Pinnacle Ridge plans Customer Appreciation Weekend

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION WEEKEND
December 8 and 9

We can't believe it's that time of year already. Every December we set aside a couple a weekend to thank you, our loyal customers. We have Chef Ben working overtime, creating some tasty morsels, each to be paired with one of the Pinnacle Ridge wines. We would love to see you at the winery from noon to 5 p.m. on December 8 and 9 to check out our food and wine pairings and also our new releases and old favorites.
 
JOIN PINNACLE RIDGE TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS

The holidays are nearly here. Are you ready? We can help! We have more than wine. Check out our gift cards, wine baskets, gourmet food items, fine stemware, a huge selection of colorful gift bags for this wonderful time of year. Create a custom basket by picking out your favorite items and we'll put it together for you. In regards to our wine, inventory is getting low on several varieties so stop by before they disappear for good.

2012 HARVEST UPDATE

After a couple of extreme years, 2010 being exceptionally hot and dry and 2011 being exceptionally wet, we had a "normal" year in 2012. Notice that "normal" is in quotes. The reality is that no two vintages are the same; there are always twists and turns that are unique to each vintage and 2012 was no exception.

March and April were exceptionally warm leading to a record early bud break. Early bud break is wonderful from the standpoint that it usually leads to an early harvest (resulting in riper fruit and a better chance of harvest beating the fall hurricanes). The downside of the early bud break is that there is risk of frost damage.  The general rule of thumb is that May 15 is the last day of frost in our area.

The estate vineyard escaped frosts but our friends at Round Ridge Farms were not so lucky and had significant frost damage to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in late April. May and June were fairly normal with regard to rain. Temperatures started rising at the end of June and early July to record levels with over a week straight over 90 degrees. It got to the point that after 22 years of living in a home without air conditioning I finally called a contractor to install air conditioning. At this point we were thinking that we had another 2010 on our hands with the exception that we had more rain in 2012 than in 2010.

July and August provided continued warm temperatures and also normal rainfalls. The generally warm conditions throughout the summer coupled with the early bud break did result in a record early harvest for us. We commenced harvest with our Cayuga for our Blanc de Blanc and Pinot Noir for our Brut Rose on August 31. September brought cloudy weather for the first week and normal rainfall and temperatures. We avoided hurricane weather but it wasn't exceptionally dry. October continued the same trend with normal temperatures and rainfall. We missed an exceptional vintage due to normal rainfall in August and September but we did end up with a "normal" vintage!

Watch for the first 2012's to start coming out in February.      

LEHIGH VALLEY WINERIES CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH OPEN HOUSES AND SPECIAL EVENTS

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are encouraging wine lovers to buy local this holiday season by inviting them to festive events, offering specials on wine, and helping them pick the right wines for their holiday meals during tastings at convenient wine shoppe locations throughout the region.

March Madness 2013 passports are also on sale at all member wineries as well as online via EventBrite. Passports are $35 each and make a great gift for wine lovers. A limited supply of passports is printed and often sells out well in advance of the month-long event, so customers are encouraged to purchase them early.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Holiday Events and Specials

Amore - When you stop by their Nazareth winery for wine and gifts, also stop by the Amore Greenhouse next door to pick up your Christmas tree and other holiday greens for decorating.

Big Creek - Can't make it to the winery in Kresgeville? Don't forget about their wine shoppe in Jim Thorpe located at 27 Race Street in the historic stone row of houses while shopping in the charming and historic town.

Blue Mountain –

Annual Christmas Party - Saturday, December 1 from 5 - 9 p.m. Enjoy their wines along with tasty hors d'oeuvres. Bring along friends for some holiday cheer! Reservations are preferred. Event is free but there is a $5 fee for wine tastings.

And visit their newest location in the Lehigh Valley Mall. Stop by the kiosk located next to Santa’s village for wine tastings and to purchase your favorite Blue Mountain wine, as well as accessories that make great gifts for any wine lover.

Clover Hill –

Annual Coat Drive for The Caring Place in Allentown - December 3-9 from 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

For the third year in a row Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery will be collecting gently used coats of any size to donate to The Caring Place, a youth development center that reaches out to youth of the Lehigh Valley who are facing adversity. Throughout this week of giving, your donation of a coat will be rewarded with a 10 percent discount on your wine purchase and 20 percent on case purchases.

And save the date for the annual Holiday Open House on December 8 from noon - 5 p.m.

Franklin Hill - Visit any of their four locations December 14-16 and enjoy 15 percent off all merchandise as well as "Secret Santa Specials" each day.

Visit the Downtown Bethlehem wine shoppe on Thursday, December 20 when Franklin Hill Vineyards will sponsor the city’s Live Advent Calendar.  The event begins at 5p.m. outside the door of the Goundie House located at 505 Main Street. Join Franklin Hill Owner Elaine Pivinski and friends as they carol along the way guided by the merry sounds of the Lehigh Valley Harmonizers. When they reach the wine shoppe, everyone is invited to share a warm mulled cup of Sir Walters Red and cookies from Back Door Bakeshop.

Galen Glen - Holiday Open House - December 1 & 2, and December 8 & 9 -

For the fourth holiday season, Santa and Galen Glen Winery are teaming up to help the U.S. Marines with the Toys for Tots campaign. Santa will arrive at the winery on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2 at noon and will be available for photos with your family.

Bring a new, unwrapped toy or a monetary donation for Toys for Tots and Santa will add your name to the “Nice” list, also thanking you with a special treat. With your camera, the staff at Galen Glen will be happy to assist your family in capturing a lasting memory. They will also feature a complimentary pairing of their nationally and internationally-award winning Rieslings with their rendition of lobster macaroni and cheese.

Pinnacle Ridge - Customer Appreciation Weekends - December 1 and 2, and December 8 and 9 from noon to 5 p.m. both days. Chef Ben will create tasty morsels, each to be paired with one of the Pinnacle Ridge wines. Enjoy the complimentary food and wine pairings and check out their newest releases and old favorites. There are also winery gift cards, wine baskets, gourmet food items, fine stemware, and a selection of colorful gift bags. Or create a custom basket by picking out your favorite items and they'll put it together for you.

Vynecrest – December 8 and 9 - Vynecrest Open House. Taste samples of spice cookies paired with their warm Spiced Winter Red and Provencal dip, both from Hereford Country Store. Receive a 25 percent discount off all cases (12 bottles - mixed or all of one variety). Get 10 percent off Vynecrest Red, or Three Spiced Winter Red for $25. Or purchase Vynecrest wines at their wine booth inside Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem this holiday season. 

SANTA COMES TO GALEN GLEN WINERY THIS WEEKEND TO HELP THE MARINES TOYS FOR TOTS CAMPAIGN

For the fourth holiday season, Santa and Galen Glen Winery are teaming up to help the U.S. Marines with the Toys for Tots campaign. Santa will arrive at the winery on Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2 at noon and will be available for photos with your family.

Bring a new, unwrapped toy or a monetary donation for Toys for Tots and Santa will add your name to the “Nice” list, also thanking you with a special treat. With your camera, the friendly staff at Galen Glen will be happy to assist your family in capturing a lasting memory. To excite your taste buds, they will feature a complimentary pairing of their nationally and internationally-award winning Rieslings with their rendition of lobster mac ‘n cheese.

The Marines Toys for Tots foundation is a not-for-profit charity that has been assisting the U.S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. The goal of the foundation is to provide, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive and patriotic citizens.

Galen Glen Winery is located at 255 Winter Mountain Drive in the beautiful rolling hills of Andreas, Pa. The vineyard is on the family’s double-century farm and is full of history. The tasting room’s knowledgeable and engaging staff  makes every visit enjoyable. During December the tasting room is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m as well as Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. to help with your holiday entertaining and gift-giving needs. Plan to spend an afternoon enjoying exceptional views and award-winning wines with some locally-made cheeses or your own picnic lunch.

For more information about our Toys for Tots campaign and other upcoming events, please visit our website www.galenglen.com or “Like” us on Facebook. Contact the winery at 570-386-3682.

Clover Hill welcomes the holidays with its annual coat drive and open house events

2012 Grape Harvest Update -

Each year we get another opportunity to grow better grapes and, in turn, make a better wine. The 2012 grape harvest was our 36th opportunity as grape growers and we were blessed with a relatively easy harvest. Clover Hill had the earliest grape harvest start date of August 20, and completed our picking on October 10. The early spring, followed by a warm summer, really paid off as we approached August. We were fortunate and surprised to find such high sugar levels and well-developed flavors so early in the season. Winemaker, John Skrip III, kept reminding us that we need to pick by the numbers and flavors and not by the date we traditionally pick.

We got to work and harvested more than 80 acres of grapes by hand. We managed to complete our harvest prior to the frosts and heavy rains of late October. John is now in the winery working with the wines from the harvest. He has a smile on his face because the fruit is so delicious! Good things will be coming from this grape harvest.

Owner's Selection - Cabernet Sauvignon 

The king of our red wines! Big, flavorful and ready to knock your socks off. Rich oak flavors of vanilla and spice mingle with ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and cherry. This is a big flavored, dry, toasty oaked, red wine that pairs perfectly with a hearty grilled steak or winter stews.

Enjoy a 10% discount on Cabernet Sauvignon the entire month of November. Receive an additional 10% discount on the Owner's Selection when included in a case purchase. View great recipes using our Cabernet.

Upcoming Events -

Annual Coat Drive for The Caring Place
December 3-9 from 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

For the third year in a row Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery will be collecting gently used coats of any size to donate to The Caring Place in Allentown. The Caring Place is a youth development center that reaches out to youth of the Lehigh Valley who may be facing adversity. Throughout this week of giving your donation of a coat will be rewarded with a 10% discount on your wine purchase (20% on case purchases). Thank you for your generosity!

Holiday Open House
December 8 from noon - 5 p.m.

Be sure to save the date for our annual Holiday Open House. As always, there will be plenty of fun to be had so be sure to check back closer to the date for details as they unfold. Happy Holidays!

Vynecrest shares ideas for original food and wine pairings

It is going to be a busy month at Vynecrest. The power is back on and we are done cleaning up from the storm. The Winery lost power for a few days but other than that there was no damage. Have no fear, Nouveau Beaujolais was ready for release on time!

Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem is now open and we have a wine booth there. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday until December 23 (closed Thanksgiving Day). It starts at 11 a.m. each day and closes at 6 p.m. on Thursdays & Sundays, and at 8 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays.

November Specials:

Wine of the Month -Traminette, additional 10% off
3 Pack of the Month - All American Special, any combination of DiVyne Red or Niagara for $25**

**at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts

Upcoming events:

November 24 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Brian Xander, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
November 25 - Jazz Sunday, Live jazz in the Vyneskeller, Body & Soul, 1-4 pm
December 1 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Rob & Marty , 1:30 - 4:30 pm
December 8 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Jake Kaligis, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
December 15 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne, 1:30 - 4:30 pm
December 22 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller, Allison Goodin, 1:30 - 4:30 pm

Glass Half Empty 
by Jim Hutchings
Vynecrest Weekend Warrior

Jan's story in the August newsletter covered what some might think of as an 'unconventional' pairing of wine with chocolate, since many people only think of pairing red wine with red meat and white wine paired with chicken or fish. Being such an avid wine drinker, I enjoy wine with meals and even snacks on a regular basis and I've come up with some "interesting" pairings along the way. When I work in the tasting room and share some of these offbeat food pairings, people often think I'm kidding. You see for so many of us wine is not just a drink for a special occasion or nice meal. It's a passion we enjoy daily, so it's only natural to come up with some fantastic pairings from everyday meals and snacks.

When I first heard of wineries offering a pizza wine, even I thought it was a joke. Now I'm surprised when a winery doesn't offer a pizza wine! Ours, of course, is Vynecrest Red. It's great with pizza or anything else with a red sauce. Even though we're past the summer barbeque & picnic season, I still like to enjoy a glass of Cabernet Franc with an all-beef hot dog or cheeseburger from the grill. That's right - our rich and robust dry reds aren't only for drinking with a nice steak. They're good with just about anything that comes off of the grill!

Our sweet and silky Vignoles isn't just for dessert anymore. I think it's a fantastic breakfast wine - try a glass with pancakes and syrup this weekend. Sticking with the sweeter wines, there's no match to Spiced Winter Red and the gingersnap cookies we sometimes pair with at the winery. Also try a warm glass with a piece of cinnamon toast for another breakfast with a kick. Our tasting list says to pair Traminette with Asian cuisine, including Thai food or anything with a bit of spice. This suggestion can go even further, pairing Traminette with Mexican or Indian food. It's just as good with tacos and curry chicken. For my money, though, I think Traminette is at its best with Buffalo wings.

Even recently I've discovered some amazing new pairings. I still have a few bottles left of the Last Syrah from 2008 and it was delicious with homemade beef jerky. The salty, gamey jerky really brought out the ripe berry flavors in the Syrah. I think this year's Chambourcin would also go very well with jerky. Finally, and most surprisingly, I discovered the joy of Sparkling Chardonnay with potato chips. The salty crunch of the chips with the bubbles in the wine (which is perfectly balanced with a touch of sweetness and acidity) creates a pairing that must be experienced to be truly enjoyed.

I'm sure I'm not the only one out there with offbeat tastes for pairing wine and food. What other combinations are customers enjoying?