Join Blue Mountain Vineyards’ all new Connoisseur's Club

The Connoisseurs Club is a fresh take on our popular wine club. Every three months a special selection of our wines (curated by the winemaker Joe Greff, will be selected and shipped directly to you.

Save up to 25% per bottle with discounted shipping. It is the easiest way to keep your cellar stocked or show that special someone how much you care.

Treat your loved ones to a wonderful gift that keeps on giving, and treat yourself while you are at it! Learn more here.

Sunday Blues

Join us every Sunday for music, fun and of course wine! You're welcome to bring snacks. Alcohol, other than Blue Mountain Vineyards wine, is not allowed.

Visit the link below to order tickets and see videos of the performers.

Admission: $5 per person, includes wine tasting (non-refundable).
Payment is due at time of reservation. Purchase tickets online here.

January 24 - Lilli & Winston
January 31 - Jake Kaligis and Mike Rauscher

Clover Hill Beginner Wine Tasting Class coming up later this month

Owner’s Selection Wine of the Month

For the month of January, Pinot Grigio is discounted 10% at all Clover Hill locations. Receive a 20% discount on Pinot Grigio when included in a case purchase.

Made in the Italian style, this wine expresses crisp fruit flavors and fresh acidity. The aroma is bright with citrus fruits; such as pink grapefruit and lemon. Pairs exceptionally well with steamed clams and mussels. Now only $12.14.

Recipe of the Month

Mint and Citrus White Wine Sangria

Ingredients:
~1 bottle Clover Hill Pinot Grigio
~1 lemon, thinly sliced
~1 lime, thinly sliced
~8-10 mint leaves
~2 Tbsp sugar

Prepare simple syrup by mixing 2 Tablespoons of sugar and 2 Tablespoons of water in a small dish and microwaving for 30-second increments until sugar is dissolved. Alternatively, prepare a large batch on the stovetop using a 1:1 sugar-water ratio and reserve for later use.

Once simple syrup is ready, add 1 Tablespoon to each wine glass. Then add mint leaves and stir/lightly muddle. Next add several slices each of lemon and lime.

Top off with wine and let set for a few minutes so the flavors can meld together. Top off with more wine and citrus as needed.

Upcoming Events

Beginner Wine Tasting Class
The Winery in Breinigsville
Saturday, January 23, 2016; 2pm
Tickets Required; $25 per person
Join us in a beginner wine tasting class. This 1 ½ hour long class will teach you the basics of wine tasting, give you tips on wine and food pairing, and help to answer any wine questions you may have! This class is limited in seats. Tickets are required: $25 per person and you must be 21+ years old. Call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville to reserve your ticket.

Vino in the Valley Passport Program 
with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
The Winery in Breinigsville
March 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20, 26, 2016*
(*Please note: Our wineries will be closed on Sunday, March 27 for the Easter holiday.)
Tickets required: $35 per passport – on sale now!

The wine enthusiast knows that March means being out and about touring the 9 wineries along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail for food and wine pairings, and a month of fun.

The Vino in the Valley Passport Program along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail involves purchasing a passport for $35 and then planning a strategy to visit each of the wineries during the four weekends in March.

As you visit our nine member wineries you will be offered delicious wine and food pairings (tasting sized) to sample. Your passport will be stamped during each visit and entered into a Grand Prize Drawing for additional prizes once it is completed with stamps from eight of our nine wineries. Each passport holder also receives an event gift.

Tickets can be purchased at all participating wineries and online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vino-in-the-valley-2016-tickets-19335524073.

Since our wineries are all family-owned and operated, we each have our own set of house rules. So please check with individual wineries if you have any questions. We look forward to meeting you on the trail! (Sorry, but we do not offer refunds on already-purchased passports.)

Vynecrest's annual Super Bowl Chili Saturday event returns this month

We have a few cases of Spiced Winter Red and Spiced Winter White left to help take the chill off.

We have reopened after a quick break and are back to our normal hours:
Breinigsville - Open seven days a week, 11 am - 5 pm (Friday open until 5:30 pm)
Kutztown - Open Thursday - Sunday, noon - 6 pm

January Specials 
- Wine of the Month - Nouveau Beaujolais, additional 10% off
- 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Spiced Winter White, $35
(*at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

Upcoming Events

Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm

January 30 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday

We are celebrating a week early and will be sampling red and white Chili at Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville made by Mr. Bill's from the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.

The red turkey chili is made with local grown, antibiotic free, skinless turkey meat blended with tomatoes, beans, and spices.

The white chicken chili is a blend of chicken breast meat and ground chicken with a puree of white beans and sautéed onions, garlic, celery and a unique spice blend.

The winery is open 11 am - 5 pm, and bowls of both chilis will also be available for purchase in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar along with wine by the glass and bottle. Admission is free and reservations are not needed.

January 31 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

February 13 and 14 - Valentine's Day Weekend

Our Vyneskeller wine bar will be opening early Valentine's Day weekend. From 10 am to noon, both Saturday and Sunday, we will be selling $3 mimosas and pastries & croissants. Chocolate covered strawberries and Valentine boxes from Billy's Candies will be available for purchases as well. A great beginning to Valentines Day! Limited seating, please call ahead for a reservation. 610-398-7525

We will have live music in the Vyneskeller on Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm, and Sunday from 1 - 4pm.

In addition, we will be partnering with Sorrelli's Jewelry in the main tasting room on Saturday. They will be debuting their 2016 spring collection. Any Sorrelli purchase made at Vynecrest that day will entitle you to 10% off a 6 bottle purchase (normally a 5% discount).

February 6 - Super Bowl Saturday - Wear your favorite NFL gear and get an additional 10% off your wine purchase

February 28 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

Glass Half Empty by Malachi Duffy

We are getting ready for our annual meeting to go over 2015, what went right, what went wrong, and what can we do better. We go over sales numbers, events, personnel, new wines and anything else we don't get a chance to really delve into throughout the year. Last year was great. Looking back on what made it great makes you realize how many pieces there are to this crazy Vynecrest puzzle.

Though it takes all of the pieces coming together to get the job done, the most important are the people in and around Vynecrest. Every facet of this business relies on the support of great people. We have friends and neighbors who are there to help us fix equipment and maintain the property. We have an awesome staff who go above and beyond and make Vynecrest a fun place to work. We also have great customers whom we love making all of this wine for.

So, cheers to all of you who helped make 2015 great. Here's to an even better 2016!

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

Vynecrest makes plans for Valentine's Day weekend at the winery

We hope everyone enjoyed the holidays... with some Vynecrest wine, of course! We have reopened after a quick break and are back to our new normal hours. We listened to your feedback and have extended our Friday hours to 5:30 pm at the winery in Breinigsville. Hopefully this will give a few more people a chance to grab a bottle of wine and some bread on their way home from work.

Breinigsville - Open seven days a week, 11 am - 5 pm (Fridays open until 5:30 pm)
Kutztown - Open seven days a week, noon - 6 pm

January Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Pinot Grigio, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Dry Riesling, $30

(*at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

Upcoming Events

January and February - Vynecrest Piano and Wine Bar - Open every Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 pm

January 25 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

January 31 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday
Get ready for the Super Bowl on Saturday, January 31 by sampling red and white chili at Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville made by Mr. Bill's from the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.

The Red Turkey Chili is made with local grown, antibiotic free, skinless turkey meat blended with tomatoes, beans, and spices. The White Chicken Chili is a blend of chicken breast meat and ground chicken with a puree of white beans and sautéed onions, garlic, celery and a unique spice blend.

The winery will be open 11 am - 5 pm, and bowls of both chilis will also be available for purchase in the Vyneskeller along with wine by the glass and bottle. Admission is free and reservations are not needed.

February 14 - Valentine's Day
Our Vyneskeller wine bar will be opening early for Valentine's Day. From 10 am to noon we will be selling $3 mimosas and featuring Frank Sinatra on our iPad player baby grand piano. Pastries, croissants and chocolate covered strawberries will be available for purchase. A great beginning to Valentines Day! Reservations suggested. 610-398-7525. We will have live music in the Vyneskeller later in the day from 1 to 4:30 pm.

February 22 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

March - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Vino in the Valley Passport Program
There are still tickets available for the March Passport Program. The winery will be open for tastings during this month-long event, but all food pairings are exclusively for passport holders. Passports are $35 each and can be purchased online or at the winery.

Glass Half Empty
by Jan Landis

Happy New Year! I’m a glass half-full kind of person, optimistic rather than pessimistic. And the start of a new year is a wonderful way to have new beginnings, plans, and hopes for the future. Maybe they won’t all come true or get done, but the promise of new things to come is exciting!

We’re excited about some new ideas here at Vynecrest. First of all, we will now be open Fridays till 5:30 pm, allowing customers to stop in on their way home from work to pick up wine. We always get a lot of last minute calls from customers on Friday afternoons and have been trying to stay open a few more minutes to allow for last minute purchases, so hopefully this change will help.

We’re excited to do Chili Super Bowl Saturday on January 31 once again. I must admit, we’d be more excited if the Eagles were in the Super Bowl, but hey - there’s always next year! For Valentine’s Day we're trying something different with an early start to the holiday in our Vyneskeller from 10 am -noon with $3 Mimosas and chocolate-covered strawberries. In addition to Jazz Sundays on the last Sunday of every month, we hope to add more live music to weekends this year. Number 36 wine was a big success, so look for Number 37 this year—perhaps a white wine? There will be more Spiced Winter White too, closer to the holidays. It was a great white wine year in the vineyard last year, so look for some great white wines this spring.

We hope you are excited about 2015 as well and we hope to see you all at some point at the winery. In the meantime, cheers to your good health and new beginnings!

Ice Wine Sundays, Second Annual Chili Cook Off, and Holiday Spice Wine special this month at Galen Glen

Cheers to a fantastic 2015! As Glen Glen celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we look forward to sharing something special with you each month during 2015. Keep watching your inbox if you are signed up to receive our emails, or follow us on social media for all of the details each month. Some monthly specials will only be shared via email, so sign up now so you won't miss out.

Tasting Room Winter Hours
Friday, Noon to 5 pm
Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, Noon to 5 pm

Second Annual Chili Cook Off
Saturday, January 17*
noon to 4 pm

This is a free event and you are the judge for this competition  Stop by the winery that day any time between noon - 4 pm and receive a taste of Chambourcin or Cellar Red to pair with the chili samples from our visiting chefs. Savor each chili and vote on your favorite. If you'd enjoy a glass of either wine to pair with your chili, you may purchase a 6 oz. glass for $4. Come and enjoy a fun afternoon, meet new friends, try several chili recipes and help choose the winning recipe that will be featured at Galen Glen during the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's Chambourcin Weekend 2015.
*Snow date is Saturday, January 24

Ice Wine Sundays
Join us on Sundays in January for a complimentary pairing of our Stone Cellar Vidal Blanc Ice Wine with a Bleu Cheese Appetizer.  Decanting like liquid gold, with profound sweetness this award-winning wine and pairing is sure to delight your palate and chase away the winter blues.
"Harvested and crushed in the middle of the frigid night, this golden dessert nectar is a whirl of honeyed floral sweetness and lyrical bright fruit that would easily sell for $50 plus." Philadelphia Inquirer Review

Holiday Spice Special
Warm up on those cold winter nights with our Holiday Spice. A mulled red wine, served warm it will melt away the post-holiday dole-drums. "Gluhwein" is a festive German tradition and our blend features cinnamon, cloves, allspice and citrus peel infused into a sweet red wine.

During the month of January you may purchase three bottles of our Holiday Spice wine for $30. (additional discounts do not apply.)

Come to Blue Mountain every Sunday for Sunday Blues

Join Blue Mountain Vineyard every Sunday for music, fun and, of course, wine between 2 and 5 p.m.

In the warmer months music is on the outdoor patio and features views of the vineyard and Blue Mountain. When it's colder, snuggle up next to the fire and enjoy the ambiance of the indoor deck. Any time of year there is plenty of fun to be had. Let us help with the perfect way to "wine" down your weekend.

Admission: $5, includes wine tasting. Reservations required. Call 610-298-3068 or visit their website to reserve a table. Note that parking is extremely limited. Carpooling is appreciated.

They now offer two seating options (inside/outside) to better serve guests. Please indicate whether you would like to be indoors our outdoors when ordering tickets.
 
January

11     Arianne Rox
18     Billy Patrick
25     Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher

February

1       Sarah Ayers
8       Adam Motto
15     Billy Patrick
22     Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher

Save on Clover Hill's Holiday wine in January

January 1, 2015, marks the start of another new year. January 1 is special to me in that it is the 17th birthday of my oldest grandson, John Skrip IV (aka J.B.) son of John Skrip III, my “BEST” son and my only son, who is the winemaker at Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery.

January 1 is also the third birthday of my Rottweiler dog, DeCha. OK ~ she is half mine and half my wife’s! DeCha was named after one of the grape varieties that we successfully grow and the popular wine we make bearing its name - DeChaunac. Since our kids left the nest, DeCha fills the void nicely. She likes to lick a little wine off my wife, Pat’s, finger, but moments later has to sneeze. We only give her this treat on special occasions like New Year’s Eve. She likes to go where I go whether it be riding shotgun in my golf buggy or accompanying me in my car. She is man’s best friend, and if you pet her you will have a friend for life!

New Year’s Eve is a time for our traditional New Year's Eve roof raising, town painting celebration… senior style. My wife and I, along with my 90-year young mother, Olga, for the past six years have been enjoying a stay-at-home lobster dinner complete with homemade French fries, cranberry sauce, a Spanish hand-dressed salad made by me, and  bubbles… lots of bubbles (that's champagne for all you BEER drinkers!).

But wait it gets better. The final act is the result of too many bubbles. There is a tendency to doze off before the big ball in Times Square touches down at midnight. After giving Pat a big New Year's kiss, toasting with a glass of Clover Hill Sparkling Pinot Noir, and making our new year’s resolution about losing weight for 2015, we retire for the balance of the evening.

Daughters, Kari and Lori, and son, John III, may call us to wish us a Happy New Year if they remember… the youngin's like to party more than us seniors. That is New Year's...Skrip Family/ Clover Hill style - life in the fast lane!

A NEW 2015 resolution for me will be that I spend less time with the grapes and wine business and more time at our second home, appropriately named by Kari as Grape Escape, at Cape Cod. Don’t worry - I’ll be watching Clover Hill but I’ll be watching more of Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Clover Hill will be in good hands with Pat, John III and Kari. As always, I will be available to cut the grass, take the garbage out, and all the other important chores they will ask me to do. Spending more time with my grandkids is also in the equation.

Bottom line is, I wish the BEST to you and yours in 2015. And remember to drink Clover Hill wine in moderation as your key to longevity! - John Skrip Jr.

Owner’s Selection for January 

The holidays may be over, but it is never too late to sip a warmed glass of Holiday wine on a cold night. This is a sweet rose that is jazzed up with cinnamon, cloves and citrus. Now only $9.45.

Try this: mix equal parts of Holiday and brown sugar for a sweet and spicy ham glaze.

Beginner Wine Tasting Class
Saturday, January 10 and 25 at 2 p.m. (almost sold out!)
Tickets required - $25 per person

Join us in a beginner wine tasting class. This 1.5 hour long class will teach you the basics of wine tasting, give you tips on wine and food pairing and help to answer any wine questions you may have. This class is limited in seats and tickets are required: $25 per person and you must be 21+ years old. Call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville to reserve your ticket.

Winter Warmers 
The Winery in Breinigsville
January 17 and 18

Take a wintertime country drive to Lehigh County and sip something special. At Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville we will be offering a trio of warmed wines for you to sample. Recipes will be available.

Last minute gifts for wine lovers available this week at Tolino Vineyards

With Christmas only days away, we would like to wish you the happiest of holidays from our family to yours. We hope that you have a joyful holiday season full of love and family.

Please note that our Christmas Eve hours at the tasting room are from noon to 5 pm and we will be closed on Christmas Day. New Year's Eve we will be open from noon to 7 pm, and closed on New Year's Day.

Stop by the tasting room today and tomorrow to purchase gifts for the holidays. We have mulled wine kits, gift certificates, gift bags, hand crafted wine racks, wine scented candles, wine totes, wine sippy cups, glasses, openers, and, of course, wine.

From now until Christmas for every $50 gift certificate you buy, we will give you a $5 gift certificate for yourself.

January Events  
January is a month of snow, ice and ice wine. Each weekend in January with the purchase of a premier tasting we will be pairing our newly released Sweet Frances ice style wine with a different food. Check our website to see which weekend we will pair Sweet Frances with blue cheese, nuts, fruit or an olive tapenade.

We are a vendor at the Easton Farmers' Market Winter Mart every Saturday now through April 11 at 325 Northampton St. in downtown Easton. The market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and has 30 vendors offering everything from wall decorations and mushrooms, to meat and wine.

Unique Party Venue 
Are you looking for a unique place to hold you next private party or business happy hour? Our tank room is the perfect place to gather your friends or coworkers and enjoy a glass of Tolino wine. We also offer mid-week event discounts.

Vynecrest brings home awards from PA Farm Show Wine Competition

The results of the 2013 Pennsylvania Farm Show wine competition are in, and Vynecrest received a medal for all eight wines that were entered.

• 
2012 Lemberger - Double Gold 

• 2012 Chambourcin - Gold 

• 2012 Dry Riesling - Bronze 

• 2012 Riesling - Bronze 

• 2012 Pinot Grigio - Bronze 

• 2012 Vynecrest Red - Bronze 
• 
2012 Traminette - Bronze 

• 2012 Cherry DiVyne - Bronze

January Specials 

Wine of the Month - Spiced Winter Red, additional 10% off 

3 Pack of the Month - 3 Vynecrest White - $25
(at winery only; 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

Upcoming Events

January & February - Vynecrest Piano & Wine Bar - Open every Saturday & Sunday, 1- 5 pm

January 26 - Jazz Sunday: Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

February 1 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday: 
Once again, Vynecrest will be pairing chili and wine on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. A popular yearly event, this year we will feature Mr. Bill’s Chili from the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market paired with our recent PA Farm Show award-winning wines.

Mr. Bill’s Turkey Chili (red sauce) is made starting with local grown, antibiotic free, skinless turkey meat from Koch’s Turkey farm, a local Tamaqua premium turkey grower. This recipe has gone through many improvements over the years and it is a great blend of tomatoes, beans, lean turkey and spices. It will be paired with our Gold Medal Chambourcin red wine.

New to Mr. Bill’s is their White Chicken Chili. A blend of Bell & Evans chicken breast meat and ground chicken are the base for this chili. Mr. Bill does not use a cream-based sauce, but instead they puree the white beans and add sautéed onions, garlic, celery and a unique spice blend as well as whole white beans. This slightly spicy chili lends well to a pairing with our Bronze Medal winning Traminette, a white Gewurztraminer hybrid with a flowery bouquet and seductive spicy finish.

Customers will have a chance to sample both of these delicious chili and wine pairings and the chili will be available for purchase by the bowl to eat in our Vyneskeller Wine Bar or for take out. 
A great start to your Super Bowl weekend.

February 23 - Jazz Sunday, Live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller, 1 - 4 pm

March - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail March Passport Program: 
There are still passports available for sale. The winery will be open for tastings but all food pairings are exclusively for passport holders. Tickets can be purchased online or at the winery.

Weeks 1 & 2 Pairing: Chicken, apple, bacon sliders with gouda cheese on slider rolls paired with Summertime red wine.
Weeks 3 & 4 Pairing: Chipotle pulled pork sliders with provolone cheese on slider rolls paired with Traminette white wine.

Hours of Operation 
Breinigsville - 7 Days a week, 11 am - 5 pm 

Kutztown - Tuesday - Sunday, noon - 6 pm

Glass Half Empty
by Sam Landis

Many days at Vynecrest are spent doing rote, repetitive, mindless tasks. Whether it is bottling, cleaning tanks, or pumping wine, these jobs require very little skill and provide very little reward. That's why our winemaker Malachi and I really enjoy the next few months. People may think wine making is simply the process of adding yeast to juice and fermenting it into wine. By definition yes this is true. But the real trick of the trade is the process of taking 30 different tanks of wine and combining them into 18-20 final blends. So how do you do this you ask? We drink a lot!

Behind each finished wine is on average 8 to 10 different versions that we put together on a small scale and blindly taste and make notes on. Sometimes we differ on opinions, sometimes we agree, but most of the time we pick and choose and tinker until we both feel like we finally have it. You would be amazed at the subtle nuances of what 5% of this or 10% of that makes in the overall make-up of a wine, but when you put them all blindly side by side it's a really fun and creative process - one that makes us realize why we do all of those other crappy jobs the rest of the year.

So next time you sit down with a bottle of our wine remember how hard we worked drinking sample after sample after sample after sample after sample after sample so you could enjoy it.

Pinnacle Ridge announces January events for Case Club members

We have some very exciting things planned for the 2014 season. We will be kicking off the 2014 event calendar this month with a special event just for our Case Club Members. Join us in the evenings the last Wednesdays (January 21 and 28) and Thursdays (January 22 and 29) of the month for complimentary food and wine pairings featuring some of the newest additions to our tasting line up.

Come out for some great food, some new and exciting wines and a chance to mingle with our staff and your fellow Case Club Members. The event will take place from 6 - 8:30 p.m. Be rewarded with special discounts, Case Club Member news, and updates about new wine releases. Reservations are required - please call 610-756-4481.

We are running low on the ever-popular 2010 Veritas, a classic Bordeaux-style blend that we only make in the best years and age in the finest oak. This vintage will be the last one available until at least 2015. The special evenings reserved in January for our Case Club Members would be a great time to stock up before it's gone.

We have already released some wines from this past year’s harvest: our 2013 Dry Riesling and our 2013 Oasis style rosé wine inspired by old world techniques with a slight pink and orange hue that displays fresh, floral aromas and crisp acidity balanced by notes of citrus fruits. We have also just released our new 2012 Chambourcin, a dry, but fruit forward red, aged in Pennsylvania oak, that possesses an intense note of crushed berries and hints of vanilla. Also, after a few months without our popular sparkling wines, the Brut Rosé returns to the line up.                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
"Everyday Oenophile - A Winemaker Uncorked"

In this inaugural edition of the "Everyday Oenophile - A Winemaker Uncorked",  we will be discussing some of the things that are going on currently at Pinnacle Ridge Winery, as well as the story of how the business began with winery owner/operator and winemaker Brad Knapp.

Brad is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He completed his undergraduate degree at Purdue University (the Cradle of Quarterbacks, for you football fans this playoff season) and received his PhD. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, during which he began developing an interest in the study of wine tasting. Brad possesses a strong and long history of wine tasting and appreciation with other wine enthusiasts. During his academic career, Brad began to experiment with amateur winemaking and brewing. After completing his education, he began looking for work here on the East Coast and spent much of his time on the road investigating the local wine scene.  
                                                                                                                                                                                     
In 1988, Brad took a position with Air Products and quickly joined some of the local American Wine Society tasting groups in the Lehigh Valley. He is still involved in some of those regular tasting groups today. That same year, he made a Chambourcin blend that won "Best in Show" in a local amateur winemaking competition and, shortly thereafter, he began looking for land with the intent of starting a winery.

In 1990, he purchased the property where Pinnacle Ridge is currently located and began preparing the property for production and planting. He had also developed a relationship with friend and co-worker, the late Curtis Luckenbill, owner of Round Ridge Farms in Kempton, Pa. Curtis had also expressed interest in grape production and the two began planting on the Kempton property in 1991 with Vidal Blanc and Cayuga. Soon, they would add Chambourcin, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to the vineyard. Pinnacle Ridge was licensed in 1993 and opened to the public in 1995 with only three wines.              
                                       
Today, Pinnacle Ridge Winery produces around 4,500 cases annually and has an extremely diverse portfolio of wines. The list today includes both red and white, dry and sweet, as well as some signature sparkling wines. In recent years, Brad has adopted some new winemaking techniques derived from regions like Germany and Austria, like flotation and hyper oxidation, as methods of removing bitterness and pheonolics from the whites. As a result, the whites age better and remain clear with nice color and are more aromatic.

This past harvest season was one of the most unique in recent memory, as our normally hot, dry summers were instead filled with an abundance of rain. Conversely, the normally wet fall season, as a result of hurricanes moving up the coast, actually saved the harvest with very dry weather and lots of sunshine. We were "saved by the fall," as Brad puts it as this unique weather for the harvest season elevated what would have otherwise been an average vintage. This enabled us to let a lot of our fruit hang much longer. In fact, we hung the Riesling longer than ever this year and this vintage looks to potentially be some of the nicest fruit for whites that we have ever had. We were also able to let some of the Vidal Blanc hang until December 10 and picked that fruit for what will become our first Late Harvest wine since the 2010 vintage. As for the reds, they're "pretty frickin' nice too" according to Brad.                
                                                                       
Have any questions about winemaking or what's going on here in the cellar? Shoot us an e-mail at pinridge@aol.com and Ask the Winemaker.

New year = new wine releases at Blue Mountain Vineyards

Joe and I want to thank you for your patronage in 2013 and we look forward to another wonderful year of offering fun-filled events and great wine to you, our customers.

The vines are dormant now at Blue Mountain Vineyards and we have begun pruning. Also, we have bottled our White Merlot, Bri's Blush, Vignoles, and Sauvignon Blanc. The 2013 vintages are great!

The re-opening of our Montgomery Mall store was very well received and we have decided to extend our lease for 2014. If you haven't visited yet, stop by and meet our staff - Virgil, Matt, Annie and Catherine.

NEW RELEASES:

Mountain Spice is back.
Late Harvest Vidal Blanc will be released sometime this month.
Check our Facebook fan page for updates.

SAVE THE DATES:

Pennsylvania Farm Show
January 8-9
http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us

Winetober Fest
January 18
www.winetober.com

PA Garden Expo
February 21-23
http://www.pagardenexpo.org

2014 Wine Trail March Passports are on sale now at the winery or online at www.lehighvalleytrail.com. $35 each.

Sunday Blues Wine Tastings:

Enjoy live entertainment on our glass enclosed deck with commanding views of the mountains and our vineyards. Gourmet cheeses and fresh baked bread available for purchase or bring your own snacks. Admission $5 per person. Please call or email for reservations.

• January 12 - Sunsets North
• January 19 - Billy Patrick
• January 26 - Jake Kalegis & Mike Rauscher

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.

Upcoming events at Clover Hill Vineyards

Superbowl Sangria Taste Off
January 24 - 27

Stop in the winery in Breinigsville to sample three different Sangrias and vote for your favorite. The winning Sangria recipe will be revealed on our Facebook page on January, 27. It is a great drink idea to make for the Super Bowl.

Snowy 6 Pack Sale
February 7 - 10

Visit any Clover Hill location or shop online at www.cloverhillwinery.com for the Snowy 6 Pack Sale. Select any six bottles and receive a 10% discount on your purchase and a free eco-tote. If you really want to stock up, gather 12 or more bottles and receive a 20% discount on your purchase.

Celebrate the Love in the Air with Wine and Chocolates
Saturday, February 16 from noon -5 p.m.

Be sure to visit Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville where we will be pairing heavenly chocolates with stellar wines in celebration of Valentine’s Day. We have invited master chocolatier Moussey Moose Chocolates to sample their artisan chocolates with premium Clover Hill wines. We will pair a Moussey Moose Ravishing Raspberry Bonbon with Clover Hill’s big and bold Cabernet Sauvignon and a Luscious Lemon Bonbon, in the shape of a heart (how perfect), with our sweet Vignoles.

Moussey Moose Chocolates is a gourmet chocolatier located at 315 W. Broad St. in Quakertown. They will be on-site with gift boxes of their chocolates.

Annual Wine Rack Sale
February 21 - March 3

Save 10-60% off all in-stock wine racks from February 21-March 3. We have a great variety of wine racks holding one bottle up to more than 50 bottles, different sizes, shapes and colors. Visit any Clover Hill location and enjoy this opportunity to save on your wine rack!

Vynecrest introduces Vyneskeller Piano and Wine Bar

We are excited to announce our new piano and wine bar. Located in the Vyneskeller, it is open every Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Come downstairs, grab a glass of wine and enjoy yourself.

Recent Awards - 2013 PA Farm Show Wine Competition

2011 Traminette - Gold
2011 Vynecrest Red - Silver
2011 Vynecrest White - Silver
2011 Dry Riesling - Silver
2011 Cherry DiVyne - Bronze

January Specials 

Wine of the Month - Spiced Winter Red, 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)

Upcoming Events

February 2 - Super Bowl Chili Saturday 
Although our Chili Saturday falls on Groundhog Day this year, rest assured that the two kinds of chili available for tasting and purchase will not be made from relatives of Punxsutawney Phil! So come join us to hopefully celebrate an end to winter while you warm up with homemade chili. You get to vote for your favorite, predict the Super Bowl score, and a chance to win Vynecrest gift cards. Admission is free; no reservations needed.

February 15 - Valentine's Day Wine and Chocolate Event 
7-9 p.m. Taste a flight of five wines and five chocolates with a special chocolate gift for the ladies. Live music. Make this your after-dinner dessert. $25 per couple. Reservations required. Call 610-398-7525. (Please let us know when calling if this is for a table of two or four. Credit card required to hold the reservation).

Weekends in March - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's March Passport Program
There are still passports available for sale, but we are sold out here. Tickets can be purchased online here. The winery will be open for tastings but all food pairings are exclusively for passport holders only.

Vynecrest Winery will feature two Farm Show Silver Medal Winners. Our food pairings are made by two fellow vendors at the Macungie Farm Market, A Buy Fresh, Buy Local Market.

Week 1 + 2 - Pairing Vynecrest Red, our house red made with the Chambourcin grape, with Triple Mushroom Lasagna a rich and savory dish with Gorgonzola cheese sauce. Food by Hereford Country Store.
Week 3 + 4 - Pairing Vynecrest White, our house white wine with Blackberry Bliss - A moist vanilla white wine cake featuring Vynecrest White Wine filled with a fresh blackberry filling and topped with a
blackberry lemon frosting. Food by Sugar So Sweet Cupcakes.

Glass Half Empty
by John Landis

On Saturday, January 5 we spent the day at the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg. I went to judge chocolate cakes in the PA Preferred competition (tough job but somebody had to do it!). Sam went to collect five medals for our wines that we entered in the state competition. Winning medals in wine competition is both satisfying and silly. It is satisfying because a panel of judges picked your wine as an exceptional wine and it's silly because medals are transitory. They have a finite life - the life of that vintage wine. When you see a medal hanging from a bottle does that mean you should buy it?

Judging wines is a subjective process based on the judges' past experience and wine prejudice. The contest format can also impact results. Is a judge as good tasting 200 wines a day as they are tasting 20? All you can say about medal-winning wines is that they are well made and probably have no serious flaws.

So the moral of the story is: medals are good but tasting a wine and selecting one that suits your own palate is more important. And by the way, our Cherry DiVyne goes great with chocolate cake. Enjoy!

Lehigh Valley wineries bring home medals from PA Farm Show

Congratulations to four Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries who took home medals for their wines at the PA Farm Show last weekend.


Blue Mountain Vineyards:
2006 Meritage - Silver
2011 Vidal Blanc - Bronze
2008 Chardonnay - Bronze
2011 Riesling - Bronze

Franklin Hill Winery:
2011 Fiesta - Silver
2011 Sir Walters Red - Silver
2011 Chambourcin - Bronze
2011 Thin - Bronze
2011 Vidal Blanc - Bronze
Trio -  Bronze
2011 Fainting Goat - Bronze
2012 Seyval Blanc - Bronze

Pinnacle Ridge Winery:
2010 Melot - Silver
2010 Veritas - Bronze
2011 Chardonnay - Bronze
2010 Reserve Chambourcin - Bronze
2010 Chambourcin - Bronze
2011 Naked Chardonnay - Bronze
2011 Riesling - Bronze

Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery:
2011 Traminette - Gold
2011 Vynecrest White - Silver
2011 Dry Riesling - Silver
2011 Vynecrest Red - Silver
2011 Cherry DiVyne - Bronze

The PA Farm Show continues this week and weekend in Harrisburg. Be sure to stop by the Blue Mountain Vineyards wine booth for wine tasting and sales if you go. 

Visit Blue Mountain Vineyards this weekend at the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg

Join us this weekend, Saturday Jan. 5 and Sunday Jan. 6, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pa. Stop by our booth to sample and purchase our award winning wines.

January Sunday Blues
01/06 ~ Hank Jones and Ellyot H Ray
01/13 ~ Billy Patrick
01/20 ~ Ziggy Isaacs
01/27 ~ Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

$5 admission per person includes a wine tasting. Outside food is welcome. Please call or email us to make your reservation. We ask that you arrive no later than 2:15 p.m. or we may release your table to another party. Adults 21 and older only please.

January Specials

$1 off 2008 Chardonnay
$1 off Cabernet Franc

Stop by any of our locations to pick up these wines.

Print a discount coupon for our 2008 Chardonnay Reserve here. 

Toast the new year with local sparkling wine

Not into champagne but still want to ring in the new year next week with something bubbly? Then try a local  sparkling wine instead. Here are a few suggestions for sparkling wines made by local Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries:

Amore Vineyards: White Mist - Slightly dry, tingly and sparkling. Celebration - Pink, sparkling, spicy fun. Blueberry Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural blueberry flavor. Peach Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural peach flavor. Blend it with orange juice to make a great mimosa. Strawberry Mist - Sweet and bubbly with natural strawberry flavor.

Blue Mountain: While they don't have any sparkling wines right now the winery recommends mixing their Mountain Frost wine with club soda and canned or fresh peaches for a fun wine cocktail instead.

Clover Hill Winery: Blackberry Sparkler - A sweet, sparkling wine made with blackberry.
Brut - Produced in the traditional method of making sparkling wine, Méthode Champenoise, our Brut has no perceivable sweetness, showcasing yeasty and fruity flavors.
Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir - Made in the Méthode Champenoise fashion, this sparkling wine is produced from 100% Pinot Noir grapes from their Broxspen vineyard. This dry sparkler shows delicate flavors of strawberry mingling with a classic yeasty flavor.

Pinnacle Ridge: Brut Rosé and Blanc de Blanc 

Franklin Hill: Brut (Methode Champenoise)

Vynecrest: Sparkling Chardonnay - A dry sparkling with great balance of acid and fruit, this 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine goes great with seafood and appetizers.

Keep in mind that at this time of year supplies may be limited for some sparkling wines. So we suggest calling ahead to the winery you plan to visit to verify they still have the one you want in stock.

Here are a few tips for your sparkling wine, courtesy of Clover Hill:

• Always have your bubbly well chilled prior to opening. We suggest putting the bottle in the refrigerator for a couple hours and then the freezer for 20 minutes prior to opening. 
• As much fun as it is to shake the bottle and shoot the cork, you do lose most of the wine when you do so! Remove the wire hood on the bottle and keep your thumb on top of the cork. Hold the cork in one hand and slowly twist the bottle. Always have a towel and a champagne flute close by. 
• Sparkling wines always add a festive feel to any celebration, but they are also great food wines. Some of our favorite bubbly pairings include a creamy brie with quince paste, steamed lobsters, crab stuffed mushrooms or smoked salmon. 

Vynecrest Winery goes "green" in 2012

Going Green in 2012

Vynecrest has just installed a new geothermal system to heat and cool the winery. This energy-saving system was installed by Meisner Services and Kocher's Water Pumps and Tanks, Inc. Vynecrest received support for this installation from US Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. This project will reduce Vynecrest's carbon dioxide footprint by 24 tons per year.

While Vynecrest was closed in January we completed and moved into our new offices. We converted the old garage next to the tasting room entrance. This will open up some additional space in the tasting room. We haven't decided what to do with the additional space. Drop us a line if you have any ideas. Vynecrest is now open seven days a week, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

January Specials:

Wine of the Month - Lemberger, additional 10% off**
Three Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25**
**at then winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events

• January 28 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Billy Bauer, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
• February 4 - Superbowl Chili Saturday
• February 11 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Jake Kaligis, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
• February 18 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Connie Edinger, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.
• February 25 - Music in the Vyneskeller, Arianne, 1:30- 4:30 p.m.