Cabernet Franc, Lemberger & Riesling. It will be 3 years before we can harvest fruit from these new plantings.

Over the next few weeks we will try to keep up with the constantly growing grass and monitor the weather and humidity so we know when to spray to prevent any disease from occurring.

Here's hoping for another vintage like 2010!

March Madness 2011 Passport Winners

2011-05-04T16:15:00.000-04:00

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is pleased to announce the winners of our March Madness passport prizes.

•    Kandi Moyer        $25 Gift Certificate        Spectators Bar & Grill
•    Matt Bergey        $25 Gift Certificate        Spectators Bar & Grill
•    David Peters        $25 Gift Certificate        Vinny D’s New York Style Deli
•    Amy Schreffler        $25 Gift Certificate        Vinny D’s New York Style Deli
•    Karen Steigerwalt    $50 Gift Certificate        Cherry’s Sunset Family Restaurant
•    LuAnn Brightbill    $50 Gift Certificate        Country Junction
•    Jim McArdle        $50 Gift Certificate        Country Junction
•    Jim Witman        $50 Gift Certificate        Antelao Restaurant
•    Terri – Jean Walch    $50 Gift Certificate        Moya Eclectic Cuisine
•    Ed Forstoffer        $100 Gift Certificate        Main Street Inn Bed and Breakfast
•    Lisa Adams        $50 Gift Certificate        Fogelsville Hotel
•    Judy Lentz        $50 Gift Certicate        Cab Fryes Historic Tavern
•    Peter Zelesnikar    Mid week night for 2        Longswamp Bed and Breakfast
•    Rose Franco        $145 Gift Certificate        Hawk Mountain Bed and Breakfast
•    Maria Klementovic    1 Overnight Stay        The Hotel & Bear Creek
•    Genaro Latchic        $50 Gift Certificate        Amore Farms & Greenhouses
•    Richard Sopko        $50 Gift Certificate        Amore Farms & Greenhouses
•    Frank Straub        $50 Gift Certificate        Amore Farms & Greenhouses
•    Sheri Wenerowicz    1 Overnight Stay        Blue Mountain Summit Bed & Breakfast
•    Miguel Galovza        1 Overnight Stay        Holiday Inn
•    Jeffrey R. Joyce    1 Overnight Stay        Holiday Inn
•    Adria Nemeroff        $50 Gift Certificate        Multi Sport Fitness
•    Linda Ranski        $50 Gift Certificate        Multi Sport Fitness
•    Rob Yenkowski        $50 Gift Certificate        Grapes Alive Glassware
•    Ginny Fehnel        Facial or Massage        Sandalwood Spa
•    Steve Infurna        $25 Gift Certificate         Camillo’s Restaurant
•    Judith Ravenzahn    $25 Gift Certificate        Pampered Chef
•    Jan Cannon        $50 Gift Certificate        Curious Goods

Nearly Famous Drink Recipes from Franklin Hill Winery

2011-05-02T09:50:00.000-04:00

Ever think of using wine in a cocktail? Elaine Pivinski, owner of Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor, offers the following "Nearly Famous Recipes" on her web site using her wines. Try a few and let us know how they turn out!

Mango Tango Martini

3 parts Franklin Hill Vineyards Desire
1 part Vodka (Kettle One, Grey Goose or Ciroc)
Triple sec Liqueur (splash)
1/4 lime
Tang brand drink mix

Rim martini glass with Tang. Pour Desire, vodka, and a splash of Triple Sec liqueur into glass with ice. Squeeze lime into glass. Stir and strain into rimmed martini glass then garnish with an orange slice.

Blueberry Pie Martini

3 parts Franklin Hill Vineyards Bliss
1 part Stoli Vanilla Vodka
Crushed graham crackers

Rim martini glass with graham cracker crumbs. Pour Bliss and vodka into glass with ice. Stir and strain into rimmed martini glass. Top with whipped cream and fresh blueberries.

White Sangria Punch

1 Bottle Franklin Hill Vineyards White Sangria
1 - 2 liter bottle of Sprite soda
1 - 64 oz container orange pineapple juice
1 can of frozen orange juice concentrate
oranges and cherries for garnish
Pour all ingredients into a large punch bowl, add ice. Add sliced oranges and maraschino cherries. Float frozen orange juice concentrate in big scoops in bowl. Invite plenty of friends over and enjoy!

Kate’s Mango Sangria

1 Bottle FHV Desire Wine
24oz. Lemon/lime soda
12oz. Mango sparkling beverage
1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
1/3 cup Triple Sec Liquor
1 mango
1/2 papaya
1/2 pineapple
1 apple
1 cup frozen strawberries
3-4 tablespoons fresh mint

Cut fruit in 1” cubes. Mix all ingredients in large punch bowl. Adjust our fruit or try other fruit combinations to create “your” signature sangria. We use Santa Cruz Organic Orange Mango Beverage and lemon lime soda.

Jell-o Shots

4 small boxes (or 2 big boxes) Jell-o brand gelatin
1 cup boiling water
2 cups Franklin Hill Vineyards Wine
48 -1 oz paper cups (available at restaurant supply stores)

Dissolve Jell-O in boiling water. Add Franklin Hill Vineyards Wine (Passion, Desire, Bliss, or Goat). Cool slightly and pour into paper cups. Chill.

Use Franklin Hill wines for great Jell-O shots. Passion with strawberry Jell-O. Desire with apricot or peach Jell-O. Fiesta with Grape or Orange Jell-O. Or invent your own flavor.