Our favorite Lehigh Valley summer food and wine pairings

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.