2016 Annual Lehigh Valley Wine Trail events

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail has announced the following 2016 schedule of events.
All events are free except for Wine on the Mountain and the Vino in the Valley Passport Program, which require the purchase of a ticket and an event passport, respectively.
Event hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m.
For more details on each of these annual events visit: http://lehighvalleywinetrail.com/category/event/ 

• Vino in the Valley – March 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20, 26* (*Please note: Our wineries will be closed on Sunday, March 27 for the Easter holiday.) – Customers purchase a $35 passport for access to wine and tasting-sized food pairings at each winery during the four weekends of March. Passports are stamped during each visit and are entered into a drawing for 30 $25 wine trail gift certificates. Passport holders also receive a wine trail t-shirt as this year’s gift. Passports are currently on sale at member wineries and online via Eventbrite.

• Spring Wine and Cheese Event – May 21 and 22– Taking place mid-spring, this event has a “Wine and; Cheese from Around the World” theme. Each winery will select one of its wines to pair with the perfect cheese from a different country and will offer complimentary tastings of the pairing to wine lovers who will explore how the texture, acidity, fat and tannin compliment or contrast each other. Guests will also learn tips to help them skillfully develop their own pairings.

• Wine on the Mountain – July 23 and 24 - Held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, this wine festival includes wine sampling, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, light fare available for purchase, and live entertainment. Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased in advanced at each winery or online starting in April, as well as at the door the days of the event.

• Harvest Weekend: The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker – September 10 and 11 –The wineries proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. Wine pairings, vineyard tours, food, music and other special activities are featured.

• Chambourcin Weekend – October 15 and 16 - Taking place after the harvest is over, this event celebrates the Lehigh Valley’s beloved wine grape, the Chambourcin. It is the only wine grape grown by all nine of our member wineries. In the greater Lehigh Valley, there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin, which ferment into 150,000 bottles of wine. Chambourcin is very versatile, and the wineries craft it into several styles of wine including nouveau, rosé, semi-sweet, sweet, dry barrel aged, sparkling and port.

• Nouveau Weekend – November 19 and 20 - This is the earliest chance to sample the first wines from the new vintage. It’s also an opportunity to purchase wines for the upcoming holiday season to give as gifts or to drink at dinner. 2017 Vino in the Valley passports go on sale this weekend.

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.

Members include:
• 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
• Tolino Vineyards, Bangor
• Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

Join Blue Mountain Vineyards’ all new Connoisseur's Club

The Connoisseurs Club is a fresh take on our popular wine club. Every three months a special selection of our wines (curated by the winemaker Joe Greff, will be selected and shipped directly to you.

Save up to 25% per bottle with discounted shipping. It is the easiest way to keep your cellar stocked or show that special someone how much you care.

Treat your loved ones to a wonderful gift that keeps on giving, and treat yourself while you are at it! Learn more here.

Sunday Blues

Join us every Sunday for music, fun and of course wine! You're welcome to bring snacks. Alcohol, other than Blue Mountain Vineyards wine, is not allowed.

Visit the link below to order tickets and see videos of the performers.

Admission: $5 per person, includes wine tasting (non-refundable).
Payment is due at time of reservation. Purchase tickets online here.

January 24 - Lilli & Winston
January 31 - Jake Kaligis and Mike Rauscher

Pinnacle Ridge wines win 9 awards at PA Farm Show

In the winter of 2016, a panel of wine judges convened in Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Farm Show, ready to taste a wide variety of wines from around this large state with several well-defined viticultural regions. The results of the tasting were announced on the first day of the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Pinnacle Ridge Winery is proud to have received nine noteworthy awards.

• Gold medal - 2014 Cabernet Franc - This is a wine of deep, ruby-red color; it has a heavy mouthfeel, and a smoky, tannic finish.
• Silver medals - Chambourcin Rosé, 2014 Merlot, 2013 Chardonnay, and semi-sweet sparkling Blanc de Blanc
• Bronze medals - 2013 Veritas (a Bordeaux blend), Quaff (a semi-sweet red blend), Dry Riesling, and 2014 Pinot Noir. 

The years 2014 and 2015 are proving to have blessed us with harvests much more than adequate, both in yield and quality of fruit.

Wine is an important and ever-growing industry to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It blends the two fields of agriculture and tourism into a lucrative, appealing asset to the state. For this reason we are glad to be farming, operating, selling, and creating in the fertile soil of this region.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery, located in the heart of idyllic Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is located along Old Route 22 outside of Kutztown. In 1993, Dr. Brad Knapp established the winery, housed in a beautifully renovated Pennsylvania bank barn, originally built in 1851. The thick stone foundation provides cool, stable temperatures year-round…ideal conditions for the production and aging of wine.

At Pinnacle Ridge, only locally grown grapes are used to make the portfolio of sparkling and table wines. The vineyards are located on shale-filled hillsides which promote small crops of very high quality grapes. Pinnacle Ridge is a three-time recipient of the PA Farm Show Governor’s Cup and PA Wine Society Wine Excellence Award.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery is open daily from 10 am - 6 pm. You can find out more by visiting the website at www.pinridge.com, or by calling the Tasting Room at (610) 756-4481. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PinnacleRidgeWinery and on Twitter www.twitter.com/pinridgewinery.

Clover Hill Beginner Wine Tasting Class coming up later this month

Owner’s Selection Wine of the Month

For the month of January, Pinot Grigio is discounted 10% at all Clover Hill locations. Receive a 20% discount on Pinot Grigio when included in a case purchase.

Made in the Italian style, this wine expresses crisp fruit flavors and fresh acidity. The aroma is bright with citrus fruits; such as pink grapefruit and lemon. Pairs exceptionally well with steamed clams and mussels. Now only $12.14.

Recipe of the Month

Mint and Citrus White Wine Sangria

Ingredients:
~1 bottle Clover Hill Pinot Grigio
~1 lemon, thinly sliced
~1 lime, thinly sliced
~8-10 mint leaves
~2 Tbsp sugar

Prepare simple syrup by mixing 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 2 Tablespoons of water in a small dish and microwaving for 30-second increments until sugar is dissolved. Alternatively, prepare a large batch on the stovetop using a 1:1 sugar-water ratio and reserve for later use.

Once simple syrup is ready, add 1 Tablespoon to each wine glass. Then add mint leaves and stir/lightly muddle. Next add several slices each of lemon and lime.

Top off with wine and let set for a few minutes so the flavors can meld together. Top off with more wine and citrus as needed.

Upcoming Events

Beginner Wine Tasting Class
The Winery in Breinigsville
Saturday, January 23, 2016; 2pm
Tickets Required; $25 per person
Join us in a beginner wine tasting class. This 1 ½ hour long class will teach you the basics of wine tasting, give you tips on wine and food pairing, and help to answer any wine questions you may have! This class is limited in seats. Tickets are required: $25 per person and you must be 21+ years old. Call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville to reserve your ticket.

Vino in the Valley Passport Program 
with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
The Winery in Breinigsville
March 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20, 26, 2016*
(*Please note: Our wineries will be closed on Sunday, March 27 for the Easter holiday.)
Tickets required: $35 per passport – on sale now!

The wine enthusiast knows that March means being out and about touring the 9 wineries along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail for food and wine pairings, and a month of fun.

The Vino in the Valley Passport Program along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail involves purchasing a passport for $35 and then planning a strategy to visit each of the wineries during the four weekends in March.

As you visit our nine member wineries you will be offered delicious wine and food pairings (tasting sized) to sample. Your passport will be stamped during each visit and entered into a Grand Prize Drawing for additional prizes once it is completed with stamps from eight of our nine wineries. Each passport holder also receives an event gift.

Tickets can be purchased at all participating wineries and online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vino-in-the-valley-2016-tickets-19335524073.

Since our wineries are all family-owned and operated, we each have our own set of house rules. So please check with individual wineries if you have any questions. We look forward to meeting you on the trail! (Sorry, but we do not offer refunds on already-purchased passports.)

Vynecrest's annual Super Bowl Chili Saturday event returns this month

We have a few cases of Spiced Winter Red and Spiced Winter White left to help take the chill off.

We have reopened after a quick break and are back to our normal hours:
Breinigsville - Open seven days a week, 11 am - 5 pm (Friday open until 5:30 pm)
Kutztown - Open Thursday - Sunday, noon - 6 pm

January Specials 
- Wine of the Month - Nouveau Beaujolais, additional 10% off
- 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter White, $35
(*at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

Upcoming Events

Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm

January 30 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday

We are celebrating a week early and will be sampling red and white Chili at Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville made by Mr. Bill's from the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.

The red turkey chili is made with local grown, antibiotic free, skinless turkey meat blended with tomatoes, beans, and spices.

The white chicken chili is a blend of chicken breast meat and ground chicken with a puree of white beans and sautéed onions, garlic, celery and a unique spice blend.

The winery is open 11 am - 5 pm, and bowls of both chilis will also be available for purchase in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar along with wine by the glass and bottle. Admission is free and reservations are not needed.

January 31 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

February 13 and 14 - Valentine's Day Weekend

Our Vyneskeller wine bar will be opening early Valentine's Day weekend. From 10 am to noon, both Saturday and Sunday, we will be selling $3 mimosas and pastries & croissants. Chocolate covered strawberries and Valentine boxes from Billy's Candies will be available for purchases as well. A great beginning to Valentines Day! Limited seating, please call ahead for a reservation. 610-398-7525

We will have live music in the Vyneskeller on Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm, and Sunday from 1 - 4pm.

In addition, we will be partnering with Sorrelli's Jewelry in the main tasting room on Saturday. They will be debuting their 2016 spring collection. Any Sorrelli purchase made at Vynecrest that day will entitle you to 10% off a 6 bottle purchase (normally a 5% discount).

February 6 - Super Bowl Saturday - Wear your favorite NFL gear and get an additional 10% off your wine purchase

February 28 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

Glass Half Empty by Malachi Duffy

We are getting ready for our annual meeting to go over 2015, what went right, what went wrong, and what can we do better. We go over sales numbers, events, personnel, new wines and anything else we don't get a chance to really delve into throughout the year. Last year was great. Looking back on what made it great makes you realize how many pieces there are to this crazy Vynecrest puzzle.

Though it takes all of the pieces coming together to get the job done, the most important are the people in and around Vynecrest. Every facet of this business relies on the support of great people. We have friends and neighbors who are there to help us fix equipment and maintain the property. We have an awesome staff who go above and beyond and make Vynecrest a fun place to work. We also have great customers whom we love making all of this wine for.

So, cheers to all of you who helped make 2015 great. Here's to an even better 2016!