Get to know... Helen Donches of Amore Vineyards

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

I have been employed by Amore Vineyards and Winery in Nazareth for more than six years. The vineyards are located on more than five acres. A beautiful tasting room offering a little bit of Italy in the Lehigh Valley is featured in a charming 200-year-old barn.                                          
2. What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and why? What do you like to pair it with?

I have several favorites:

• Vidal – dry, crisp with a smooth finish, pair with cheese 
• Riesling – refreshing with lasting finish, pair with chicken or fish
• Red Rapture – simply delicious – versatile – enjoy by itself, with cheese, pasta, red meat
• Blackberry Bliss – flavorful fruit wine great with dark chocolate
• Rapport – enjoy after dinner also with dark chocolate

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

• Do you grow all your own grapes? - Yes, we grow all our grapes in our mineral-rich soil located in a narrow limestone belt of the Lehigh Valley. Our soil's rich array of minerals adds a unique complexity to our wine.
• How many wineries participate in Lehigh Valley Wine Trail? - We have nine participating wineries and we offer customers copies of the wine trail brochure to take along home with them.
• Why do Chambourcin wines taste different in other wineries? - It's due to the soil and how the wine is processed.
• Do we refer to other wineries and do all wineries participate in special events? - Yes, we offer directions to other wineries since each winery offers their own specialty wines, and again we offer them the wine trail brochure which describes the annual special events.     

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

Wineries offer convenience, variety, and the ability to taste prior to purchase which you don't get in a state liquor store.

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

I encourage them to visit all participating wineries, drink responsibly, and take their time while enjoying their tastings. For a great wine tasting experience, try to attend special events where food pairings are available and some wineries offer entertainment as well.

Three questions with... Gregg Amore of Amore Vineyards

This month we interviewed Gregg Amore, owner of Amore Vineyards in Nazareth.

1. How did your family get started in farming in the Nazareth area?

My grandfather bought the farm in the 1940s. It was passed on to my father and uncle. My father passed his share to me and I purchased my uncle's half, when he decided to retire. I also purchased seven acres at Rt. 512 and Steuben Road from my dad and uncle in the early 1970s to start building greenhouses.

2. When did the winery get started?

The vineyard is 5.5 acres and we grow nine different varieties of grapes and craft 30 different wines. Grapes were first planted in spring 2000 and we had our first harvest in fall 2002. The winery opened in spring 2003.

3. What is your favorite part of the spring season when it comes to the new growing season ahead?

The favorite part of the spring season is seeing all of the flower and vegetable plants growing in the greenhouses. It is gratifying to think about the pleasure, beauty and abundance they will bring or customers.

It is also very satisfying to see our field vegetables grow and bear fruit. Knowing our customers will enjoy our fresh fruits and vegetables also brings great satisfaction. More recently, the opportunity to grow grapes and share the fruits of that labor, in the form of personally crafted wine, has been great fun.

Taste of the Trail video - Amore Vineyards & Winery

Our latest Taste of the Trail video is now on our YouTube channel and web site. Visit Amore Vineyards and Winery in Nazareth and meet owner Gregg Amore.

Sparkling wines for New Year's Eve

This year, leave the champagne behind and try a fun, and sometimes fruity, sparkling wine for your New Year's Eve celebration instead. Here are a few suggestions for sparkling wines made by local Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries:

Amore Vineyards

• White Mist - Slightly dry, tingly and sparkling.
• Celebration - Pink, sparkling, spicy fun.
• Blueberry Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural blueberry flavor.
• Peach Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural peach flavor. Blend it with orange juice  to make a great mimosa.
• Strawberry Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural strawberry flavor.

Clover Hill Winery

• Blackberry Sparkler - A sweet, sparkling wine made with blackberry
• Brut - Produced in the traditional method of making sparkling wine, Méthode Champenoise, our Brut has no perceivable sweetness, showcasing yeasty and fruity flavors.
• Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir - Made in the Méthode Champenoise fashion, this sparkling wine is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from our Broxspen Vineyard. This dry sparkler shows delicate flavors of strawberry mingling with a classic yeasty flavor.

Pinnacle Ridge

• Brut Rosé
• Blanc de Blanc 

Franklin Hill

• Brut (Methode Champenoise)

Keep in mind that at this time of year supplies may be limited for some sparkling wines.  So we suggest calling ahead to the winery you plan to visit to verify they still have the one you want in stock.

Here are a few tips for your sparkling wine, courtesy of Clover Hill:

* Always have your bubbly well chilled prior to opening. We suggest putting the bottle in the refrigerator for a couple hours and then the freezer for 20 minutes prior to opening.
*As much fun as it is to shake the bottle and shoot the cork, you do lose most of the wine when you do so!  Remove the wire hood on the bottle and keep your thumb on top of the cork. Hold the cork in one hand and slowly twist the bottle. Always have a towel and a champagne flute close by.
*Sparkling wines always add a festive feel to any celebration, but they are also great food wines. Some of our favorite bubbly pairings include a creamy brie with quince paste, steamed Cape Cod lobsters, crab stuffed mushrooms or smoked salmon.
 
Happy New Year!

Have your next special event or party at a Lehigh Valley winery!

The Vyneskeller at Vynecrest Winery.

Looking for a location in which to host a surprise birthday party, anniversary celebration or bridal shower? Skip the boring hotel ballroom or meeting room option and consider hosting your event at one of our wineries.

Several of our Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries have special event space that can be rented for your occasion. While not all of the wineries host weddings, most of them will be glad to have your party at their place and can even arrange catering services for you.

Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli has an enclosed deck that can be rented for bridal and baby showers. Vynecrest in Breinigsville has their Vyneskeller on the lower level of their barn that features its own bar with TV which is great for watching the big game.

Clover Hill Winery also in Breinigsville has a special event space just off their wine tasting showroom. Sorrenti Cherry Valley has a grand pavilion and other areas for hosting events. Amore Vineyard in Nazareth recently remodeled the second floor of their barn to accommodate dinners and parties.

So next time you have a special event to plan for a friend, a family member or maybe yourself, consider having at a local Lehigh Valley winery!

An AVA Weekend recap and a Wine on the Mountain teaser

We just wanted to say thanks to everyone who came out and joined us for our first AVA Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. We had one day of good weather followed by one not-so-good day, but surprisingly some wineries were busier during the rain!

We posted photos from Franklin Hill and Clover Hill, where visitors went on an AVA Scavenger Hunt, to our Flickr photo stream. We also posted a few videos that were shot at Franklin Hill, Galen Glen, Vynecrest and Amore. They are short interviews with the winery owners who talked with us about AVA weekend, their newest vintages and improvements to their facilities. Check them out on our Flickr photostream too.

Our next event is Wine on the Mountain at Penn's Peak on July 24 & 25 in Jim Thorpe, Pa. Tickets are on sale at each of the 9 wineries and are $10 in advance or $12 at the door the weekend of the event. The event  takes place on Saturday from noon - 8p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Stay tuned for more details on this event!

Lehigh Valley wineries offer their pairing suggestions for Easter Dinner

Easter is a special occasion that brings families together for a day of egg hunting in the backyard, visits with an oversized bunny, and baskets filled with candy and treats. But the highlight of the day is the celebratory meal.

The nine family-owned and operated wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail understand how important that meal is and are pleased to offer the following wine pairing suggestions for this year’s dinner.

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
Pink Passion is a perfect match for pork and sauerkraut or ham.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
Vin di Pasqualina is best served lightly chilled with lamb.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
The newly released 2009 Vignoles pairs nicely with ham, lamb or pork.

Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg
Seyval Blanc, a crisp, clean white wine similar to Pinot Grigio, with citrus- like characteristics, is fantastic with shellfish, fish and fowl.

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
Clover Hill Cuvee is a semi-sweet, traditionally made sparkling wine. It’s excellent as an aperitif or served as a Mimosa.

Franklin Hills Vineyards, Bangor
Kiss, which is a blend of Cayuga and Vidal with just a touch of Chambourcin, is perfect with an Easter dinner of turkey or ham.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
Vin Gris is a crisp rosé blended from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Chambourcin with hints of cherry, making it ideal to serve with ham or turkey.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
The 2009 Riesling is the perfect accompaniment to the Easter meal.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville
Vynecrest White is a versatile, semi-sweet, all-occasion dinner wine. It's a "house" blend of grapes with an aroma of apricots and green apples, with a soft pleasant finish.

Join the nine wineries of the Wine Trail on April 24 and 25 for their first A.V.A. (American Viticulture Area) Weekend, as they celebrate this important, new national designation. Visitors will learn about the uniqueness of the region’s soil that adds complexity to their wines.

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.