Pinnacle Ridge debuts its first Gruner Veltliner wine

GRUNER VELTLINER - A NEW WINE MAKES ITS GRAND DEBUT!

Subtle notes of white and green peppercorn are balanced by ripe citrus on the nose, inviting new aromas with each intake of breath. A rich texture, coupled with a lingering finish, make this wine a perfect pairing for light appetizers and white meats.

CASE CLUB BARREL TASTING EVENT 

On Sunday, April 3 starting at 3 p.m. we are hosting a special barrel tasting just for you. Cardholders and up to three guests are invited to our Wine Loft to taste early barrel samples of some of our upcoming vintages! Winemaker Brad Knapp will lead a casual, informative session detailing the characteristics of what we will be bottling in the next few months. Come out and get a taste of what's to come. Reservations are required - 610-756-4481 or pinnacle_ridge_winery@yahoo.com.

OPEN HOUSE CONCERT SERIES - SUMMER 2016

This summer we'll be having more music than ever. Check our website for a listing of bands and dates. We're looking forward to rocking this barn to its foundations.

NEW ORGANIC DIPS AND SNACKS

- Mushroom Marsala Sauce
- Raspberry Chipotle Salsa
- Hot Cherry Merlot Dip
- Chop House Steak Sauce
- Green Chile Pepper Dip

From tart to savory to smoky, these new dips and sauces provide some handy inspiration for meal preparation, party snack foods, and just plain good dippin' fun. Stop in our tasting room and peruse our wide selection of organic, delicious treats.

And we don't just have wine in our tasting room; we also have such goodies as avocado oil and local honey from beekeeper Jan Cauffman in Kempton, Pa. Jan has been keeping bees since 1995, and uses only approved organic treatments and integrated pest management practices. The honey is a wildflower mix - a combination of nectars from flowers blooming in this area in May and June. Stop in and pick up a jar of the finest local flavor.

Get to know... Kathy Matson of Galen Glen Winery

We're excited to begin a new occasional blog series introducing you to the many staff members at our wineries.

We're kicking it off with Kathy Matson, Tasting Room Manager, at Galen Glen Winery in Andreas.

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

Galen Glen Winery. About five years total, almost three years full time.  I was a long-time customer desiring Karen's job before that.

2.     What is your favorite wine that your winery makes, and why? What do you like to pair it with?

That's like asking me which of my children is the favorite; I know the answer, but telling might be hurtful to the other! It's a toss up between Gruner Veltliner and Gewurztraminer. Gewurztraminer is what made me a "regular" at the winery as I love Asian and Indian BYO restaurants in the Valley. Gruner is amazing with asparagus and I could eat asparagus every day, so Gruner would be my "every day" wine.

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

After "what's your favorite wine?" it would be, "Where else can I get your wine?" Since we are not in the PA state stores, I mention they can enjoy our wines at over 60 restaurants in PA and surrounding areas and that we are the only PA wine on the menu at Wegman's Pub in Allentown. I then tell them how I no longer have cart rage when shopping now that I can have a glass of wine and a yummy meal first.

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

I like living in an AVA (American Viticultural Area). That's amazing to me.  I don't need to board a plane or take a long car ride to visit an AVA. It's right here... pretty impressive!

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

My advice is do your research. When you plan to visit a winery, check out their website. See what they offer, what wines they grow and produce, their upcoming events, and more. Also, I'd recommend two other things: Leave your cologne and perfume at home. They affect your ability to truly smell wine aromatics and taste effectively. The other thing would be don't wear white - it can unnerve the best server - plus if you are anything like me, a splash of red wine or food is sure to find its way onto your outfit by the end of the day.

Two big announcements from Galen Glen

Galen Glen Winery in Andreas recently shared two big announcements:

Galen Glen Winery's Stone Cellar Riesling wine was featured in a lecture with Stuart Piggot, famed wine critic, during the Riesling Rendezvous at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington on Monday, July 15. This was a three-day conference that featured wines from all over the world.

Stuart Piggot is a British wine critic and author who has resided in Berlin, Germany since 1993.  He is an expert in the area of German wines. Chateau Ste. Michelle is the largest American producer of Riesling wine. The three-day event celebrates the Riesling grape and Riesling wines from around the country and world. In the program for the event Piggot stated; "2011 Stone Cellar Riesling - Galen Glen/Lehigh Valley/Pennsylvania Eastern Kingdom: I am a great admirer of this small Eastern Pennsylvania winery that (just a two hour drive due west of NYC) is one of the United States' best interpreters of Austrian style Riesling & Grüner Veltliner."

Galen Glen's winemaker, Sarah Troxell stated, "The greatest Riesling winemakers of the world gather every few years to discuss, drink and dream about the future of this magnificent variety. Having our Riesling poured to attendees during Stuart's 'Riesling from Unexpected Places' was a humbling honor."

Galen Glen Winery has been invited to participate in the Six Nations Wine Challenge for the title of the New World Champions. This is the only wine show in the world where the wines are exclusively invited by the judges. A mere 100 wines from the US have been selected to compete and will be judged with wines from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and Argentina totaling 600 wines.

Galen Glen will be entering the 2012 vintage Stone Cellar Grüner Veltliner. This wine most recently took a bronze medal in the Riverside International Wine Competition, where several other Galen Glen wines took silver, gold and double-gold. It is truly an honor to be invited to participate in a competition of this level.

Dan Berger, author, wine critic, and judge at Riverside stated of the Stone Cellar Grüner Veltliner, "Mineral/slate notes, hints of dried wildflowers and star anise, and a succulent but totally dry entry. This is one of America's most dramatic wines, one that will never be discovered by the number scorers. And it's from a place you would never guess could make a wine this superb. But Sarah Troxell has a deft touch with this Austrian grape and the result is worth ordering from the winery."

This award-winning wine is currently available for tasting at the Galen Glen winery.