Last minute gift ideas from Galen Glen

Gift Cards

We have gift cards in any denomination you choose. Stop by to get yours or call and we can mail it to your recipient.

Bottles and Gift Baskets

We can help you make your selection during our extended hours this week:

Wednesday: 10 am - 6 pm
Thursday: 10 am - 3 pm
We will be closed on Christmas Day and will reopen on Saturday, December 26 at 10 am.

We Ship Wine

In PA order online; outside of PA, call our tasting room at 570-386-3682 during normal business hours to learn more. Please note we cannot ship sparkling wine or gift baskets, nor expedite overnight delivery or guarantee delivery dates.

Save the Date

Saturday, January 23
Noon to 3 pm
3rd Annual Chili Cook Off
All welcome
$1 to taste up to six chilis and vote for your favorite. Benefits the West Penn Fire Company.
Want to throw your chef's hat into the ring of fire? Complete our Cook Off Entry Form and return it ASAP. Only two seats remain.

Tasting Room Hours after Christmas:
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday, Monday & Tuesday: 12pm to 5pm
Wine Wednesday: 10am to 6pm
Thursday: New Year's Eve - 10am to 3pm
Closed Friday - New Year's Day

Winter Hours (as of Saturday, January 2, 2016)
January through March 2016
Friday: Noon - 5 pm
Saturday: 10 am-  5 pm
Sunday: Noon - 5 pm

Clover Hill’s Top 3 Wine Choices for the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us and Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery is a great place to shop for premium wines and gifts for wine lovers.

Clover Hill’s Top 3 Wine Choices for the Holidays

Oak Vidal Blanc - this hearty, dry oak-aged wine is a delicious alternative to Chardonnay. Try serving it with scallops wrapped in bacon or with shrimp cocktail.

DeChaunac - This semi-sweet red wine is best served chilled and shows both fruity and earthy flavors.

Holiday - Welcome your guests with a warmed glass of Holiday wine. This is a sweet rose spiced with cinnamon, cloves and citrus.

Owner’s Selection:

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

This is a semi-sweet white wine with aromas and flavors of ripe melon, mango, and ruby grapefruit. Cayuga White has a soft, fruity finish. Try serving this wine with the Mango Ginger Stilton, found in our cheese fridge. Now only $9.45.

Beginner Wine Tasting Class
Saturday, January 23 at 2pm
Tickets required - $25 per person

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. Must be 21+ years old to attend. Call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville to reserve your ticket.

Galen Glen releases sparkling wine for the holidays

2014 Stone Cellar Quartz Brut Sparkling wine is a limited release and available for purchase at $17.99 per bottle, while supplies last. This wine is returning after a one year hiatus and just in time for the holidays and New Year. Quartz is a Vidal Blanc-based brut sparkling, fermented in the bottle. It's racy and elegantly crisp. Pop the cork and enjoy it with buttery popcorn, salty chips, shrimp or brie. Pair it with caviar for your New Year's Eve celebration.

This Saturday and Sunday, December 12 and 13, you will have the opportunity to taste this exceptional wine paired with a shrimp dip. This may be the only weekend we offer tastings of this new wine. Get yours before it is gone.

2015 Grand Harvest Awards

On the heels of winning a double-gold medal in the Six Nations Wine Competition in Australia, Galen Glen received notification of the official results of the 2015 Grand Harvest Awards from California. Every wine entered by the winery received a medal. This competition is governed by Vineyard & Winery Management and is committed to the highest standards of competition. Over 1,500 wines are entered.

Galen Glen wines receiving medals were: 2014 Stone Cellar Chambourcin, 2014 Crooked Stick Red, 2014 Riesling, 2014 Stone Cellar Fossil Vineyard Riesling, 2014 Stone Cellar Twilight, and 2014 Stone Cellar Zweigelt. The 2014 Stone Cellar Cabernet Franc won a bronze medal.

Wine supplies getting low

If our young vine Gruner Veltliner is your favorite wine, the supply is depleting and the new vintage will not be available until spring.

Toys for Tots donations still being accepted

We continue to collect monetary and toy donations for toys for tots until December 14 and have a gift for every household who donates.

Chili Cook Off

We have received several entries and have a few more seats available for competing chefs. You do not have to be a professional to enter. In the past two years, the winner has been a home-chef. The competition will take place on Saturday, January 23. If you are planning to enter, please submit your entry form today.

Not a chef? Mark your calendar and plan to attend on Saturday, January 23 from noon - 3 pm. Your $1 admission fee will give you a taste of each chef's chili plus a taste of either Chambourcin or Cellar Red. You are the judge and will vote for your favorite. Your $1 will be matched and a donation will be made to The West Penn Fire Company.

Customer Appreciation Weekend at Vynecrest going on now!

Another great year is coming to a close and as our way of saying thank you from Thursday, December 10 through Sunday, December 13, Vynecrest will offer 25% off 12 or more bottles. Just mention the promotion when checking out to receive your discount. This discount is valid at the winery in Breinigsville or the wine shoppe in Kutztown only and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Beat the crowds and join us Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11 for extended hours. We will be open until 8 pm both days. Join us Friday evening for music in the Vyneskeller featuring Steve Myers playing Christmas tunes on the baby grand piano.

We will also have Steve Myers playing in the Vyneskeller Saturday & Sunday from 1-4 pm.

While you are visiting the winery don't forget to pick up a gift for the wine lover in your life. We have Cherry DiVyne packaged with chocolate (makes a great hostess gift), wine-scented candles, and many more gifts.

Tolino Vineyards has December filled with holiday events

PARTNERSHIP WITH JAINDL TURKEY FARMS

We are happy to be able to spend time at another local, family owned business during the Christmas holiday. Join us at Jaindl Turkey Farms and pick up your fresh and local turkey for Christmas and pick up some delicious Tolino wine at the same time. We will be at their retail location at 3150 Coffeetown Rd. in Orefield from December 18 through the 22.

UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Live Music Series: We have live music every Saturday at 1pm until Christmas. Enjoy live tunes in our tank room with Blue Hearts Revelry (11/28),  George Baier (12/5),  Ernie Stadler Jazz Trio (12/12) and Toby Costa (12/19).

Paint and Sip with Anna K -December 12 at 6 pm
$35 per person fee includes all art supplies, instruction by Anna K, snacks and a glass of wine.

Ornament Painting and Santa in a Helicopter - Sunday December 13 at 2 pm
For $10.00 per child,  kids paint a Christmas ornament that is then gift wrapped to take home as a present for Mom or Dad. Santa arrives in a helicopter at 3pm and will stay for pictures. Parents are encouraged to bring a small gift for their child to be handed out by Santa. Cookies and juice for the kids, and wine for sale for the adults.

Chris Cummings Jazz Trio Plays Peanuts soundtrack - Sunday, December 20 at 1 pm
Enjoy free live jazz music in our tank room. Relax a bit before the big day while sipping wine and listening to tunes from this classic Christmas movie.

Paint your Glass off with Erika - Saturday, January 16 at 2 pm
$35 per person fee includes art instruction, glass painting, glass of wine and snacks.  More details coming soon.

Pinnacle Ridge ready to introduce three new wines next weekend; hosting Customer Appreciation Weekends too

2015 has been a great year at Pinnacle Ridge. To all of our loyal customers - thank you! We love seeing your faces and introducing you to our new vintages, as they change from harvest to harvest.

New wines this month:

2014 is turning out to be an exciting vintage for us! All three of these wines are dynamic and memorable. Look for them on December 16.

- Naked Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Traminette

We are sold out of Traminette at the winery, but it is still available in area PA Wine & Sprits stores. Check Allentown, Hamburg, and Reading.  Also available at Wine & Spirits stores:

- Dry Vidal Blanc
- Dry Riesling
- Quaff
- Cayuga
- Vidal Blanc

Customer Appreciation Weekends
Dec 5-6 and 12-13
Noon - 5 p.m.

We'd like to thank all of our customers for making 2015 another great year at Pinnacle Ridge. Everyone is invited to partake in some free wine/food pairings on these two weekends. Check our Facebook page for updates on what we will be offering.

Dear Case Club Members...

We were just as sad as you when the Riesling and Traminette ran out a few weeks ago. Luckily, new vintages of both wines, as well as a new Naked Chardonnay, will be available in mid-December. We'd like to offer you the chance to try them at a private party thrown just for you.

Dec 16 and 19 from 6-8 pm
 Light snacks will be provided.
 Please present your Case Club card at the door.

Winter hours:
10 am to 6 pm daily
(Closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day)

Black Friday Sale November 27 at Galen Glen

Black Friday Sale
Friday, November 27
10 am - 5 pm

Once a year we put the winery on sale. Enjoy 15% off all case purchases in-store only. One day only, in-store only, no exceptions. (Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Custom labeled orders, shipped orders & gift baskets are not included. )

Our Toys-for-Tots donation box will be onsite for donations. We will have a special gift for anyone who brings a donation.

Santa's Coming - Toys-for-Tots Drive
Sunday, November 29 from noon - 5 pm

Bring your family, your camera, your smile and a donation for our 7th annual Toys-for-Tots Drive. Our friendly staff will help you capture a lasting memory. We will have an ornament for every household who makes a donation of a new, unwrapped toy or monetary donation. Plus, Santa will ensure your name makes it to the "nice" list.

Wine Wednesday Extended Holiday Hours

To assist you with your holiday shopping, we are extending our hours on Wednesdays in December by opening two hours early and closing an hour later.

December 2 - 10am - 6pm
December 9 - 10am - 6pm
December 16 - 10am - 6pm
December 23 - 10am - 6pm
December 30 - 10am - 6pm

Gift Ideas:

Custom Labeled Wine
Give the gift of wine. We offer many different types of holiday labels for your gift giving needs. When you purchase custom ordered labels, you become or renew your case club membership. Learn more about case club membership here.

Plan your visit enjoy a glass of wine while you select the perfect gift from our selection of gift baskets, candles, glassware and custom-labeled wine. We also offer gift certificates in any denomination you choose.

Galen Glen Gift Cards
Perhaps you would rather give a gift card. We offer gift cards in any denomination you choose. We will even mail the gift cards for you. Stop by or call the tasting room at 570-386-3682 during normal business hours to place your order.

Gift Baskets
Do you have a list of clients or staff and need an exquisite, memorable gift basket. We can help. Tell us your budget or items you want in your gift and we will create a basket that will impress any recipient. Please note: gift baskets cannot contain perishable items, nor be shipped.

Ship Our Wine to Someone
We can ship wine inside PA, as well as many other states. In PA order online. Outside of PA? Call our tasting room during normal business hours for details and to place your order. We ship wine in increments of 3, 6 or 12 bottles.

Vino in the Valley Passports
Vino in the Valley passports make excellent holiday gifts and are now on sale at our winery or online. $35 each

Upcoming Event:

3rd Annual Chili Cook Off
January 23, 2016

Are you the next champion? Do you think you have what it takes to win our third-annual chili cook-off in January? We are now accepting applications. Click here for an application. Space is limited to six chefs. The competition is open to professional chefs and home cooks. This year's chili cook off will benefit The West Penn Fire Company. Mark your calendar now and plan to attend and vote for your favorite chili recipe.

Vynecrest returns to Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem for holiday season

The 2015 Harvest is over (except for our Late Harvest Vidal) and it feels good to take a breath before the busy holiday season begins. Just a reminder that our gift area has locally made products that make wonderful gifts for teachers, hostesses, family and friends. Soy candles, crackers, chocolate, dips, cheese. Remember we have make your own baskets ($5 for basket and wrapping) where you add whatever wine, candles, cheese, crackers, dips, wine gifts you want and we'll make it up for you.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem starts this Saturday, November 20 and runs through Dec 21.

▪ Thursday, Dec 3-17, 11am - 6pm
▪ Friday, Nov 20 - Dec 18, 11am - 8pm
▪ Saturday, Nov 21 - Dec 19, 11am - 8pm
▪ Sunday, Nov 22 - Dec 20, 11am - 6pm

November Specials:

* Wine of the Month - Spiced Winter Red 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - DiVyne Red, 3 for $25

(Wine of the month and 3 pack available at winery only. Three pack can't be combined with other discounts.)

Nov. 21 & 22 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Nouveau Weekend

The nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail debut the first wines from the new vintage during Nouveau Weekend, the last Wine Trail event of the year. Wineries will also feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample. Nouveau wines are bottled very young without barrel aging, and exhibit lots of fruitiness. They are light, fruity and semi-dry to dry red wines.

Vynecrest Winery will feature the release of our 2015 Nouveau Beaujolais, the first wine from the 2015 harvest, made from the traditional Gamay Beaujolais grape, 100% Lehigh Valley Grown and Produced. Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

Nov. 29 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm. Free.


Glass Half Empty by John Landis

November is the month when grape vines slowly shut down for the winter and Jan, Sam, Malachi and I all breathe a sigh of relief as harvest is over with no major disruptions like hurricanes, flocks of grape-eating birds, or early frost to impact the quality of our grape harvest.

A quality grape harvest requires a yearlong effort starting with pruning in late winter and early spring and continuous vineyard maintenance after bud break in early May. This year’s crop was exceptional. The growing season was warmer than the last two years and the fall was dry with cool nights and warm days.

We are excited about our 2015 vintage and you will be able to taste the first 2015 wine when we release our Nouveau Beaujolais on Tuesday, November 17. This month, we also will be introducing a new Vynecrest wine, our 2014 estate -bottled Seyval Blanc. We first planted Seyval Blanc in 1974 and typically we blend this French hybrid grape, but the 2014 Seyval was exceptional so we decide to make a varietal once again. November is the month to stock up for the holidays, so come on out and taste the wines.

Pinnacle Ridge offers wine pairing recommendations for Thanksgiving

We are excited to release these new vintages on November 14:

2014 Pinot Noir
2014 Cabernet Franc

Sadly, these vintages have sold out:

2014 Riesling
2013 Pinot Noir
2013 Cabernet Franc

Nouveau Weekend
November 21, 10 am - 5 pm
November 22, noon - 5 pm

Or as we say at Pinnacle Ridge, NuVo! This is a free Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event, in which each vineyard will be debuting a Nouveau (young) wine. Ours is made from 2015 Chambourcin - and as quantities are limited, it'll only be available for a few weeks.

All weekend long, our chef Dominick will be serving a hearty fennel/cranberry sausage stuffing, to pair with the Nouveau wine. (Or for a semi-sweet option, our red blend Quaff is also available.) We hope this selection will inspire everyone with thoughts of Thanksgiving dinner.

The Nouveau tradition originates in the Beaujolais region of France, where vintners are known to debut a young wine, aged only a few months, on the third Thursday of November. This is to celebrate the end of harvest - as well as provide a foretaste of the vintages soon to come.

Thanksgiving Recommendations

It's that time of year again when families gather around the table and give thanks for good food (and good drinks!).

If you are looking for a wine to pair with your Thanksgiving meal, we would recommend our 2013 Chardonnay.

If your palate leans more toward reds, however, you may find our 2013 Chambourcin or 2014 Pinot Noir livening up your feast.

Come and pick up your wines early. The weekend before Thanksgiving, we will be quite busy hosting our NuVo weekend, so it may be worth your while to stop in before then. (We are closed on Thanksgiving day, November 26.)

NOUVEAU WEEKEND LETS WINE LOVERS TASTE THE FIRST WINES FROM THE 2015 VINTAGE

The nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut their first wines from the 2015 vintage and other new wine releases during Nouveau Weekend on November 21 and 22. It is the final Wine Trail event of the year.

Wineries will also feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample. Nouveau wines are bottled very young, with limited barrel aging, and are light, fruity and semi-dry to dry red wines. The event is based on a tradition started in France and continued each year in which nouveau wines are released the third Thursday of November.

Nouveau Weekend is a great opportunity to purchase wine to give as holiday gifts or to complement holiday meals. Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Nouveau Weekend is a free event, however some wineries charge for wine tastings.

Passports for the 2016 Vino in the Valley event go on sale that weekend at the member wineries as well as online via EventBrite.com. Passports are $35 each. Only 1,800 passports are printed, so wine lovers are encouraged to purchase them early since they often sell out in advance of the March event. More information on this event can be found online: http://lehighvalleywinetrail.com/vino-in-the-valley-passport-program/

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. For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.


NOUVEAU WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Amore will serve chicken medallions with a variety of dipping sauces, paired with their new release of Chambourcin Reserve.

Big Creek will release a Nouvelle Frontenac Gris paired with mini cupcakes made with a wine-based icing courtesy of MMM Cookies.

Blue Mountain Vineyards is releasing their 2015 Nouveau Beaujolais, which is produced from Gamay grapes grown in their vineyards. They will pair it with a vegetarian lentil stew. In addition, they will offer complimentary live entertainment on Saturday. On Sunday, Adam Motto performs live music from 2-5 p.m. Reservations for Sunday are required; admission is $5 (includes wine tasting). Tickets can be purchased via the website.

Clover Hill Winery is ready to celebrate the first release from their 2015 grape harvest; a new, limited release Chocolate Cherry Chambourcin. This wine will make you feel like you are drinking a cherry cordial.

Franklin Hill will celebrate Nouveau Weekend with the release of their 2015 Seyval Blanc. They’ll offer samples of 2015 Seyval Blanc paired with a delicious butternut squash soup made by Chef Phil from Social Still in Southside Bethlehem. In addition they’ll be celebrating the release of their newest wine, Potion X, a pumpkin spice wine, and the release of their Hard Cider, which is now available in cans. They’ll have fresh apple cider from Kachline’s Farm and fall-inspired baked goods from Buttercup Bakery for purchase as well.

Galen Glen will offer a complimentary pairing of their Thankful White Lasagna paired with one of their aromatic white wines.

Pinnacle Ridge produces a small amount of their NuVo wine made from 100% 2015 Chambourcin.  Their NuVo is typically only available for several weeks due to the small quantities. For Nouveau Weekend they will pair a fennel cranberry sausage stuffing with NuVo or Quaff (for a sweeter option).

Tolino will release their 2014 Chambourcin and pair it with vegetarian chili. Enjoy live music in the tank room by Erin McClelland on Saturday and Tom Vicario on Sunday. Learn about the wine making process during their tank room tours at 2 and 4 p.m. They will also give away a copy of I’ll Drink to That, Beaujolais and the French Peasant Who Made It the World's Most Popular Wine by Rudolph Chelminski. All customers who make a purchase are eligible for the drawing.

Vynecrest will serve their new release of Nouveau Beaujolais made from the Gamay Beaujolais grape. Nouveau Beaujolais is a young, fruity unoaked red wine, the first of harvest season 2015. It will be paired with Sugar ‘n Spice French onion dip on a baguette. They will also feature the following samples from Sugar ‘n Spice:
Vegetable Dips – festive, pesto, bacon horseradish, jalapeno
Fruit Dips – caramel, pumpkin, vanilla

Celebrate local heritage at Blue Mountain's Annual German Night

You're invited to Blue Mountain Vineyards' Annual German Night

Please join us in celebrating the Lehigh Valley's German heritage!

Enjoy live music and authentic German food while your sip on your favorite Blue Mountain wines. We appreciate and enjoy celebrating our area's German heritage, and this has long been our most popular event.  Buy your tickets now and don't miss out.

Tickets: $25 per person. Advance reservations required.
Includes food, music, wine tasting, and a souvenir glass

When: Saturday, November 14 from 5 - 9 pm

Where:
Blue Mountain Vineyards
7627 Grape Vine Drive
New Tripoli, PA  18066

Go here for more info and tickets.

Wine Tourism Day is this Saturday Nov. 7

Celebrate wine, specifically Lehigh Valley wine, this Saturday, November 7 for Wine Tourism Day.

According to LocalWineEvents.com "Wine Tourism Day is designed to celebrate the many wineries and other businesses offering wine-related events throughout North America and beyond, promote the concept of traveling to wine regions on vacation, and highlight the economic impact of wine tourism. We believe that if the wine tourism industry as a whole is successful, we can all succeed as individuals."

Here is what three of our wineries have planned for the day:

Galen Glen 
Saturday, November 7, 10am to 5pm
Sunday, November 8, Noon to 5pm

Twilight Weekend: First sight or first bite, you will fall in love with our Twilight pairing.  Twilight, a dessert wine, that was hand-harvested on January 1, 2015 as New Year celebrations were concluding, is brimming with honeyed sweetness and a beguiling fragrance.

This weekend only, and while supplies last, we'll pair a 6-ounce glass of Twilight with a Japanese coconut-mango mini-cheesecake for $9. Let this pairing captivate you while you drink in vineyard views from our enclosed, heated pavilion.

Clover Hill
National Wine Tourism Day
The Winery in Breinigsville, Pa.
November 7; 2-4pm

Let us give you a wonderful reason to celebrate National Wine Tourism Day at Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery. Join us for live music by Ed Randazzo and Bret Alexander from 2-4 pm. We will have wine by the glass specials and cheese plates available for purchase.

Tolino Vineyards
November 7  1 - 4 pm Live Music by Erin Kelly
November 7  6 - 9 pm
Paint and Sip – Saturday, November 7th,- 6 – 9 PM
Sip wine and channel your inner Van Gogh! The class will be instructed Anna Kaszupski (www.artbyannak.com). Everyone will paint a winter scene Tickets are $35 per person and include all art supplies, snacks (fruit, cheese, hummus) and a glass of wine. Purchase tickets here: http://www.tolinovineyards.com/specevent.html

Fall Flights with Bites this weekend at Clover Hill Winery

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery 2015 harvest is in the books and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results! This was our earliest harvest on record, beginning in mid August, thanks to the extremely warm and dry season. By the beginning of September, the heat spike had caused many of our grape varieties to ripen at once and our harvesting became fast and furious. All of our fruit was harvested in pristine condition; however some of the superstars from the 2015 harvest are Vignoles, Merlot and Chambourcin.

Owner’s Selection for October 

Turtle Rock Red is discounted 10% at all Clover Hill locations. Receive a 20% discount on Turtle Rock Red when included in a case purchase. Now only $12.15.

Turtle Rock Red is a flagship wine for Clover Hill Winery. It is produced 100% from Chambourcin, the grape of the Lehigh Valley. The deep purple color, fresh berry flavors, a hint of sweetness and a touch of acidity are characteristics of this wine. This wine pairs nicely with grilled salmon & spicy chili.

Recipe of the Month - Wicked Turtle

~2 oz. Turtle Rock Red
~1 oz. Passion-Fruit Rum
~2oz Lemon/Lime Soda

Pour into a chilled glass for a single serving or for a crowd pleaser pour it in your favorite pitcher. The rich decadent color will be sure to tempt any crowd into trying something wicked.

Find more recipes here.

Fall Flights with Bites
October 31, November 1, 2, 3; noon - 5 pm
Tickets required - $10 per Flight
Senior Special - Tuesday, November 3 - $8 per flight

Join us at the Winery in Breinigsville for a flight of wines paired with bites of goodness. Flights will consist of 4 wines paired with 4 bites of autumn goodness. You can select if you want to experience a Sweet Flight or a Dry Flight. For tickets, please call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville.

Fall at Vynecrest means events, a fundraiser, and the return of two popular wines

Spiced Winter Red and Spiced Winter White are now available. Last year Spiced Winter White sold out in three weeks. We made a little more this year but you better get it early if you want it.

It is just about time to set our sights on the holidays. Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem opens in just a few weeks on November 20.

October is national breast cancer awareness month. Vynecrest is donating $1 for every bottle of First Blush sold to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

October Specials

* Wine of the Month - First Blush, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter White for $35

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

Upcoming Events

October 16 - Wine Glass Painting, Vynecrest on Main

Friday from 6-8 pm, join us at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown for "Painting with Wine."The cost is $15 per person which includes a glass to paint, a glass to drink, and all painting supplies. Appetizers are available for a nominal charge. Reservations required. For reservations 484-641-5149.

October 17 & 18 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Chambourcin Weekend

Vynecrest will be partnering with Vince’s Cheesesteaks, a Lehigh Valley tradition. We will be pairing our 2013 Estate-Bottled Chambourcin wine with a taste of “Mini Vinnies” steak sandwich. The meat in these steak sandwiches will be marinated in our Chambourcin wine before they are grilled. The Vince’s Cheesesteak Food Truck will be at Vynecrest all day both Saturday and Sunday with their full menu of chicken and beef cheesesteaks and other items for purchase.

October 24 - Lehigh Valley Cider & Wine Festival at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown

The Lehigh Valley Cider and Wine Festival – an on-field event featuring hard cider and wine tastings from local and regional cideries and wineries – makes its debut on Sat., Oct. 24 from noon to 5 p.m. at Coca-Cola Park. Attendees each receive a collector’s stemless glass to enjoy their cider and wine tastings and can also purchase a variety of food and crafts from local food trucks, vendors and artisans. The festival – which takes place during Pennsylvania Wine Month -- also includes live entertainment, panel discussions describing the process of making both cider and wine, the ability to purchase wine by the glass, bottle or case and other fun activities such as an apple launch competition.

October 25 - Jazz Sunday, Live Music in the Vyneskeller, 1-4 pm

Glass Half Empty by Jan Landis

Everyone knows what my three partners do at Vynecrest. Don’t get me wrong, in a small business such as ours we all do a little of everything, including cleaning toilets and changing light bulbs. But mainly Malachi is the winemaker, John oversees the vineyard, and Sam’s the boss. Boss sounds good, doesn’t it? But in the small print that means the buck stops with Sam and that’s a tough job. He has to be on top of everything.

So me, what do I do? I do the books, write the checks, do payroll, the nerdy stuff, which actually I love doing. On weekends, I’m the kitchen wench, doing cheese plates and pretzel bowls, helping in the Vyneskeller. However, my new fun job is Engagement Facilitator. Yes, a new job description to add to my resume!

We’ve had a flurry of marriage proposals over the past few years and setting the scene for the Popping of the Question has been a hoot. With the help of Dana we’ve managed to successfully cement a number of romantic relationships. And the scenario has been different for them all! Mostly the gentleman comes up with a rough idea of how he’d like to propose and we simply provide the ways and means to make it happen.

There have been a couple of rough spots, like the young man who when he came in with his intended turned to me and said: “Hi Jan.” I froze and didn’t acknowledge his greeting; after all, he was supposed to be a complete stranger! Luckily, the lovely young lady remained clueless, or so she said. One time we were asked to freeze an engagement ring in an ice cube tray since the lady in question liked ice cubes in her wine. We were petrified that the ring (which they crazily entrusted to us) would get damaged or that once frozen she would somehow swallow it, but we managed to make it through that engagement without incident.

I never used to think that wine was particular romantic; after all my earlier jobs in building up this business mainly consisted of pruning vines, picking grapes, and bottling the wine. But now that I’ve been elevated to Engagement Facilitator, yes, wine is very romantic!

REGION’S LESSER-KNOWN CHAMBOURCIN WINE GRAPE IS THE STAR OF THIS MONTH’S LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL EVENT

Wine drinkers know Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Grigio, but Chambourcin? The Lehigh Valley’s official wine grape may be lesser known amongst the more popular varieties, but it grows so well in the climate and soil of this region that it has become the only wine grape grown by all nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.

Local wine lovers can become familiar with it during the Chambourcin Weekend event on Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18. Each winery will feature its own activities such as wine tastings, live entertainment, vineyard tours, or food and wine pairings (see detailed list below). Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. (Chambourcin Weekend is a free event, however some wineries charge for wine tastings, tours and/or entertainment.)

In the greater Lehigh Valley, there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin that ferments into approximately 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.

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. For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.

CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND WINERY HIGHLIGHTS

Amore - will feature four styles of Chambourcin paired with rigatoni in red sauce.

Big Creek - will have its Regent (a European offspring of Chambourcin) ready to pair with treats from MMM Cookies.

Blue Mountain - On Saturday at noon there will be a chili contest where customers can sample chilis and judge which one is the best. They are also welcome to enter their chili into the contest. There will also be live music with Adam Motto from 1-4 pm (no reservations required).
On Sunday from noon – 5 pm is the Northampton County Open Gate Farm Tour, which will feature crafts available for children, and guided tours with the winemaker every half hour on the hour. From 2-5 pm is Sunday Blues with live music featuring the Octavia Blues Band. Advance reservations are required. $5 per person, includes wine tasting.

Clover Hill - will offer samples of two different Chambourcin wines - Turtle Rock Red and 2013 Chambourcin. In addition they will have samples and sales of freshly pressed Chambourcin grape juice (while supplies last).

Franklin Hill - will have a mulled wine bar with three varieties of mulled wine to sample and to purchase by the mug. Chef Phil from Social Still will be making his award-winning chili, which will also be available for purchase. They’ll have McCollians local honey for sale and Kendra’s Buttercup Bakery will be onsite with sweet treats as well as several other local vendors. Tours of our facility will be given at noon and 2 pm. Tastings of all of their wines, including the new Potion X Pumpkin Spice wine, will be available all day inside or outside under the new pavilion.

Galen Glen - will offer a complimentary pairing of their 2015 Chili Competition Winner, Brian Eager's Beef & Brisket Chili (recipe available) with a taste of Chambourcin or Cellar Red. Foodies who think they have what it takes to be the next celebrated chili champion can request an application to enter the third annual Chambourcin chili cook-off on January 16, 2016.

Pinnacle Ridge - will feature Windy Acres BBQ sauce made with the winery’s Chambourcin Wine drizzled over pulled pork and baked beans, paired with a choice of either the medal-winning Chambourcin Reserve or the Chambourcin Rose.

Tolino - will offer 2012 Chambourcin paired with vanilla bean bread pudding by Trixie’s Treats, whose food truck will be on site from noon – 4 pm for additional food purchases. Enjoy live music by Blue Hearts Revelry from 1-4 pm and wagon tours of the vineyard at 2 pm and 4 pm. On Sunday, Tolino will offer 2012 Chambourcin paired with Italian ring bologna and cheese from Communale’s Italian Market in Mt. Bethel.  Erin McClelland will perform live music from 1-4 pm and wagon tours will be at 2 pm and 4 pm.

Vynecrest - will partner with Vince’s Cheesesteaks, a Lehigh Valley tradition. They will pair their 2013 Estate-Bottled Chambourcin wine with a taste of “Mini Vinnies” steak sandwich. The meat in the steak sandwiches will be marinated in Chambourcin before they are grilled. The Vince’s Cheesesteak food truck will be at Vynecrest all day Saturday and Sunday with its full menu of chicken and beef cheesesteaks and other items for purchase.

Blue Mountain toasts Halloween with the return of its Hallowine event

PAINT 'N SIP
October 16 from 7-9 pm
$30 per person

Join us October 16  from 7-9 pm for our Halloween themed Paint 'N Sip Night! Our own resident artist Kat Collins (take a look at some of her art around the winery) will guide you through a wine tasting to get those artistic juices flowing, then help you create your masterpiece decorated wine glass you can cherish for years to come! All materials included as well as your wine tasting. Seating is extremely limited.

LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND
October 17 & 18
Celebrate the “Jewel of the Lehigh Valley" with us!

October 17:
Noon - CHILI CONTEST - Sample chilis and judge which one is the best. Customers are welcome to enter their chili into the contest!
1 - 4 pm - Live music with Adam Motto (no reservations required)

October 18:
2 - 5pm Sunday Blues - Live music featuring Octavia Blues Band! RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
Noon - 5pm - Open Gate Farm Tour - There will be crafts available for children and guided tours with the winemaker every 1/2 hour on the hour.

HALLOWINE 2015
featuring the Octavia Blues band
October 31 from 6-9 pm
$10 per person includes wine tasting and souvenir glass

You're invited to our annual Hallowine tasting! Come in costume to add to your fun and win prizes. Awards for best costume. Enjoy our award-winning wines while listening to live music featuring Octavia Blues Band. Some snacks will available, but feel free to bring your own (no outside alcohol allowed). RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.

SUNDAY BLUES
Every Sunday from 2-5 pm

Enjoy live entertainment on our outdoor or glass enclosed deck with commanding views of the mountains and our vineyards. Gourmet cheeses, fresh baked bread, dips, pretzels/chips, and pitchers of fruit and ice for Sangria are available for purchase or bring your own snacks.

Reserve a table for our Sunday Blues with award-winning musicians. Bring a picnic lunch, do a wine tasting, and enjoy! NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL PERMITTED. $5 cover charge. Reservations required.

OCTOBER:

4 - Sarah Ayers & James Supra Quartet
11 - Connie Edinger
18 - Octavia Blues Band
25 - Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher

Holiday gift ideas from Blue Mountain Vineyards

The holidays are coming soon, so start planning now to get a head start.

It's hard to believe it's the end of September already! We know nobody wants to hear it, but Christmas is only 15 weeks, away. Instead of waiting until Christmas Eve, why not get a head start? We have some great gift ideas for you.

Custom Labels

Our Custom Label program offers endless possibilities at an affordable cost. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or looking for a personalized gift, we can customize your label to fit your needs. Labels can be produced in black and white or color and can include any scanned image.

Adopt A Vine

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own vineyard?  Blue Mountain has made that dream a possibility! In August of each year you will be invited to a plaque ceremony. During the first ceremony, you will be given a plaque with your chosen inscription to place next to a vine of your choice. Starting the second year you will be presented a specially labeled bottle of wine at the ceremony for the next five years. The ceremony is followed by a wine tasting with entertainment and hors d'oeuvres.

Wine Club

The Connoisseurs Club at Blue Mountain Vineyards is a quarterly wine club aimed at giving our customers incredible value while adding a level of information and excitement. Be among the first to taste new releases, and have access to limited vintage that are not readily available elsewhere.

For more information about The Connoisseurs Club, email us at info@bluemountainwine.com or call us at 610-298-3068.

Tolino Fall Fundraiser happening this Saturday, Sept. 26

Tolino Vino Fall Fest and Fundraiser 
September 26 - noon - 7 pm
$10 in advance or $15 at the door

With five bands, two food trucks, grape stomps, and wagon rides to the vineyard, this day is guaranteed to be fun! A percentage of sales will be donated to the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley in honor of Anna Mae Becker, who passed away from cancer. Anna Mae was an amazing member of the Tolino family who liked nothing better than sharing a glass of wine with  her family.

Purchase tickets for the Tolino Vino Fall Festival and Fundraiser.
 
Artist lineup:

Cherry Hill Duo - country/top40
Scott Marshall and Marshalls Highway - Americana/southern rock/country
Brummy Brothers - bluegrass
Matt Wheeler and Vintage Heart - folk/indie
Tom Vicario - oldies/country/top40

Food Trucks:
TAZA Truck - Egyptian inspired cuisine
Aioli Truck - American cuisine

WINE & SWINE PIG ROAST & GRAPE STOMP
October 3 at 1 pm
$29.95 per person.

A fresh local pig will be roasted on site by Little Creek BBQ. We will also be offering guests the chance to stomp grapes barefoot. Succulent pork sandwiches, okra, baked beans, potato salad and award winning bread pudding smothered in a Tolino wine glaze will be served from 1-3 pm. Enjoy live music by the Jay Players.

Tickets are $29.95 and include dinner, tasting six wines, and a souvenir glass.

FOOD TRUCKS & GOOD TUNES
 
September 26--Taza Truck and Aioli Truck at the Music Festival
October 10--Bad Bones BBQ @ 1pm with live music by Tom Vicario
October 17--Trixies Treats @ 1pm with live music by Blue Hearts Revelry
October 24--Stuffed to the Grills @1pm with music by Sage
October 31--Taza Truck @ 2:30pm with music by Brummy Brothers at 1pm.

EASTON PUBLIC MARKET

We are excited to be part of the new Easton Public Market!

In late fall 2015 the Easton Public Market will be opening at 325 Northampton street in Easton.  Tolino Vineyards will selling wine by the bottle and the glass among the vendors that include a chocolatier, butcher, coffee roaster, a fish monger and many more.

Taste the Grape, Taste the Wine this weekend at Galen Glen

It's harvest time. Have you ever thought about the grapes that make your favorite wines? Join us this weekend for a unique opportunity to taste a grape varietal being harvested this week along with the last vintage of the wine made from that grape.

Weekends during the harvest season, Galen Glen Winery is offering a unique tasting experience for their visitors.  On Saturdays and Sundays in late-September and early-October, the winery is inviting customers to "Taste the Grape, Taste the Wine" by sharing the fruits of their harvest with winery visitors.

Tasting Room Manager Kathy Matson notes, "often when drinking wine one does not think about the actual grape varietal that makes the wine. Not only are we giving our visitors the opportunity to think about the grapes, but we are offering the grape as part of the tasting."

Each weekend during harvest, the winery will offer a sample grape of the varietals being harvested that week along with a complimentary taste of the wine that is produced from that varietal.  

Tour Time

Join us Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm for a guided walking tour of the vineyard. Walking tours are about one hour and one mile in length. You will meander through the vines, to our crush pad and wine cellar and then return to the tasting room. Tours are complimentary and reservations are not required.  We do suggest sturdy footwear.  Tours are given weather permitting. Tours are complimentary, and no reservations are required.

Future tour dates -  October 3 & 4 and 10 & 11

Galen Glen Winery
255 Winter Mountain Drive, Andreas, PA 18211

Are you following on Facebook? Enter our "Fan Friday" contest by Saturday, September 26 to win a new Evolution of Wine T-shirt.  Winner and some big news to be announced on Sunday, September 27.

Vynecrest September wine specials, new wine releases, and harvest update

Harvest update - Traminette has been picked and is in the winery fermenting, and we’ve also finished picking the Pinot Gris and Cayuga. We picked Pinot Noir and crushed it to become a Pinot Noir Dry Rose.

What's new - We have recently released the 2014 Lemberger, Vynecrest White, Vynecrest Red and Riesling.

September Specials 

* Wine of the Month - Summertime Red, additional 10% off 

* Three pack of the month - 3 First Blush for $25

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

September 27 - Vineyard & Winery Tour and Jazz Sunday

Vineyard and Winery tour begins at noon. $5 per person. Tour should wrap up just in time to enjoy some live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm.

Glass Half Empty by Sam Landis

We started our 39th harvest here at Vynecrest this week and let me tell you there is nothing so romantic, poetic and inspiring as picking, pressing and fermenting the first grapes from a new year's vintage....booooooring.....let's take a quick peak into what "harvest" really is.

Yes, of course there is some inner beauty of growing and producing a future wine right from your own soil. There is the change of seasons and the maturation of the vines from spring through fall. There is the reward of all the hours spent in trying to fine tune 25 acres of grapes each plot of vineyard needing its own specific blueprint. There is the marrying of minds between the Vineyard Manager John and the Winemaker Malachi. There are notes, numbers, graphs and data to ensure the when that stem is clipped and that bunch of grapes falls into our press we have done the best we can for that future wine.

Then there is the other 90 percent of harvest which entails doing the same thing over and over and over. Once all of the intellectual capital is expended harvest really is all about shutting your mind off and becoming a robot. Set up, pick up, lift up, stack up, clean up, repeat. Mind you, this is not that terrible a thing in the least. You would be amazed at how quickly 10-12 hours disappears when you are not tethered to your iPhone, iPad or laptop (which I am as guilty of as anyone). It's actually incredibly liberating and lends itself to the best eight weeks of every year.

When a telemarketer calls to try and set up a meeting I tell them "Sorry, it's harvest season." 

Trash night at my house... "Sorry, it's harvest season." 

Can you do a special free tasting for our club, you will get such great exposure... "Sorry, it's harvest season." 

Sam, you are up on this month's newsletter write up... "Sorry, it's harvest season."

60 percent of the time it works every time.