Busy summer of special events at Galen Glen

Food Truck Friday
Friday, June 24 from 5-8 pm

We welcome Harold and the crew from Atomic Hogs Pit BBQ, known for serving BBQ, Ribs and other Southern dishes at Penn State football games and local festivals. Purchase a snack or dinner to enjoy with your favorite glass of wine while drinking in the beauty of the growing vines. This event will be held rain or shine (indoor seating will be available). No reservations required.

Friday's menu includes: Oriental roast pork with orange vodka reduction, Angus beef brisket, Mexican grilled chicken, corn on the Cobb, baked beans, cole slaw, and cornbread.
Learn more about Atomic Hogs BBQ.

Bread and Oil Pairing - all day Saturday and Sunday

Savor a baguette baked on a firebrick lined coal oven from Padora's Italian Bakery and Seasons' Spanish olive oil with herbs for $5. Paired with your favorite glass of wine and our panoramic vineyard views, your European vacation begins here.

Back by popular demand the Jerky Treat

Did you know that Jerky is America's most under-appreciated charcuterie? It's a fact! So many of our guests this past weekend loved the Jerky Treat (3 different jerkies from 3 local butchers with 3 ounces of cellar red wine for $7), that we are bringing it back while supplies last on Saturday and Sunday.  Stop by and enjoy the amazing flavors of one of America's favorite foods.

Upcoming Events:

Saturday, Sunday and Monday - July 2, 3 and 4
"Red, White & Blue" Wine Slushy Sundae

Saturday, Sunday and Monday - July 2, 3 and 4
Walking tours of the vineyard and wine cellar at 1pm

Holiday hours, Monday, July 4
11am to 4pm

Saturday & Sunday - July 9 and 10 from noon to 3pm

Meet New York Times' best selling author, David Joachim. Get his newly-released Grill School and have it autographed while sampling one of his favorite recipes. Learn more here.

Vynecrest announces new wine releases, May specials, and springtime events

The buds are out on the vines and another acre is planted, we are ready for the 2016 growing season! We have a little bit of everything this month: live music, food trucks, yoga in the vineyard and more.

We are also excited to announce Vynecrest will be the official winery of the Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival held at Coca-Cola Park this Saturday, May 14.

New Releases 
#37 - In celebration or our 37th harvest we have produced this wine which reverts back to our roots. Cabernet Franc has been a staple in our vineyard for over 20 years. In 2014 it took the lead and is a perfect demonstration of what a cool climate red wine should taste like. Complimented by Merlot, Chambourcin and Lemberger. $23.99

2014 Chardonnay - aged on french oak for 9 months, comes right after you with intense aromas and notes of butterscotch and vanilla. $14.99

May Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Traminette, 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25

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

Upcoming Events

May 14 - Live Music in the Vyneskeller

Steve Myers on the Baby Grand Piano; 1-4 pm, free admission

May 14 - Lehigh Valley Food Truck Festival

Join us at the stadium. Vynecrest is the official winery for the first annual Food Truck Festival at Coca-Cola Park.

May 15 - Yoga in the Vineyard

Barre 3 Yoga Studio in Allentown will be conducting a yoga class in the vineyard at 10 am (rain date: May 22) for free. Bring your own yoga mat. Come in afterward for a free wine tasting. Contact Barre 3 to sign up: 610-841-8200

May 21 and 22 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Wine and Cheese Pairing Event

This event features the pairing of cheeses with local wines at each of our nine member wineries. Each winery will select one of its fine wines to pair with the perfect cheese and will offer complimentary tastings of the pairing to wine lovers who will explore how the texture, acidity, fat and tannin compliment or contrast each other.

Guests will also learn tips to help them skillfully develop their own pairings. Cheeses will be offered for sale so that guests can recreate the wine and cheese pairings at home.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

May 28 - Summer Kick-Off Party

The Füd Truck will be here from 11 am-5 pm with a special menu including "The Lemberger". Ryan Peters on guitar in the Vyneskeller from 1-4pm

May 29 - Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour

Live Jazz in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm. Free admission. Winemaker's tour of the vineyard at 1 pm for $5 per person. Reservations suggested: 610-398-7525.

June 4 - 4th Annual Spring Fling Event with Clover Hill Winery

Saturday June 4 noon-5pm. $12 per person. Go to both Vynecrest and Clover Hill wineries (2 miles apart) and receive at both a glass of sangria, a cheese and wine pairing, and a dessert and wine pairing. Plus 10% off your purchases at both wineries that day. Come with friends. It's a great way to spend a lovely spring afternoon.

June 11 - Taste of Kutztown

Saturday from noon-5pm taste wines from 15 wineries, beers from 10+ breweries with live music, food, and more.

Winery news includes painting party, wine specials and awards, live music, and a new wine release

Franklin Hill 

Paint Party in the Vineyard
June 27 at 2 p.m.

Find your artistic side at Franklin Hill Vineyards - we'll bring the supplies, you bring your creativity!  Local artist Claire Lukas has created a one-of-a-kind piece for you to replicate as you take in the breathtaking views of the vineyards and of course, sip a glass of wine. Purchase your tickets here.

Vynecrest

The Vyneskeller is now open seven days a week from 1 - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday it is self service, and you can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, bread, crackers) and take it with you downstairs to the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday it features our full staff.

Vynecrest June Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Chardonnay, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Niagara for $25.00

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

June 28 - Vineyard & Winery Tour & Jazz Sunday

Vineyard and winery tour begins at noon. $5 per person. Tour should wrap up just in time to enjoy some live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 p.m.

Pinnacle Ridge 

The 2013 Veritas is now available for purchase. It is a bordeaux-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and, for the first time ever, Petit Verdot.

We are very excited to announce that we have won more awards for the following wines at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition:

Traminette
Gold Medal
(rated 90points out of 100)

Brut Rosé
Silver Medal

Naked Chard
Bronze Medal

Blue Mountain

Italian Night
July 11 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Our wine may be more French, and our heritage more German, but this event is all about Italia! Join us as we celebrate all things Italy. Featuring food from Giovanni's Gourmet Italian Catering and live music from Lucas Lasagna. Enjoy food, music, dancing, and your favorite wines. Space is limited to 125 guests. Tickets are $24.50 per person, includes wine tasting, dinner, live music, and a souvenir glass to keep (free to Wine Club members).

Summer Slushies, Wine & Food Inspiration, and Summer Flights with Bites at Clover Hill

Reminder - every Monday and Friday - all wines by the glass are $4 each!

Owner’s Selection for June

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

This semi-sweet Riesling is bursting with aromas and flavors of peach, apricot, and minerals with refreshing acidity. This wine pairs beautifully with spicy Thai food or Mexican food with a kick! Now only $10.35.

Upcoming Events

Wine & Food Inspiration
The Wine Shop at the Boscov’s Fairgrounds Farmer's Market
June 20 - 10 am - 2 pm

Visit the Wine Shop for a special sampling of foods from Krystyna’s Polish Kitchen. We will be offering samples of jerky sticks and a soft Polish cheese both paired with DeChaunac, as well as Chrusciki (a fried dough that's similar to funnel cake) paired with Vignoles.

Summer Slushies at the Vineyard in Robesonia
The Vineyard in Robesonia
June 27 & 28 - noon - 5 pm both days

Join us at the Vineyard in Robesonia for wine slushies. We will be offering free samples of the slushies featuring our Cayuga White and also serving them by the glass.

Summer Flights with Bites
The Winery in Breinigsville
July 18, 19, 20 & 21; noon - 5pm
Tickets required - $10 per flight
Senior Special Tuesday July 21 - $8 per flight

Join us at the Winery in Breinigsville for a flight of wines paired with bites of goodness. Flights will consist of four wines paired with four bites of goodness. The best part is you can pick if you want to experience a Sweet Flight or Dry Flight. Tickets are required and are in limited supply for $10 per flight. Seniors, join us on Tuesday, July 21 for $8 per flight. For tickets, please call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville.

Summertime events keep guests coming back to Tolino Vineyards

Join our Case Club and get 30% off your fourth case. We want to reward our regulars by offering them even more quantity discounts. The next time you are in the winery pick up a case club card and we will stamp it each time you buy a case.  Every fourth case is 30% off!

Saturday Music Series

Mike Pilgermayer June 20th @ 1pm

Wallace Brothers June 27th @ 1pm

Vinyasa in the Vineyard
June 20

Enjoy the peaceful serenity of the vineyard and start your day with 60 minutes of Vinyasa Yoga, wine tasting, snacks and a souvenir glass. Bring your own mat. All skill levels welcome. $35 per person.

Wallace Brothers Band
June 27

If you missed them in May, don't make the same mistake. The psychedelic-country/folk/rock and roll/bluegrass.

Weekend Vineyard Tours 
at 2 and 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays

Join us for our tours held on the weekends to learn about the wines and vines. Hear our family history and get your wine questions answered.

Fourth of July Celebration
Saturday, July 4th

Live music by Peshi and, of course, our famous red, white and blue sangria. A holiday-themed food pairing will also be offered.

Wine & Cheese Pairing this weekend at Galen Glen Winery

Wine & Cheese Pairing With Janet Derkits, Cheesemonger & Sarah Troxell, Winemaker
Sunday, June 14 at 1 pm

Join cheesemonger, Janet Derkits, and winemaker, Sarah Troxell as they lead your palate on an adventure with six wines and six cheeses. Janet, a true cheese enthusiast, had her own catering business on the Main Line near Philadelphia before moving to the Lehigh Valley. Her enthusiasm for cheese will have you booking your tickets to the countries of origin of every cheese you taste during this event.

Learn about protected areas and the animals who produce the milk, all while having fun in a social setting with other wine and cheese enthusiasts. Reservations are required. $10 per person due at time of reservation.

Make your reservations by calling our tasting room Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 5pm.

Also this weekend at the winery:

Triple-Treat Repeat (with a twist)
Enjoy three chocolate truffles: Raspberry Champagne, Chambourcin (made with our Chambourcin) and Double Dark, plus 3-oz of wine for only $3 (while supplies last).
Half-pound boxes of the new Chambourcin truffles are available for purchase too.

Every Saturday & Sunday in June
Enjoy Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Santisi Imports and a baguette from Padora's Italian Bakery for $4.

Happening soon:

Sunday, June 21st, noon - 5 pm
"I Love You Man!"

Celebrate the men you love - fathers, brothers, sons, grandfathers, boyfriends...
We will offer complimentary wine tastings to all men and Frank & Tony from The Red Castle in Lehighton will be here selling their famous Polish sandwiches. Don't let it go to his head, but they will also have complimentary samples of two of their beverage menu items.

We are now on Pinterest.

Join Blue Mountain this summer for Sangria Sundays

Sangria Sundays
Every Sunday from 2 - 5 pm

Enjoy live entertainment on our outdoor or glass-enclosed deck with commanding views of the mountains and our vineyards. Gourmet cheeses, fresh baked bread, dips, pretzels/chips, and pitchers of fruit and ice for sangria are available for purchase or bring your own snacks. Reserve a table bring a picnic lunch, do a wine tasting, and enjoy! $5 cover charge. Reservations required. (No outside alcohol permitted.)

June
7 - Sarah Ayers and James Supra Quartet
14 - Connie Edinger
21 - Mike Dugan and Jenn McCracken (Cheek2Cheek)
28 - Jake Kalegis and Mike Rauscher (Dynamic Duo)

What's Happening in The Vineyard

Bud break was early this year due to unseasonably warmer weather early spring. The vines will start to flower in a couple of weeks. During the stages of flowering, pollination and fertilization takes place, which results in grapes.

Despite the lack of rain in May, the vines are doing well and it hasn't affected us so far. If it continues, though, it could affect the resulting harvest in the fall.

We've also been hard at work putting tubes on the vines which help protect them, train them to trellis, and encourage faster growth. We've replaced all the Merlot, Vidal, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that we lost during the harsh winter of 2013, as well as adding more vines to increase our production. It will take at least five years to have a full, quality harvest from the new vines.

Upcoming Events

June 5-7 - Wine Me Up! Tapas & Wine Festival
Blue Mountain Ski Resort
To buy tickets:  http://www.skibluemt.com/ 

June 6 - Longwood Gardens Jazz & Wine Festival
Longwood Gardens
More info: http://www.longwoodgardens.org/events-and-performances/events/wine-jazz-festival 

June 20-21 - The Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine & Food Festival
Split Rock Resort
For more info: http://www.splitrockresort.com/events/wine-festival/

June 27-28 - Hamburg Wine & Food Festival
Hamburg, PA
For more info: http://www.crossfirefitness.net/wine--food-fests.html 

Vynecrest and Clover Hill plan annual Spring Fling event in early June

The vineyard is starting to come back to life after the harsh winter. The vines are pruned and buds are starting to open up. We planted an additional 800 Chardonnay vines last week and replanted 300 vines that were lost to winter injury.

The Vyneskeller is now open seven days a week from 1 - 5 pm. Monday through Friday it is self service. You can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, crackers) and take it with you downstairs to the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday is business as usual with our full staff.





May Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Naked Chardonnay - additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 Autumn Gold for $25

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

June 6 - Third Annual Spring Fling

Spring signals new beginnings and new releases at the wineries. Join Clover Hill and Vynecrest Wineries in Breinigsville in celebrating with three wine pairings at each winery – with cheese at Clover Hill and with dessert at Vynecrest. Tickets on sale now at both wineries and the day of the event. Tickets are limited so call Clover Hill 610-395-2468 and Vynecrest 610-398-7525. (Ticket includes 10% discount on your purchase on the day of the event.)

Clover Hill:

Vidal Verde paired with Buche de Chevre. Vidal Verde is Clover Hill’s newest release, a dry white wine that is patterned after the Portuguese Vinho Verde wines. In the wine you will taste pineapple and citrus flavors with a hint of effervescence. The wine is complemented by Buche de Chevre, a goat’s milk cheese with a rich yet tangy taste.

2013 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Collier’s Cheddar. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is full of rich, ripe flavor and hearty tannins. This is a perfect partner to serve with an aged cheddar cheese like the Colliers.

DeChaunac paired with Red Dragon. DeChaunac is a semi-sweet red wine that shows both fruity and earthy characteristics. Red Dragon is a smooth, firm cheddar cheese made with mustard seeds. The hint of heat in the cheese is perfectly complemented by the bit of sweetness in the wine.

Vynecrest:

2013 Semi Sweet Riesling with coconut macaroon. Our Riesling is one of our staple grapes in our vineyard as well on our wine list. This wine exhibits a floral nose and clean, tart finish with a hint of sweetness which balances perfectly with the moist texture and rich decadence of the macaroon.

2013 Blueberry with frosted lemon pound cake. Made from 100% blueberries, we just get out of the way and let the fruit speak for itself… think roadside farm stand. While it can be difficult to pair with, we have found that it lends itself perfect when married with lemon and throw in the frosted exterior of the pound cake and you have yourself a homerun.

2013 Chambourcin with chocolate chip brownie.“The Jewel of the Lehigh Valley” our 2013 Chambourcin is no exception focusing on ripe, jammy fruit and soft delicate tannins on the back end. Because of that combination, you get the balance of the cherry flavors with the rich Brownie cake and the subtle French oak finish melding together perfectly with the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Glass Half Empty by Sam Landis

We get questions all the time about the wine making process and how it works. For the most part, it is a very detail-oriented process. It starts in the vineyard as we look at blocks of vines and prune them and cluster thin so as to get the desired sugar and acids that we want reflected in those wines. Then we look at spreadsheet upon spreadsheet of sell out dates and projected sales and then crunch numbers and do trials and blends. We end up with wine plan after wine plan constantly updating, reallocating and finalizing.

But every once in awhile, we just wing it! That's what happened the other day when we were blending our 2014 First Blush. The blend was so unique (excess Riesling, Traminette and Pinot Grigio) that when we tasted it we said this is really, really good!

So on the spot we "stole" 300 gallons of that wine and said we are going to make a Dry Rose this year. Instead of finishing it off with some fruit-forward semi-sweet Chambourcin like we have in our First Blush, we added some dry, tannic, slightly oaked Chambourcin and presto... Dry Rose was born. While on paper the move does not make sense, I believe its things like this that keep you sane in the wine cellar and continue to push to make the best wines you can regardless of what a spreadsheet spits out. Winging it never looked and tasted so good!

So look forward to our new creation, Dry Rose, in June. An added plus is that my dog, Sadie, got on her first label, much to the happiness of my wife, who has been gently reminding me for seven years that my parents' dog Maizey is on three labels, and Sadie doesn't have any.

Sunshine and Riesling event this weekend at Galen Glen

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Riesling ice cream!

On Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22 Galen Glen Winery will team with O Wow Cow Creamery of Ottsville, Pennsylvania to kick off the summer season with everyone's favorite frozen treat.  The "Sunshine & Riesling" event will feature an ice cream or sorbet made from Galen Glen's Riesling wine.

Galen Glen will be offering a complimentary pairing of the ice cream and Riesling wine on Saturday,  from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.  Riesling is the perfect wine for summer meals as it is a refreshing wine with flavors of apples, pears, honey melons and a lick of wet slate. In addition, it pairs well with crab cakes, barbeque chicken, ribs, and salads.

Galen Glen is known for their award-winning Germanic-style white wines. Most recently, the Rieslings were awarded a gold medal in the Riverside International Wine Competition and a silver medal in the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition.

O Wow Cow is also no stranger to winning awards for their organic, locally-sourced ice creams and sorbets.  They were recently named one of the Top Ten Ice Cream Shops in America by The Huffington Post. Owner, John Fezzuoglio, is known for his unique creations that are sure to excite every palate. While this is not the first dessert made from wine, it is the first time O Wow Cow is creating an ice cream from wine sourced through a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail winery.

Clover Hill plans wine and food inspiration, and vineyard and winery tours for June

First we had bud burst, now flowering in the vineyard and just like that Clover Hill is in full swing of our 38th year of growing grapes. The sun-soaked days make the endless work feel worthwhile. The worry of too much rain or not enough rain make the nights sleepless, but the joy of growing grapes and farming the land is a labor of love for Clover Hill Winery. This is the perfect time of year to visit the winery in Breinigsville and plan a little extra time to enjoy a glass of wine on the patio and toast our 38th growing season.

We would like to thank you for voting us Best of the Valley for 2014. We look forward to your next Clover Hill visit and thank you for enjoying and sharing our wines.

Please note: If you are traveling to the winery in Breinigsville, Schantz Road will be partially closed until July 2015. Please click here to find our available detours.

Owners Selection for June - Vignoles
$10.34 per bottle - Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase.

Intense and delicate flavors of honey, rose and orange blossom will mingle in your wine glass. The sweet, dessert wine is balanced with rich flavors and striking acidity. Try pairing this wine with a cheese plate after dinner or a rich cheesecake. Find recipes here.

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

Visit the wine shop at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market for a special wine and food pairing featuring baby back ribs from Billy's Seafood and Rib Shack paired with 2008 Merlot. It is a perfect way to treat Dad for Father's Day.

1st Day of Summer at The Winery in Breinigsville
June 21 & 22

Celebrate the arrival of summer with a glass of Clover Hill wine. Visit the winery in Breinigsville or the vineyard in Robesonia on June 21 or 22 for $4 wine by the glass specials all day. Sip a glass of wine on our patio and welcome summer!

2014 Vineyard & Winery Tour Series at The Winery in Breinigsville
June 21 at 1 and 2 pm

Join Clover Hill Winery for an inside look at our vineyards and production facility. Let us show you our winemaking process from the grape to the glass. The tour is approximately 1 ½ hours long and includes wine tasting along the way. Reservations are required and space is limited. Under 21 is free and we are handicap accessible. For reservations please call 610-395-2468. Tour tickets are $12 per person, under 21 is free.

Vynecrest converting bottling line to screw caps this summer

Bread is now available on the weekends in the Vyneskeller from The Daily Loaf, a fellow vendor from the Macungie Farmers Market. Demi-baguette loaves with dipping oil and spices for $3 in the Vyneskeller and regular-sized baguettes for sale upstairs in the tasting room for $4 to take home. Made with 100% organic flour and delivered fresh every Saturday morning to us. More varieties will be available as the summer goes on.

The Vyneskeller is open seven days a week from 1 - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday it is be self service - you can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, crackers) and take it with you downstairs to the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday is business as usual with our full staff.

June Specials:
Wine of the Month - Blueberry, additional 10% off 

3 Pack of the Month - 3 DiVyne Red for $25.
*available at winery only; 3 pack cannot be combined with other offers

Upcoming Events and Farmers Markets

Happy Hour at Vynecrest on Main - every Friday from 4 - 6 pm. 10% off wine purchases and a free appetizer per couple.

June 12 and 19 - Macungie Farmer's Market, 4-7pm

June 21 & 22 - Split Rock Wine Festival
The Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine & Food Festival is held annually on resort grounds during the beautifully inviting summertime. This two-day, outdoor festival features musical entertainment, many of Pennsylvania's finest wineries, and a wide selection of food and craft vendors. Educational seminars are held during festival hours. Come experience everything you loved about wine fest past and all the great new things happening this year. Noon to 6 pm both days.

June 25 - Wine and Wholesome Food Cafe Event
Join us Wednesday evening in Kutztown for a wine and pairing from Wholesome Food Cafe from 5- 7 pm. $10 per person

June 26 - Macungie Farmer's Market, 4-7 pm

June 29 - Vineyard & Winery Tour
Jazz Sunday - Vineyard & Winery tour begins at noon. $5 per person. Tour should wrap up just in time to enjoy some live Jazz music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm.

Glass Half Empty
by Malachi Duffy

I was just rereading the Glass Half Empty column I wrote for last June and it was about some of the projects we had recently completed or were underway. It ended with the last big project to be completed for the year, a new bottling line that would hopefully be twice as fast and use screw caps.

Well, 12 months later the new bottling line is in. We now have four wines under screw cap and have an aggressive bottling schedule in place to try to get the 2013 wines in the bottle before the 2012 vintage sells out.

We have had a lot of questions about why we chose to switch from a synthetic cork to screw caps. The answer is pretty simple. It is THE BEST closure for us and the style of wine we make. Every closure has its weakness. Natural cork can be tainted with TCA, so a certain percentage of your wine may be bad and there isn't anything you can do about it. To combat this inconsistency, we switched to a synthetic cork many years ago. Synthetic cork has been great for us but is does have a downside. It lets a little bit of oxygen into the bottle and over time the wine will oxidize. With synthetic corks we are able to guarantee our white wines for two-to-three years and our reds for five years (because red wines are better at protecting themselves against oxygen).

We wanted to have a longer shelf life for both our red and white wines. Screw caps solve all the above problems and offer an easier way to open the bottle of wine. While screw caps do let in some oxygen, it is MUCH less than that of a natural or synthetic cork. This will allow us to guarantee our whites for up to five years and reds up to 10 years (probably much longer).

Screw caps may diminish the drama and romance opening a bottle but it is well worth the sacrifice to ensure a taint-free wine that offers consistent aging, maintained flavor and freshness with optimum quality control. Quality is Vynecrest's number one concern when producing a wine and the switch to screw caps is another example of of that pursuit.

Yoga in the Vineyard, wine festivals, and more for Franklin Hill Vineyards in June

Road Trip!
We hope you can take time this summer to come visit the vineyard. We've just finished planting over 1,200 new vines and our older vines have begun to bud. Things are always happening here at FHV and we want you to come be a part of it. Our deck overlooks one of the most beautiful views in the area and is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of your favorite Franklin Hill wine.

Taste of Kutztown
Saturday, June 7 - 11 am - 5 pm

This is our first time at this event and we couldn't be more excited. The Kutztown Rotary has invited over 21 wineries, meaderies, and breweries to bring samples for tasting all day long. Join us for a day of wine themed food and fun while Acoustic Roadshow provides live music all day.

Yoga in the Vineyard
Sunday, June 8 at 10 am
 
Our summer series continues with an hour of confidence building, core strengthening yoga led by Silver Kim of Kula Heart Yoga. Afterward we invite you to the deck for a light brunch and mimosas. This popular event does sell out so please contact the winery to reserve your patch of grass. BYOM (bring your own mat) $20 per person - Call today: 610-588-8708.
Can't make it? We're doing it again on July 20 and August 17.

Split Rock Wine Festival
June 21 & 22

Our Festival Crew is packing up and getting ready for the biggest, craziest wine festival of our season. This is a do not miss event held at the beautiful Split Rock Resort in the Poconos. Come join in on the fun, food, music, crafts and of course wine all weekend long from noon - 6 pm. While you're at our tent be sure to use our props at the #HashtagHangout and post some pics to our Facebook page for your chance to win free wine.

FHV Happy Hour Fridays
Haven't made it to one yet?  Stop by for yummy and creative cocktails all made using our wines.  Chocolate Caramel Martinis were featured this past week in Bethlehem and they were a huge hit. Want to re-create one of our drinks? Click here for all of our Happy Hour recipes.

Membership in the Pinnacle Ridge Case Club has its privileges in June

Sizzling Summer Deals for Case Club Members at Pinnacle Ridge
   
This summer we will be featuring some new perks for our Case Club Members. For the entire month of June, any purchase of our award-winning 2013 Dry Vidal Blanc and 2012 Riesling will be an additional 10% off. That is an extra 10% off when they are part of a case purchase.
   
We will also be doing something special for our Case Club Members prior to each music event. We have two music events each month on Saturdays from 2 - 5 pm. At 1 pm on each of these days, we will be opening the barn doors a little early to host a Case Club Members reception before we start the show. Make sure to come out early and toast to the performance with a glass of bubbly.
   
Finally, we will also be offerning referral bonuses for existing Case Club Members who bring their friends out to join the Club. First, the new member will receive extra points on their first Case Club purchase. Secondly, our existing Case Club members will receive a full case worth of points on their membership card. So come out and bring your friends to take part in some of our monthly members-only events.

Greetings from all of us at Pinnacle Ridge Winery. Thank you all for your continued support and patronage over the years. We could not do what it is we love to do if it were not for you! We are preparing to kick off the start to another wonderful summer season filled with music, fun, food and, of course, award-winning wines. Here are some of the things that are coming up soon on our calendar:

Mr. Z and the Nighshift will continue our Summer Open House Concert Series on Saturday, June 7. Come out and enjoy the atmosphere, wine, music, food and friends. Mr. Z and the Nighshift will be playing in the barn from 2 - 5 pm. The Tasting Room will also be open regular Saturday hours (10 am - 6 pm) for tastings and purchases. Check out the band's page on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/mrzandthenightshift

Next up on the calendar - Brosky & Meyer make their first appearance of the concert season. They will be performing in the barn on Saturday, June 21 from 2 - 5 pm. Tasting room will be open 10 am - 6 pm. View Steve Brosky and Jimmie Meyer's site at:
http://www.stevebrosky.com/category/big-lil-band    

Pinnacle Ridge Winery will also be pouring some events in the area like The Taste of Kutztown on Saturday, June 7 and The Kutztown Folk Festival that will take place from Wednesday, June 28 to Sunday, July 6. Pinnacle Ridge will be at the Festival with some of our wine selections available for tasting and purchase.

Galen Glen offering vineyard and wine cellar walking tours, and Sangria Saturday in June

Steuben, Cayuga and Riesling, oh my!
As you may have read in Clemens' recent blog, the Polar Vortex was not a good friend this winter.  Because we suffered some minor damage, we recently planted an acre of Cayuga and some additional vines throughout the vineyard.  Our staff was busy digging and planting and as one of our Facebook fans put it, "more vines = more wine."

Have you ever wanted to plant your own grapevines? Opportunity may be knocking on your door (or saying, "you've got mail.") We have some vines available for purchase. Currently we have Steuben and Cayuga at $3 each and a limited amount of Riesling at $5 each. If you are interested in purchasing some vines. Please call the winery at 570-386-3682 during normal business hours. If you haven't been reading and want to catch up on our wine lab Clemens' perspective click here for Clemens' Blog.

Walking tours of the vineyard and cellar
Throughout the summer months we offer walking tours of our vineyard and wine cellar on scheduled weekends. These tours are held weather permitting and we strongly urge you to wear sturdy foot gear (sneakers, hiking shoes, etc.) While the vines thoroughly enjoy it, stilettos and flip-flops to not bode well on our rocky soil. The tours usually last about one hour and offer the opportunity to see how our wine develops from the vines in our vineyard to our crush pad and tank room, and finally to the bottles that you take home. While in the cellar you will learn our famous Hollywood connection too.

The tour provides a great opportunity to ask questions and learn more about our history, our wines, our awards and why we are passionate about what we create. Tours are complimentary and no reservations are required. Tours depart the tasting room at noon on the following dates: June 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, and 29. View an aerial view of the vineyard in this video.

Sangria Saturday
On Saturday, June 14 from 10 am to 5 pm we will be serving complimentary samples of our classic Cellar Red Sangria on the wine bar. We will be offering glasses of sangria for purchase for $4 per glass for you to enjoy on our patio while you drink in our spectacular view. We will also have our locally-made cheeses and chocolates, as well as crackers and dipping mustard for sale so you may create the perfect picnic. Can't make it on June 14 but would love to try our sangria? Click here to get the recipe.

Show Dad the Love
Love Hot Dog Co. and Love Food Truck Company

On Sunday, June 15, bring the special man in your life out to the vineyard for a lunch he will never forget. Love Hot Dog Company will be on site on Father's Day from noon to 5 pm selling gourmet sausages and dogs and delicious toppings like the now-famous bacon jam. Ladies love the dogs too so everyone is welcome to purchase a little lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine on one of our patios while drinking in our spectacular views.

On Saturday, June 28 from 10 am to 5 pm, Jason and Bob return with the Love Food Truck. On this truck they serve hot and cold sandwiches and salads, ribs, and many other gourmet menu items that are different from the dog truck. Bob is a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef and he and Jason enjoy putting their own loving spin on every menu item. If you missed their last visit in May, mark your calendar and plan to visit this month.

Sunshine and Riesling

On Saturday, June 21 summer officially begins. After the lingering winter and the slow-to-start spring, summer is a much appreciated guest in the vineyard. Not everyone may know this but if our winemaker, Sarah, had to name her favorite grape or wine, can you guess what she'd say? It would be a resounding Riesling! What are some of Sarah's other favorite things? Organic vegetables, supporting local agriculture and business, and delicious hand-made ice-cream.

So in celebration of the start of summer and Sarah's favorite things, we will be offering a special complimentary Sunshine & Riesling pairing. We are teaming with O Wow Cow who is creating a Galen Glen Riesling Sorbet. If you are not familiar with O Wow Cow, they were recently named one of the Top 10 US Ice Creams by The Huffington Post and they are located in Upper Bucks County and part of New Jersey. They only use locally-sourced organic ingredients to make their ice creams and sorbets. As Kenny Chesney says, "It's a smile, it's a kiss.  It's a sip of wine, it's summertime."

Join us for this complimentary pairing on Saturday, June 21 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, June 22 from noon to 5 pm. Once this sorbet kisses your lips and you sip a little Riesling, you are sure to agree there is nothing like Sunshine & Riesling.

New bottling line and upgrades to the wine cellar and winery entrance on tap this summer at Vynecrest

We had a close call a couple of weeks ago when the temperature dropped to 28 degrees, but it looks like all of the vines made it. The temperature only dropped for a short time and not long enough to cause any damage.

The Vyneskeller is now open seven days a week from 1 - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday it is self service and you can buy everything you need upstairs in the tasting room (wine, cheese, crackers) and take it with you downstairs to the patio or out to the picnic tables. Saturday and Sunday is business as usual with our full staff.

June Specials at Vynecrest:

* Wine of the Month - Lemberger, additional 10% off 

* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 First Blush for $25

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

Upcoming Events

June 22 and 23 - Split Rock Wine Festival

The Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival takes place June 22 and 23 at Split Rock Resort located in beautiful Lake Harmony, Pa. This two-day outdoor festival, located on resort grounds in the Poconos, features continuous musical entertainment on three separate stages, over 30 of Pennsylvania's finest wineries, and a wide selection of food vendors to tempt your taste buds.

June 30 - Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour

July 27 and 28 - Wine on the Mountain

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

Browse through the displays from local artisans and crafters selling handmade décor, accessories, and food items. Or purchase food to pair with your wine from the Penn’s Peak kitchens. Live musical entertainment will be provided by the Billy Bauer Duo on Saturday and Jake Kaligis Dynamic Duo on Sunday.

Tickets are required for this event and are $15 in advance or $20 at the door the weekend of the event. The event is noon - 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Advance tickets are now for sale online as well as at all 8 wineries. 

*Wine on the Mountain is an adults-only event. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older to attend. Designated Driver tickets will be sold for $8 each at the door only the weekend of the event and not in advance.

July 28 - Jazz Sunday

Glass Half Empty

While we stay busy with the day-to-day stuff in the vineyard, wine cellar and tasting room, we are always asking ourselves what can we do to make it better. Better experience for our customers, better equipment or processes in the vineyard or cellar to increase efficiency and increase wine quality.

This question ultimately leads to buying more stuff and projects. I thought I would share a couple of our more recent projects.

My favorite project so far this year is the addition of a mezzanine in our wine cellar. The mezzanine holds 1 pallet (64 cases) of each wine and has a door leading to the tasting room. This solved a couple of problems. First, it opened up some much needed space in the cellar by moving 22 pallets of wine up and out of the way. Second, it allows easy access to wine to keep the shelves stocked. Prior to the mezzanine we would do an inventory see how many cases of each wine we needed in the tasting room, load up a pallet of wine and use a forklift to drive it around to the front door to be unloaded. This was done every Friday and Sunday of busy weekends, usually by Sam and myself. Now the shelves are stocked everyday by whoever is working. My future self's back is thankful for the mezzanine.

The next big project of the year was the widening of the front entrance. We have finished phase 1 of the project. The road is widened and a retaining wall is in that matches the retaining wall at the picnic area. We also added stairs to get from the front entrance to the Vyneskeller patio without having to walk on the road. We have gravel in the widened area for now. Phase 2 will be completed over the next month or so. We will rip up all of the pavers in front of the winery and remove the black top driveway. We will bring the grade up to match the front door. That means no more tripping into the winery and a much easier experience trying to wheel a case of wine out of the door and to your car. Once started, the work should only take a few days so the winery will be open as always.

The last last big thing we have planned for the year is a new bottling line. Hopefully it will be up and running for the next vintage. We will be able to bottle twice as fast. We will also switch to screw caps instead of synthetic cork. Screw caps have come a long way in recent years. Not only are they easier to use, but they now offer the same oxygen diffusion as a synthetic closure, allowing the same "ageability" as our current synthetic cork.

Help Franklin Hill build its new vineyard with the SmallKnot campaign

Be a part of Franklin Hill Vineyards' future through our SmallKnot campaign. We are planting 2,000 new vines and are asking for your support in helping us create this new vineyard. Whether you're a "Party Animal" or a catered dinner in the vineyard is more your speed, there is an investment option for you. Don't miss out on this very unique and rewarding opportunity. And did we mention it's the only way to get an invite to FHV's Summer Celebration party?

Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine and Food Festival

Join Franklin Hill Vineyards and 30 other PA wineries will gather at Split Rock Resort for this two-day festival, June 22 and 23. A weekend filled with music, food  fun and of course wine. Who wouldn't love that?

In the Vineyard 

This time of year the vines grow right before our eyes. Even the 2,000 new vines our crew just recently planted have already begun to bud. The weather has been cooperating so far and we look forward to a great growing season. Our new irrigation system has been in use a few times this year and is proving to be worth the time and effort we put into installing it. Plus it's neat to watch it rain on the vines on a sunny day. Stop by and check it out!

Hard to believe that summer is upon us already. This year has been a blast so far. Festival season is off to a great start and we're looking forward to seeing everyone at the festivals coming up. Keep your eyes open for some really exciting things from us in the next few months. We can't wait for you to see what we're up to!

Recipe Corner  - Simply Sangria
Everyone loves a fruity Sangria in the summer. Here's one of our favorite recipes:

1 bottle Simply Red
1/2 bottle Pomegranate Peach
1/2 bottle of plain seltzer
Cut up some fresh fruit and Voila...A great, fruity and refreshing Sangria, FHV style!

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.