Wine on the Mountain - The Winery at Wilcox

We're excited to have two guest wineries joining us for this year's Wine on the Mountain by the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wine festival at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, taking place next weekend, July 22 & 23.

One of those guest wineries is The Winery at Wilcox. Here is what they will be sampling and selling by the bottle:

Cabernet Sauvignon - $16
Gruner Veltliner - $16
Elk Country Red - $11
Elk Country White - $11
Clarion River Red - $11
Wedding White - $11
Summer Days - $14
Peach Summer Days - $14
Raspberry Summer Days - $14
Happily Ever After - $18
Himbeeren (Raspberry) - $20
Strawberry Mist - $15
Blueberry Mist $21
Peach Mist - $14
Port of Chambourcin - $20

They will also sell wine slushies for $8, and will offer 10% discounts on 6 bottles, and 15% discounts on cases.

Vino in the Valley 2017 Getaway Prize Packages

We've made a fun and exciting change to our Vino in the Valley passport event for 2017:

Instead of giving out small, individual gifts to passport holders as was done in past years, this year they will be entered to win one of 10 Lehigh Valley Getaway Packages! We've partnered with some of your favorite local inns, resorts, and bed and breakfasts to create these fabulous overnight packages in the Lehigh Valley.

(All packages/getaways are subject to availability; prize recipient is responsible for booking/scheduling all components of the package they win. Prize recipient may also be responsible for taxes and/or tips.)

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Purchase a Vino in the Valley passport ($35) in person at one of our 9 wineries (cash or check only) or online via EventBrite.
2. Visit at least 8 of our 9 wineries during the four weekends in March and have your passport stamped at each one while you enjoy food and wine pairings.
3. At the last winery you visit fill out the contact information on the bottom of the passport; tear off the stub and turn it into the winery staff in order to be entered to win one of these great Lehigh Valley Getaway Packages!

Here are details on the packages that you could win:

Bear Creek Mountain Resort Getaway

Deluxe King Suite for two nights with Champagne, champagne flutes, and two pairs of slippers; breakfast delivered to your room and rose petal turndown at night

$200 Spa at Bear Creek gift card to be used toward the pampering services of your choice

$100 Grille at Bear Creek gift card for dinner

Crystal Springs Resort Getaway

Create-your-own getaway with a gift card that can be used for your choice of lodging, spa treatments, rounds of golf, and gourmet dining.

Hawk Mountain Bed & Breakfast Getaway

Two-night stay in a Jacuzzi room, plus transportation to the Blue Mountain Vineyards for a winery tour

Massage and manicure for two at Salon & Spa 309

Tickets for two to the Lehigh Valley Zoo

One-hour Allentown hot air balloon ride (shared) with end of ride celebration with champagne fruits and cheese

Dinner for two at Paese Mio

Blue Mountain Vineyards winery tour and cheese pairing for two - includes souvenir glasses

Couples Pampering Package Getaway at Glasbern Inn

Two-night stay for two at Glasbern Inn

Three-course chef-inspired dinner for two in the main dining room

Two 1-hour Swedish massages

Half-dozen chocolate covered strawberries

Chilled champagne in the room

A chef’s table breakfast for two

A breakfast for two in the main dining room

(Valid Sunday through Thursday nights only and based on availability)

Hotel Bethlehem Getaway

Two-night stay at Hotel Bethlehem in downtown Bethlehem

Dinner for two at Social Still in Southside Bethlehem

Sayre Mansion Getaway

Two-night stay at Sayre Mansion - $500 gift certificate

Friday evening dinner at Bolete - $200 gift certificate

Saturday lunch at Bamboo $50 gift certificate

Saturday evening “Picnic on the Green” at DeSales University outside theater with Wegmans $50 gift certificate (to pack picnic supper) and bottle of Galen Glen Riesling

Saturday evening tickets to Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Show at DeSales University $100 gift certificate

Glasbern Inn Getaway

Two-night stay in a deluxe room or junior suite, and dinner for two.

Shawnee Inn Getaway

Two-night stay at Shawnee Inn in the Sanctuary Suite, two breakfasts, one dinner (at River Room or Gem and Keystone), brewery tour, and beer tasting. (Includes all taxes and gratuity for two people.)

Lafayette Inn Getaway

Two-night stay for two people in a Premier Guest Room with whirlpool tub, fireplace and breakfast daily. Romance basket of treats in room.

Couples massage

Gift card for two tickets to a show of your choice at the State Theatre

Dinner for two at Maxim’s 22 restaurant

Kutztown Main Street Inn

Two-night stay at Kutztown Main Street Inn

Dinner with beer tasting and tour at Saucony Creek Brewery

Randall's on the Orchard restaurant gift card

Welcome gift basket filled with assortment of local food and beverages

$150 Uber Gift Card for Transportation

Personal tour and cellar tasting at Vynecrest with the owner

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.

Pennsylvania Wine Stories: "There’s a Story Behind Every Cork"

Our friends at the Pennsylvania Winery Association have launched a new promotion and they need your help to make it successful. And all you have to do to help is tell a story.

Each of Pennsylvania’s 140 wineries has its own story, and for the people who enjoy drinking it, so does each bottle of Pennsylvania wine. As we like to say, “there’s a story behind every cork,” and we want to hear yours. Visit Pennsylvaniawine.com to share your Pennsylvania wine story and read some of the many tales submitted by other wine lovers. Stories can also be submitted on the Pennsylvania Wine Trails Facebook page and at participating wineries.

For every story submitted, the Pennsylvania Winery Association will add a cork to a collection – which will be turned into a cork sculpture at the end of the season – and donate one dollar per cork to the National Center for Family Literacy, a charity that works to inspire families in their pursuit of education and learning.

Stories can be submitted now through October. When the submission period ends, one story from each of Pennsylvania’s seven wine regions will be chosen as a finalist and a public vote on the PWA website will determine the winning tale. Each finalist will receive a prize package of various wine accessories, dinner for two at a local restaurant and a VIP tour of a Pennsylvania winery. The author of the winning story will receive a “Pennsylvania Wine Weekend Getaway,” which includes a one‐night stay in the Pennsylvania wine region of his or her choice, chauffeured transportation to and from the hotel and multiple wineries, dinner for two at a local restaurant and a VIP winery tour.

Tell us your story using the entry form here. Your entry can be two sentences or two paragraphs. It can be funny, sentimental, reflective or romantic. It can involve you and a friend, you and a loved one, or just you!
 
Everyone has a Pennsylvania wine story to tell. The only question is: What’s yours?

And of course, we'd love you to tell a story that involves one of our eight Lehigh Valley Wineries (hint, hint)...

Thanksgiving wine offerings from Clover Hill Vineyards

The Skrip family, owners of Clover Hill Vineyards in Breinigsville, recently shared their wine pairings for Thanksgiving Day in their November e-newsletter. What local wines will be on your holiday table?

The air has turned cold, the leaves have fallen, and our grapevines are beginning their deep sleep through the winter months, but the same is not true for the winery side. John, our winemaker, is busy in the winery working on the beautiful 2010 wines. The rest of the Clover Hill family is preparing for the holidays. Below are the Skrip Family wine suggestions in preperation for Thanksgiving.

Pat Skrip will be drinking Sparkling Pinot Noir this Thanksgiving. Why, because it is now back in stock. Also because Pat drinks bubbles with just about everything. She loves to celebrate life with a glass of sparkling wine.

John Skrip Jr. will be sipping Turtle Rock Red with his turkey. You can’t select a better wine to pair with your turkey, cranberry relish and stuffing. Serve your Turtle Rock slightly chilled and it is certain to please everyone in the crowd.

John Skrip III has a sweet tooth and no doubt he will be heading to the pumpkin pie served with a glass of Vignoles. This luscious dessert wine is a match made in heaven with pumpkin pie, apple pie and other delicious desserts.

Kari Skrip will have her glass filled with the Generations Riesling which is also recently released. This dry, zesty Riesling is powerful enough in flavor to stand up to all the different foods served.

All of us at Clover Hill wish you a joyous Thanksgiving. We are honored to have a Clover Hill wine grace your table full of friends, family and love.

Owner's Selection for November:
Enjoy a 10% discount on Cabernet Sauvignon.
Big, flavorful and ready to knock your socks off! Rich oak flavors of vanilla and spice mingle with ripe fruit flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and cherry. Pairs well with grilled steak topped with sauted mushrooms. Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases.