Vynecrest invites wine lovers to join them for Brunch and a Ballgame on April 19

The weather is finally starting to warm up. That means the dormant buds on the vine will begin to swell and eventually open, signaling the start of the 2015 growing season.

April Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Riesling, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 DiVyne Red for $25.

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

Upcoming Events

April and May - Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm. Free admission.


April 19 - Brunch and a Ballgame

Come out and celebrate spring as we showcase Food, Wine and the Phillies on April 19 from 11 am - 5 pm. Highlights include the following:

* Signature sangrias on special for $3 from 11 am - 1 pm.

* FUD truck on site all day.

* Phillies vs. Nationals in the Vyneskeller starting at 1:35 pm.

* Patio will be open.

Pop on in, catch a few innings, grab a bite to eat and glass of wine, and kiss winter goodbye.

Sunday, April 26 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm.

May 16 and 17 - Spring Wine and Cheese Event

This event features the pairing of cheeses with local wines at each of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's nine member wineries. This year’s event theme is “Local Wine with Cheeses from Around the World.” 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.

Glass Half Empty
by Jim Hutchings

With the arrival of April, I look back on the busy month we leave behind. March is the true beginning of the year for me from a winery perspective. It’s when the vines start to awaken and the weather typically begins to turn from the blustery cold winter to the beautiful springtime.

Vino in the Valley is what brings many of our longtime customers out of hibernation as well. While I see many customers several times throughout the year, there are others who I look forward seeing on their annual pilgrimage each March. It’s a good time to reflect on what’s new on our wine list from their last visit and think about what’s in the works for the year to come.

This year we saw Cabernet Franc (a favorite grape of mine) taken off of the list but in its place is a real winner: No. 36, a Merlot-based blend which shows how great Merlot from the Lehigh Valley can be. Some of our Cabernet Franc has made it into this blend as well, so that old friend is not too far away.

The conclusion of March also officially kicks off our 2015 festival season - we’ll be setting up with some of our other winery friends this Saturday, April 4 at Bear Creek Mountain Resort for their Spring Wine Festival. That fun festival gets us chatting with our fellow winery workers and prepares us for the rest of the summer festivals including Split Rock in June, Penn’s Peak in July, and of course the many Lehigh Valley Wine Trail events hosted at each of the nine member wineries for the rest of the year. March is over, winter is over… we’re looking for the next new and exciting release out of our winery so bring on the summer and another fantastic growing season in the vineyard!

Upcoming events at Clover Hill

Annual Wine Rack Sale
February 12-22

At all Clover Hill locations

Shop any Clover Hill location and save 30% off all in stock wine racks.


Love Flights
The Winery in Breinigsville
February 13 -  15 from noon - 5 pm
Tickets required - $9 per flight

Bring someone you love to the Winery in Breinigsville and enjoy a Love Flight. Flights will consist of four wines paired with four samples of cheeses. You will have your choice between a mixed flight of dry and off-dry wines, or a sweet flight.

Each flight is $9 per person. Tickets are limited so get yours early. For tickets, please call 610.395.2468 or visit the Winery in Breinigsville.

Wine & Food Inspiration
Saturday, February 14 from 11 am - 4 pm
The Wine Shop at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market

Stop in the Wine Shop for a perfect pairing for Valentine’s Day. We will offer samples of Blackberry Sparkler paired with chocolate truffle torte from the Amish Village Bake Shop.

Buck A Bottle Shipping Special
February 26- March 1
shop.cloverhillwinery.com

Stock up on Clover Hill wines and have them shipped right to your door. Purchase six or more bottles online and pay only $1 per bottle shipping (minimum order is six bottles to receive the discount). Purchase 12 or more bottles and also receive a 10% case discount along with $1 per bottle shipping charge.

Vino in the Valley Passport Program (formerly called March Passport Program)

A Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event
The Winery in Breinigsville
March 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29
*Passport required - $35 per person

Passports are selling quickly, so don’t wait to get yours online here. View the list of food and wine pairings from all nine wine trail wineries here.

This year’s passport holder gift is a wine backpack. It is recommended that you plan to visit no more than three wineries a day so you can get the most enjoyment out of your experience without being rushed. Groups of 12 or more are by appointment only. To participate in our wine and food pairings you either need a passport, or you can purchase a ticket for the day to sample Clover Hill’s pairings for $5 per person.

Clover Hill is excited to have Chef Nathan return with a fantastic menu:

March 7, 8, 14, 15
Aleppo pepper taco with shaved cabbage and vinaigrette paired with Vidal Blanc
Spiced apple crepe with whipped topping paired with Vignoles

March 21, 22, 28, 29
Sweet Thai turkey marinated skewer paired with Riesling

Taste and buy wine at the Vynecrest booth at Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem starting this weekend

The 2014 harvest is over and it feels good to take a breath before the busy holiday season begins.

Vino in the Valley 2015 passports are now on sale for $35 each. Christkindlmarkt starts Nov. 20 and runs through Dec 21. It is open Thursdays 11 am - 6 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 11 am - 8 pm, and Sundays 11 am - 6 pm (closed Thanksgiving Day).

Our winery's gift area has locally made products that make wonderful gifts for teachers, hostesses, family and friends. Soy candles, crackers, dips, cheese. Remember we have make your own baskets ($5 for basket and wrapping) where you add whatever wine, candles, cheese, crackers, dips, wine gifts you want and we'll make it up for you.

November Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Spiced Winter Red 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - Pinot Grigio, 3 for $35

Wine of the month and 3 pack available at winery only; 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts.

Thank you to everyone who purchased our wine of the month during October. One dollar of every bottle purchased during October went towards a donation to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. We sold over 500 bottles. Thank you.

New Vynecrest Website

Check out our new website, www.vynecrest.com. We have updated our website with additional information on our wines, more pictures of the vineyard & winery and have made it easier to order wine online.

To help kick things off we are going to pick randomly select one person who ordered during the month of November to win a Vynecrest gift basket.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 20 - Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem at SteelStacks opens for the holiday season. Visit our booth for wine tastings and sales.

Nov. 30 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm

Glass Half Empty by John Landis

Harvest! When I mention harvest to people, everyone has their own perception of what that is.

For us harvest is the culmination of eight months of vineyard effort to produce grapes of high quality. For us harvest is the camaraderie of working together to hand pick, crush and press the grapes.
For us harvest is being outside enjoying the cool clear days with spectacular fall colors of gold, orange, brown and red.
For us harvest is relief that no major disaster like hurricanes or tornadoes damaged our vineyard.
For us the 2014 harvest has been exceptional.
Finally, for us harvest is the anticipation and excitement of tasting the wines that will be produced. Harvest - what a wonderful time of year!

A month full of special events in August at Galen Glen

Luau Weekend
Saturday, August 2, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, August 3, noon to 5 pm

We chose this theme because August is the anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state, plus it was a bottle of wine from Hawaii that inspired Galen & Sarah to plant the first vines. On Saturday, the Love Food Truck will be here selling tropical-themed menu items and on Sunday, we welcome Food on a Roll--Ellen's Edibles with Hawaiian-inspired comfort food items. Plan to purchase a great lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine on one of our patios.

Walking Tours of the Vineyard and Wine Cellar
August 2, and 3; 30 and 31

On these dates we will hold one walking tour each day at noon. You will depart the tasting room with your guide and meander through the vines to our wine cellar then back to the tasting room. The tours are held weather permitting and we advise wearing sturdy foot gear (sneakers or boots). Tours are complimentary and no reservations are required.

S'more Days of Summer
Saturday, August 9, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, August 10, noon to 5 pm

The last month of summer is here already. Gather your peeps and join us for a complimentary, fun wine and s'more pairing that is sure to evoke campfire memories.

Appetizer and Cheese Wine Pairing 
Saturday, August 16
1 pm - $10 per person
Reservations required

Enjoy a sit-down wine, cheese and appetizer pairing with five of our favorite wines and foods. There is very limited seating, and reservations are required with payment at time of reservation. Please call the winery during normal business hours at 570-386-3682 to make your reservation.

Love Hot Dog Company Returns
On Sunday, August 17 from noon to 5 pm, Jason and the crew from Love Hot Dog Company will make their monthly pilgrimage to the vineyard with a truckload of gourmet sausages and dogs. Recently, one of our customers described the bacon jam like a religious experience. You won't want to miss this. Purchase lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine while you drink in our spectacular views.

Winemaker's Dinner
Please plan to join us for our next winemaker's dinner at The Broadway Grille and Pub.
Thursday, September 4 at 7 pm.
See the menu here.

So Long Summer Slushies
August 23 and 24
As summer draws to a close we say goodbye to a favorite treat, our wine slushies. Wrap up summer with this frozen wine treat. One taste of our legendary wine slushies and you will be imagining pitchers of this frozen concoction at your next party. Slushies will be available for sampling on the wine bar and for purchase at $4 a glass each day while supplies last.

Vynecrest to celebrate 40 years in business this weekend!

Join us July 19 & 20 as we celebrate our 40th anniversary in conjunction with Christmas in July. We will have a tent set up in the picnic area, awesome food pairings and live music Saturday and Sunday. More details can be found below.

It is that time of year again - July 17 through July 20, mention this blog post and get 25% off 12 or more bottles. For customers who can't make it to the winery, we are offering free shipping on 6 or more bottles during the same time period, July 17 - 20. No discount code is needed at checkout; you just need to have 6 or more bottles in your cart. This discount applies to online orders only; phone-in orders will be subject to normal shipping prices.

July Specials 
- Wine of the Month - Lemberger - additional 10% off*
- 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold $25*

*available at winery only

Upcoming Events at the Winery

July 17 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm

July 17-20 - Christmas in July, 25% off a case or more (at winery only)

July 19 & 20 - Anniversary Weekend, 11 am - 5 pm

You are cordially invited to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery

* Tent will be set up in the picnic area

* Live music in the tent: The Rotten Apples 1:30 - 4:30 pm on Saturday, and AMoS Duo (guitars) 1:30 - 4:30 pm on Sunday

Food for purchase from The Fud Truk coordinated to complement our wines:

• Spicy Sweet Chili chicken Wrap - Crisp Chicken, tender bib lettuce & Traminette pickled carrots and red onio
• Peppery Arugula Wrap - Herb Boursin cheese, fresh orange segments & dried cherries tossed w/Chardonnay vinaigrette
• Hickory Smoked Bratwurst - served on a crusty roll w/caramelized onion Chambourcin marmalade
• Tender Short Rib Sandwich  - Lemberger-braised short rib topped with creamy Brie & spicy Arugula
• Grilled Cheese - smoked Gouda & roasted red peppers & Summertime Red Chimichurri spread

Hot Dogs - Because you gotta have hot dogs

July 24 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7pm

July 26 & 27 - Wine on the Mountain

Hit the road and head to Penn’s Peak in nearby Jim Thorpe for this festival which includes wine samplings from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries in your own commemorative glass. Relax with a glass of wine on the panoramic outdoor deck with a view of Beltzville Lake and the Pocono Mountains. Or stay inside in air conditioned comfort while listening to live musical entertainment.

Browse through the displays from local artisans and crafters selling handmade décor, accessories, and food items. Or purchase food to pair with your wine from the Penn’s Peak kitchens.

All of the wineries will also be selling wine by the bottle and the case to take home with you. So come prepared to shop. Live musical entertainment will be provided both days. Tickets are required for this event. The event hours are noon – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

TICKETS: $15 in advance or $20 at the door the weekend of the event. (Tickets are good for ONE day of the event, not both days.)

WHERE TO BUY: Tickets for Wine on the Mountain are now on sale via EventBrite (credit card only) here, and also at our nine member wineries (cash only) for in-person sales.

July 27 - Vineyard & Winery Tour at noon, $5 per person

July 31 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7pm

Upcoming Events at Vynecrest on Main in Kutztown

July 18 & 19 - Anniversary weekend celebration

Anniversary weekend: light appetizers from Wholesome Food, live music, and plenty of wine. Come celebrate with us from noon - 6 pm. Live music starts at 4 pm. Drawings will be held every hour to celebrate our event.

July 25 - Painting with Wine

Join us for a glass of wine, light appetizers from Wholesome Food, and wine glass to paint. $15 per person reservations a must. Price includes a glass of wine, a small appetizer plate, paints, brushes, one “empty” wine glass, and instruction. Aprons not provided. Painting a glass will not last three hours. You may come anytime with in the three hour time slot. RSVP by July 24 at sheri@vynecrest.com or 484-641-5149.

July 26 - A Summer Evening to Wine

Join us Saturday night for wine, appetizers from the Kutztown Tavern, and live music. Relax inside or on our back patio and enjoy the sounds of the season. The evening festivities will last from 5 - 8pm at $12 per person. Reservations a must. Email your RSVP to sheri@vynecrest.com or call 484-641-5149.

Blue Mountain Vineyards talks sulfites in wine, farmers' markets and private parties

MORE GRAPES, FEWER SULFITES
You hear about sulfites all the time when it comes to wine. So what does it really mean?

Sulfites are a naturally occurring compound that nature uses to prevent microbial growth. They are found on grapes, onions, garlic, and on many other growing plants.

Winemakers have been adding additional sulfites to wines for millennia. The Greeks and Romans used sulfur candles to sterilize their wine barrels. Sulfur protects damage to the wine caused by oxygen, and again helps prevent organisms from growing in the wine. This allows the wine to last longer too, which lets it age and develop all of those complex flavors we all love and enjoy so much. If you didn't add sulfites, the wine would turn into vinegar in a matter of months or sooner.

We pride ourselves in making wine that is low in sulfites. By not mass producing our wines they are able to be consumed without concern for most people who tend to be sensitive to sulfites. Small amounts of sulfites occur during the fermentation process so even wines labeled no added sulfites or organic contain sulfites.

PRIVATE PARTIES & RENTALS
Are you looking for that perfect place to celebrate a special occasion? The beautiful grounds and relaxed atmosphere of Blue Mountain Vineyards provide a unique venue for intimate parties, private tastings, corporate team building and other special celebrations. Events are held in our glass-enclosed deck and, weather permitting, our outdoor deck.

Maximum capacity is 100. Please visit us or call for details, availability and pricing.


FARMER'S MARKETS
We participate in numerous farmer's markets throughout the week. Let us come to you when you can't get to us. Visit www.bluemountainwine.com/farmers-markets to see if we're at a farmer's market near you!
     
SANGRIA SUNDAY WINE TASTING
Enjoy live entertainment on our outdoor or glass-enclosed deck with commanding views of the mountains and our vineyards. Gourmet cheeses and fresh baked bread are available for purchase, or bring your own snacks along. Admission $5 per person.

Please call for a reservation or go to www.bluemountainwine.com/events to purchase tickets and view our entertainment schedule. When you purchase your tickets online we will reserve a table for you and when you arrive we can offer you express seating.

Join Blue Mountain Vineyards this Saturday evening for the Candlelight Barrel Tasting event

Planting season at Blue Mountain Vineyards

Yes, that's Joe in the vineyard planting a Cabernet vine with his crutches beside him. It's been a long road back since his injury in late December and he is happy to be back in the vineyard working.  Usually the vines make it through the winter because we have grafted vines that our disease resistant and winter hardy. However, due to the harsh winter we are replacing over 2,000 vines.

Candlelight Barrel Tasting event this Saturday
May 31 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Join us for the Candlelight Barrel tasting of the 2013 vintages which was one our best harvests. Enjoy our wines accompanied by hors d'oeuvres while listening to live entertainment. We will be taking orders for futures of these wines that evening. Reservations preferred. Admission is $17.50 and includes a souvenir glass. You may order your tickets online at http://bluemountainwine.com/events or call the winery for tickets. Tickets are limited, so order yours now.

Sangria Sundays are back! 
The weather is finally getting warmer and we are excited to move our Sunday entertainment to our outdoor deck. Pick one of our delicious wines to make your own Sangria at your table. We always have a wonderful selection on DiBruno Bros. cheeses available and freshly baked bread but feel free to bring your own snacks and share around the table.

Call for a reservation or buy your tickets on line at http://bluemountainwine.com/events.
 
Farmers Market news
We are pleased to announce that we have added three new farmers market locations:

• Hatboro - Fridays from 6 pm to dusk 
• Chestnut Hill: Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm 
• Head House: Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm

Follow this link to see details of these markets and other farmers markets where we sell our wines. http://bluemountainwine.com/farmers-markets

Franklin Hill Vineyards introduces Carnival, its newest wine

Our newest wine will soon be one of your favorites. Carnival, a cotton candy infused wine, is now available at all of our locations including our web store. Stop in and try it today or buy online.

Upcoming events:

Wine in Bloom - a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event
May 17 & 18
Wine in Bloom is an event that celebrates the land, most importantly the soil that supports and nourishes our beautiful vines. In honor of this we will be making Dirt Dessert and pairing it with one of our newest award-winning wines, RedHead. Vineyard and winery tours will be available at noon and 2 p.m.

Taste of Pennsylvania Wine & Music Festival
May 17 & 18
First stop... York, Pa. The Taste of Pa Wine and Music Festival is two days of food, fun, music and wine.

The Great Pennsylvania Flavor Fest
May 24 & 25
Next up, is FlavorFest in Mt. Hope, Pa. Free admission, free parking and free wine tastings from over 20 wineries are only a few of the things FlavorFest offers.

Join us every Friday Happy Hour
Easton, Tannersville, and Bethlehem locations from 4-6 pm
The Winery in Bangor from 3-5 pm

Vynecrest looks forward to spring, bud break on the vines, and Wine in Bloom

The weather is finally starting to warm up. That means the dormant buds on the vine will begin to swell and eventually open, signaling the start of the 2014 growing season. Road work begins this week on the main road used to get to the winery (Schantz Road). Please see below for detour information.

April Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Dry Riesling, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 First Blush for $25.00

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

Upcoming Events

April and May -

Vynecrest Piano & Wine Bar in the Vyneskeller - Open every Saturday & Sunday from 1 - 5 p.m. (free admission)

Sunday, April 27 -

Jazz Sunday - live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 p.m. (free admission)

May 17 and 18 -

Wine in Bloom - a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event. We'll be offering vineyard and wine cellar tours at  1 p.m. both days. The first 25 customers each day gets a potted flower plant courtesy of Amore Greenhouses. Vynecrest will have free samples of cheese and dips available for tasting.

June 7 -

2nd Annual Spring Fling event with Clover Hill Winery & Vynecrest Winery - Ticket holders receive samples of three cheeses and three wines at Vynecrest, and three sweets and three wines at Clover Hill. Additional details to be announced later this month. $10 per person. Tickets available at both wineries.

Local Roadwork

We wanted to give everyone a heads-up regarding a roadwork project that began on April 7. A stretch of Schantz Road will be closed until Spring 2015. This will not affect anyone visiting Vynecrest from Rt. 22/78 and Rt. 100. You will still be able to get to our winery by traveling west on Schantz Road and making a right onto Arrowhead Lane.

For those visiting from the south (Reading/Berks/Kutztown areas) you have two choices to get to us:
1. Follow detour signs, continue on Rt. 222 to the bypass and follow our winery signs in that way.
2. Continue on Schantz Rd. up to where road closure begins and take a left on Adams Road. Once on Adams Road, continue 3/4 of a mile to Arrowhead Lane, make a right onto it and proceed 1 mile. Vynecrest will be on your right.

The section of Schantz Road that will be closed is right after Arrowhead Lane and stretches to the top of the hill where it intersects with Adams Lane. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Glass Half Empty
by John Landis

SPRING!

Today I threw the last piece of ice off my driveway. I look forward to waking up listening to birds chirping, the sun shining, and putting on short-sleeve shirts and shorts.

I look forward to sitting on the patio sipping wine and watching the flowers bloom and the Lehigh Valley turn from white to green. I look forward to the spring planting of grapes and seeing bud break in the vineyard. I look forward to the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail’s Wine in Bloom Weekend when I can give tours of our vineyard.

SPRING!

It is the start of our 2014 grape growing season and brings excitement and anticipation of another great harvest.

Cheers!

Ice wine returns to Galen Glen later this month

Ice wine time

While many have complained about the bitter-cold winter, remember every cloud has a silver lining.  Or in our case a liquid gold lining. These cold nights allowed us to again produce an ice wine. Sarah has just returned from Germany where she was told the wine is perfect. On Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 you will have the opportunity to sip perfection. Join us for a complimentary pairing of our Ice Wine with a Riesling bread pudding with Ice Wine cream topping.

Visitors from near and far

On Monday, February 17 Galen Glen hosted some special guests for a tasting. Mark Chien, Penn State University Vitaculturalist; an admired wine expert from California, Clark Smith, of Appellation America who enjoys writing, teaching and singing about wine (we were serenaded that day); and Craig LaBan, restaurant critic and drink columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.  It was a honor to share our wines and their company. Be sure to read Craig's newspaper article.

Important Case Club updates

Thank you to everyone who came in to renew their annual case club membership during February.  We trust you are enjoying the benefits of membership. Please mark your calendar for Friday, June 13 and Saturday, August 2 when we will host our exclusive Case Club events. We have not yet scheduled any winemakers dinners. However, as soon as we do, all 5,000 active Case Club members will be the first to learn of the dates, times and locations. That's right, locations. The new year is bringing some exciting changes to our winemaker's dinners. Not a member of the case club? Here's some info on it.

New vintages and upcoming events

March is a very exciting time in the tasting room as we debut many new vintages. Keep watching your email, inbox "like" us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter for updates on our new vintages that will soon be available for tasting.

2014 is a very exciting year full of fun events and opportunities to taste new wines, enjoy some time in the vineyard on a tour, and make new friends. Check out our calendar of events and plan to join us.

We invite you to be our guest and enjoy the tranquil beauty of the vineyard. We believe wine should be tasted where it's grown, with those involved in nurturing it from the soil to the glass. All wine to be enjoyed on our property is sold by-the-glass only. We require reservations for groups larger than five people. Reservations may be made by calling the winery at 570-386-3682. Please plan early as our reservation openings fill quickly for weekend dates.

2014 Wine Trail events and tips for exploring the trail

The wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail would like to wish everyone a happy 2014. We're excited for the year ahead and for our six annual events. We hope you will mark your calendar and plan to join us for one or more of them.

All but one of the events (Wine on the Mountain) are held at our member wineries. For a list of member wineries, as well as addresses and driving directions, please visit our web site. Remember that you must be at least 21 years of age to participate in our events, and designated drivers are always highly recommended and encouraged.

Each winery sets its own policy on wine tastings including fees and number of tastes per visit, as well as group visits and commercial vehicles such as limos, buses and vans. Be sure to call ahead or go to each winery's respective web site before planning your visit. All events take place Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday noon - 5 p.m.

March Passport Program
March 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16, and 22 & 23

Passports are now on sale for $35 each online via EventBrite (credit card payment only) or at our eight member wineries (cash or check payment only).

Wine in Bloom
May 17 & 18

Wine on the Mountain at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa.
July 26 & 27

Harvest Weekend - The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker
September 13 & 14

Chambourcin Weekend
October 18 & 19

Nouveau Weekend
November 15 & 16

We'd also like to take this opportunity to share with you our list of tips for exploring the wine trail and visiting our wineries:

• Start at any winery, visit all eight.
• Consider beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday right when our wineries open.
• In general, Sundays are less busy than Saturdays.
• No alcohol of any kind may be brought onto winery premises.
• Visibly intoxicated guests will not be served, in accordance with the law.
• If you will be traveling all day long, pack a snack or stop by a local restaurant.
• We strongly discourage trying to visit all 8 wineries in one day. Anyone, regardless of whether they are the driver or not, can be denied a wine tasting if it appears they are impaired. Remember: little tastes add up!
• We treat our wineries as if they are our homes, which in many cases they are. As our guests we appreciate your patience, consideration and respect.
• Each winery sets its own policy regarding wine tasting fees and limits, as well as commercial vehicles (vans, buses, limos) and groups. Please contact the winery or wineries you plan to visit, or visit their web sites, to find out what their house rules are before heading out.

December update from the Wine Trail

Here are a few highlights from our wineries on what they are up to this month.

Now that the holidays are officially here, several of our members have extended hours at their wineries and/or their wine shoppe locations. So be sure to check their web sites or call ahead before visiting. Also, several of the wineries offer custom wine labels for wine you plan to give as gifts, but the deadline for ordering labels is nearing. Be sure to ask about it soon if you are interested.

Galen Glen's Annual Holiday Open House

Saturday 12/14, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 12/15, noon - 5 pm

We welcome you to come in from the cold and warm up with some of Gary's Norwegian Shrimp Chowder. In Norway, fish, shrimp and potatoes are staples in a family's diet. Soup is great after a cold day of tree shopping, holiday shopping or decorating. Stop by the winery for our complimentary food and wine pairing. Let our staff help you make your holiday wine selections. We also will have gift cards, gift baskets, glass wear, dips, jellies, jewelry and candles available to help you with your holiday gift giving needs.

There's still time to visit Vynecrest's Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem booth for wine tastings and sales during your trip to Christmas in Bethlehem. 

Thursdays & Sundays: 11 am - 6 pm

Fridays & Saturdays: 11am - 8pm 

12/12 - 12/15 and 12/19 - 12/22

Clover Hill Wine & Food Inspiration

Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market

Saturday, December 14 from 11 am - 4 pm

Visit our Wine Shop for a special wine and food pairing. We will be showcasing some holiday entertaining ideas that will include: 

- Smoked turkey from Mr. Bill's Poultry paired with Oak Vidal

- 'Krab Salad' from Heckenberger's Seafood paired with Cayuga White

- English Cheddar with orange and chocolate from Wittman's World Cheeses paired with Vignoles

Pinnacle Ridge: Need a special gift for that wine lover in your life this holiday season?

Check out our gift baskets full of artisan dips, sauces and all other sorts of wine goodies. Complete with award winning Pinnacle Ridge Winery wines, of course.

4th Annual Christmas Blessings Toy & Gift Drive at Blue Mountain
Sunday 12/15 at 2 p.m.

It's that time of year to spread Christmas cheer to those who need it the most. Bring a new toy and donate it to the Christmas Blessings Toy & Gift Drive. All toys and gifts will be donated to the children's hospital. Put a smile on their face with your donation and enjoy live music with Scott Marshall & The Hillbilly Souls.

Franklin Hill Vineyards recently won 3 medals from the Grand Harvest Wine Competition in Sonoma County, CA. This competition is the only wine competition in North America that is based on terrior.

RedHead, our newest edition to our wine list, is a dry red with a high vanilla oak, was awarded a Bronze Medal.

White Jade, a dry, lightly oaken white, was awarded a Silver Medal.

Fiesta, a fun, sweet, red made with 100% concord grapes with a citrus blend added to it making it like a Red Sangria, was awarded a Silver Medal.

Don't forget to get your Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wine tote this holiday season.

When you purchase 6 bottles of wine or more at one of our 8 member wineries, you will receive this FREE wine tote! The bags are printed on both sides with pictures of our wine bottles. The bag is durable and able to securely hold 6 full bottles of wine. While supplies last.

Nouveau Weekend = the start of the holiday season at Vynecrest Winery

The 2013 harvest is pretty much over (except for our Late Harvest Vidal) and it feels good to take a breath before the busy holiday season begins. Passports for the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's March Passport Program go on sale November 16 (during Nouveau Weekend) for $35 each.

Christkindlmarkt starts Nov. 21 and runs through Dec 22 and is open Thursday 11 am - 6 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am - 8 pm, and Sunday 11 am - 6 pm (closed Thanksgiving Day).

Our winery's gift area has locally made products that make wonderful gifts for teachers, hostesses, family and friends. Soy candles, crackers, dips, cheese. Remember we have make-your-own baskets ($5 for basket and wrapping) where you add whatever wine, candles, cheese, crackers, dips, wine gifts you want and we'll make it up for you.

November specials
* Wine of the Month - Summertime Red, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - Vynecrest Red, 3 for $27

(Wine of the month and 3 pack available at winery only; 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts.)

Upcoming events

• Nov. 16 & 17 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Nouveau Weekend - For Nouveau Weekend, we will be releasing a new vintage of our estate-grown Gamay Beaujolais, the traditional grape of Nouveau wine. Young and fruity with a promise of even greater expectations to come, this wine is meant to be enjoyed now, during the holiday season. And, to help make entertaining this holiday season easier, we at Vynecrest will feature during Nouveau Weekend vegetable and fruit dip appetizers made by our local partner, Sugar ‘n Spice from Coplay. Ann Moeller will be serving samples of her products such as festive vegetable, cucumber onion and dill, tomato ranch and jalapeno to pair with our Gamay Beaujolais wine. We will also have pumpkin dip and strawberry fruit dip available for sampling.

• Nov. 21 - Christkindlmarkt opens.
• Nov. 24 - Jazz Sunday - Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

Glass Half Empty
2013 Harvest Recap
by Malachi Duffy

Where do I go with all of this wine? That question is a good description of how the 2013 harvest went for Vynecrest this year. The vintage did not start off that way. We had a later-than-usual bud break, unpredictable weather during fruit set, and a rainy summer. Things were not looking good until late August. Then, the rain stopped, the humidity dropped, and the weather took a complete 180. The weather starting in late August could not have been much better to turn a sub-par vintage into one for the record books.

Not only did the weather cooperate, but the birds did as well. If you have read this newsletter for awhile you are aware of the battle we go through every year with birds. In August we got ready for the war to begin. We loaded up on ammo and had a patrol schedule set up morning and night. We decided to be preemptive and start the patrol even though we didn't see any birds yet. We figured if we scared them away as they came in we could keep them away. But they never really showed up. We had a couple flocks of starlings here and there but they didn't do much damage. We have a couple of rows of early ripening grapes we have never been able to harvest because the birds ate every berry on every plant before we could get to them. This year we pulled 130 lugs out of those rows. That is 230 gallons of wine we were never able to harvest before. Not a bad start to the 2013 Harvest.

As we continued bringing grapes in, the yields were higher than expected on every variety. Sometimes a little higher, sometimes a lot higher. There is always a balance of quantity vs. quality. That is why on many of our varieties we cut off as much as half of the fruit off the vine in order to fully ripen the remaining fruit. Even with the high yields, the quality of the fruit we brought in was amazing. The grapes were ripe, clean, and the sugars and acids were right where we wanted them.

That leads me back to the problem of where do I go with all of this wine? With every variety coming in with higher than expected yields, our tanks filled up quickly. We are re-purposing our white wine fermentation tanks as wine storage tanks until we can make some more room, or buy more tanks. Not a bad problem to have, it just makes life in the cellar a little more interesting for the next couple of months.

Save the date for our last wine trail event of 2013 - Nouveau Weekend

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut the first wines from the new vintage during Nouveau Weekend, the last Wine Trail event of the year. Wineries will feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample.

Nouveau wines are bottled very young without barrel aging, and exhibit lots of fruitiness. They are light, fruity and semi-dry to dry red wines.

 

Nouveau Weekend is a great opportunity to purchase wine to give as holiday gifts or to complement holiday meals.

Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. We will post to our web site details on what each winery has planned soon, so stay tuned.

(Nouveau Weekend is a free event, however some wineries charge for wine tastings.) 

Also, if you are someone who likes to plan ahead, mark your calendars and plan to join us for our six annual events next year. The dates are:

• March Madness - the first four weekends in March (note: does not include the fifth weekend on the month)
• Wine in Bloom – 5/17 & 18
• Wine on the Mountain at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa. – 7/26 & 27
• Harvest Weekend – 9/13 & 14
• Chambourcin Weekend – 10/18 & 19
• Nouveau Weekend – 11/15 & 16

Galen Glen Winery gears up for the holidays with special events and extended hours

Winter Wine Release
Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3

The holidays are fast approaching and these are the times that we celebrate with our families and friends. Winter makes us want to come in from the cold, seeking warmth for our bodies and souls. During this weekend, our staff will warm you with a tasting of our mulled wine. It's the perfect time to start thinking about your holiday gift giving needs. We offer custom labeling and beautiful gift baskets that make great gifts for family, friends, neighbors, clients, and staff. Let us help you select the perfect gifts and take the stress out of holiday gift giving.

Love Hot Dog Company & The Lemonade Brothers
Sunday, November 10 from noon - 5 p.m.

Enjoy the gourmet sausage and dog stylings of Jason and the crew of Love Hot Dog Company and The Lemonade Brothers when they make their monthly pilgrimage to the mountains. If you haven't been to the winery when Love Hot Dog Company has been there, you don't know what you are missing. Jason serves everything from 100% beef dogs, to wild-game sausages and his own special toppings. Rumor has it the bacon jam may soon be bottled and available for sale. Arrive early in the day for the best selection. We will have some indoor seating for your dining pleasure.

Bird-to-the-last-drop
Saturday, November 16 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 pm..
Sunday, November 17 and 24 from noon to 5 p.m.

Are you looking for the best wines to serve with your holiday meal? How about a bonus recipe for those leftovers? Accomplish it all in one place when we offer a complimentary food and wine pairing of bird-to-the-last-drop (recipe will be available) and the perfect wines to pair with your Thanksgiving or other holiday meals.

Upcoming events:

Black Friday Sale:
On Friday, November 29 we will open at 10 a.m. for our once-a-year sale.  All case purchases made that day on-site at the winery will be 15% off. This is a one-day, in-store only sale, no exceptions.  
(Custom labels and shipped orders are not included.)

Saturday, December 7 - Santa Visits Galen Glen
We will again be collecting for Toys-for-Tots, so please bring an unwrapped toy or a monetary donation to help those less fortunate.  Bring your camera for a photo with Santa too.

All upcoming events can be found on our website at www.galenglen.com.

HOLIDAY HOURS:
Beginning Wednesday, November 20 we will be open seven days a week (exception: closed Thursday, November 28 for Thanksgiving).

Our extended holiday hours will be:
Sunday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
We will close at 3 p.m. on December 24 to celebrate Christmas with our families. We will be closed on Christmas Day.

POLICY CHANGE:
Beginning November 1 all wine that is sold to be consumed on our premises will be by-the-glass only. This will not affect wine tastings at the wine bar. We welcome you to visit, enjoy a tasting, take in our breathtaking views, and savor some snacks and a glass of wine at a table on our outdoor patio or inside the tasting room.  

If you are planning to come for a tasting or to any of the listed events with a group of six or more, we require reservations. These may be made by calling the winery at (570) 386-3682 during our normal business hours. Please note our weekend reservation openings fill fast, so please plan early.

Make your weekend plans at our wineries!

Just because it's not an official Wine Trail event weekend doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to visit our wineries. Here are a few events and promotions going on now:

Cast a spell to end hunger

Help Galen Glen Winery "Cast a spell to end hunger" by attending this weekend's Verhext Weekend event. Please bring along a donation of non-perishable food items (or a financial contribution) to be donated to Shepherd House.

"Hallowine" Tasting
October 26 from 5-9 p.m.

Come in costume to add to your fun. Prizes for best costumes in numerous categories. Enjoy our delicious wines while listening to live acoustic entertainment by Jake Kalegis & Mike Rausher's Dynamic Duo. Reservations preferred. Admission is $7.50 and includes a souvenir glass.

Lehigh Valley Harvest

Three of our member wineries - Vynecrest, Franklin Hill, and Blue Mountain - will be participating in this Sunday's Lehigh Valley Harvest event at Allentown Brew Works to benefit Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley.

October Owner's Selection at Clover Hill

Save 10% on your purchase of Concord during the month of October. Close your eyes and sniff this wine. Your glass will be full of grapey (better known as ‘foxy’) flavors that will take you back to eating grapes from the arbor. Try it with your favorite spicy chili or blend it with your favorite fruit juices for a refreshing sangria. Now only $8.55. Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase.

October Specials at Vynecrest

* Wine of the Month - Chambourcin, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 First Blush for $25
(at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

And now for something completely different...

Franklin Hill Vineyards was featured in a new commercial filmed at the winery recently. Check it out and see owner Adam Flatt in action!

According to this recent Express-Times article, a new wine bar opening in Easton will be serving Pinnacle Ridge wines:

Galen Glen Winery and Pinnacle Ridge received a mention this past week by Elaine Labalme on a radio program on WESA 90.5 in Pittsburgh. Listen to it here:

Blue Mountain Vineyards celebrates fall with great winery events

"Hallowine" Tasting
October 26 from 5-9 p.m.

Come in costume to add to your fun. Prizes for best costumes in numerous categories. Enjoy our delicious wines while listening to live acoustic entertainment. Reservations preferred. Admission is $7.50 and includes a souvenir glass.

German Night
November 9  from 5-9 p.m.

Join us for an evening of German music and dancing and a delicious German Meal with all the trimmings. $19.50 per person includes souvenir glass. Reservations preferred. Limited seating.

Custom Labeled Wine

Makes a great gift for any occasion. Blue Mountain can scan your logo or artwork and create the perfect label for your company or personal gift giving.

*Full and half bottles
*Affordable pricing
*10% case discount

Join us for live entertainment 
2-5 p.m. every Sunday

Oct. 13          Sunsets North
Oct. 20          (Sorry, no music)
Oct. 27          Jake Kalegis & Mike Rausher's Dynamic Duo

Save the dates
Winetober Fest - October 12
Bear Creek Harvest Wine Festival - October 20
Lehigh Valley Harvest - October 27

Grape harvest 2013 begins at Vynecrest

The grapes are starting to come in. Recently we picked Seyval Blanc and a grape named Geisenheim that we use for our Riesling blend. Now we are picking Vignoles, Chardonnay and Traminette. The harvest has been great so far. Soon we will pick Pinot Grigio and Pinot Noir.

It was a big week for Vynecrest at the Great Allentown Fair. Once again, John Landis was a chocolate cake judge, and then on September 1 we participated in the Great Grape Stomp along with Clover Hill Winery.

Our team was the politicians - Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, Lehigh County Commissioner Percy Daugherty, Lehigh County Executive Matt Croslis, and Pa. Rep Gary Day, who stomped against Clover Hill's team of media representatives. It was a very close finish with the slight edge going to Clover Hill. It was all in good fun to emphasize the importance the impact of our local Lehigh Valley wineries have on Pa. agriculture and local business and industry in the Valley. The stomp was followed up by a cupcake tasting with our Cherry Divyne wine.

September Specials 

• Wine of the Month - Riesling, additional 10% off 
• Three pack of the month - 3 Vynecrest Red for $30

(at winery only; three pack can't be combined with other discounts)

Upcoming Events

• September 19 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm
• September 26 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm
• September 29 - Jazz Sunday - Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm
• October 3 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm

Glass Half Empty
by Sam Landis

Harvest.. September usually signals a lot of similar thoughts to many people. Back to school. End of summer. The beginning of football. But for me, for the last 30 years of my life, September has always meant one thing - harvest.

We began picking grapes recently, in what is now the 36th harvest at Vynecrest Winery. Some things have changed such as grape varieties, equipment, people, and vineyards. Some things have not changed such as paper, rock, scissors between Malachi and I to see who picks up the heavy lugs. Stupid fights with my dad over how to hook up hoses. Cold Miller lights at 7 p.m. as my mom brings us appetizers while we clean up.

But the biggest change at harvest at Vynecrest is that we are starting to look differently at what picking grapes really means. For years we would look at the grapes as grapes and see how we could grow the best possible grapes and then see how we could make the best possible wines from those grapes. Now, this is not the worst blueprint in the world, mind you, as it has served us well for many years.

But, recently in the last few years we have started working backwards. All grapes have their own identity (Ph, TA, Sugar, Tannin,), and that all stops once you make that final snip of the stem and they fall into the press. So we have started to work off the wine we want to make first as the determination of when we pick the grapes. Some of our wines are better served with higher Ph or lower acid or higher alcohol or lower alcohol, and these decisions are made in the vineyard and not the wine cellar.

There is still a lot to learn and we still make mistakes, but we are getting better and better every year and that is a pretty cool thing to be a part of and a very rewarding thing.

But I still like that some things never change. We are picking Chardonnay now so I am looking forward to a couple cold Miller Lights tonight at 7 p.m. with some snacks, waiting for the beginning of football... ah, harvest.

Clover Hill owners complete Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer rsearch

It has been a wetter than normal growing season. We can’t help but wish for drier, warmer weather for the few weeks left prior to grape harvest. We are pleased to report that the vineyards look clean and the fruit is in good condition but we are working hard in the vineyard. In fact, we can barely keep up with mowing the grass! Typically Niagara is the first grape we harvest during the last week of August. We do anticipate the harvest being later than normal this year based on the cooler temperatures and wetter conditions. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to hear more about our 2013 grape harvest!

Pan-Mass Challenge 2013

My brother, John Skrip III, and I, Kari Skrip, would like to extend a special thank you to the many that supported ‘Team Four Leaf Clovers’ in the Pan-Mass Challenge. On August 3 and 4 we participated in a 192 mile bike ride across the state of Massachusetts to raise money for the Jimmy Fund to fight cancer. Together we raised nearly $10,000, of which 100% of every fundraising dollar goes to the Jimmy Fund.

Thank you to the many that supported and encouraged us on this ride. It was a wonderful experience for us and we rode in honor of our Dad, John Skrip Jr., who is a cancer survivor, and in remembrance of the many people whose names were given to us by friends and family members and were written on the handlebars of our bikes. At the completion of the ride, we celebrated the Pan-Mass Challenge with a large, cold glass of Sparkling Pinot Noir!

Owner's Selection
Save 10% on your purchase of 2012 Chambourcin! Now only $13.95. Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase.

Chambourcin is considered the grape of the Lehigh Valley. Clover Hill’s 2012 Chambourcin is a fantastic example of the rich flavors this grape can produce, such as blackberries and black raspberries. We have aged this wine in PA oak barrels for nearly a year adding flavors of toast and dark chocolate. The big flavors in this wine will be a perfect compliment to grilled steaks or grilled marinated portabellas.

Upcoming Events

We look forward to your visit to Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. Please take a look at our house policies to help you best plan your trip.

Generations Wine Tasting
August 15-18
All Clover Hill locations

Visit any Clover Hill location for a sample of our newly released Generations wines. Generations is a reserve label of Clover Hill wines that are produced in limited quantities.
The new releases are:
- Riesling
- N-Chard
- Three

Bowers Hotel Wine Dinner
The Bowers Hotel; 298 Bowers Road, Bowers, PA
Thursday, August 22 at 6:30 pm; reservations required

Reserve your seat now for a fantastic four-course dinner paired with the area’s finest wines (including Clover Hill wines). Each course, created by executive chef and Mertztown native, Cody Musser, will be paired with local wines. Reservations are required – please contact Bonnie at the Bowers Hotel 610.899.0183. $55 per person. For more information please visit www.bowershotel.com.

Seven Springs Wine and Food Festival
August 24 and 25
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, PA
800-452-2223

The Seven Springs Wine and Food Festival is a celebration of Pennsylvania wine and food. Thirty wineries from all over the state, including Clover Hill Winery, will attend this event. Guests can sample from hundreds of different tastes, combinations and vintages, as well as purchase their favorites to take home.Wear your Clover Hill t-shirt to show your LOVE and we will give you a 10% discount off your purchase. For more information and tickets, please visit http://www.7springs.com.

Vynecrest celebrates Christmas in July

Christmas in July
It is that time of year again: July 18-21 mention this blog post and get 25% off the purchase of 12 or more bottles.

For customers who can't make it to the winery, we are offering free shipping on six or more bottles during the same time period. No discount code needed at checkout, you just need to have six or more bottles in your cart. (This discount applies to online orders only; phone-in orders will be subject to normal shipping prices.)

New Releases 
2012 Cabernet Franc

July Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Sparkling Vidal - additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - DiVyne Red or Niagara, any combination $25
*available at winery only

Upcoming Events

• July 6 - Vynecrest Winery will be conducting a wine tasting at Evergreen German Club in Fleetwood at 7 pm. Open to the public, $10 per person, includes six wine tastings accompanied by cheese and meat, and one glass of wine. Email mthdmom@comcast.net for reservations.
• July 11, 18 and 25  - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm
• July 27 and 28 - Wine on the Mountain, Penn's Peak  - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's annual wine festival. Tickets in advance (sold at the winery and on line at www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com) $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Noon to 5 pm both days. Air conditioned venue, live music, local artisans and vendors. All eight Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries will be there!
• July 29 
• Jazz Sunday - Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1- 4 pm 
• Vineyard and Winery Tour with the winemaker, 1 pm, $5 per person
• August 1 and 8 - Macungie Farmer's Market, Memorial Park, 4 - 7 pm

Glass Half Empty by Jan Landis

No Farms, No Wine

As a kid coming back from the Jersey shore, stopping at a farm stand on the way home was part of the vacation experience, almost like picking up souvenirs - tomatoes, corn, peaches, etc.

In the past 20 years, in the name of progress, we seem determined to pave over and develop every acre of farmland. However, the farm-to-table movement has now become popular and small truck farmers gather in local farmers' markets to sell their produce.

For the past five seasons, we have been fortunate to be a part of this groundswell at the Macungie Farmers Market every Thursday from 4-7 pm in the Macungie Memorial Park. It's a terrific group of farmers and vendors, all offering local foodstuffs - from freshly picked vegetables and fruit in season, to quiches, cupcakes, baked beans, and of course wine!

Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley is a grass roots country-wide organization promoting local farm products. It promotes various farmers markets in the Lehigh Valley, as does the PA Preferred program. When our family goes to Maine in the fall, we always visit the local Brunswick Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Fridays, but unfortunately they don't have wine.

Come out and support these local markets, and bring home souvenirs from your staycation this summer. Believe me, you and your family will benefit by eating these wonderful, fresh, local products. Now that's progress!