Mother's Day along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

Here is what our wineries have planned for Mother's Day Weekend, May 13 & 14:

Galen Glen
We toast all ladies with a complimentary wine tasting and a Galen Glen tasting glass. Also, Grab a snack from Buy the Farm – Specializing in homemade dips, salsas, hummus and our winemaker’s favorite – homemade pita chips, Aaron and Marisa also bring locally sourced surprises like sandwiches and baked goods.
Saturday — 11am – 5pm
Sunday — Noon – 5pm

Mimosas and Music at Vynecrest
$3 Mimosas both Saturday and Sunday for Mother’s Day and Mike Spangler playing the baby grand piano in the Vyneskeller on Saturday from 1-4 pm.

Blue Mountain
It’s Mother’s Day and what better way to say “Thanks Mom” or “I Love You Mom” than with Mimosas and a cheese and fruit plate. Available at the Vineyard in New Tripoli from 11 am - 6 pm on Mother’s Day. No reservations required. Plus, Sunday Blues from 2 - 5 p.m, $5 per person, includes wine tasting.

Special at Clover Hill
May 14 – noon-4 pm
It’s Mom’s Day and what better way to say “Thanks Mom” or “I Love You Mom” than with a glass of wine and a bottle to take home. Join us at the Winery in Breinigsville for discounted wine by the glass specials from noon to 4 pm.

Cupcake Pairing – Tolino
Celebrate the moms in your life with a a wine tasting and gourmet cupcake pairing. We will be offering pink berry slushies and live music on Saturday and Sunday. Cupcake pairing is $8 for 6 tastes, souvenir glass, and cupcake. No purchase in advance required.

MAMAste YOGA with Jackie at Tolino
10:30 am special yoga flow in the vineyard guided by Jacki Squarcia of Om-azing yoga followed by brunch, a cupcake pairing, wine tasting and souvenir wine glass and live entertainment. Bring your own mat. Call us at 610.588.9463 with questions.

Yoga in the Vineyard – Franklin Hill
As always our Yoga in the Vineyard Series kicks off on Mother’s Day, May 14. We’re honored to welcome back Silver Kim to lead us in an hour of rejuvenating and relaxing poses. Your ticket includes your practice, a glass of sangria and a light buffet style brunch.Full of Crepe’s food truck will also be here offering both sweet and savory crepe options that you’re sure to love. $25 per person

Pinnacle Ridge 2017 Open House Concert Series – Scott Marshall & the Hillbilly Souls
This summer, we’re going to have a ton of fun music in our rustic Bank Barn! We have a stage, tables and chairs, a bar, food trucks, and a crowd that’s always ready to dance it up. No reservations required. Please – no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed. We will have locally produced beer and cocktails made from locally distilled spirits. We will also have non-alcoholic beverages for sale.
FOOD TRUCK: Stuffed to the Grills

Spring Wine & Cheese Pairing weekend details announced

Taking place mid-spring, the Spring Wine & Cheese Pairing Weekend 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.

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

(While the wine and cheese pairing samples at each winery are complimentary (limit one per person, per winery), most of our member wineries charge a fee for wine tastings. So be sure to ask what the tasting policy is when you arrive at each winery, or consult their respective winery page on this site.)

WINE & CHEESE PAIRINGS

Amore will serve a variety of Italian cheeses paired with wines appropriate to the nature of the cheese and the customer’s palate.

Big Creek will introduce its wine by the glass program and for the epicurious, an augmented cheese plate.

Blue Mountain will feature Strawberry and Goat Cheese Bruschetta paired with their 2015 Riesling (dry) or their 2015 Vignoles (Semi-Sweet). Cheese and wine will be available for purchase.

Clover Hill will feature Riesling paired with a Vermont Maple Sriracha Windsordale cheese, and Turtle Rock Red paired with Drunken Goat cheese.

Franklin Hill – will offer Cheddar, Bacon, and Bourbon Fondue served with pretzel bites prepared by our sister company, Social Still. They’ll pair it with White Jade, which was recently awarded the Best Dry White Wine at the Pennsylvania Wine Association Competition. For sweet drinkers they’ll offer Vidal Blanc as a pairing. Local vendors and specialty cocktails will also be available.

Galen Glen will feature its decadent Cannoli Dip (made with ricotta and cream cheese – recipe available) and a locally smoked cheese paired with their wines.

Pinnacle Ridge will team up with Camillo’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria on Kutztown whose chefs are preparing mini cheese pinwheels made with buffalo mozzarella and Camillo’s very own fresh dough. After baking, the pinwheels are sprinkled with garlic and Parmesan cheese. They will have two wines available for pairing: customers can choose either the smooth, full-bodied, French Oak-aged 2015 Chardonnay, or for a sweeter option, the 2016 Vidal Blanc.

Tolino will pair Mama’s Rose with Pastae, a Tolino family recipe. Pastae is similar to quiche and is made with hard Italian cheeses, eggs and pasta. This rich and decadent dish is a tasty side at any party. The touch of sweetness in the fruity rose is a perfect complement to the savory dish. Live music Saturday (and every Saturday) by Jeff and Karen.

Vynecrest will pair PA Preferred September Farms Mango Fire Cheddar with their seductive, spicy Traminette wine.

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.

Mother's Day weekend events and specials along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

Several of our Lehigh Valley wineries have special events planned this coming weekend for Mother's Day. Some require advance reservations and space is limited. So be sure to call ahead to ensure space is still available.

Blue Mountain

Blue Mountain Vineyards is offering a 3 oz. glass of Victoria's Passion wine paired with two locally hand-made Victoria's Passion truffles from Sweet Finesse for $7 per person. Limited quantities are available, no reservations required.

Reserve a table for the Scott Marshall Band who is performing for our Sunday Blues from 2-5 pm. Reservations required. To make a reservation, visit https://www.bluemountainwine.com/sunday/scott-marshall-and-the-hillbilly-souls

Clover Hill 
Mother's Day Flights
May 7, 8, 9 and 10 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
Tickets required: $12 per flight

Let us help you celebrate all the beautiful Mothers at Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. We will offer a dry wine flight and a sweet wine flight. Please call 610.395.2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville for your tickets. (Note - the event is almost sold out for Saturday and Sunday. There are still plenty of spaces available for Monday and Tuesday.)

Franklin Hill
Yoga in the Vineyard - May 8

The event begins at 10 am with an hour of relaxing, rejuvenating and restoring yoga in the vineyard. Once we've found our Zen we'll head to the pavilion for a light brunch, complete with mimosas. A tour will be offered at Noon.

BYOM - Bring Your Own Mat
$25 per person (includes yoga, brunch, mimosa, tasting and tour)
Limited space is available.

Galen Glen

The winery will toast all ladies with a complimentary wine tasting and a special Galen Glen exclusive gift (while supplies last). Also, enjoy an individual mango-coconut cheesecake with a glass of Raspberry wine for $9. ($10 or $12 with other wines) (while supplies last).

Tolino Vineyards

Join Tolino Vineyards on Mother's Day Weekend for two great events,  cupcakes and yoga! All weekend enjoy a gourmet cupcake pairing by Sweet Girlz Bakery and premier tasting for $8. No tickets required. Cupcake flavors: Red Velvet, Peanut Butter, Lemon, Salted Caramel and French Toast.

On Sunday, start your day with yoga at 10:30 am, followed by brunch, a cupcake pairing, premier tasting and live music. Yoga is $30/ticket. Live music Saturday by Mike Pilgermayer and Sunday by Peshi. Brunch menu: cupcake, fruit, gourmet cheese, quiche, green salad, and a sandwich or wrap.

Vynecrest

Dan Harakal on guitar in the Vyneskeller 1-4 pm both days Saturday. On Saturday Trixie's Treats Food Truck with sell cupcakes and sweet treats onsite, and Sunday they will have croissants available and mimosas for $3 from 11 am-  1 pm. Free admission.

Mother's Day, wine slushies, and vineyard and winery tours this spring at Clover Hill

Mother's Day Flights
May 7, 8, 9 and 10 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
Tickets required: $12 per flight

Let us help you celebrate all the beautiful Mothers at Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery. We will offer a dry wine flight and a sweet wine flight. Please call 610.395.2468 or visit the winery in Breinigsville for your tickets.

Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing Event with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail
May 21 - 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
May 22 - noon - 5  p.m.

Learn the art of pairing wine and cheeses together. We will offer a free sampling of two wines each paired with a cheese. We will feature Riesling paired with a Ghost Pepper Habanero Jack and our Catawba paired with Cotswold. Cheeses will also be available for purchase. Stop in the winery in Breinigsville for this free tasting.

Wine Slushie Weekend
May 27, 28 and 29 from noon - 5 p.m. all days
To kick off the summer season we will be offering a wine slushie for sampling and available for purchase by the glass.

Public Vineyard and Winery Tours
June 12 at 2 p.m.
July 17 at 2 p.m.
Reservations required; $12 per person. No charge for guests under 21 years of age.

Join Clover Hill Winery for a vineyard and winery tour. We will show you the Clover Hill way from the grape to the glass. Tours last approximately 1½ hours and we sample a few wines as we tour. Tour groups are limited in size, so please make advanced reservations by calling 610-395-2468. Please dress casually as comfortable shoes are suggested since this is a walking tour. Handicap accessible.

Wine & Cheese Pairings announced for mid-May Wine Trail event

We're already half-way through April and before you know it may will be here. So mark your calendar now and plan to join us May 21 & 22 at all 9 of our trail's member wineries for our next Wine Trail event - the Spring Wine and Cheese Pairing event.

Event hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Complete an event ballot to vote for your favorite wine and cheese pairing and be entered to win one of nine $25 Wine Trail gift certificates.

(While the wine and cheese pairing samples at each winery are complimentary (limit one per person, per winery), most of our member wineries charge a fee for wine tastings. So be sure to ask what the tasting policy is when you arrive at each winery, or consult their respective winery page on this site and look for the Tasting Policy header.)

Amore - will feature a wide array of cheese and crackers, paired with several different wines.

Big Creek - will pair Nouvelle Sunset Late Harvest with Brie or Apple Raspberry with Manchego.

Blue Mountain – their 2011 Merlot will be paired with a wedge of Prima Donna cheese on a cracker, and their 2014 Sauvignon Blanc will be paired with a skewer of watermelon and Sartori basil and olive Asiago cheese. Cheeses will be available to purchase.

Clover Hill – will offer a free sampling of Riesling paired with a ghost pepper habanero jack cheese, and Catawba paired with Cotswold. Cheeses will also be available for purchase.

Franklin Hill - will welcome Aioli Food Truck for Wine and Cheese weekend. They will offer pairings of their wines with a variety of cheese spreads from Klein’s Farm. All of their wines, as well as a special Summertime Sangria, will be available for purchase by the glass to enjoy on the deck. 

Galen Glen – will have their white wine with a skewer of mild local German cheese, a strawberry and a basil leaf, and their red wine with a wedge of local smoked cheddar on a pita cracker. Cheeses will be available to purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge - will pair goat cheese and apricot jam with Blanc de Blanc and 2015 Riesling. On Saturday, May 21, they will feature a performance in the barn from The Brosky Meyer Trio from 2-5 pm. Also, the Stuffed to the Grills food truck will sell gourmet sandwiches.

Tolino - will pair various wines with an assortment of cheeses from BaD Farm in Kempton. Tolino and BaD farms are both vendors at the new Easton Public Market. BaD Farm makes their cheese from raw milk that they produce.

Vynecrest - will pair September Farms Aged Gouda with their 2014 Lemberger.

Springtime full of wine events and activities at Tolino Vineyards

Friday Music Series Starts May 27
All summer join us for our Friday Music Series for a relaxing evening at the winery. Live music, wine slushies, food for purchase, family flow yoga, bonfire for s'mores, and yard games for the kids. A great way to spend a relaxing Friday night with the family.

Tolino Vineyards at the Easton Public Market opening April 15
Our spot at the Easton Public Market is nearing completion. Check out our video in anticipation of an April 15 opening.

3rd Anniversary Sale and Food Pairing
April 9 and 10 help us celebrate three great years in business! We will be offering 40% off all 2012 vintage wines, and 15% off the remaining vintages. Papa's Red will be paired with Italian Tomato Pie. Live music by Andrew Moses on Saturday.

Paint your Glass Off with Erika 

April 16 at 2 pm
$35

Ticket includes all supplies and instruction to paint your own wine glass, a glass of wine to sip on while you paint & delicious snacks. Music by Gordon Ward.

Paint and Sip with Anna K  
April 23 at 6 pm
$35

Sip wine, chat with friends and create a masterpiece! The class will be instructed Anna Kaszupski. Tickets are $35 per person and include all art supplies, snacks  and a glass of wine.

Mother's Day Weekend 
May 7 and 8

Join Tolino Vineyards on Mother's Day Weekend for two great events,  cupcakes and yoga! All weekend enjoy a gourmet cupcake pairing by Sweet Girlz Bakery and premier tasting for $8. No tickets required. Or on Sunday, start your day with yoga at 10:30 am, followed by brunch, a cupcake pairing, premier tasting and live music. Yoga is $30/ticket. Live music Saturday by Mike Pilgermayer and Sunday by Peshi.

Spring Wine Dinner by Widow's Tavern and Grille
May 14 at 6 pm
$49.95

Appetizers in the vineyard, dinner in the tank room. Our first dinner of the year will be catered by Widow's Tavern and Grille in Stockertown and will offer a spring inspired menu. Ticket price includes appetizer, dinner, and dessert with wines paired with each. Live music by Andrew Moses. Weather permitting we will stroll down to the vineyard for cocktail hour and appetizers. We will then return to the tank room to enjoy the rest of the meal and the live music.

Dinner in the Vines  
Saturday, June 11 at 5 pm
$49.95

DeFranco's Catering will provide a delicious Italian meal served family style at round tables in the vineyard. Ticket price includes one glass of wine, appetizers, dinner, dessert and live music by Peshi. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to dine among the vines, taking in the sights, sounds and smell of nature.

This weekend's winery events - live jazz, cupcakes and wine, and dinner in a vineyard!

This Sunday, May 31 at Vynecrest - Jazz Sunday: live music in the Vyneskeller from 1-4 pm. FREE.

May 30 at Blue Mountain Vineyards
Run The Vineyards 5K

Run the beautiful and scenic trail course through the vines of Blue Mountain Vineyards. The 5K is a course with chip timing and online results. There are awards for Top 3 Overall and Age Group winners. There is a tech shirt and wine glass for all participants. We'll also have food vendors on site. Enjoy post run live music and a tasting at the wine bar. Register online at www.GoodDayforaRun.com.

Wine and Cupcake event this weekend at Galen Glen

Saturday, May 30 - 11 am - 5 pm
Sunday, May 31 - noon - 5 pm

Happiness Cakes from Las Vegas Chef, Natalie Morgan.  Natalie grew up locally in Palmerton and is now the Executive Pastry Chef at Portafino and Tom Colicchio’s Heritagesteak.  She will be in the tasting room for a meet & greet from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, May 30th.  Both days we will be selling her “Happiness Cake Pops” made from our award-winning Riesling wine paired with 3 ounces of Late Harvest (formerly Erin’s Auslese) for $3.  You may also purchase full-sized versions of the Happiness Cupcake and Natalie’s favorite, Lemon-Blueberry Cupcake for $2.50 while supplies last.

Dinner in the Vines event
Saturday, May 30 at Tolino Vineyards

Like to dine alfresco? How about in a vineyard? Tolino is partnering with DeFranco and Daughters Catering for a family-style Italian meal in the vineyard. Bring your friends and family and dine like you are in Tuscany. $49.95 per person includes two glasses of wine, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Purchase tickets over the phone, in person, or online.

Pinnacle Ridge's Second Annual Case Club Member Barrel Tasting
Sunday, May 31 starting at 3 pm

The case club barrel tasting event will feature a look at our new wines from the 2014 vintage prior to blending and finishing as well as the finished 2013 Veritas. You will also get a chance to taste the Petit Verdot prior to blending.

The 2013 Veritas is a Bordeaux blend that consists of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and for the first time ever Petit Verdot.

Owner/winemaker Brad Knapp will be leading the event to answer any questions you might have about the 2014 vintage. Case Club members will get a chance to purchase the 2013 Veritas before the general public at the end of this event.

Franklin Hill joins a farmers market, hosts a food truck and hits the road to a wine festival

Our Festival Crew is packing up and heading out to the Renaissance Faire in Manheim, Pa this weekend, May 23 & 24, for FlavorFEST, one of our favorite festivals of the year! Come enjoy samples from over 20 PA wineries.  Did we mention it's FREE? See you there!

Crepes & Mimosas
May 31 - noon - 4 pm

Full of Crepe is parking their Green Machine Crepe Truck here at FHV. They will offer sweet and savory crepes.

Can't make it that day? No worries; they'll be back on June 14 and June 28. The tasting room will be open and we'll be offering delicious mimosas as well. Sounds delicious doesn't it?

Wino Wednesdays
Blue Mountain Slopeside Pub & Grill

Join us every Wednesday from 5:30-8:30 pm for a night of fun, wine sampling and clams. All wine products are half price and clams are only $2.99 with any wine purchase. Grab a seat inside or outside on the deck. The views are amazing from anywhere.

Monroe Farmers Market
8 am - noon

We're so excited to be part of the Monroe Farmers Market starting this Saturday, May 23. It's located just off Main Street in Stroudsburg at the Courthouse Square. The market has been serving the community since 1979 offering farm fresh produce, eggs, plants, baked goods, homemade pastas, sauces, jams, jellies and of course, wine.

Happy Memorial Day!
FHV will be open Monday, May 25 as follows:

The Winery - 11 am - 3 pm
Tannersville - 11 am - 5 pm
Easton - 10 am - 4 pm
Historic Bethlehem - 10 am - 4 pm
(The wine shop at Social Still will be closed.)

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.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail to debut new spring wine and cheese event next weekend

Spring is an important time in the vineyards at the nine wineries that make up the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. It’s when bud break on the vine occurs and the vineyards spring back to life after being dormant all winter. It kicks off the growing season along with all the promise that it holds.

To celebrate the season, the wine trail is hosting a new event, May 16 and 17. The Spring Wine & Cheese Pairing event invites guests to sample wine and cheese pairings at each member winery. The theme of this year’s event is “Local Wine with Cheeses from Around the World.” Each winery has selected a country whose native cheeses pair best with their wine as follows:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth – Italy - Mascarpone with Vidal dessert wine, and Provolone with Cabaret Amore

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville – Spain - Spanish Manchego from LaMancha with Moonlight White

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – France - Cantal cheese with Cabernet Sauvignon

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville – Holland - Vidal Verde with Basiron Pesto (Pesto Gouda)

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor – USA - Mozzarella cheese from Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery in Forks Township topped with a slice of fresh tomato and drizzled with sweet basil oil with Seyval Blanc or Katie’s Creek for our sweet drinkers. They will also offer cheese plates for sale. On Sunday, Full of Crepe from Bethlehem will be onsite with their Big Green Crepe Truck selling sweet and savory crepes as well as cheesy crepes all day.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas – Germany - Butterkase with either dry Riesling or half-dry Riesling, and Allgau Emmental with either Gewurztraminer or Crooked Stick White. The winery will have a cooking demonstration on fondue made with Gruyere & Emmentaler. Small bowls of fondue and bread with 3 oz. of Gruner Veltliner will be for sale for $5.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown – Spain - San Simon smoked cheese with Dry Vidal Blanc

Tolino Vineyards, Bangor – Italy - Smoked provolone from Calandras Italian Cheese in Nazareth with 2013 Chambourcin

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville – The Netherlands - September Farms Smoked Gouda Cheese with 2013 Estate Bottled Chambourcin

Some wineries will offer cheeses for sale so that guests can recreate the wine and cheese pairings at home. Attendees can also complete an event ballot to vote for their favorite wine and cheese pairing and be entered to win one of nine $25 Wine Trail gift certificates.

Event hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. Note: while the wine and cheese pairing samples at each winery are free, many of the wineries charge a fee for wine tastings. Limit one wine and cheese pairing sample per person. For additional event information visit: http://lehighvalleywinetrail.com/springwineandcheeseevent/. 

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. Member wineries have been honored with numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

Tolino wines win more awards; winery plans summertime live music and food trucks events

2010 Cabernet Franc receives a Double Gold at the Pennsylvania Wine Competition AND Double Gold at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition!

Like us, our reds only get better with age! The '10 Cabernet Franc is one of our most awarded wines. Stop by and buy a bottle while they last.

Our '13 Pinot Grigio, '13 Chardonnay, '13 Cabernet and '13 Papa's brought home bronze medals from PWA. From the Finger Lakes, Sweet Frances won Silver, and 13 Pinot Grigio, '13 Chardonnay, '13 Cabernet and '13 Papa's Red and '13 Vidal won Bronze.

Mother's Day

On May 9 and 10 join us to celebrate the Moms in your life. Treat the ladies in your life to an afternoon filled with wine tastings, sangria, a tour of the vineyard, live music by Erin McClelland from 1 to 4 pm and a food pairing. A cupcake pairing from Sweet Girlz Bakery in Easton will be available for $8 that includes tasting six wines, one cupcake, and an etched Tolino Vineyards wine glass to take home. No reservations required.

Saturday Music Series

Starting May 2 see the talented Jazz musicians of the Chris Cummings Trio at 1 pm.  Every Saturday at 1 pm we will feature a different artist. Sangria will be available to purchase.

Saturday Food Trucks

We are filling up our calendar with food trucks to be available for our guests on select Saturdays. May 23 and June 13 from 2-  4:30 pm we welcome the TAZA truck that serves delicious authentic Egyptian cuisine. Check our calendar for more food truck dates

Dinner in the Vines - May 30

Grab your friends and dine under the open sky in our beautiful vineyard. Tickets include a family style dinner by Defranco and Daughters, two glasses of wine, and live music for $49.95.

Yoga in the Vines - May 30

At 11 am enjoy the peaceful serenity of the vineyard and start your day with 60 minutes of flow yoga followed by a wine tasting and live music. Yoga dates are 5/30, 6/20, 7/11, 8/15, 9/19 for $30.

Flicksville Fermentation Company Release Party - May 23 and 24

Sample wines from our newly released second label named after our historic hometown. Try The050, a sweet white, or Sunnyside, a sweet red. A food pairing will also be offered.

Painting in the Tank Room - June 13

The class will be instructed Anna Kaszupski. She will design a summer-themed painting. Tickets are $35 and include all supplies, one glass of wine and light snacks

Lehigh Valley wineries offer alternative Mother's Day plans

Wine lovers looking to do something different this year to celebrate Mother’s Day can take mom to a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail member winery for the following activities and events:

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli – Reserve a table for Sunday Blues from 2 - 5 pm with award-winning band Scott Marshall and Marshall’s Highway ($5 cover charge includes wine tasting; reservations required) and bring a picnic lunch. To honor every woman who visits on Mother’s Day, they will receive a complimentary carnation (while supplies last).

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville – On Friday, May 8 at all Clover Hill location

Guests can sample their newest release, Vidal Verde. Clover Hill has given a modern twist to a traditional Portuguese wine, Vinho Verde. Vinho Verde (literally means green wine) is a light, fruity, white wine with a touch of fizziness. Our Vidal Verde is made from 100% Vidal Blanc grapes: dry with clean, fresh pineapple and citrus flavor and a pop of fizz! Stop in and sample this quintessential summer sipper and a perfect treat for Mother’s Day.

Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor - will host its Annual Mother’s Day Yoga class in the Vineyard. Enjoy an hour of yoga led by Silver Kim of Kula Heart Yoga in Bethlehem and then head back to the deck at the winery and enjoy a light brunch and mimosas. Yoga begins at 10 am and is $20 per person and includes the yoga, brunch, mimosa, and a tour of the winery at noon. Limited spaces are available and is always a sell out event. BYOM (bring your own mat). Email cheryl@franklinhillvineyards.com or call 610.588.8708 to reserve a spot. This is the kick off to the Yoga in the Vineyard Summer Series. Future dates include June 7, July 19, August 9 and September 6, same time, price and location. They will have dessert plates for sale to let mom indulge featuring dark chocolate truffles, cheesecake squares, brownies and more.  They also will be making mimosas with their Harvest Berry sparkling raspberry wine at half price for all moms.

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas – will be honoring all ladies on Saturday and Sunday with a complimentary tasting of six table wines and a thank you gift of a wine charm and Galen Glen coaster.

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown - On Sunday, May 10 all moms will get a free tasting of sparkling wine paired with a tasty treat.

Tolino Vineyards, Bangor – On May 9 and 10, treat mom to an afternoon filled with wine tastings, Sangria, a tour of the vineyard, live music by Erin McClelland on Saturday and by Peshi on Sunday from 1 to 4 pm. A cupcake pairing from Sweet Girlz Bakery in Easton will be available for $8 that includes tasting six wines, one cupcake and an etched Tolino Vineyards wine glass to take home.

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville – On Saturday, May 9 enjoy music by Steve Myers playing on their baby grand piano in the Vyneskeller 1 - 4 pm. On Sunday, May 10 enjoy Mother’s Day Brunch in the Vyneskeller from 11 am - 1 pm featuring $3 mimosas, brunch pastries available for sale, and live piano music on our baby grand piano. Reservations are required for brunch only 610-398-7525.

Join Blue Mountain Vineyards this Saturday evening for the Candlelight Barrel Tasting event

Planting season at Blue Mountain Vineyards

Yes, that's Joe in the vineyard planting a Cabernet vine with his crutches beside him. It's been a long road back since his injury in late December and he is happy to be back in the vineyard working.  Usually the vines make it through the winter because we have grafted vines that our disease resistant and winter hardy. However, due to the harsh winter we are replacing over 2,000 vines.

Candlelight Barrel Tasting event this Saturday
May 31 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Join us for the Candlelight Barrel tasting of the 2013 vintages which was one our best harvests. Enjoy our wines accompanied by hors d'oeuvres while listening to live entertainment. We will be taking orders for futures of these wines that evening. Reservations preferred. Admission is $17.50 and includes a souvenir glass. You may order your tickets online at http://bluemountainwine.com/events or call the winery for tickets. Tickets are limited, so order yours now.

Sangria Sundays are back! 
The weather is finally getting warmer and we are excited to move our Sunday entertainment to our outdoor deck. Pick one of our delicious wines to make your own Sangria at your table. We always have a wonderful selection on DiBruno Bros. cheeses available and freshly baked bread but feel free to bring your own snacks and share around the table.

Call for a reservation or buy your tickets on line at http://bluemountainwine.com/events.
 
Farmers Market news
We are pleased to announce that we have added three new farmers market locations:

• Hatboro - Fridays from 6 pm to dusk 
• Chestnut Hill: Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm 
• Head House: Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm

Follow this link to see details of these markets and other farmers markets where we sell our wines. http://bluemountainwine.com/farmers-markets

Spend Memorial Day Weekend at Lehigh Valley wineries

Here is what a few of our member wineries have planned for the holiday weekend:

Galen Glen
Join us for one complimentary, enlightening walking tour of the vineyard and wine cellar. Tours depart from the tasting room each day at noon. Please wear sturdy foot gear. No reservations required and tours are held weather permitting.

Also, Summer Slushy season starts! Sample a sweet frozen wine treat. One taste of our legendary Peach Melba and you will be imagining pitchers of slushies at your next party. Slushies will be available for sampling on the wine bar and for purchase.

Saturday – 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday – noon to 5 pm
Monday May 26 Memorial Day Hours – 11 am - 4 pm

Vynecrest Vineyard and Winery Tour
In conjunction with Jazz Sunday, featuring live jazz music the last Sunday of every month, our Winemaker Vineyard & Wine Cellar Tours will be held May 25 at noon for $5 per person. Come tour the “backlot” of Vynecrest where the wine is grown and made… and then come taste the finished product. Enjoy some wine sitting in our Vyneskeller wine bar or patio. Our winery will be open regular hours - 11 am - 5 pm.

Sangria Sundays at Blue Mountain
The weather is finally getting warmer and we are excited to move our Sunday entertainment to our outdoor deck from 2-5 p.m. Pick one our delicious wines to make your own Sangria at your table! We always have a wonderful selection on DiBruno Bros. cheeses available and freshly baked bread but feel free to bring your own snacks and share around the table.

Call for a reservation or buy your tickets on line at http://bluemountainwine.com/events. This Sunday May 25 will feature a performance by Jake Kaligis and Mike Rauscher. Music admission is $5 and includes wine tasting.

Pinnacle Ridge House Concert Series 
It kicks off Saturday, May 24 with The James Supra Blues Band from 2 - 5 pm. James has been known to rock the barn a time or two so come check it out. Great music, great venue, great wine! www.jamessuprabluesband.com

Clover Hill
Memorial Day Weekend is a great time to shop the Allentown Farmers Market. You can find all of your picnic needs and grab a bottle of Clover Hill wine!

Franklin Hill will be at The Great PA FlavorFest
May 24 & 25 - 11 am - 5 pm
Visit our booth at The Great PA FlavorFest - free admission, free parking and free wine sampling

Twenty wineries will provide complimentary samples of some of their most popular vintages, while food and craft vendors showcase their handmade delights. This festival provides a showcase of Pennsylvania’s diverse culinary, wine offerings and the finest in PA artisan crafts and is sure to be a weekend of fun and delicious entertainment for the whole family that signals the beginning of summer.

Summer wine slushies return to Galen Glen this weekend!

Memorial Day Weekend Slushies Return!
Slushies return as we celebrate the unofficial start of summer. On Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, we will have samples of our Peach Melba Slushy on the wine bar, plus you may purchase your own frozen delight for just $4. Our peach melba slushy is the perfect combination of peach and raspberry flavors and honors Galen's favorite fruit. We will be offering one walking tour of the vineyard and cellar at noon on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (weather permitting). Please wear sturdy shoes. Our special Memorial Day hours on Monday, May 26 are 11 am - 4 pm.

Details on our next wine dinner
As you may have heard, Sarah is taking a culinary summer road trip and is inviting you to join her.  On Wednesday, June 4 at 7 pm she will be teaming with Executive Chef Zoraida Rivera of The Broadway Grille & Pub in Jim Thorpe to bring a five-course meal with our wine that is sure to delight anyone's palate. Tickets for the event are $70 and can be obtained by calling The Broadway at 570-732-4343.

Seating for this event is very limited, so call early. Payment via credit card is due at time of reservation.

The Broadway Grille & Pub is located at:
24 Broadway
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

Planning your visit

Tasting:
We offer tastings whenever we are open for a $5 fee, which is refundable with a one or more bottle purchase. Our last tasting begins 15 minutes prior to closing.

Enjoying wine on our property:
All wine sold to be consumed on our property is by-the-glass only. No open bottles are permitted. There is a two glass per guest limit. Guests are welcome to create a mini-picnic from our selection of local cheeses and crackers or bring their own snacks.

No other alcoholic beverages (beer, competitors' wine, cocktails, etc. ) permitted on our property.

Groups:
Reservations are required by phone for 6 guests. Please call 570-386-3682 to secure a reservation time.  Please note that our weekend reservation schedule fills quickly and planning early is advised.  
For more information on planning your visit to Galen Glen go to:
http://www.galenglen.com/winery/hours.php

Clover Hill offers "Buck a Bottle" shipping special May 15-18

We are going to take one last look at this past winter, only because it brought us a rare jem of a wine. We are proud to introduce our Generations Late Harvest Vidal. The grapes were hand harvested on a snowy Saturday in January from "The Point" vineyard, located at the point of Schantz Road and Rt. 863. We gently extracted the juice using an old fashion basket press and began the fermentation process. Fast forward four months and the end result is like sipping liquid gold.

The Generations Late Harvest Vidal has a rich lingering mouth feel with complex and intense flavors of dried oranges and peaches. There is a strong acidic backbone that gives this wine a zesty finish.  Only 40 cases of this wine was produced so hurry, before it is all gone!

We look forward to you visiting a Clover Hill location in the near future. We have a number of fun events planned for the month of May, but if you can’t make a trip to Clover Hill, we are offering a shipping special May 15-18.

Please note: If you are traveling to the Winery in Breinigsville, Schantz Road will be partially closed until July 2015. Follow these directions around the road closure.

Owner's Selection
Save 10% on your purchase of Brut or Cuveé.

Brut : A dry sparkling wine; Brut is produced using the traditional method of making a champagne - Methode Champenoise. Brut showcases an elegant combination of yeasty and fruity flavors and is an excellent paired with smoked salmon or mussels.

Cuveé: Cuveé is a French word that translates to ‘vat full’ or ‘blend’. This Cuveé is effervescent, light and semi-sweet. Try this bubbly with sushi or Sunday brunch quiche.

Buck A Bottle Shipping Special
May 15-18
shop.cloverhillwinery.com

Stock up on Clover Hill wines for the summer and have them shipped right to your door. Purchase 6 or more bottles and you pay only $1 per bottle shipping. Purchase 12 or more bottles and you will also receive a 10% case discount along with $1 per bottle shipping charge.

Spring Fling
The Winery in Breinigsville
June 7 from noon - 5 pm

Join your favorite Breinigsville wineries, Clover Hill and Vynecrest for the Spring Fling. Your ticket includes sampling of 3 new releases at each winery. Visit Vynecrest to taste 3 new wines each paired with a locally made cheese. At Clover Hill you will be sampling 3 wines from the 2013 harvest each paired with a dessert. Tickets are $10 per person. Limited availability. Tickets are now available for purchase at both participating wineries.

2014 Vineyard & Winery Tour Series
The Winery in Breinigsville

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 1½ hours 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. Click here for dates.