Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's Annual Harvest Weekend event celebrates viticulture, winemaking and farming

As summer winds down, harvest season begins at the nine locally owned and operated wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. It’s the time of year when all of spring and summer’s hard work pays off for these farmers. The grapes they have grown are removed from the vine and their juices extracted for fermenting into the 2016 vintage.

On Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 11, the wineries will celebrate the grape harvest with the Wine Trail’s annual Harvest Weekend event during which they will welcome wine lovers for a variety of different activities at each winery such as tastings, vineyard and winery tours, food and wine pairings, and live entertainment. They will also proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. (See below for a list of activities.) Visit www.HarvestWeekendLVWT.com for complete event details.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m.  Harvest Weekend is a free event, however each winery sets its own fee policy for wine tastings, live music, and vineyard and winery tours. Please refer to each winery’s web site for details.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a nonprofit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premier wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. For more information, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.

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HARVEST WEEKEND 2016 HIGHLIGHTS

Amore Vineyards, Nazareth - will pair cheese tortellini in a tomato and basil sauce with Cabaret Amore.

Big Creek Vineyard, Kresgeville - will showcase locally grown fruit from Heckman Orchards as well as will have a cheese selection for tasting.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – now that fall is in swing, the winery will feature food and wine pairing ideas for the big football game. Culinary Experience Catering will offer homemade mac and cheese bites and mini meatball sliders paired with their 2015 White Merlot. On Saturday, Jordan White will perform live from 1-4 pm (no reservations needed; free). For Sunday Blues, the Sarah Ayers and James Supra Quartet will perform from 2-5 pm (reservations preferred; $5 admission). Guests are welcome to take a self-guided tour through the vineyard.

Clover Hill Vineyards, Breinigsville - Bleiler's Produce Patch will have a farm stand with a supply of farm fresh, organic produce for purchase. In addition, the winery will be celebrating its 31st anniversary and offering a 31% discount on all wines from September 8-11.

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor – will welcome back fall with the return of its spiced pumpkin wine Potion X to the wine list, and will also be releasing a brand new cinnamon hard cider called Fire. Pumpkin-Rumtini's featuring Potion X and Social Still’s brand new Spiced Rum will be available to sample or to enjoy by the glass. Kendra’s Buttercup Bakery’s brand new food truck will sell their fantastic baked goods. Other local products such as honey and apple butter will be for sale as well. Tours will be offered at noon and 2 pm all weekend.

Galen Glen, Andreas - will feature “Taste the Grape, Taste the Wine.” Experience the flavors of their featured grape and follow it up with a taste of the finished wine. Walking tours will occur both days at 1 pm. Plus, locally sourced gourmet cheese, honey, and fruit plates will be available for purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - will partner with La Cocina Mexicana from Kutztown. Sal will prepare chicken chimichangas with either salsa verde or salsa rojo and sour cream and guacamole. This savory delight will be paired with either the winery’s newly released Dry Rose (75% Chambourcin and 25% Cabernet Franc), or its slightly sweet Traminette.

Tolino Vineyards, Bangor - will highlight their partnership with Two Rivers Brewing Company of Easton, a farm-to-table restaurant, and their squash bisque, which will be paired with their 2015 Lilly wine. A seasonal beer from Two Rivers will be for sale by the pint and free samples of beer brewed at Tolino Vineyards will be available to taste. The Chris Cummings Jazz Trio will perform on Saturday, and The Moon Dogs will perform on Sunday.  

Vynecrest, Breinigsville - Stuffed to the Grills, a PA Preferred food truck, will be at Vynecrest 11 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday with their delicious menu including brie bites with raspberry sauce. In addition, the winery will have samples of pumpkin whoopie pies paired with their Autumn Gold wine, and also available for purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge prepares to rock with a prelude to Blues in the Barn this Saturday 8/27

Prelude to Blues in the Barn at Pinnacle Ridge Winery
Saturday, August 27

Pinnacle Ridge Winery kicks off its Blues in the Barn concert series this Saturday, August 27 starting at noon with a performance by The Jay Stollman Band featuring three-time British Blues Hall of Fame Guitarist of The Year Matt Schofield and Scott Spray of the Johnny Winter Band.

Jay Stollman is a “singer’s singer,” a fire and brimstone, Blues shouter with a full throttle, take no prisoners approach to his music.

Stollman has performed the world over to enthusiastic audiences and rave reviews, sharing the stage with James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Bo Diddley, Elton John, The Temptations, Four Tops, Jose Feliciano, Johnny Winter, Joan Osborne, Blues Traveler, Walter Trout and Samantha Fish, to name a few.

Matt Schofield is one of the world’s greatest Blues guitarists. He was voted British Blues Awards Guitarist of the Year 2010, 2011, 2012 which garnered him an induction into the British Blues Hall of Fame. He won Blues Album of the Year (2011) by Mojo Magazine. Penguin Book of Blues Recordings cited Matt as one of only two living British artists to achieve the maximum four-star rating. And he has been voted Guitar & Bass magazine’s Top Ten British Blues Guitarists, of all time.

Scott Spray is one of America’s most recorded bassists, logging thousands of studio hours and appearing on almost 1000 albums. Most recently, Scott spent 15+ years as the recording and touring bassist for legendary Bluesman, Johnny Winter. Spray supplied his smooth and steady bass grooves for Winter’s final album, “STEP BACK”which won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Blues Album. He is a sought-after studio and live performance icon with credits galore.

Six new wine releases at Clover Hill this summer

Our Winemaker John Skrip III has been busy and is excited to share six new Clover Hill wines with you. 2015 was a kind vintage to our red wines. We had great quality with our red grape varieties, but the trade off is we have very little yield. That means all of the 2015 vintages listed below are in limited supply. Taste them while you can! Tasting is complimentary for these wines at all Clover Hill locations.

• 2015 Dolcetto: a dry rosé that is light, fresh, and fruity with a green apple finish. This release of Dolcetto has just a slight bit of fizz. $13.99 
• 2015 Sangiovese: a medium bodied dry red wine. Sangiovese shows rich flavors of black cherry and ripe plum with toasty American (PA) oak undertones. $16.99 
• 2015 Pinot Noir: This vintage of Pinot a bit fuller bodied than previous years and it is truly a superstar! The wine is full of classic strawberry characteristics and soft oak notes. $16.99 
• 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon: This Cabernet is packed with rich oak flavors of vanilla and spice from French oak aging and ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, blackberry and cherry. $17.99 

These two wines are limited release and are available for sale at all locations while supplies last, but ONLY available for tasting at the Winery in Breinigsville on a regular basis. Due to the very limited nature of these wines, there are tasting fees.

• Sparkling Vidal Blanc: Welcome Clover Hill's newest sparkling wine. This bubbly is made from 100% Vidal Blanc with crisp flavors of lemon and grapefruit with soft, yeasty undertones. $16.99/bottle; $3 for a 1oz tasting fee 
• 2016 Vidal Ice Wine: Our Ice Wine is back! This Ice Wine was hand harvested in January 2016. The berries were dehydrated, frozen solid and rich in flavor and sweetness. The harvest was basket pressed and yielded 1,500 bottles of Vidal Ice Wine; or as we like to call it...liquid gold. The flavors are complex and rich including honeycomb, orange blossom and bright acidity. $32/bottle (187ml); $6 for a 1oz tasting fee

1st Tuesday Tours
The Winery in Breinigsville
Tuesday, August 2 at 2 p.m.
Reservations suggested; $8 per person (Tuesday special)
No charge for under 21.

Join Clover Hill Winery for a Tuesday tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass! Tours last approximately 1 ½ hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Harvest Flights with Bites
The Winery in Breinigsville
August 13, 14, 15 and 16, noon - 5 p.m. all days
Tickets required - $12 per flight

Purchase your flight ticket, pick your day you plan on attending, and choose between the winemaker (dry flight option) or the vineyard worker's flight (sweet flight option). Each flight will consist of four samplings of food each paired with a different wine. Check back for the menu. Please call 610-395-2468 or visit the Winery in Breinigsville for your tickets.

Food Truck Friday, chocolate truffles, and more await summertime visitors at Galen Glen

Food Truck Friday
Friday, July 29 from 5 - 8 pm

You may know Peculiar Culinary chef Gene Philbin from his appearances on Restaurant Start Up on CNBC and other TV shows. Gene and his crew will roll into the winery serving up the comfort food with a twist, cooked from scratch using locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients. Check out their food truck menu: http://www.peculiarculinary.com/food-truck-menu/
The final Food Truck Friday is August 26.

USA Truffle Treat
Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31

Get ready for red, white and blue at the Summer Olympics! We invite you to indulge in three decadent USA-themed chocolate truffles with a three-ounce pour of wine for $5. Our truffles are  handcrafted by Lancaster Chocolatier Steve Evans just for us. While supplies last, half-pound boxes of truffles will be available for splurging.

Flavors of Summer with Buy the Farm and The Easton Salsa Company
Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14

Relish the bounty of our earth with a cheese plate made from locally-sourced cheeses, fruits, vegetables, hummus, salsa and chips from our friends at Buy the Farm and Easton Salsa Company. Purchase a snack to enjoy with your favorite glass of wine while drinking in the beauty of the growing vines.

Walking Tour of the Vineyard and Wine Cellar
Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 at 1 p.m. both days

Enjoy a walking tour of the vineyard and wine cellar with one of our guides who will highlight our family's stewardship of this land for over 200 years. Walking tours are about one hour in length, meandering through our rocky terrain. Please wear appropriate foot gear. Our tours are complimentary with no reservations required, and are weather permitting.

Galen Glen Case Club
This month is a great time to join or renew your membership in our annual case club. We have some great events planned for our active case club members and as an new or renewed active member you'll receive an invitation. Our members enjoy many benefits annually, events are only the tip of the iceberg

Relax with local wine and live music on Friday nights at Tolino Vineyards

Keep your eye out for new releases this summer from Tolino Vineyards. Our 2015 vintage has been blended and is ready for bottling.  The ice on the tanks is from the glycol cooling system on the tanks, keeping the whites around freezing until they are put into bottles.

Summer Fridays

Friday nights at the winery are the best way to unwind after a long week.  Stop by after work from 5-8pm and enjoy live music, wine slushies, food trucks and a relaxing atmosphere for all ages.  

July 1: Peshi and the Egg Truck
July 8:  Erin McClelland and the Aioli Truck
July 15:  Sage, Family Flow Yoga (free) and food by Blue Mesa Tex Mex
July 22:  Tom Vicario and Blendlife Food Truck
July 29:  Gordon Ward and Defranco and Daughters Catering

August 5:  Pilgermayer and the Egg Truck
August 12: Peshi, Family Flow Yoga (free) and food by the Aioli Truck
August 19: Sage and food by Blendlife Food Truck
August 26: Erin McClelland and food by Defranco and Daughters

September 2: Music by Toby Costa, Family Flow Yoga (free) and food by Blue Mesa Tex Mex

Upcoming Events

Summer yoga series - July 16, Aug 13 and September 3 at 10:30 am. Enjoy an hour of flow yoga, wine tasting and snacks for $30.00.  The scenery is amazing, and the mind and body workout is the best.  

Paint and sip with Anna K - July 30th at 6pm

Summertime winery events at Clover Hill

Public Vineyard and Winery Tours
The Winery in Breinigsville
July 17 at 2 p.m.
Reservations required; $12 per person. No charge for under 21.

Join Clover Hill Winery for a vineyard and winery tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass! Tours last approximately 1.5 hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Thirsty Thursday with Tastings and Tours
Clover Hill Winery and Vynecrest
K'town Pub and Saucony Creek Brewing
Thursday, July 14, August 18; September 15 from 1-6 p.m.
Reservations required and are limited in availability; $50 per person. Must be 21 years of age.

Join Tasting and Tours for a Thirsty Thursday wine and beer tour. Attendees receive a private tasting and mini tour at Vynecrest Winery and Clover Hill Winery, and a flight of local beer with hors d'oeuvres at both the K'town Pub and Saucony Creek Brewing. Tastings and Tours will provide your transportation and an awesome experience with insider information at each of the four stops. The first tour begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m. Grab some friends, pick your date and let's do Thirsty Thursday! Call Tastings and Tours at 484-274-2517 to make your reservation.

1st Tuesday Tours
The Winery in Breinigsville
Tuesday, July 5; August 2 at 2 p.m.
Reservations suggested - $8 per person (Tuesday special rate).
No charge for under 21.

Join Clover Hill Winery the first Tuesday of every month for a special tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass! Tours last approximately 1.5 hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Sangria Sunday
The Winery in Breinigsville
July 10 from noon-4 p.m.

Visit us to enjoy a glass of seasonal sangria on our patio. Sangria will be available for sampling as well as for purchase by the glass. Recipes will also be available.

Harvest Flights with Bites
The Winery in Breinigsville
August 13, 14, 15 and 16 - noon-5 p.m. all days
Tickets required - $12 per flight

Purchase your flight ticket, pick your day you plan on attending, and choose between the winemaker (dry flight option) or the vineyard worker's flight (sweet flight option). Each flight will consist of four samplings of food each paired with a different wine. Check back soon for the menus. Please call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery for your tickets.

Busy summer of special events at Galen Glen

Food Truck Friday
Friday, June 24 from 5-8 pm

We welcome Harold and the crew from Atomic Hogs Pit BBQ, known for serving BBQ, Ribs and other Southern dishes at Penn State football games and local festivals. Purchase a snack or dinner to enjoy with your favorite glass of wine while drinking in the beauty of the growing vines. This event will be held rain or shine (indoor seating will be available). No reservations required.

Friday's menu includes: Oriental roast pork with orange vodka reduction, Angus beef brisket, Mexican grilled chicken, corn on the Cobb, baked beans, cole slaw, and cornbread.
Learn more about Atomic Hogs BBQ.

Bread and Oil Pairing - all day Saturday and Sunday

Savor a baguette baked on a firebrick lined coal oven from Padora's Italian Bakery and Seasons' Spanish olive oil with herbs for $5. Paired with your favorite glass of wine and our panoramic vineyard views, your European vacation begins here.

Back by popular demand the Jerky Treat

Did you know that Jerky is America's most under-appreciated charcuterie? It's a fact! So many of our guests this past weekend loved the Jerky Treat (3 different jerkies from 3 local butchers with 3 ounces of cellar red wine for $7), that we are bringing it back while supplies last on Saturday and Sunday.  Stop by and enjoy the amazing flavors of one of America's favorite foods.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, Sunday and Monday - July 2, 3 and 4
"Red, White & Blue" Wine Slushy Sundae

Saturday, Sunday and Monday - July 2, 3 and 4
Walking tours of the vineyard and wine cellar at 1pm

Holiday hours, Monday, July 4
11am to 4pm

Saturday & Sunday - July 9 and 10 from noon to 3pm

Meet New York Times' best selling author, David Joachim. Get his newly-released Grill School and have it autographed while sampling one of his favorite recipes. Learn more here.

Vynecrest announces new wine releases, May specials, and springtime events

The buds are out on the vines and another acre is planted, we are ready for the 2016 growing season! We have a little bit of everything this month: live music, food trucks, yoga in the vineyard and more.

We are also excited to announce Vynecrest will be the official winery of the Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival held at Coca-Cola Park this Saturday, May 14.

New Releases 
#37 - In celebration or our 37th harvest we have produced this wine which reverts back to our roots. Cabernet Franc has been a staple in our vineyard for over 20 years. In 2014 it took the lead and is a perfect demonstration of what a cool climate red wine should taste like. Complimented by Merlot, Chambourcin and Lemberger. $23.99

2014 Chardonnay - aged on french oak for 9 months, comes right after you with intense aromas and notes of butterscotch and vanilla. $14.99

May Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Traminette, 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25

available at winery only, 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers.

Upcoming Events

May 14 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller

Steve Myers on the Baby Grand Piano; 1-4 pm, free admission

May 14 - Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival

Join us at the stadium. Vynecrest is the official winery for the first annual Food Truck Festival at Coca-Cola Park.

May 15 - Yoga in the Vineyard

Barre 3 Yoga Studio in Allentown will be conducting a yoga class in the vineyard at 10 am (rain date: May 22) for free. Bring your own yoga mat. Come in afterward for a free wine tasting. Contact Barre 3 to sign up: 610-841-8200

May 21 and 22 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Wine and Cheese Pairing Event

This event features the pairing of cheeses with local wines at each of our nine member wineries. Each winery will select one of its fine wines to pair with the perfect cheese 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. Cheeses will be offered for sale so that guests can recreate the wine and cheese pairings at home.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

May 28 - Summer Kick-Off Party

The Füd Truck will be here from 11 am-5 pm with a special menu including "The Lemberger". Ryan Peters on guitar in the Vyneskeller from 1-4pm

May 29 - Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour

Live Jazz in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm. Free admission. Winemaker's tour of the vineyard at 1 pm for $5 per person. Reservations suggested: 610-398-7525.

June 4 - 4th Annual Spring Fling Event with Clover Hill Winery

Saturday June 4 noon-5pm. $12 per person. Go to both Vynecrest and Clover Hill wineries (2 miles apart) and receive at both a glass of sangria, a cheese and wine pairing, and a dessert and wine pairing. Plus 10% off your purchases at both wineries that day. Come with friends. It's a great way to spend a lovely spring afternoon.

June 11 - Taste of Kutztown

Saturday from noon-5pm taste wines from 15 wineries, beers from 10+ breweries with live music, food, and more.

Mother's Day, wine slushies, and vineyard and winery tours this spring at Clover Hill

Mother's Day Flights
May 7, 8, 9 and 10 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
Tickets required: $12 per flight

Let us help you celebrate all the beautiful Mothers at Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. We will offer a dry wine flight and a sweet wine flight. Please call 610.395.2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville for your tickets.

Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing Event with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
May 21 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
May 22 - noon - 5  p.m.

Learn the art of pairing wine and cheeses together. We will offer a free sampling of two wines each paired with a cheese. We will feature Riesling paired with a Ghost Pepper Habanero Jack and our Catawba paired with Cotswold. Cheeses will also be available for purchase. Stop in the winery in Breinigsville for this free tasting.

Wine Slushie Weekend
May 27, 28 and 29 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
To kick off the summer season we will be offering a wine slushie for sampling and available for purchase by the glass.

Public Vineyard and Winery Tours
June 12 at 2 p.m.
July 17 at 2 p.m.
Reservations required; $12 per person. No charge for guests under 21 years of age.

Join Clover Hill Winery for a vineyard and winery tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass. Tours last approximately 1½ hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size, so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Wine & Cheese Pairings announced for mid-May Wine Trail event

We're already half-way through April and before you know it may will be here. So mark your calendar now and plan to join us May 21 & 22 at all 9 of our trail's member wineries for our next Wine Trail event - the Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing event.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Complete an event ballot to vote for your favorite wine and cheese pairing and be entered to win one of nine $25 Wine Trail gift certificates.

(While the wine and cheese pairing samples at each winery are complimentary (limit one per person, per winery), most of our member wineries charge a fee for wine tastings. So be sure to ask what the tasting policy is when you arrive at each winery, or consult their respective winery page on this site and look for the Tasting Policy header.)

Amore - will feature a wide array of cheese and crackers, paired with several different wines.

Big Creek - will pair Nouvelle Sunset Late Harvest with Brie or Apple Raspberry with Manchego.

Blue Mountain – their 2011 Merlot will be paired with a wedge of Prima Donna cheese on a cracker, and their 2014 Sauvignon Blanc will be paired with a skewer of watermelon and Sartori basil and olive Asiago cheese. Cheeses will be available to purchase.

Clover Hill – will offer a free sampling of Riesling paired with a ghost pepper habanero jack cheese, and Catawba paired with Cotswold. Cheeses will also be available for purchase.

Franklin Hill - will welcome Aioli Food Truck for Wine and Cheese weekend. They will offer pairings of their wines with a variety of cheese spreads from Klein’s Farm. All of their wines, as well as a special Summertime Sangria, will be available for purchase by the glass to enjoy on the deck. 

Galen Glen – will have their white wine with a skewer of mild local German cheese, a strawberry and a basil leaf, and their red wine with a wedge of local smoked cheddar on a pita cracker. Cheeses will be available to purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge - will pair goat cheese and apricot jam with Blanc de Blanc and 2015 Riesling. On Saturday, May 21, they will feature a performance in the barn from The Brosky Meyer Trio from 2-5 pm. Also, the Stuffed to the Grills food truck will sell gourmet sandwiches.

Tolino - will pair various wines with an assortment of cheeses from BaD Farm in Kempton. Tolino and BaD farms are both vendors at the new Easton Public Market. BaD Farm makes their cheese from raw milk that they produce.

Vynecrest - will pair September Farms Aged Gouda with their 2014 Lemberger.

2016 Vino in the Valley Grand Prize Winners announced!

Congratulations to the following 30 Grand Prize Winners of the 2016 Vino in the Valley passport drawing.

You will receive in the mail in the coming weeks a $25 gift certificate to the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail to be used toward the purchase of wine only. Gift certificates are valid for one year only.

Thank you for participating in this year's passport event!

Gloria Ambolino - Quakertown
Ann Christman - Palmerton
Deb Cinamella - Palmerton
Dave  Furman - Wayne
Diane Granitz - Allentown
Sharon Gross - Collegeville
Ken Hanna - Bethlehem
Brian Hugo - Walnutport
Kendra Kachline - Bangor
Laura Karns - Palmerton
Stacy Kovacs - Allentown
Nicole Larrison - Nazareth
Carol Sue Miller - Bath
Kristy Molitoris - Whitehall
Denise Nolt - Fleetwood
Megan Papuc - Bethlehem
Michele Pierce - Easton
Lisa Rodriguez - Whitehall
Ashley Romanishan - Danielsville
Carla Rowland - Easton
Jim Scheirer - Bethlehem
Paula Schmelz - Saylorsburg
Carl Schumacher Jr. - Easton
Cathy Smith - Allentown
Tammy Smith - Palmerton
Allison Solley - Bethlehem
Michelle Sterner - Allentown
Andrew White - Allentown
Eric Whitters - Easton
David Williamson - Nazareth

Get to know... Karen George of Galen Glen

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

I’ve worked for Galen Glen for at least 15 years.

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

That changes from year to year, season to season, day to day. My fave at the moment is Gruner Veltliner.  Or is it Gewurztraminer?  I just made one of my specialties the other night, smoked salmon pasta with GV. If I am heading out for Mexican or sushi, I choose  my best friend Gewurz.

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

How do I get your job? I am actually related to Galen, so I was coerced into working here! I have a very stressful real job, so this is my "fun" job. You meet the sweetest, sincerest, silliest people on the wine bar.

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

I think it is great that we are so lucky to have vineyards in our backyards. I am ALL about being sustainable and supporting local agriculture. It has also been great watching them grow. Look out Finger Lakes: PA is coming to get you! I have many people tell me they no longer travel to the Finger Lakes for wine. The wine here is better and they can save on drive time and drink local wine instead.

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

I always advise them to try the vineyard’s specialty, what they are best known for. I also advise trying something outside their comfort zone, outside the box. If you ONLY drink red, try a new white that you are unfamiliar with. You just might like it! If you ONLY drink sweet wines, try a bit drier wine since your palate might be maturing or changing.

Springtime full of wine events and activities at Tolino Vineyards

Friday Music Series Starts May 27
All summer join us for our Friday Music Series for a relaxing evening at the winery. Live music, wine slushies, food for purchase, family flow yoga, bonfire for s'mores, and yard games for the kids. A great way to spend a relaxing Friday night with the family.

Tolino Vineyards at the Easton Public Market opening April 15
Our spot at the Easton Public Market is nearing completion. Check out our video in anticipation of an April 15 opening.

3rd Anniversary Sale and Food Pairing
April 9 and 10 help us celebrate three great years in business! We will be offering 40% off all 2012 vintage wines, and 15% off the remaining vintages. Papa's Red will be paired with Italian Tomato Pie. Live music by Andrew Moses on Saturday.

Paint your Glass Off with Erika 

April 16 at 2 pm
$35

Ticket includes all supplies and instruction to paint your own wine glass, a glass of wine to sip on while you paint & delicious snacks. Music by Gordon Ward.

Paint and Sip with Anna K  
April 23 at 6 pm
$35

Sip wine, chat with friends and create a masterpiece! The class will be instructed Anna Kaszupski. Tickets are $35 per person and include all art supplies, snacks  and a glass of wine.

Mother's Day Weekend 
May 7 and 8

Join Tolino Vineyards on Mother's Day Weekend for two great events,  cupcakes and yoga! All weekend enjoy a gourmet cupcake pairing by Sweet Girlz Bakery and premier tasting for $8. No tickets required. Or on Sunday, start your day with yoga at 10:30 am, followed by brunch, a cupcake pairing, premier tasting and live music. Yoga is $30/ticket. Live music Saturday by Mike Pilgermayer and Sunday by Peshi.

Spring Wine Dinner by Widow's Tavern and Grille
May 14 at 6 pm
$49.95

Appetizers in the vineyard, dinner in the tank room. Our first dinner of the year will be catered by Widow's Tavern and Grille in Stockertown and will offer a spring inspired menu. Ticket price includes appetizer, dinner, and dessert with wines paired with each. Live music by Andrew Moses. Weather permitting we will stroll down to the vineyard for cocktail hour and appetizers. We will then return to the tank room to enjoy the rest of the meal and the live music.

Dinner in the Vines  
Saturday, June 11 at 5 pm
$49.95

DeFranco's Catering will provide a delicious Italian meal served family style at round tables in the vineyard. Ticket price includes one glass of wine, appetizers, dinner, dessert and live music by Peshi. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to dine among the vines, taking in the sights, sounds and smell of nature.

Easter food & wine pairings from the wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

The owners of the nine family-owned and operated wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail understand how important the Easter meal is for gathering with family and friends, and offers the following food and wine pairing suggestions for this year’s dinner.

Amoré Vineyards and Winery, Nazareth - Pair Amore Pink Passion with ham, pork and sauerkraut or Rose Amore with baked ham. After dinner, relax with a glass of Rapport or Vidal Blanc dessert wines.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville - Their Vin di Pasqualina is a great all-around wine for traditional Easter dinners. Both sweet and dry wine fans will enjoy the glass-filling aroma of this semi-dry rose. It is a blend of three grapes, but the bouquet and character come from Niagara, an aromatic white grape that can stand a little chill and still deliver lots of flavor. It works as an aperitif, or with ham, turkey, or baked ziti.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – Winery owners Joe and Vickie Greff recommend their 2014 Pinot Noir to compliment a glazed Easter ham. For lamb, they recommend the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’re serving a chocolate dessert, go with Victoria’s Passion or Harvest Moon, a late harvest Seyval Blanc dessert wine, with apple pie, custards, and carrot cake.

Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery, Breinigsville - Riesling is a great option for Easter ham; the winery produces a dry Generations Riesling and a semi-sweet Riesling. Try making a Holiday Ham Glaze with 1 cup of Clover Hill Holiday wine mixed with 1 cup of brown sugar. Blend ingredients, coat ham, and baste frequently.

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor - Pair their Gold Medal award winning Hard Cider with the Easter meal. For a more traditional pairing go with Seyval Blanc, which just won at the East Meets West Wine Competition, which will compliment your ham or turkey beautifully. For dessert pair the winery’s sour yet sweet green apple wine named Envy with a slice of key lime pie, or pour a little Envy over vanilla ice cream in a blender and make adult Shamrock Shakes.

Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery, Andreas – Winemaker Sarah Troxell recommends setting the family table with one of their Rieslings alongside a glazed Easter ham or a roasted turkey. For dessert, enjoy a glass of Twilight, which is naturally sweet and perfectly paired with cheesecake.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - Their Vidal Blanc is the perfect companion for traditional Easter fare. To make more of a splash, their Brut Rose sparkling wine would be a festive choice.

Tolino Vineyards, Bangor - Celebrate with the family by sharing a bottle of Pinot Grigio. This dry white wine has citrus notes that complement the ham and gives the meal a refreshing taste. For red wine lovers, try their bold and smoky 2013 Cabernet Franc to bring out the seasoning of the meat. Sunnyside, a sweet concord, is a special treat that pairs well with semi-sweet Easter Chocolate for dessert.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville – Whether you go the traditional ham with pineapple route or do ribs and chicken on the grill, Autumn Gold is a sweeter wine that pairs well with either choice. It's made from Vynecrest's signature blend of estate-grown grapes, and is also the March Wine of the Month with 10 percent off the regular price of $9.99.

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.

Vynecrest welcomes food trucks on weekends in March

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Vino in the Valley passport program event is underway. No worries if you don't have a passport; we are still open to the public for sales and complimentary tastings. If you do have a passport, come on in, head right downstairs to have your passport stamped and get your food pairing.

To escape the weekend crowds, don't forget we are open every day until 5 pm and open until 5:30 on Fridays. Fresh bread is available Friday through Sunday. Stop in Friday after work to pick up fresh bread, local cheese and local wine.

As a special treat in March, when tasting our Cherry DiVyne wine at the winery, you will be treated to a complimentary chocolate covered pretzel from Billy's Candies. Since so many people will be traveling the Wine Trail in March, we will have small bags of these delicious pretzels available for $5 to take along with you. We will also have boxes of Billy's Easter candy available for sale during March. They are a wonderful small candy company in Temple, Pa. that we are proud to have available here at the winery.

March Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Autumn Gold - 10% off
* 3-Pack of the Month - 3 Niagara for $25

(available at winery only, 3-pack cannot be combined with other offers.)

Upcoming Events

March 19 - Live music in the Vyneskeller - Steve Myers on the baby grand, 1 - 4 pm. Free admission.

March 19 and 20 - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck - 10 am - 5 pm Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm Sunday

March 26 - Bob-B-Q Food Truck - 10 am - 5 pm

March 27 - Easter Sunday - CLOSED

April 2 and 3 - Bear Creek Spring Wine Festival - noon  - 6 pm both days

April 9 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller - Steve Myers on the baby grand, 1 - 4 pm. Free admission

April 17 - Brunch and a Ball Game - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck will be dishing out some great food from 11 am - 5 pm and the Phillies will be taking on the Nationals at 1:35 pm.

Glass Half Empty by John Landis

When March arrives I think about St Patrick’s day, spring, Easter, NCAA March Madness and of course the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s Vino in the Valley event. This is the 16th year for the ticketed passport program event which features wine and food pairings at each of the nine wineries.

Just for fun, I checked the Internet to see what else happens in March and I found that there are 113 “national holidays” in March including National Mulled Wine Day on March 3. Then there are another 100 state and local “days.”

So if you’re looking for some reasons to come to our winery and celebrate, there is always some special day available. For Vynecrest, March is also the time of year we start bottling some of our 2015 harvest as our 2014 wine supply diminishes. And, in March we will be releasing our No. 37 wine, which represents the best of the best of the reds from our 37th harvest (2014). Last year, No. 36 was predominately Merlot; No. 37 will be predominately Cabernet Franc.