Vino in the Valley 2017 Food and Wine Pairings

Amore Vineyards –

Week 1 – Roast pork loin with applejack pan gravy and red skinned mash potatoes – Vidal Blanc

Week 2 – Three-cheese meat lasagna – Red Rapture or Cabernet Dolce

Week 3 – Beef Burgundy and bow tie pasta – Cabaret Amore or Chambourcin

Week 4 – Chicken medallions and pasta Florentine, roasted red peppers, artichokes and mushrooms in a light garlic wine sauce – Rose Amore

Big Creek –

March 4 and 5

Homemade Tomato Bisque with Crispy Pancetta and Grilled Cheese Crouton paired with Seyval for the dry wine drinkers or its sister wine, Dulcinea, fro the sweeter tastes.

March 11 and 12

Melon and Prosciutto with Balsamic Glaze paired with our Joi’, an off dry Muscat

March 18 and 19

Crostini with Beef Tenderloin and Horseradish Cream paired with our dry red wines.

March 25 and 26

Brie in Puff Pastry with Raspberry, Pecans and Green Onions paired with our Dulcinea or Apple Raspberry wines.

Blue Mountain –

All food prepared by Nick & Nikki Sandt with The Culinary Experience.

3/4 and 3/5

French Onion Soup with Toasted Garlic Crostini paired with 2015 Sauvignon Blanc

3/11 and 3/12

Garlic Herb Cavatappi Alfredo paired with 2015 Riesling

3/18 and 3/19

Chipotle Pulled Pork Crostini with a Cole Slaw Shooter paired with 2016 White Merlot

3/25 and 3/26

Mini Fish Tacos paired with 2012 Chardonnay

We are also offering complimentary live entertainment each Saturday from 1- 5 pm.

Clover Hill –

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery is proud to partner again this year with the K-Town Pub Taphouse & BBQ for our Vino in the Valley Food. This year passport holders will be treated to a Wings & Wine extravaganza! Each weekend will feature different wings and a vegetarian side dish perfectly paired with our wine.

March 4 and 5, 11 and 12

Chimichurri wings with a side of Vegetarian Baked Beans.  We will also be serving a new sangria.

Cayuga White will be paired with the Chimichurri wings – Chimichurri is an Argentina style sauce with parsley, cilantro and garlic

DeChaunac will be paired with homemade Vegetarian Baked Beans

March 18 and 19, 25 and 26

White BBQ wings with a side of Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad.  We will also be serving a new sangria.

Riesling will be paired with White BBQ wings – White BBQ is an Alabama style sauce made with mayonnaise, cider vinegar and sambal (and Asian chili)

Vidal Blanc will be paired with a K’Town Pub creation of Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad – corn, black beans and pasta with chili, lime and aioli

(Please note: a passport is required to take part in the wine and food pairings or you can purchase a pairing for $6 per person.)

Franklin Hill –

Franklin Hill Vineyards is partnering with their sister business Social Still in Bethlehem for an amazing food and wine pairing each weekend.

Week 1 - Short Rib Street Taco bowls, sweet onion, cilantro, pico de gallo and lime paired with our Trio.

Week 2 - Kiss will be paired with Korean Style Meatballs

Week 3 - White Jade will be paired with Mini Crab cakes finished in a celery root remoulade and peppadew sauce.

Week 4 - Venison Sloppy Joe Sliders and purple cabbage citrus slaw paired with Evanswood.

(Vegan option are also available all four weekends.)

Galen Glen –

Harvest of Land & Sea - a salad of smoked salmon with local vegetables and greens topped with dill, sour cream dressing and a rye toast point

Wine – Gruner Veltliner

Cuisine Partner - Chef Mark Muszynski, owner of farm-to-table restaurant Curious Goods at the Bake Oven Inn http://bakeoveninn.com/

Pinnacle Ridge –

Pinnacle Ridge will be teaming up with the Lehigh Valley's own Taza Egyptian Cuisine Food Truck. Each weekend they'll feature some of their delicious signature recipes, which have been garnering rave reviews since they burst onto the culinary scene.

The Menu (everything is served with homemade pita chips):

March 4-5:

Garlicky Hummus

Baba Ghanoush - Smoky baked eggplant, pureed with homemade tahini and spices

Dry Option: 2016 Gruner Veltliner

Sweet Option: 2016 Vidal Blanc

March 11-12:

Gibna Beyda - Bulgarian feta mixed with spices, tomatoes, scallions, and olive oil topped with paprika

Marinated Eggplant - Lightly fried eggplant marinated with vinegar, fresh lemon and fresh pressed garlic

Dry Option: 2016 Dry Rose'

Sweet Option: 2015 Riesling

March 18-19:

Garlicky Hummus

Baba Ghanoush - Smoky baked eggplant, pureed with homemade tahini and spices

Dry Option: 2016 Gruner Veltliner

Sweet Option: 2016 Vidal Blanc

March 25-26:

Gibna Beyda - Bulgarian feta mixed with spices, tomatoes, scallions, and olive oil topped with paprika

Marinated Eggplant - Lightly fried eggplant marinated with vinegar, fresh lemon and fresh pressed garlic

Dry Option: 2016 Dry Rose'

Sweet Option: 2015 Riesling

Tolino Vineyards –

The Easton Public Market is a great place to drink Tolino wine and sample many different types of food. For Vino in the Valley, Tolino is brining the tastes of the market to the winery in Bangor. Each weekend we will feature a different vendor from the market, with live music every Saturday.

· March 3 and 4 –Chocodiem and live music Saturday by Gordon Ward. We will pair our Cabernet Franc with Chocodiem’s dark chocolate ganache tarts filled with an array of toppings including Himalayan sea salt, coconut flakes, nuts, cocoa nibs and more.

· March 11 and 12- Taza Stop and live music by George Baier. We will pair our Vidal Blanc with Taza’s Egyptian chili loaded with fava beans, ground beef  and lots of spices. 

·  March 18 and 19 - Barred and Broody Bake Shop and live music by Curious Dog. We will pair Papa’s Red with chocolate explosion cake, which is chocolate cake with buttercream icing, chocolate ganache and chocolate sprinkles.

·  March 25 and 26- More than Q and live music by Craig Sailer. Pulled pork from More than Q paired with Chardonnay.

Vynecrest –

March 4 and 5 - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck

Pairing Stuffed to the Grills Smoked Gouda Bites with Vynecrest’s DiVyne Red wine. Using PA Preferred September Farms Smoked Gouda wrapped in puff pastry and deep fried with a DiVyne Red drizzle.

March 11 and 12 - Cibo Italian Food Truck

Domenico will be sharing two of his favorite pizzas all weekend, made fresh on-site from his food truck Cibo. He will offer a vegetarian pizza with peppers and mushrooms as well as a cheese pizza topped with bacon. Both pizzas will be paired with Vynecrest Red, and old favorite and perfect pizza wine.

March 18 and 19 - Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck

Pairing Stuffed to the Grills Roasted Vegetable Orzo Salad with Vynecrest’s semi-sweet Riesling wine. Roasted eggplant, red onion, peppers, and garlic tossed with orzo, basil, green onions, and feta cheese in a lemon olive oil dressing.

March 25 and 26 - la bottega & dei PANINI

Domenico will be unveiling his new food truck for the first time here at Vynecrest all weekend and will be featuring a wide array of sandwiches, paninis and heroes.  Specifically, for the food pairing, he will be featuring his classic Italian hero, with ham, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, and oil and vinegar. We will pair our Vynecrest White with this masterpiece all weekend.

Get to know our wineries and their wines during our six annual events in 2017

Each year the wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail hold six special events to bring wine lovers together and to introduce newbies to local wine.

All events take place at our nine wineries except for Wine on the Mountain which takes place at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe.

Hours for all events are 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, and noon - 5 p.m. on Sunday, except for Wine on the Mountain which is noon - 5 p.m. both days. We hope to see you on the trail!


Vino in the Valley Passport Program
March 4 and 5, 11 and 12, 18 and 19, 25 and 26, 2017

Purchase a passport for $35 and then visit each of our wineries during the four weekends in March to enjoy food and wine pairings. (See right side column for more details.)

Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing Event
May 20 and 21, 2017

Each winery will select one of its wines to pair with the perfect cheese and will offer complimentary tastings of the pairing to wine lovers.

Wine on the Mountain
July 22 and 23, 2017

Hit the road and head to Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe for this wine festival which includes wine samples from local wineries in a commemorative glass, live music, food for purchase, and local crafters and artisans selling wine-related merchandise.

Harvest Weekend
September 9 and 10, 2017

Our wineries welcome you for 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 producers of other Pennsylvania products.

Chambourcin Weekend
October 21 and 22, 2017

Wine lovers will be introduced to the Chambourcin wine grape, the only wine grape that is grown by all nine of our trail's wineries.

Nouveau Weekend
November 18 and 19, 2017

Our wineries debut the first wines from the new vintage, as well as other new wine releases, during the last Wine Trail event of the year.

10 important things to know about Vino in the Valley Passport Program

Below are a few things to know about our annual Passport Program.

If you are new to this event, please take a moment to also read the five steps that explain how the program works and our tips for traveling the trail HERE.

1. The event takes place at all nine of our wineries weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) in March. Winery hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon - 5 p.m. on Sunday. HOWEVER: our wineries will all be closed on Sunday 3/27 for the Easter holiday. So the last weekend of the event is only one day - Saturday 3/26. 
2. Online passport sales close on Friday 2/26, so place your order soon! Passports are mailed out via first class USPS and need 3-4 days to arrive in the mail prior to the starting weekend of the event. You MUST have a passport to use for the event. Printing out an online receipt for your passport order will not work.
3. Passports can also be purchased in person (cash or check only please) at our member wineries. HOWEVER: wineries are starting to sell out of their supplies of passports. Big Creek and Blue Mountain are already sold out. So be sure to call ahead before going to a winery to buy passports just to make sure they still have some left to sell to you!
4. Write your name on your passport as soon as you get it and record your passport number somewhere in case you lose it at one of our wineries. This way we can return it to you!
5. Pick up your passport holder gift - a t-shirt and logoed wine glass - at the winery indicated by the number on the top corner of your passport. There is a small chart on the front of the passport that correlates passport numbers to wineries. It indicates which winery you should collect your gift at. 
6. Wine and food pairings at each winery are tasting sized, so they are small. They are just meant to be a sample of each. Please do not expect large portions or a small meal. Review the list of pairings HERE. 
7. Start at any winery and visit the rest in any order you wish. Consider planning out your visits in advance based on your favorite food and wine pairings each weekend. 
8. Get your passport stamped at each winery you visit. When you have collected at least 8 stamps, fill out the contact information on the bottom front of the passport, tear it off and turn it in at the last winery you visit. This will get you entered into a Grand Prize Drawing to win wine trail gift certificates. 
9. Please expect the wineries to be VERY busy! Saturdays are busier than Sundays in general, and the first two weekends of the event tend to be busier than the last two are.
10. If you will be traveling with a group, please be sure to review the Group Guidelines HERE before heading out.

2016 Vino in the Valley March Passport Event - food and wine pairings

Amore -

Week 1 – Three Cheese Meat Lasagna – Cabaret Amore

Week 2 – Italian Wedding Soup – Vidal Blanc

Week 3 – Grilled Italian Chicken in a Vodka Sauce over cavatelli pasta – Cayuga

Week 4 – Chicken medallions and pasta florentine, roasted red peppers, artichokes, and mushrooms in a lite garlic wine sauce – Chambourcin

Big Creek - will offer “Cuban Sopa de Frijoles Negros” paired with our Dry White Seyval.

Blue Mountain -

Week 1: Italian Pulled Pork made by Giovanni’s Gourmet Italian Catering paired with 2013 Sauvignon Blanc

Week 2: Penne Pasta in White Wine Sauce w/Goat Cheese & Cranberries made by Fenstermacher Catering paired with 2012 Chardonnay

Week 3 – Red Wine Pumpkin Chili paired with 2014 Chambourcin

Week 4 – Mushroom and Blue Cheese Napoleons paired with 2010 Merlot

Clover Hill - Featuring food from the newly renovated K-Town Pub Taphouse & BBQ who specializes in authentic Southern style BBQ.

Weeks 1 & 2

Duo of tacos with a side of homestyle mac & cheese. We will also be serving signature sangria.

Pinot Grigio paired with Brisket Taco ~ Texas-Style smoked beef brisket served on a flour tortilla with shredded lettuce, Pico de Gallo and Cotija cheese.

Chardonnay paired with Pulled Pork Taco ~ Smoked and pulled port shoulder served on a flour tortilla with a mustard-vinegar BBQ sauce and apple slaw.

Weeks 3 & 4     

Duo of sliders with a side of homestyle mac & cheese. We will also be serving signature sangria.

Turtle Rock Red paired with a Turkey Slider ~ Smoked Turkey, sage aioli, cornbread stuffing, cranberry BBQ sauce on a brioche slide.

Oak Vidal Blanc paired with a smoked meatball, red wine BBQ sauce, onion marmalade, asiago, on a brioche slider. 

Franklin Hill -

Week 1 – Gourmet Crab Mac & Cheese paired with Seyval Blanc

Week 2 – Mini Short Rib Cheese Steaks paired with Evanswood

Week 3 – Seafood Chowder with Oyster Crackers paired with White Jade

Week 4 – Cashew Chicken Salad Croissant Sliders paired with Catawba

Galen Glen - will be sharing its enthusiasm for wine, food and conversation with guests.

Inspiration ~ The Dolomites, fusion of German & Italian cultures, where the land has changed hands countless times over the centuries

Suppe/Zuppa ~ Cream of Horseradish & Potato, hearty fare fit for a winter day

Wine ~ Gewurztraminer, born in this region of Northeast Italy circa 1000AD

Pinnacle Ridge - American Classics theme

Week 1 – Louisiana Classic – Jambalaya (vegetables, rice with sausage and other meats) paired with our 2015 Dry Vidal or 2014 Vidal Blanc.

Week 2 – pulled pork slider with our 2013 Chambourcin and 2014 Quaff.

Week 3 – Senate Bean Soup - a soup that has been offered in the Senate dining room daily since the early 1900s - paired with 2014 Chardonnay or 2015 Cayuga.

Week 4 – Mac and Cheese paired with 2014 Merlot or 2014 Quaff

Tolino - will have a taste of some of the best Lehigh Valley Food Trucks.

March 5 and 6 - pairing Papa’s Red with hummus, baba ghanoush or gibna beyda, (marinated eggplant) served with homemade pita chips made by the Taza Truck

March 12 and 13 - pairing Pinot Grigio with mini pierogies with bacon and cheese made by the Aioli Food Truck

March 19 and 20 - pairing white blend, Lilly, paired with Taza’s falafel bites with tahini sauce

March 26 - lemon bars from Trixies Treats Food Truck paired with Sunnyside, a sweet red

Free live music will be available on Saturdays: Robin and Jim on 3/5; Chris Cummings Jazz Trio on 3/12; Chuck Schubert on 3/19; and George Baier on 3/26. Also on Saturday, 3/26 the winery will welcome the Easter Bunny in a helicopter from noon  until 2 p.m. for pictures (weather permitting).

Vynecrest -

Week 1

Vynecrest will be working with the local food truck Stuffed to the Grills who will be featuring their Brie Bites with our 2014 semi-sweet Riesling. The Brie Bites are puff pastry wrapped brie, deep fried and drizzled with a raspberry sauce and powdered sugar which pairs exceptionally with the acid and slight sweetness of our Riesling.  The Stuffed to the Grills food truck will be on site all weekend as well with a full array of menu items for sale for passport holders and non-passport holders alike.

Week 2

Vynecrest will be working with the BOB-B-Q Food Truck who will be featuring their Pulled Pork with our 2014 Lemberger.  Bob's pulled pork is smoked 14 hours and rubbed in his "World famous seasonings" and even promises to have some Vynecrest Lemberger in the recipe.  The BOB-B-Q food truck will be on site all weekend as well with a full array of menu items for sale for passport holders and non-passport holders alike.

Week 3

Vynecrest will be working with the local food truck Stuffed to the Grills who will be featuring their Brie Bites with our 2014 semi-sweet Riesling. The Brie Bites are puff pastry wrapped brie, deep fried and drizzled with a raspberry sauce and powdered sugar which pairs exceptionally with the acid and slight sweetness of our Riesling.  The Stuffed to the Grills food truck will be on site all weekend as well with a full array of menu items for sale for passport holders and non-passport holders alike.

Week 4

Vynecrest will be working with the BOB-B-Q Food Truck who will be featuring their Slow Roasted Chicken with our 2014 Traminette.  Bob's chicken will brined in our Traminette and cooked "slow" and "low".  The BOB-B-Q food truck will be on site all weekend as well with a full array of menu items for sale for passport holders and non-passport holders alike.

Vino in the Valley 2015 raffle prize winners

Here is the list of winners for this year's Vino in the Valley raffle prizes. 

Each of them will receive in the mail a $25 Lehigh Valley Wine Trail gift certificate to be used for wine only.  (We apologize for any name misspellings - some handwriting was hard to read!)

Mark Wawrzenski - King of Prussia
Robin Hartung - Coopersburg
Linda Cantrel - Easton
Harry Miller - Blakeslee
Jerry Fry - Allentown
Karen Fowler - Bethlehem
Dylan Powers - Blandon
Nina Kressley - Easton
Jessica Kunsman - Easton
Scott Felchock - Bethlehem
Carla Conarty - Lehighton
Mildred Bentler - Hackettstown
Wendy Beltz - Germansville
Carole Kalman - Hellertown
Ann Rawlinson - Bushkill
Kris Hamm - Slatington
Jesse  Smith  -Bangor
Kirsten Mondillo - Allentown
Lynda Reynolds - Harrisburg
Al  Setzer - Emmaus
Roberta Heiser - Slatington
David  Mann - Bethlehem
Derek Weikel - Allentown
Edie Fella - Schnecksville
Lori Rathman - Ephrata
Dan Osle - Sinking Springs
Donne  Smith - New Tripoli
David Heard - Bangor
Jim Fliszar - Nazareth
Harold Nolt - Fleetwood

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.

Vineyard Tours, Wine Tastings and PA Preferred Partners Highlight Our Annual Harvest Weekend Celebration

On Saturday, Sept. 8 and Sunday, Sept. 9, the members of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will celebrate the grape harvest with its annual Harvest Weekend event. The eight wineries will welcome wine lovers for tastings, vineyard and winery tours, food and wine pairings, and live entertainment.

The wineries 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. Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon - 5 p.m.

*Please note: Harvest Weekend is a free event; however, each winery sets its own wine tasting fee policy. Please refer to the Wine Trail’s web site or each winery’s web site for details.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit 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 on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.

HARVEST WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth - Will pair asiago and risotto bites with Cabaret Amore as well as assorted quiche with Chardonnay. In addition, their fall hardy mums and fresh home grown fruits and vegetables will be available at the roadside market as well as sweet corn, tomatoes, melons and peaches.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville - Will offer fresh, tree-ripened fruit from nearby Heckman Orchards.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – On Saturday enjoy free live music from 1-4 p.m. and take a self-guided vineyard tour. On Sunday, take a self-guided vineyard tour, and join them for Sunday Blues from 2-5 p.m. ($5 admission) with The Large Flowerheads. Reservations are recommended for Sunday Blues.

Both days, try samples of kiffles and rolls including walnut, raspberry, apricot, Nutella, peanut butter and chocolate, and strawberry and chocolate. The samples of rolls will be walnut, apricot, and poppy seed.

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville – Will partner with Unique Pretzel Bakery, Inc., of Reading. Just as the winery is a family-owned and operated business, Unique Pretzel Bakery is family owned since the late 1800’s. Since Unique Pretzel Bakery’s last visit to Clover Hill they have grown and are producing new products that they will be sharing. Pair a Unique chocolate covered pretzel with a glass of Clover Hill Turtle Rock Red. 

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor – Will celebrate the beauty of their rolling countryside and the delectable fruits of their labors along with local favorites McCollian’s Pure Honey, Kachline's apples, Klein’s cheese and an array of snacks and wine. Take a leisurely tour of the winery at noon and 2 p.m., or kick back on the deck or picnic area and enjoy the sounds of Robert Michaels as he serenades guests.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas – Will feature tractor and wagon tours of the vineyard and cellar, departing each day at 1, 2, 3, & 4 p.m. (weather permitting).  Enjoy lunch or a snack from Love Hot Dog Co (http://lovehotdogco.com) who will be selling gourmet sausages, dogs and chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick from their mobile restaurant.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - Will hold its annual Blues in the Barn event. On Saturday, the Wallace Brothers Band will perform at 12:30 pm and the Mighty Manatees from Montgomery County will take the stage at 4 p.m.  On Sunday, the James Supra Blues Band entertains at 1 p.m., with the Kelchner Brothers taking the stage at 4:30 p.m.  Chef Ben will have pulled pork sandwiches and other goodies available for sale.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville - Has invited their fellow PA Preferred Macungie Farmers Market vendors to set up booths in the winery’s parking lot both days from noon to 4 p.m. They include Bleiler's Produce Patch (organic produce), Mrs. McNabb’s Baked Beans (beans, macaroni salad, pierogies), and Hereford Country Store (quiches, cakes).

The winery will offer samples of Hereford Country Store’s lemon poppy seed pound cake paired with Blueberry Wine. Art’s Acoustic Oldies will be playing live in the Vyneskeller from 1:30-4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Go on a guided Winemaker’s Tour at 1 p.m. both days. Tours are open to the public and free of charge.