Get to know... Kat Collins of Blue Mountain Vineyards

1. Which winery do you work for and how long have you worked there?

Blue Mountain Vineyards. I’m the full-time Office Manager/Tasting Room Manager at the main winery in New Tripoli. I like to tell people that I’ve been employed here 3 years, but I’ve been drinking here for years. I was a long-time customer of BMV before working here, and I still am!

2. What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and what do you like to pair it with?

I’m in love with our dry Riesling. I love to pair it with fresh sushi, Asian food, and Mexican food at local BYO restaurants.

3. What is the most popular question you get asked by visitors about Lehigh Valley wine or wineries, and how do you answer it?

”What is your favorite wine?” is a common question, followed by “Do you ship your wine?” We get many out-of-town visitors and often they have traveled via airplane which doesn’t allow them or makes it difficult to transport wine home.

We can ship wine to almost all of the United States (depending on each State’s laws) with fairly inexpensive shipping fees. They’re thrilled to discover that they can order our wine directly from our website, or contact us directly at the winery to place an order, and have it shipped to their home. Currently, we do not ship overseas unless under special circumstances.

4. What do you like most about local, Lehigh Valley wine and wineries?

I love the diversity of the wineries. While we may use some similar grapes, such as Chambourcin, all of our wines are different. You can try a Chambourcin at each winery you visit and every single one will taste different based on the micro-climate, soil, winemaking practices, and more. It’s quite fascinating! Additionally, each winery has its own distinctive wines, personalities, and events so there’s something for everyone.

5. What is the one piece of advice you offer to wine lovers traveling along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail?

Take the time to get to know the people at the wineries and learn about the wineries. Most wineries in the Lehigh Valley are family-owned and operated and have quite a history to share about the winery. Some, like Blue Mountain Vineyards, have been producing wine for over 30 years in Pennsylvania and have been instrumental in starting the Lehigh Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) and the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.

Others have made significant achievements in certain types of wines and more. It gives you a deeper appreciation for the high-quality wine produced in Pennsylvania which can compete with some of the best wines in the world.