Galen Glen starts winter hours, announces Chili Cook-Off event

Many exciting things are happening here at Galen Glen and we wanted you to be the first to know.  Please mark your calendar for our upcoming events, bookmark our website on your favorites, "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and view our photos and add yours on Instagram for up-to-the-minute action.

If you are planning to come for a tasting or to any events with a group of 6 or more, we do require reservations. These may be made by calling the winery at (570) 386-3682 during our normal business hours. Our weekend reservation openings fill very quickly, so please plan early. 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 inside the tasting room. Please note that due to space constraints on food and wine pairing event weekends, we may not have indoor seating available.

Winter Hours
Beginning the week of Sunday, December 29 we will resume our winter hours. We will be closed Monday, December 30 through Thursday, January 2 and will reopen Friday, January 3 at noon.

During January through March we are only open Friday noon - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday noon - 5 p.m. We will resume our spring hours of Wednesday through Sunday on April 2 at noon.

Chili Cook-off
Saturday, January 18 (snow date: Saturday, January 25)

Are you a home or professional chef? Do you love to make meals that make others comment or smile? Then our Chili Cook-off is for you. This is a free event. That's right - free to enter and free to taste. We have space for just 12 entrants, so enter early. Galen Glen will be offering a complimentary taste of Chambourcin or Cellar Red to go with the chili samples that day. Every person who visits the winery that day will be able to taste and vote for their favorite chili. We have great prizes for our winners too. For more information on entering, please email Kathy at gruveegruner@galenglen.com for an entry packet.

Galen Glen is going green
Have you purchased a bottle of Winter Mountain White lately? Have you noticed something different? That's right. We're going green.

As many of you know, our beautiful blue bottles for Winter Mountain White and Ice Wine were very popular. Unfortunately, they were not good for the environment. Blue bottles, because they contain cobalt, cannot be recycled. We offered our blue bottles from wine consumed here to crafters for upcycling but never knew what happened to the others that went home with our customers. We wanted to reduce our carbon foot print, and switching to a exciting green bottle, that can be recycled, was our best option. So in 2014 as you purchase new vintages of Ice Wine and also Winter Mountain White you will begin to see and be able to recycle the green bottles.

Franklin Hill Vineyards launches new social media hashtag contest for the holiday season

Doors and Windows of Bethlehem

It's that time of year again and we need your vote. The Downtown Bethlehem Association is holding their annual contest to see who can create the most beautiful and unique doors or window. Take a stroll through beautiful Downtown Bethlehem and be sure to vote for Franklin Hill Vineyards starting November 23.

Here we go again...

We know you're crafty. Your table decor is the talk of the holidays. Now we want to give you a free case of wine just for showing off.

Take a picture of your Thanksgiving table, Christmas table or any time you think your table is amazing. Make sure there is a bottle of Franklin Hill wine visible and post it to social media with the hashtag #tablewine. We are accepting submissions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We will judge entries based on creativity, beauty, wine placement and maybe even how delicious everything looks. The winner gets a free case of wine! Yes, you read that right, a FREE CASE OF WINE!

All submissions must be posted by January 1, 2014. We will pick the winner January 6. Good luck and Happy Holidays.

As the holiday's approach we hope you take the time to reflect, cherish and enjoy all the season has to offer.  We have so many loyal and valued customers, and for this we are truly thankful. Cheers!  Elaine, Adam and the Franklin Hill Vineyards family.

Featured Recipe - Apple Cider Sangria
We've found the perfect drink for your Thanksgiving Day guests.
Take a bottle of our Seyval Blanc and add in 2 1/2 cups of fresh apple cider, 1 cup of club soda and 1/2 cup of ginger brandy.  Chop up 3 apples and 3 pears and enjoy.

Extended Holiday Hours - starting November 25

Short on time this holiday season? Let us help. Our retail stores will be opening earlier and closing later,. So whether we're your first stop or your last, we'll be there for you.

Tannersville & Easton -
Mondays - Saturdays: 10am - 7pm
Sundays: 11am - 5pm

Bethlehem -
Mondays - Wednesdays: 10am - 7pm
Thursdays: 10am - 8pm
Friday & Saturdays: 10am - 9pm
Sundays: noon - 6pm

Tasting room hours at the winery in Bangor will remain the same.

Franklin Hill lines up August and September events and wine festivals

Franklin Hill Vineyards' 2nd Annual Friends Helping Friends Fundraiser
August 16 from 6-8 p.m.

Each year Franklin Hill Vineyards hosts a fundraiser to help a family in our community. This year we will be donating 100% of the proceeds of this event to a past employee, Karen Greggo and her family. Earlier this year the Greggo's lost everything in a house fire. We hope you'll join us in our efforts to help Karen, Joe and their two daughters recover from this loss. We will have a pasta and salad bar, raffles and of course, wine.

Please call 610-588-8708 or email cheryl@franklinhillvineyards.com to make your reservations. $40 per person

Where's Walter?
 

Going on vacation? Don't forget a bottle of Sir Walter's Red. Take a photo of Walter anywhere you go this summer and  hashtag it #whereswalter.  It could win you a free case of wine! Photos will be judged on 

uniqueness and originality. The winner will be announced on September 20 on our Facebook page (so be sure to be our friend!)

Seven Springs Wine and Food Festival
August 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Seven Springs Food and Wine Festival offers tastings from over 30 PA wineries. This two-day festival offers entertainment and seminars on various wines, how to pair them and cooking techniques using wine.

Sensory Overload
Saturday, August 31 at 2 p.m.

Come enlighten your senses!  This fun and informative class will be led by one of our winemakers, Maria Sebastionelli.  Samples and aromas will be provided to help us identify characteristics unique to wine.  
Light appetizers and wine by the glass will be available. $35 per person. Please call to reserve your spot - 610-332-WINE

Gettysburg Wine and Music Festival
September 7 and 8 from noon - 6 p.m.

Enjoy a fantastic fall weekend in Adams County while you savor the tastes of hundreds of Pa. wines.
Click here for more information and for a chance to win FREE tickets!

Cupcakes and Wine

Cupcakes and wine = nirvana. Join us at the winery on Saturday, September 21 at 3 p.m. for a unique pairing of Franklin Hill Vineyards wine with the biggest thing in desserts: cupcakes! You'll discover how perfectly our wines fuse with an array of incredible cupcakes and gain a little wine knowledge along the way.
Call 610-332-WINE to make your reservations today. $20 per person.

Take Sir Walter's Red on vacation with you this summer and enter Franklin Hill's contest

Where's Walter?
Do you take Sir Walter's Red on vacation with you? We bet you do! Take a picture or video of a bottle of Sir Walter's Red at your favorite vacation spot, whether it be the beach or in front of the Eiffel Tower. Wherever you take Sir Walter on vacation, we want to see it!

Upload your picture or video on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Vine and use the hashtag #whereswalter.  Entries will be judged on the uniqueness of your location. The winner will be announced September 20 on Franklin Hill Vineyards Facebook page. The prize is a FREE CASE OF WINE! We look forward to seeing where Sir Walter has traveled this summer!

(Some rules and restrictions may apply.)

Sensory Overload Wine Tasting
Saturday, August 31 at 2 p.m.

Join our winemaker as we learn about wine and have fun. This is a detailed look at the smells and tastes commonly found in wine. We will provide samples and aromas that will help you understand the nuances of wines and identify certain characteristics unique to wine.

Cost: $35 per person. Reservations required. Reserve your spot by calling 610-332-WINE.

Musikfest 2013 - August 2-11

Stop by our Downtown Bethlehem store in the Main Street Commons building anytime during Musikfest. Sangria and wine by the glass will be available for purchase.  

Galen Glen Winery is awarded Gold and Double-Gold in the Riverside International Wine Competition

Galen Glen Winery was awarded The Chairman's Award (double-gold, unanimous vote) at the Riverside International Wine Competition for the 2012 vintage medium-dry Riesling. In addition, the 2012 Stone Cellar Riesling (dry Riesling) was awarded a gold medal. Only 31 wines from around the world received the gold or above award; of those 31 only two were from Pennsylvania and both were from Galen Glen Winery.

Sarah Troxell, vintner, was pleased to learn that every wine from Galen Glen that was submitted to the competition received a medal. In addition to the Gold medals above, the following wines also won: 2012 Grüner Veltliner, silver; 2012 Stone Cellar Grüner Veltliner, bronze; and 2012 Stone Cellar Gewurztraminer, bronze.

Galen Glen Winery is located in the beautiful rolling hills of Andreas, Pa. The vineyard is on the family's double-century farm and is full of history. Their tasting room's knowledgeable and engaging staff always make your visit enjoyable. Year round we are open every Friday from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Beginning June 12 they will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. Plan to spend an afternoon enjoying their exceptional views and award-winning wines with some locally-made cheeses or your own picnic lunch.

For more information about our award winning wines and other upcoming events, please visit our website www.galenglen.com or "Like" us on Facebook. Contact the winery at 570-386-3682.

Clover Hill Classic to raise money for Jimmy Fund cancer research

Mother Nature has us on our toes this year! Our spring was much cooler than what we experienced over the last few years and bud break was two weeks later than what we typically expect. Then we had a late spring frost followed by a few stray hail storms. Overall the vineyards look good, but we did have minor damage from both the frost and hail. Right now the vines are producing flower clusters. Next the flower clusters will bloom and the fruit will set. Every week the vineyard brings us a new look and feel. There is no better way to enjoy our beautiful landscape than to sip a glass of wine on the patio at Breinigsville or Robesonia and watch the grapes grow!

We are very excited to be hosting the first ever Clover Hill Classic on June 15 (rain date - June 16) from 1-5 pm. Have an antique car, roadster, or a fancy ride that you would like to show off? Bring it to the winery in Breinigsville for this event. We are raising money for the Jimmy Fund and are suggesting a donation of $10 per car to participate. As a thank you for your donation, we will give you a token for a free glass of wine! 100% of the money raised will be donated to the Jimmy Fund to help fight cancer. Wine by the glass and food will be available for purchase.

From all of us at Clover Hill, we wish you a fun and safe summer. Stay connected with our summer happenings in the vineyard and the winery on Facebook and Twitter. Also, if you are planning a visit, please check out our latest house policies.

Owner's Selection
Save 10% on your purchase of Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir. Now only $22.50.
People always ask us, ‘what is your favorite wine?’ Well if you ask owner, Pat Skrip, she will certainly tell you her favorite is Sparkling Pinot Noir. When asked why she loves the Sparkling Pinot Noir, here is her response: “Oh, the bubbles and the beautiful pink color. How can you not fall in love with this wine just by the looks alone? Then you sip this beauty and your mouth is filled with delicate strawberry flavors and a classic yeasty undertone. Served well chilled, in a tall flute on a warm summer’s night…it doesn’t get better than that!"

Sparkling Pinot Noir is made in the Méthode Champenoise fashion and produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from our Broxspen Vineyard. As a reminder ~ use great caution when opening a bottle of bubbly! Always have the bottle very well chilled (at least two hours in the fridge and 20 minutes in the freezer works nicely) and never shake the bottle. Remove the wire hood on the bottle and keep your thumb over the cork. Gently hold the cork and slowly twist the bottle until you hear a soft pop. Always have a towel and flutes close by.

Wine and Food Inspiration
Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market
June 8 from 11 am - 4 pm

Get ready for Father’s Day and summertime grilling with Mr. Bill’s Turkey London Broil paired with Chambourcin to highlight the peppery notes in the Chambourcin. For those with milder tastes, we will pair it with the Riesling which perfectly balances the turkey's marinade.

Clover Hill Classic
Saturday, June 15 from 1-5 pm
Rain Date: Sunday, June 16 from 1-5 pm

Clover Hill owners John and Kari Skrip are riding a 200 mile bike race across the state of Massachusetts and have pledged to raise more than $8,000 to be donated to the Jimmy Fund for cancer research. Help them to reach their goal by joining us to show off your favorite ride or to check out the area’s hot rods. For a suggested donation of $10 per classic car you will receive a token for a free glass of wine. 100% of the money raised will be donated to the Jimmy Fund! Food and wine by the glass will be available for purchase to enjoy on the property.

Galen Glen extends winery hours and the dog starts a blog

It's spring and vines are not the only thing growing at Galen Glen Winery. We're adding staff and hours as well as watching our Facebook page come out of its dormant winter state into a full-blown spring growth.  Have you "Liked" us yet? If not you've been missing out on our updates and contests.

We are offering things like "Fan Friday" contests, information on BYO restaurants and establishments that carry our wines, giving general and fun wine facts, sharing our photographs of the vineyard and informing you first of upcoming events.

Plus, rumor has it that Clemmens the dog has started his own winery blog. Please "Like" us on Facebook and join in the conversation with other fans who are writing on our wall.

We also wanted to share some great news with you. Beginning June 12 the winery will have additional weekday hours. We are adding Wednesday and Thursday and will be open from noon to 5 pm. Please stop by to see us.

Galen Glen Winery LLC

255 Winter Mountain Dr

Andreas, Pennsylvania 18211

(570) 386-3682

Clover Hill releases its "Naked" Chardonnay

Grape harvest is just around the corner!

August is one of our favorite times of the year. The vineyards are in great shape and are going through veraison which is the transition from berry growth to berry ripening. This is the final step before harvest. Keep up to date on the 2012 vintage by liking us on Facebook.

We have released the 2010 Generations N~Chard. This is a limited edition of unoaked Chardonnay (naked Chardonnay) and a favorite of our winemaker, John Skrip III. Of course he is bias because the Chardonnay grapes came from Clover Hill’s Sunset Vineyard, which happens to be where his house is located. The wine is rich in flavors of cantaloupe, melon and apricot and bright with fresh, clean acidity. Also, the very popular Strawberry Merlot is nearly sold out, so get it while you can!

Our event schedule features wonderful ways to enjoy your visit to Clover Hill Winery or you can come on a quieter weekday and enjoy a glass of wine on the patio with a picnic. Our Robesonia location in Berks County is now open seven days a week: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Sunday noon - 5 p.m.

Thank you for choosing Clover Hill wines. There is no better month to enjoy locally grown foods with a glass of our locally produced wine than the month of August!

Owner's Selection - Vidal Blanc

A haven of fruit and tropical flavors such as lemon, melon, and pineapple, there is a slight sweetness in this wine that balances the bright, fresh acidity. Vidal Blanc pairs nicely with Mexican, Thai or Asian foods.
Here are our favorite recipes for Vidal Blanc. Receive an additional 10% discount on the Owner's Selection when included in a case purchase.

Dan's Camera City Photo Shoot at Clover Hill Winery - Shoot to Learn
Sunday, August 19 from 10 a.m. - noon

Clover Hill is again partnering with Dan’s Camera City to help broaden your experience and become a well-rounded photographer. Dan's Camera City’s new class series titled “Shoot to Learn” offers many photo shoot opportunities. This series of on-location photo outings are led by knowledgeable and experienced Dan's Camera experts.

So that every student gets plenty of personal attention, each session has a limited number of tickets available. Tickets are $64.99. To learn more about this exciting experience or to register for the class please visit http://www.danscamera.com/shoot-to-learn/.


Cooking with Wine Main Dish Salad Contest
The Great Allentown Fair

Live judging - August 31 at 7 pm

Show off your ability to cook with wine at the Clover Hill sponsored 'Cooking with Wine Main Dish Salad Contest'. With wine moving to the forefront as America's beverage choice use your imagination, and your choice of Clover Hill Wine to create your favorite main dish salad. The competition is judged on: 60% taste appeal, 20% appearance and 20% originality of the recipe.

Try a Wine-a-Rita this weekend at Galen Glen

This weekend, cool off with a Wine-a-Rita at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas during Summer Slushy Weekend, Saturday, June 2 from 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday, June 3 from noon - 5 pm.

Sample an icy cold Wine-a-Rita and go on a complimentary guided walking tour of the vineyard each day at noon (weather permitting). Please wear sturdy, close-toed shoes.  

Want to see what we're up to - silly, serious or somewhere in between? Follow us on Facebook!

Upcoming events: 

June 16 & 17 - Father's Day Weekend

Bring Dad for a Tractor & Wagon Tour. Tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4 pm, weather permitting.

See all our event details here.

Blue Mountain's wines to be featured at Mayfair

Sunday Blues

Join us this Sunday, May 27 from 2-5 p.m. for Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo. Admission of $5 per person includes a wine tasting. Pack a picnic lunch, buy some wine, and unwind! (Adults only please.)

(We'd like to apologize that the event calendar on our website has been down for the past few weeks. Please don't hesitate to contact the winery to find out about upcoming events. Also, "like" our Facebook page for daily updates.)

May Specials

$1 off Pinot Noir - Bright fruit aromas of berry and cherry are complimented by a pleasant spice with underlying tones of toasty oak. Aged and fermented in French Oak.-

$1 off Vignoles - Intense fruity nose, refreshingly semi-sweet, with a long, lingering finish.-

Upcoming Special Event

May 26 ~ Annual Candlelight Barrel Tasting

Join us for this very special event from 5-9 p.m. Be the first to try our 2011 Petite Syrah & 2011 Pinot Noir, right from the wine cellar! We'll also be tasting older vintages of our Barrel Club wines, a real treat for the wine lover. Admission of $18.50 includes a wine glass and hor d'oeuvres. Valerie Borman will be performing. Reservations required.

Mayfair Festival of the Arts

Blue Mountain Vineyards will be the sole winery at Mayfair Festival of the Arts 2012!

Mayfair is a family arts festival which offers more than 1,000 local and national music acts, dancers, storytellers, artist market, art exhibits, hands-on crafts demonstrations, food vendors and culinary delights. Festival details posted at www.mayfairfestival.org. The festival is located at Ott & Hamilton Streets in west Allentown from May 24 - 28, rain or shine.

We're pleased that our award-winning wines will also be featured at Sommerfest in the Valley 2012's Euro Café at Mayfair Festival of the Arts. Tickets for Sommerfest/Mayfair: Gate purchase -$5/one day, $10/multi-day pass.

Connect with our wineries on Facebook and Twitter

We're excited that our wineries are embracing social media. All eight Wine Trail members are now on Facebook and would love to have you "Like" them. Here are links to their pages:

• 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 

In addition, three of our wineries are also active on Twitter. Please give them a follow.

• Vynecrest
• Blue Mountain
• Franklin Hill

And just in case you haven't already connected with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail via social media yet, here are links to our various accounts:

• Facebook 
• Twitter
• LinkedIn 
• Flickr 
• YouTube

Before hitting the trail, check out our web site

If you haven't checked out the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail web site lately, you might not know about all of the information you can find on it about our wineries, special events and more. Here are some highlights:

• On the web site's home page you can sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter and download a PDF of our new promotional brochure to print out at home. You can also find icons linking to our social media accounts with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr.
• Across the top of the web site find buttons for each of our eight wineries' pages where you will find their contact information, links to their own social media outlets, a list of their wine shops, hours, driving directions, tasting policy, and a brief overview.
• On the Events tab, get the dates for this year's six wine trail weekend events and details on each one. In the weeks leading up to an event we add specifics such as discounts, food and wine pairings, live music and more that will be taking place at each winery during the event.
• The Just Pressed page features news from our member wineries including recent awards, specials and discounts, and events.
• Our Trail Friends page features a list of area restaurants where you can find some of our wines for sale, and local hotels, inns and B&Bs that are our partners. We will soon be adding a list of local farmers' markets that several of our wineries participate in.
• The Media page is the place to find our current press releases, which are great sources of information whether you are a member of the media or not!
• Use the Google map on the Directions page to see winery locations, and click on a pinpoint for a pop-up box which links to driving directions.
• And finally, under the Contact Us page, feel free to drop us a line with any questions or comments you have about the wine trail.

Thanks for visiting our web site and for connecting with us on social media!

News, blues and specials from Blue Mountain Winery

Blue Mountain Winery News:

Joe and Vickie had the pleasure of attending the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce's 23 Annual Snow Ball Gala held this past Saturday at the University Center at DeSales University in Center Valley. It was a wonderful event and our wines were very well received!

Prior to attending the Snow Ball Gala, Vickie took part in this year's Your Heart, Your Choices Heart Expo held at the Montgomery Mall. She had a table set up so people could sample some wine and learn about the health benefits of wine.

February Specials:

$2 off 2004 Chambourcin
$2 off Ruby Rose 

Sunday Blues Schedule:

02/19 ~ Scott Marshall & the Hillbilly Souls
02/26 ~ Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo
03/04 ~ The Large Flowerheads
03/11 ~ Wow Brothers
03/18 ~ Billy Patrick
03/25 ~ Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

Get all the latest news & updates from our Facebook page - Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars and follow us on Twitter too.

Wine Trail Web Site Update

If you haven't checked out the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail web site lately, give it another look.

Just Pressed
We've been making regular updates to the Just Pressed page with entries on what's happening at our wineries. This includes upcoming winery events, special promotions and discounts, wines that are back in stock, awards and more!

E-newsletter
Sign up to receive our monthly e-newsletter right on our homepage. It's quick and easy to do. All we need is your email address. And we promise not to sell it or give it to anyone else to use. It's safe with us.

Brochure
You can download a PDF of our Wine Trail promotional brochure to print out and take along with you when hitting the trail. It includes short overviews on each of our eight wineries, addresses to plug into your GPS, and driving directions as well.

Or look for a printed copy of our brochure at one of the more than 60 brochure racks around the region managed by Discover Lehigh Valley.

Social Media
And don't forget to connect with us on Twitter and Facebook, and check out our videos on our YouTube channel and our pictures on Flickr.

March Madness passports 
Passports are selling like crazy and the supply is limited. Your best bet at scoring a passport right now is to contact Galen Glen Winery or Big Creek Winery. They each have about 100 passports left for sale. Amore and Blue Mountain wineries have about a dozen each left and are bound to sell out this weekend. All other wineries are already sold out. Get 'em while supplies last! $35 each.

Blue Mountain Winery brings back three popular wines.

Here is the latest update from Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli:

Riesling is back!

We are very excited to announce that our Riesling is being bottled in our wine cellar. Also back in stock are Victoria's Passion and White Merlot. In the very near future we will be releasing Sauvignon Blanc. Stay tuned for details.

January Specials

Save $2  on 2007 Pinot Noir/Beaujolais
Save $1 on 2010 Vignoles

Make sure to print this coupon for a great deal on our 2007 Chardonnay.

For daily news and updates "like" us on Facebook! Our page is listed as Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars. Feel free to send us pictures and we'll get them added to our page. And follow us on Twitter too!

Sunday Blues Schedule

01/08 ~ Wow Brothers
01/15 ~ Billy Patrick
01/22 ~ Rob & Marty
01/29 ~ Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

Special Events

We are now booking events for 2012. Use our vineyard as a backdrop for your special occasion. Bridal showers, birthday parties, corporate events, you name it! For information on renting our private room please call or e-mail us.

Custom Labeled Wine Bottles

Custom labeled wine is great for any occasion! We can do any style in any amount. Check our website for samples or send us your own picture to use. Call or e-mail us for more details.

Galen Glen's holiday open house continues this weekend

Last weekend's Holiday Open House at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas continues this weekend too!

December 10 & 11 - the food and wine pairing is Galen's treat. Surprise!

Visit with Santa!  - December 11 from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Take your photo with Santa for charity. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or make a monetary donation for Toys for Tots. Please bring your own camera.

Give wine as a gift this holiday season

There's still plenty of time to order custom labels for wine bottles. Minimum purchase of one case (12 bottles) - up to four wines per case. Email Sarah (sarah@galenglen.com) for label selections or use your own photo.

Check out our December Facebook promotion

We are giving away one bottle of wine a week through our Facebook page for the month of December.

1. "Like" us - Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery - on Facebook.
2. Post a comment for the week you wish to enter, or comment every week!

Our elves will select one person at random (must be over 21) from everyone who comments that week to pick up a free bottle at the winery. (Reminder - there are four weeks in December.)

Pinnacle Ridge's holiday news and announcements

NEW RELEASES 

We've been getting lots of questions about these two wines and we have finally released our 2009 Chambourcin Reserve and our 2010 Cabernet Franc.  To keep up with everything going on at Pinnacle Ridge please visit our Facebook page.

GREAT REVIEW FOR OUR 2010 PINOT NOIR 

See this link for a review of our 2010 Pinot Noir by Vino Vic. He really liked it. 

PINNACLE RIDGE'S ANNUAL CASE CLUB CHRISTMAS CASUAL - TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER
                          
December 3 & 4 and December 10 & 11
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

‘Tis the season! Pinnacle Ridge owner and winemaker Brad Knapp, his wife Christy and the Pinnacle Ridge staff invite all to sample wine and shop for the holidays. We’ll be serving an array of savory and sweet delicacies and making wine pairing recommendations for your holiday meals. This event is free for Case Club members or $5 per person if you’re not a case club member. Buy a case of wine on the day of the event and the food is free.

WINE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The winter holidays are a time of year when folks get a little more creative with their wine choices. At Pinnacle Ridge we have several wines that you might want to consider for your holiday celebrations. Our Brut Rosé or Blanc de Blanc sparkling wines are a great choice to have with appetizers before a special
meal. If you are having a casual gathering with munchies, these wines will add a special elegance to the occasion.

But don’t wait to long to pick up your bubbly as we may sell out near the end of December. Another specialty wine to consider for that special meal is our 2010 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc. This is a classic dessert wine that pairs beautifully with fruit desserts, crème brulee, or cheesecake. Your guests will be impressed.

Taste the vintages of the harvest during Nouveau Weekend, 11/19 & 20

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut vintages from their recent harvest this weekend, November 19 and 20, during Nouveau Weekend, their last Wine Trail event of the year. Wineries will also feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample.

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

March Madness 2012 passports will go on sale this weekend. Passports are $35 each. A limited supply of passports is printed and often sells out well in advance of the month-long event, so event-goers are encouraged to purchase them early.

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.

For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com, and connect with them on Twitter and their Facebook fan page.

NOUVEAU WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth will feature our new release Cabaret Amore with homemade barbecue.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville will pair its Nouveau Marquette with Millie's Chili.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli will serve authentic Nouveau made from Pinot Noir grapes paired with roasted ham glazed with Tait Farms cranberry chutney. Sample other products produced locally by Tait Farms as well. They will also be releasing their 2008 Merlot and 2010 Chambourcin. On Saturday, Rob will be performing from 1 - 4 p.m. On Sunday from 2 - 5 p.m. will be Sunday Blues featuring Billy Patrick ($5 admission for live music).

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville will have the first release from this year’s harvest of Boysenberry. Boysenberry is a sweet wine which is a marriage of grapes and Boysenberries in every bottle. Boysenberry displays a very upfront and intense Boysenberry aroma and finishes sweet and crisp. Their partner will be Sorrelli Jewelry from Kutztown who will be onsite Saturday and Sunday hosting a trunk show. Sorrelli will offer a 10% discount on jewelry purchases during the event.  

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor will release their 2011 Seyval Blanc paired with Ginger Butternut Squash soup. Delices Europeennes will be giving samples of her European treats. They will also be releasing their 2010 Evanswood. Try it with Robert Rothchild's Chipotle sauce over meatballs for a perfect pairing.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas will feature the Troxell family Thanksgiving favorite, potato filling with their Riesling. Potato filling is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition, and every family has their own version. Galen and Sarah learned to make theirs under the tutelage of Galen’s mother.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown will serve salmon chowder made with fresh fennel and dill, potatoes, cream and salmon fillet. They will be pairing the soft and fruit-forward 2010 Naked Chardonnay or their crisp and slightly sweet 2010 Riesling with the chowder.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville will pair their Nouveau Beaujolais 2011 wine made from the Gamay Beaujolais grape with Hereford Country Store Provencal basil dip and Rip Rap artisan whole grain crackers, both of which will be available for sale. Smooth jazz sounds in the Vyneskeller from Dan Harakal and Andy Warren on Saturday from 1 - 4:30 pm. No charge.

Clover Hill Vineyards celebrates the completion of harvest season

The 2011 grape harvest at Clover Hill’s six vineyards is complete and what a year it has been. This harvest we battled the rain, wind, birds, bees and some days we battled each other, but we did survive!

The growing season was going picture perfect. We had dry, warm heat with brilliant sunshine day after day in mid to late summer. Then Mother Nature changed her tune and gave us wet, humid conditions day after day. We worked exceptionally hard to continue to ripen our fruit and keep it clean and clear of any disease. We finally made the decision to continue picking as quickly as possible in order to harvest the fruit intact. On September 30 we picked the last grape from our vineyards and celebrated the end of a difficult season with a glass of Sparkling Pinot Noir! Right now we are going to now catch our breathe from harvest, but we promise to write a detailed summary of the 2011 grape harvest and post it to our website in the very near future. 

The fall feeling is in the air and it is the perfect time of year to enjoy Spiced Apple warmed!  We also have posted some delicious fall recipes for you to enjoy.  Let us know on our Facebook page what your favorite fall wine is – we will email you a present for sharing! 

Enjoy the season and we would like to thank you for your support and choosing to drink locally grown and produced wines!  We look forward to your next visit.

Owner's Selection
Catawba lets you sip on the sweet, grapey, and candied flavors of this wine. Don't forget to sniff first to best enjoy the sweet aromas of grapes in the glass.

Enjoy a 10% discount on Catawba the entire month of October. Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included in a case purchase.

Chambourcin Weekend
At the winery in Breinigsville, PA
Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 from noon - 5 p.m.

Cheers to the Chambourcin grape! Chambourcin is known as the grape of the Lehigh Valley and if you’ve ever tasted it you will agree it makes a wonderful glass of wine. Chef Nathan Grube will make a return appearance to do cooking demonstrations to be paired with our 2009 Chambourcin and Turtle Rock Red (made with 100% Chambourcin grape). Cooking demonstrations will take place at 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. both days.

Clover Hill celebrates 26th anniversary

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery is turning 26 on September 11, and we are celebrating with an anniversary sale.

From September 8-11, we will be giving a 26% discount on all 750mL wines for 26 years of business at all Clover Hill locations and online orders (375mL and custom label orders excluded).

It has been a wonderful and wild 26 years of business and we strive for many more years of Clover Hill wines to come! Thank you for your support of our second generation family owned winery. We would love to hear from you on our Facebook page. Let us know how long you have been a Clover Hill customer!

Please remember that the anniversary sale is one of our busiest times at the winery. We appreciate your patience. 26% discount is the greatest discount available. Cheers!


The 2011 vintage is on its way and it has certainly been the year of extremes. July brought us extreme dry weather. August gave us a very wet month, huge flocks of birds who love eating our grapes, an earthquake, and a hurricane. September is off to a rocky start with heavy rainfall and more birds, and we are only a couple days into the month. Every year harvest comes with its challenges, but we have to wonder why this year is so extreme.

In the meantime, we will try to stay calm and hope Mother Nature settles down. If you would like to keep current with our 2011 vintage, be a fan on our Facebook page to hear what we are harvesting and see pictures from this beautiful time of year.