Wine in Bloom event celebrates 5th Anniversary of Lehigh Valley A.V.A.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will present their next event, Wine in Bloom, on Saturday, May 18 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 19 from noon – 5 p.m. It celebrates bud break on the vines and the start of the growing season, as well as the fifth anniversary of the Lehigh Valley American Viticultural Area designation.

Wine in Bloom highlights the importance that terroir (soil) plays in the development of the grapes, their flavor and the resulting taste of the wine, and stresses the importance of the A.V.A. designation in further legitimizing the Lehigh Valley for wine making. Each winery will offer its own variety of activities such as vineyard tours, food and wine pairings, and live entertainment.

New this year, each member winery will be handing out 25 colorful, 4 inch potted petunias each day of the event to the first 25 customers. The petunias are being grown by Amore Greenhouses in Nazareth which is owned by Amore Vineyards, a Wine Trail member. (Please note: supplies are limited.)

The Lehigh Valley region is an official American Viticultural Area as designated by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 85% of the grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

• Amore Winery in Nazareth will pair Chardonnay-infused Sangria with an array of Mexican hors d'oeuvres.

• Big Creek Winery in Kresgeville will be slicing and serving their favorite cheeses.

• Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli will have complimentary live entertainment by Rob on Saturday from 1-4 p.m.

• Clover Hill Vineyards in Breinigsville - take part in their scavenger hunt. If you discover correct answers to all the questions they will reward your efforts with a gift.

• Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor will offer tours beginning in their new vineyard. They will serve Vidal and Chambourcin wines right next to the vines from which they harvest these grapes. After visiting the vines, tours continue into the winery and finish with an unexpected pairing with the award-winning Sir Walters Red.  Robert Michaels will perform on the deck and light appetizers from the Broadway Pub will be available.  (Tours available at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more - please call ahead for reservations and more information.)

• Galen Glen Winery in Andreas will lead a Spring Tour of the vineyard and cellar. One enlightening walking tour will be offered each day, departing at noon. Please wear sturdy foot gear. No reservations required and weather permitting. Their panoramic setting is the perfect location for quiet conversation and contemplation.

• Saturday – BYOP (bring your own picnic)
• Sunday – the Love Hot Dogs cart will visit. Owner Jason will offer for purchase his gourmet sausages, toppings and more “for the love of dogs.”

• Pinnacle Ridge Winery in Kutztown is pairing up with Perfect Pairings who will be pairing Pinnacle Ridge wines with different items such as jewelry by Sally Rocks, blooming baskets, creative gift wrap, garden art and wall art.  Perfect Pairings will be upstairs in the winery’s 1851 Pennsylvania Bank Barn and the tasting room will be open as well. Check out this new, unique concept in wine pairings.

• Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville will have a winemaker's tour of the vineyard and winery both Saturday and Sunday, free of charge. Vynecrest will also be releasing their new Bear Naked Chardonnay (fermented in stainless steel) to be tried along side of their recently-released Oaked Chardonnay. Bear Naked Chardonnay has a label with the Kutztown University Golden Bear and $1 from the sale of every bottle will go to a scholarship fund at the University.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a 501c6 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. www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com

Mark your calendars for our six 2013 events!

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail has announced its 2013 schedule of events.

• March Passport Program – weekends only, March 2 – 24 – Customers purchase a $35 passport for access to wine and food pairings at each winery each weekend. Passports are stamped during each visit and can then be entered into a drawing for prizes. Passport holders also receive a LVWT picnic tote as this year’s gift. (Please note: A limited number of passports remain for sale. Please review the revised group guidelines for this event: http://lehighvalleywinetrail.com/rules_reg.php)  

• Wine in Bloom – May 18 & 19 – This event takes place mid-spring as bud break occurs on the vines. It celebrates the importance that terroir (soil) plays in the development of the grapes, their flavor and the resulting taste of the wine, and stresses the importance of the region’s American Viticultural Area designation in further legitimizing the area for wine making.

• Wine on the Mountain – July 27 & 28 - Held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, this event includes wine sampling, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, light fare available for purchase, and live entertainment. Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased in advanced at each winery or online, as well as at the door the days of the event.

• Harvest Weekend – The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker – September 14 & 15 –The wineries proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. Wine pairings, vineyard tours, food, music and other special activities are featured.

• Chambourcin Weekend – October 19 & 20 - Taking place after the harvest is over, this event celebrates the “official wine grape of the Lehigh Valley,” the Chambourcin. The Chambourcin is the only wine grape grown by all eight area wineries. In the greater Lehigh Valley, there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin, which ferment into 150,000 bottles of wine. Chambourcin is very versatile in the wine cellar and the wineries craft it into several styles of wine including Nouveau, Rosé, Semi- Sweet, Sweet, Dry Barrel Aged, Sparkling and Port.

• Nouveau Weekend – November 16 & 17 - This is the earliest chance to sample the vintage of the recent harvest. It’s also a great opportunity to purchase wines for the upcoming holiday season to give as gifts or to drink at dinner. March Madness passports also go on sale this weekend.

All events are free except for Wine on the Mountain at Penn’s Peak and the March Passport Program, which requires the purchase of an event passport. Event hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m. Download a PDF copy of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail brochure on the wine trail web site’s homepage www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com and connect with the trail via Twitter and their Facebook fan page.

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.

Members include:

• Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
• Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
• Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
• Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
• Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor
• Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
• Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
• Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

The Lehigh Valley region is an official American Viticultural Area as designated by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 85% of the grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Save the Date for Wine in Bloom this May

March Madness has finally wrapped up along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. During the month of April our wineries will do their own events and promotions. So please check their respective web sites for information and sign up to receive their individual e-newsletters. Find links to each winery's web site from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail web site here.

In the mean time, please mark your calendar for our next Wine Trail event - Wine in Bloom, May 19 & 20. In only its second year, Wine in Bloom is a fun and educational event that celebrates bud break on the vines and the start of the growing season. 


It highlights the importance that terroir (soil) plays in the development of the grapes, their flavor and the resulting taste of the wine, and stresses the importance of the A.V.A. designation (American Viticultural Area) in further legitimizing the Lehigh Valley for wine making.

The Lehigh Valley region was designated as an official American Viticultural Area by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 85% of the grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

During the event, each winery will offer its own variety of activities, from vineyard tours and food and wine pairings, to live entertainment and even a scavenger hunt. Check this blog in late-April for details on what each winery will be doing that weekend.

Appellation America delivers accolades to Lehigh Valley wineries

We are pleased to announce that our wineries have received the following accolades from Appellation America in a recent Best of Appellation evaluation:

• Amore Vineyards - GOLD for 2008 Chambourcin
• Big Creek Winery - GOLD for 2010 Seyval, 2010 Seyval Reserve, 2011 Marechal Foch, and 2011 Regent, and DOUBLE GOLD for 2011 Nouveau Marquette
• Blue Mountain Winery - GOLD for 2011 Riesling and for 2007 Pinot Noir/Beaujolais
• Franklin Hill Vineyards - GOLD for 2010 Vidal Blanc and DOUBLE GOLD for 2010 Chambourcin
• Galen Glen Winery - GOLD for 2010 Chambourcin, 2010 Zweigelt, and 2010 Riesling, and DOUBLE GOLD for 2010 Gewurztraminer, 2010 Gruner Veltliner and 2010 Vidal Blanc
• Pinnacle Ridge - GOLD for 2009 Chambourcin, 2010 Pinot Noir, 2010 Chardonnay, 2010 Cabernet Franc, and 2010 Traminette 
• Vynecrest Winery - GOLD for 2010 Chambourcin and 2010 Lemberger, and DOUBLE GOLD for 2010 Cabernet Franc

The Appellation America Best-of-Appellation Evaluation Program is an on-going process of identifying the wines in each appellation which best express the character of the appellation and the quality of wine craftsmanship in the region. 

The Award winning wines from this evaluation, along with the tasting notes for each, appear on the respective Best of Appellation Wine List, where they will be featured as wines defining the quality and character of the Lehigh Valley American Viticultural Area as long as the product stays current on the winery’s in-stock list. 

Taste these and other ward-winning wines during a weekend trip to the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail and during our March Madness event. 

What is an A.V.A.?

You've probably heard or seen our wineries talk about the Lehigh Valley A.V.A., but what does it mean?

In the United States, winemakers are allowed to label their wines with the state or county in which the grapes are grown. But they can also list the name of the particular growing area if the federal government recognizes it as an "American Viticultural Area" or A.V.A., also called an "appellation." There are more than 200 A.V.A.s across the Untied States including ours here in the Lehigh Valley.

In reviewing applications for approval, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) considers whether the proposed name is one by which the area is actually known locally, and whether this area as defined in the application has distinctive soil and climatic conditions.

To use an approved A.V.A. on a wine label, at least 85 percent of the grapes used must originate from the state A.V.A. and the wine must be fully finished within the state. This helps maintain consistency in the wines made from a particular growing area.

The Lehigh Valley region is an official A.V.A. as designated by the TBB in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley A.V.A. includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Sorrenti Cherry Valley wins slew of awards in Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

Congratulations to Mary Sorrenti and the wine making team at Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards in Saylorsburg on their big win at last month's 2010 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition. Of the 11 wine entries they submitted, 9 of them received medals.

The winners are:

1. Blueberry Spumante - Silver
2. Raspberry - Silver
3. Raspberry Spumante - Silver
4. Apple wine - Bronze
5. Blackberry - Bronze
6. Blackberry Merlot - Bronze
7. Chancellor - Bronze
8. Niagara - Bronze
9. Raspberry Blush - Bronze

Visit Cherry Valley this weekend for the Wine Trail's first A.V.A. Weekend and try some of these award-winning wines to see for yourself why they received these honors. An A.V.A. is a Federal designation of an American Viticultural Area, and the Lehigh Valley is one. So be sure to ask Mary about how the soil in her region of the Poconos affects the grapes she grows and thereby the flavor of her wines. After all, that's what A.V.A. Weekend is all about!

Mark your calendars for our next event - A.V.A. Weekend

Our next special event takes place Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 and is brand new. A.V.A. Weekend - From the Soil, to the Vine, to the Glass - celebrates the Lehigh Valley region's official designation as an American Viticultural Area, which was obtained in April 2008.

An AVA is a federal designation that enables vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to identify wines they purchase. The Lehigh Valley AVA is distinguished in part by rolling hillsides, an agricultural climate and soil composed mainly of shale, sandstone and siltstone.

It means that when you drink wine from a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail winery, you know that you are drinking something that is locally produced, unique, and specifically crafted to best showcase the Lehigh Valley!

This event will feature educational components at each winery as we teach you about what the French call "terroir" or the soil. We'll explain how the soil in our region effects the growing of the grapes and the wine's resulting taste. Some wineries will offer vineyard tours and talks, while others will feature tastings and food pairings.

Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m. We hope you will join us! Stay tuned for more information!