Food Truck Friday, chocolate truffles, and more await summertime visitors at Galen Glen

Food Truck Friday
Friday, July 29 from 5 - 8 pm

You may know Peculiar Culinary chef Gene Philbin from his appearances on Restaurant Start Up on CNBC and other TV shows. Gene and his crew will roll into the winery serving up the comfort food with a twist, cooked from scratch using locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients. Check out their food truck menu: http://www.peculiarculinary.com/food-truck-menu/
The final Food Truck Friday is August 26.

USA Truffle Treat
Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31

Get ready for red, white and blue at the Summer Olympics! We invite you to indulge in three decadent USA-themed chocolate truffles with a three-ounce pour of wine for $5. Our truffles are  handcrafted by Lancaster Chocolatier Steve Evans just for us. While supplies last, half-pound boxes of truffles will be available for splurging.

Flavors of Summer with Buy the Farm and The Easton Salsa Company
Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14

Relish the bounty of our earth with a cheese plate made from locally-sourced cheeses, fruits, vegetables, hummus, salsa and chips from our friends at Buy the Farm and Easton Salsa Company. Purchase a snack to enjoy with your favorite glass of wine while drinking in the beauty of the growing vines.

Walking Tour of the Vineyard and Wine Cellar
Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 at 1 p.m. both days

Enjoy a walking tour of the vineyard and wine cellar with one of our guides who will highlight our family's stewardship of this land for over 200 years. Walking tours are about one hour in length, meandering through our rocky terrain. Please wear appropriate foot gear. Our tours are complimentary with no reservations required, and are weather permitting.

Galen Glen Case Club
This month is a great time to join or renew your membership in our annual case club. We have some great events planned for our active case club members and as an new or renewed active member you'll receive an invitation. Our members enjoy many benefits annually, events are only the tip of the iceberg

Vynecrest Anniversary Weekend is just a few days away!

New Releases
2015 Autumn Gold - The 2015 growing season was very good for Autumn Gold. If you're a fan of this wine you are going to love this vintage! $9.99

#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

July Specials 
* Wine of the Month - Chardonnay - 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

July 16 and 17 - Vynecrest Anniversary Weekend
Live Music in the picnic area - Saturday - The Rotten Apples, 1-4 pm and Sunday - Billy Bauer, 1-4 pm
Fud Truck, both days, featuring the return of the "Lemberger," and many other great food items - 11 am - 5 pm

July 31 - Barre 3 Yoga, Food Truck, Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour
Barre 3 Yoga in the Vineyard, contact Barre 3 to register, 610-841-8200
Jazz Sunday, Live Music in the Vyneskeller from 1 - 4 pm
Stuffed to the Grills Food Truck - 10 am - 5 pm
Vineyard and Winery Tour - 1 pm, $5 per person, reservations suggested

Glass Half Full
Maizey Landis - July 17, 2003 - March 10, 2016

John, Jan and Sam Landis took care of Maizey for 12 ½ years, but she really belonged to everyone at Vynecrest. We picked her out of a large litter on a farm in Morgantown in September 2003 and our neighbors picked out her sister Morgan (Morgan crossed the Rainbow Bridge 2 ½ months after Maizey). The two puppies spent a lot of time together growing up.

Maizey truly was a winery dog, she actually spent more time at the winery than at home. She loved hanging out and greeting people. A typical Labrador, she was gentle and wagged her tail for everyone big and small, young and old. At 4:30 on weekends, she would go down to the Vyneskeller to greet everyone and clean up all the crumbs on the floor.

During the week, she could be found sitting in the window seat in the upstairs Tasting Room. And in her puppy years, she followed John everywhere in the vineyard, loved riding in the golf cart with Sam and getting into trouble in the wine cellar.

In her memory, we have renamed the North Vineyard the Maizey Vineyard. The Lemberger grapes are in this vineyard and it’s a favorite picture spot for visitors. We know you all miss her as do we.

Lehigh Valley wineries make special plans for lovers this Valentine's Weekend

Sweethearts looking to do something different to do this Valentine’s Day can take themselves on a trip along the Lehigh Valley WineTrail for a weekend full of treats and tastings. Here is a list of what each of the trail’s nine member wineries has planned:

Amore - will feature assorted chocolates with their Blackberry Bliss wine.

Big Creek - will pair handmade chocolate truffles from Orchard Hill Sweets with either their Nouveau Red or Dulcinea. Truffles will also be available for sale.

Blue Mountain – the New Tripoli winery will host a Valenwine Weekend Wine and Chocolate Pairing on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15 from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The winery will pair three of their wines with three different flavors of locally made chocolates from Sweet Finesse. Cost is $5 per person, which is refundable with a wine purchase. (Reservations required for groups of eight or more.) Customers are invited to bring a picnic or snacks to enjoy with a glass or bottle of Blue Mountain wine next to the fireplaces on the glass-enclosed deck. On Sunday, February 15, customers can enjoy Sunday Blues with Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer from 2 - 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 per person (non-refundable), which includes the wine and chocolate pairing. Reservations are required for Sunday Blues and can be made by calling 610-298-3068.

Clover Hill - Join the winery for Love Flights on February 13 - 15 from noon - 5 pm. Tickets are required and are $9 per flight. Flights will consist of four wines paired with four samples of cheeses. A choice of a mixed flight of dry and off-dry wines, or a sweet flight will be offered. For tickets, call 610-395-2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville.

Franklin Hill - is hosting a Valentine Chocolate and Wine Pairing Weekend. Sweethearts are invited to visit Franklin Hill Vineyards winery on February 14 and 15 for a chocolate and wine pairing. Sample different flavors of chocolate that accompany their wines.

Galen Glen - Every weekend in February the winery will offer three decadent truffles (double dark, raspberry/champagne, and espresso) with 3 oz. of their Raspberry wine for $3. The truffles are handmade by Lancaster chocolatier Steve Evans.

Pinnacle Ridge - Join the winery for a candle-lit Wine Lover's Evening. Local chef and Northampton Community College culinary instructor Mary Grube will prepare this four-course food and wine pairing. Each course will be designed and paired with a Pinnacle Ridge favorite wine. Cost is $140 per couple. Call (610) 756-4481 for reservations and details.

Tolino - will offer wine and chocolate pairings on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15 from noon  - 6 p.m. They will also offer Russian-style chocolates from Alexandra and Nicolay Chocolates in Portland, Pa. paired with Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, and Papa’s Red. Tastings of the traditional chocolates (milk, dark and white) are complimentary with the purchase of their premier tasting. For an additional $5 the tasting can be upgraded to include the “Fruits of the Czars” specialty chocolates made with Callebaut chocolate-coated apricots stuffed with almonds. The winery will also offer its pink Berry Rosé Sangria for sale by the glass and will give away a fresh flower to the first 50 customers who purchase a bottle of wine.

Vynecrest - The Vyneskeller wine bar will open early for Valentine’s Day. From 10 a.m. to noon it will sell $3 mimosas and feature Frank Sinatra on the baby grand player piano. Pastries, croissants and chocolate-covered strawberries will be available for purchase while supplies last. Reservations are suggested. There will also be live music by Steve Myers in the Vyneskeller from 1 to 4 p.m.

Chambourcin Weekend details announced!

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will once again celebrate the region’s official wine grape during Chambourcin Weekend on Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16.  

The Chambourcin is the only wine grape grown by all eight area wineries. In the greater Lehigh Valley, there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin, which ferment into 150,000 bottles of wine. Chambourcin is very versatile in the wine cellar and the wineries craft it into several styles of wine including Nouveau, Rosé, Semi- Sweet, Sweet, Dry Barrel Aged, Sparkling and Port.

Wineries will feature wine tastings, live entertainment, food and wine pairings, and other activities. Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Chambourcin Weekend is a free event, however some wineries charge for wine tastings. Check the Wine Trail web site for details.

CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth - Amore will feature five styles of hand-crafted Chambourcin wine pared with an assortment of artisan breads, dipping oils and cheeses.

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville - Big Creek Vineyard will pair a "Soupe Chanterelle," made with local Chanterelle mushrooms, with their 2010 Chambourcin.

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli - Saturday: Di Bruno Brothers out of South Philadelphia will be sampling their cheeses to pair with Chambourcin. Rob will be playing as free entertainment from 1-4 p.m.

Sunday: They will offer winery tours every hour from 1-5 p.m. Join them for Sunday Blues from 2-5 p.m. featuring Scott Marshall & The Hillbilly Souls ($5 admission to Sunday Blues; includes wine tasting).

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

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor - Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday Franklin Hill will feature Pivinski's Premier Polish Prince's Pierogis for tasting paired with 2010 Chambourcin or Simply Red.  Guests may also purchase pierogis to eat at the winery or for sale by the dozen to take home with a bottle of their favorite wine.  While you enjoy the pierogis, enjoy the tunes as Robert Michaels entertains with great acoustic guitar.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas - Fiesta for your taste buds. Zesty Taco soup prepared by charismatic Gary and Kathy, who are independent Pampered Chef consultants, will be paired with the winery’s Gold medal Chambourcin or Cellar Red.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - Pinnacle Ridge will be serving tender beef French dip with their Chambourcin wine reduction au jus. For vegetarians they'll be serving sautéed vegetable French dip with Chambourcin wine reduction vegetarian au jus. Pinnacle Ridge 2009 Chambourcin, 2008 Chambourcin Reserve and Sweet Seduction (100% Chambourcin) will be their featured wines.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville - Vynecrest Winery will be partnering with The Farmhouse, a farm-to-table restaurant, to present the following tasting menu to pair with samples of the winery’s Gold Medal 2010 Chambourcin Wine. Chef Javin Small will be at the winery at 1 p.m. both days and will be conducting a cooking demonstration on Sunday.

Saturday’s Menu: Mediterranean herby hummus with Rip Rap artisan crackers. Assorted grilled pizzas with seasonal toppings and manchego cheese with red and black currant jam on French baguette slices. Connie Edinger performs live from 1-4:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Menu: Chinese five spice hummus with Rip Rap artisan crackers, seared herbed lamb lollipops with fire roasted poblano pepper walnut pesto and manchego cheese with red and black currant jam on French baguette slices.

Wine in Bloom is THIS WEEKEND!

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will present a new event called Wine in Bloom this weekend Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 22 from noon – 5 p.m. It will be a fun and educational event that celebrates bud break on the vines and the growing season. 

Wine in Bloom also highlights the importance that terroir (soil) plays in the development of the grapes, their flavor and the resulting taste of the wine, and stresses the importance of the A.V.A. designation (American Viticultural Area) in further legitimizing the Lehigh Valley for wine making. Each winery will offer its own variety of activities, from vineyard tours and food and wine pairings, to live entertainment and even a scavenger hunt.

•    Amore Winery in Nazareth will celebrate Wine in Bloom with a Strawberry Festival featuring strawberry wine paired with a variety of mild cheese, mixed white chocolate treats, and assorted strawberry deserts.

•    Big Creek Winery in Kresgeville will be pairing their dry white Seyval with corn chowder a' la Seyve Villard.

•    Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli is sampling a selection of our wines paired with gourmet cheeses to compliment them. Visitors can also show off their singing talents at the first ever Rob-aoke, live karaoke with Rob on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. playing guitar and backing up any willing participants that have a favorite song they’d like to showcase. Sunday is Sangria Sunday from 2-5 p.m., with live entertainment by Leechboy. Admission is $5.

•    Clover Hill Vineyards in Breinigsville will be hosting their annual scavenger hunt.  Check in any time during the day in the tasting room they we will set visitors up with the scavenger hunt details. Whoever finishes the hunt with the correct answers gets a prize. 

•    Franklin Hill Vineyards in Bangor will offer tastings and tours of their facility, as well as music on the deck. Cheese plates from Klein's Farm will be available for purchase, and guests are welcome to walk around the vineyards and see how the vines have developed for the new vintage. There will also be specials.

•    Galen Glen Winery in Andreas will be sampling the new Berry Pom-A- Rita Wine Slushy. All natural with the tart, sweet flavor of pomegranate and blueberry blended with wine and ice. See the vineyard in bloom on tractor & wagon tours of the vineyard and wine cellar. Free tours depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m.

•    Pinnacle Ridge Winery celebrates with free tours of their estate vineyard. Tours will depart on the hour from 1 - 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Along with their regular wine tastings, they’ll also be pairing asparagus baked in phyllo dough and the 2010 Riesling using asparagus freshly harvested from the Pinnacle Ridge family garden. Sunday kicks off the summer 2011 season Sunday Jazz with Skip Moyer from 3 to 6 p.m. $5 cover charge.

•    Vynecrest Winery in Breinigsville will continue their 2011 Winemaker Tour series on Saturday at 1 p.m. for $5 per person. This tour is titled "Bud Break." Reservations are suggested. In addition, they will feature Art's Acoustic Oldies in the Vyneskeller from 1-4:30 p.m. - no cover charge.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail in the News!

We love it when folks talk about our Wine Trail and let others know what a best-kept-secret it is in the Lehigh Valley.

We recently were the subject of a blog post by Discover Lehigh Valley, the region's non-profit tourism bureau. Blogger Nancy wrote about March Madness and how she likes to explore our trail. Click here to read her blog post. 

And in the March/April issue of OurHouse magazine's Excursion publication, our trail was featured in an article on wineries in New York, New Jersey and Eastern PA. Click here to read the article.

And finally, Patch.com recently included us on their list of "Five Fun Nearby Attractions." Click here to read it.

Have your next special event or party at a Lehigh Valley winery!

The Vyneskeller at Vynecrest Winery.

Looking for a location in which to host a surprise birthday party, anniversary celebration or bridal shower? Skip the boring hotel ballroom or meeting room option and consider hosting your event at one of our wineries.

Several of our Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wineries have special event space that can be rented for your occasion. While not all of the wineries host weddings, most of them will be glad to have your party at their place and can even arrange catering services for you.

Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli has an enclosed deck that can be rented for bridal and baby showers. Vynecrest in Breinigsville has their Vyneskeller on the lower level of their barn that features its own bar with TV which is great for watching the big game.

Clover Hill Winery also in Breinigsville has a special event space just off their wine tasting showroom. Sorrenti Cherry Valley has a grand pavilion and other areas for hosting events. Amore Vineyard in Nazareth recently remodeled the second floor of their barn to accommodate dinners and parties.

So next time you have a special event to plan for a friend, a family member or maybe yourself, consider having at a local Lehigh Valley winery!

Save the Date! Chambourcin Weekend - 10/16 & 17

Please plan to join us for our next Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event, Chambourcin Weekend, October 16 & 17.

The Chambourcin wine grape is the OFFICIAL wine grape of the Lehigh Valley. All nine of our wineries grow it. If you've never tasted Chambourcin, it is a dry to semi-dry red wine.


The fall harvest should be over or almost over at our wineries by the time the event rolls around, so many of the vines will be bare. All of our wineries have announced their plans for Chambourcin Weekend and can be found on our web site.  Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m.

Be sure to visit all of our wineries over the event weekend. They are:

•    Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
•    Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
•    Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
•    Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
•    Franklin Hills Vineyards, Bangor
•    Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
•    Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
•    Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg
•    Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville