Celebrate the Official Wine Grape of the Lehigh Valley during Chambourcin Weekend

Chambourcin grapes fresh from the harvest at Franklin Hill Vineyards

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will once again celebrate the region’s official wine grape during Chambourcin Weekend on Saturday, October 16 and Sunday, October 17.  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.

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.

CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth - will feature five styles of Chambourcin paired with Chambourcin Bar-B-Q and Bourbon Chicken and country love songs all day.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville - will be spinning heads with "Milli's Chili".

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli - Lisa from Tastefully Simple will sample the new fall 2010 products including Wahoo Chili paired with their 2005 Chambourcin/Shiraz blend. For dessert, enjoy Victoria ’s Passion with a fudge brownie truffle. There’s acoustic music on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. by Rob & Marty. On Sunday, bring some snacks and come hear Leechboy perform for the Blue Mountain Fall Foliage Wine Tasting ($5 admission; please call for reservations).

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville - Chef Nathan Grube will do cooking demonstrations paired with their 2009 Chambourcin and Turtle Rock Red. Cooking demonstrations will take place hourly from 1- 4 p.m. both days.

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor - will be featuring their delicious homemade beef stew paired with Chambourcin. This wine has a bouquet of black current, cherries and coffee, and a smooth, wonderful finish. They will have Kachline Farms fresh apples and apple cider along with Klein's Farms Dairy & Creamery's gourmet handmade cheeses.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas - will feature Gold Medal 2008 Stone Cellar Chambourcin (Finger Lakes International Wine Competition) tasted with hearty French Onion Soup, produced using local onions. Also on Sunday, Beatrice’s Inferno will offer authentic wood fired pizzas to purchase and enjoy with Galen Glen wines.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - It's the Great Chili Cook-off!  Winemaker Brad and his wife, Christy, have challenged each other to see who makes the best chili. One chili will be chock full of meat while the other will be some of the best vegetarian chili you'll ever taste. Their 2008 Chambourcin will be paired with the two chilis. For visitors who like a slightly sweet red, they’ll also be pouring Quaff.

Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg - will have their Gold Medal winning Chambourcin wine paired with seasonal mushrooms marinated in a garlic-balsamic Chambourcin reduction. There will be live music at the winery from 1-5 p.m. both days and they we will be featuring a harvest spice Sangria.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville - will be pairing their tried and true Vynecrest Red Meatballs (recipe in the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Cookbook) with Vynecrest Red wine. Vynecrest Red is the semi-sweet version of the winery’s estate-grown Chambourcin wine. They will have live music in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar featuring Billy Bauer from 1-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and Arianne Rox from 1-4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Free admission.