Vino in the Valley 2017 prize drawing reminder

Reminder - the Vino in the Valley 2017 raffle prize drawing for 10 Lehigh Valley Getaway Prize Packages is next Monday 4/17.

You have until THIS FRIDAY April 14 to drop off your complete passport stub (located at the bottom of your passport) at one of our wine trail's 9 wineries or mail it to Discover Lehigh Valley (mailing address on back of passport in event overview section).

The list of winners will be posted on our web site, in our Taste of the Trail blog, and on our Facebook page.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail - Valentine's Day/Weekend events

Amore

Weekend of 2/11 & 12 - We will be pairing dark chocolate with Rapport, Blackberry bliss, and Cabaret Dolce. (pairing included in the regular $5 wine tasting fee.)

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Blue Mountain

February is the month of love. Love makes the world go round, but chocolate and wine makes the trip worthwhile. Every Saturday and Sunday in February, savor a delicious cupcake from local baker, The Buttered Crumb, or indulge in three decadent handmade chocolate truffles from local chocolatier, Sweet Finesse. Enjoy them with your favorite wine in their glass-enclosed room with cozy fireplaces overlooking the vineyard.

Wondering what to do for Valentine's Day? Try something a little different! Impress your significant other with a romantic candlelit dinner catered by The Culinary Experience. Enjoy soulful music provided by Jean Therapy Combo, and a souvenir glass to take home to remember this magical night. Tickets must be purcahsed by 2/3/17. Limited tickets. Ages 21 and older only

When: February 10 (snow date February 25)

Time: 6-9 pm; Dinner is served at 6 pm

Where: Blue Mountain Vineyards

Cost: $110/couple (+tax) includes two souvenir glasses, live music, catered dinner, and a glass of wine with dinner.

MENU

Appetizers

Roast Beef Crostinis

Arancini Balls

Mini Pineapple Pulled Pork Sliders

Dinner

Top Round Carving Station

Breaded Chicken Cutlet

Garlic Alfredo Sauce Cavatappi Pasta

Vegetable Medley

Caesar Salad

Fresh Baked Dinner Rolls

Dessert is provided by The Buttered Crumb. Chocolate mousse with handmade whipped cream, fresh berries, and two chocolate hearts on top.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: You can’t go wrong with a limited -dition wine and a simple, but delicious pasta dish to impress your lover on Valentine’s Day. We recommend their 2013 Cabernet Franc, which is a medium-bodied dry red with bright fruit and herb notes, paired with Portobello Mushroom Parmesan. Find the recipe at their website: http://www.bluemountainwine.com/portobelloparmesan.html

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Clover Hill

Beat The Winter Blues with a Wine Slushie Weekend

The Winery in Breinigsville

February 4 & 5 from noon - 4 p.m.

Slushies are available for purchase by the glass.

Forget the cold weather and join us for a little wine slushie fun. They will be wearing their best island outfits, Caribbean music will be playing and will be serving wine slushies by the glass. Slushies will be $6 by the glass (you keep the glass) and $5 refills.

Love Flights

The Winery in Breinigsville

February 11, 12, 13 & 14; noon - 4 p.m. each day

Reservations required (limited availability); $12 per flight

Love Flights is a sweet way to do a casual tasting of 4 wines each perfectly paired with a sweet treat. If you want to join us for Love Flights call us and make a reservation. They will need to know what day you would like to attend, how many people will be joining you and if you prefer dry or sweet wines. Please call 610-395-2468 for reservations.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: They just released the 2013 Merlot. The wine is fuller bodied with a touch of sweet oak and vanilla on the taste. If you are planning a special steak dinner, this wine would be a delightful partner.

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Franklin Hill

Valentine’s Day dinner at Social Still featuring Franklin  Hill’s not-yet-released Cask 530

February 14

$60/person

Join the winery Valentine's Day evening at Social Still and be one of the first to try our soon to be released Cask 530, a bourbon-barrel aged Chambourcin.

Course 1: Appetizer served with a Signature Cocktail

Smoked Beef Carpaccio with preserved lemon, smoked salt, arugula and kalamata olives

or

Prince Edward Island mussels, shallots, garlic absinthe, herbs, with charred bread

Course 2: Salad or Soup

Baby lettuce, blood orange, fennel, roasted beets, with candied hazelnut vinegrette

or

Wild mushroom soup with truffle foam

Course 3: Entree served with Franklin Hill Vineyards Local Wine

Thai style grilled lancaster free range chicken with fingerling sweet potatoes, green papaya salad and a sweet sambal sauce

or

Chimichurri marinated skirt steak, cheesy soft polenta, garlic spinach

Course 4: Dessert

Molten Chocolate cake, berry sauce, with white chocolate ganache

Tickets available online: https://www.opentable.com/social-still

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Galen Glen

Every Saturday and Sunday in February

Wine & Local Chocolate Pairings

Savor a delicious brownie with peanut butter icing from local baker, Mama C’s or three decadent handmade chocolate truffles from local chocolatier, Steve Evans with a glass of their wine.

Saturday, February 11 & Sunday, February 12

Noon to 2 pm

Romance Book Signing

She writes sweet. She writes steamy. Meet local, award-winning author, Autumn Jordan and take home your signed copy of her Valentine’s Day romance novel, Perfect Hearts. She will also be signing Perfect, Seized By Darkness and her newest release, Obsessed By Darkness. Books are $10 each (cash only).  Autumn has been recognized by the Romance Writers of America as a National Golden Heart® finalist and is a Golden Leaf Winner.  Recently, she received a “Best Indie Romance Author” nomination from Amazon’s Kindle Book Reviewers for Seized By Darkness.  More at www.autumnjordon.com.

Wine Pairing Suggestion: Their favorite treats for Valentine’s Weekend, paired with wine:

Galen loves raw oysters with his Stone Cellar Riesling and Fossil Riesling.

Sarah has a glass of their sparkling Gruner Veltliner with tuna and salmon sashimi.

For dessert – Sarah’s homemade tiramisu with their port style Barrel Twenty-Nine.

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Pinnacle Ridge

Weekend of Feb 11-12:

This year we’re teaming up with our good friends at the Mediterranean Café & Grill in Fogelsville. They’ll be baking some crispy, flaky baklava, filled with honey, cashews, pistachios – and most importantly, drizzled with chocolate.

This delectable treat will be paired with our new 2016 Vidal Blanc – a wine made in the classic Germanic tradition of stopped fermentation. Aromas of peaches and nectarines are intermingled with a clean minerality. The naturally retained sweetness blends with the flavors and crispness for a perfect finish.

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Tolino

Valentine's Day Weekend (2/11 and 2/12) Tolino will feature chocolate truffles by JP Hepp of Chocodiem.  JP was named one of North America's top 10 chocolatiers by the Institute of Culinary Education.  Live music on Saturday by George Baier and Erin McClelland on Sunday.

At Tolino’s Easton Public Market booth they will be doing a demonstration on February 8 from 5-7 pm in the community kitchen with JP of Chocodiem pairing their wines with various chocolates.

Wine Pairing Suggestion - pair their Cabernet Franc with dark chocolate for traditionalists, and Lilly with white chocolate for adventurers.

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Vynecrest

Valentine Weekend - February 11 & 12

Vynecrest Winery will be serving brunch in the Vyneskeller from 10 am to 1 pm, reservations required. It is an a la carte menu of mimosas for $3 and an assortment of sweet treats such as chocolate-covered strawberries, almond croissants, cheese pockets, chocolate éclairs, apple Danish and petit fours. They will be taking advanced orders for personal-sized cakes for two to share for $7 each: Oreo Cream and German-Chocolate. Steve Myers will be playing romantic songs on the Baby grand piano 10 am - 4 pm, and 1 – 4 pm on Sunday.

They will also feature both days from 11 am – 4:30 pm a flight of three wines and three chocolates for $10 (no reservations needed).  They will pair the following from Billy’s Candies in Temple, Pa. with their Vynecrest wines:  Sparkling Traminette with Milk Chocolate Covered Strawberries; Vynecrest Red paired with Chocolate Figaro Hazelnut Truffles; and Cherry Divyne paired with solid Dark Chocolate Hearts. Vynecrest.com. 610-398-7525.

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.

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.