Blue Mountain wines wine more awards; store at Lehigh Valley Mall reopens

Blue Mountain Vineyard Wines Win International Awards!
Eastern International Wine Competition (East Meets West)

For the second year, Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine combined two of its oldest and most established wine competitions into one by creating the International "East Meets West" Wine Challenge.  The judging was held Feb. 10-11, 2015 in Sonoma County, California. A total of 1164 wines were awarded medals. 

Since 1982, the West Coast Wine Competition has annually recognized wines produced and bottled in the West. The International Eastern Wine Competition, started in 1975, is one of the oldest and longest-running wine competitions in the nation. 

This year, the competitions merged into one large event. Wines were simultaneously judged in two established regional divisions: International Eastern Wine Competition and the West Coast Wine Competition. Traditional awards were given in each division. Best of Show winners moved on to compete in the East Meets West Taste Off to see which wine was best overall. This afforded each entrant two chances to win medals: one in its own division and one in the Taste Off. A Riesling Championship was also held.

Blue Mountain Vineyards Winners:

2013 Shiraz (not yet released) - GOLD

2014 Riesling (not yet released) - SILVER

2012 Pinot Noir (available now) - SILVER

Join us for Vino in the Valley starting this weekend.
Passports for the Lehigh Valley' Wine Trail's annual event are sold out. But if you got yours early, we hope to see you soon. Check out our food and wine pairings for each weekend  here. 

Blue Mountain Vineyard will have live music every Saturday and Sunday this month. On Sundays, we require a reservation for the music ($5 cover charge), so call the winery or visit our website to reserve your table. The Sunday Blues schedule is:

• March 8 - Adam Motto
• March 15 - Arianne Rox
• March 22 - Connie Edinger
• March 28 - Jake Kalegis & Mike Rauscher 

Due to high demand, we ask that you are here by 2:30 pm, or we will release your table to the next group. Parking is extremely limited. Carpooling is appreciated. 

Our Lehigh Valley Mall location is now open!

Visit our newly remodeled kiosk in the Lehigh Valley Mall, located near Starbucks and Littman Jewelers on the lower level of the mall. 

We now offer wine tastings, wine by the glass, wine and cheese pairings, wine accessories, and more.

Harvest season at Pinnacle Ridge brings new wine releases, a special event and live music

Harvest is here!

Happy harvest season to all of our wonderful customers! Thank you for all of your support and your passion for what we are doing. As we begin to undertake the always daunting (and equally rewarding) task of harvesting our vines, we would like to invite you all to come out and enjoy the sights. The fair weather is fleeting, the grapes are coming off of the vines and we have begun to process our fruit.                                  
There are going to be a lot of great events and happenings at Pinnacle Ridge this fall, and we want to invite you to come out and take part. Want to be a part of the team that helps harvest our fruit? Give us a call at (610) 756-4481 or shoot us an e-mail at pinridge@aol.com.

House Concert Series  - October 12

Steve Brosky and Jimmy Meyer will be jamming in the barn that Saturday afternoon from 2-5 p.m. They will help to kick off the release of our brand new 2012 Cabernet Franc. Also, check out some vintage gifts and notions from Bee Stung by Melanie Tatasciore that will be available throughout the afternoon. They will include everything from homemade jewelry, to artisan bath and body scrubs

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Event: Chambourcin Weekend                                                            

Join us October 19 and 20 for the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's annual Chambourcin weekend - an entire weekend of food, fun and cheer devoted to one of the Lehigh Valley's signature grape varieties!                                
New Wine Releases

2012 Pinot Noir
This lighter-weight red has aromas of vanilla, cherry and pie spices. The moderate tannins give way to cherry fruit flavors coupled with the wood influences derived from aging the wine in French oak barrels. A perfect wine to enjoy with lighter pork and chicken dishes.

2012 Cabernet Franc
Our Cabernet Franc displays herbal aromas, hints of vanilla and crushed berries. The flavor profile follows that of the nose and this wine displays moderate tannins, indicating an aging potential of anywhere between 3-5 years. The Cabernet Franc does very well in the Lehigh Valley and this particular wine is an excellent example. Pair this wine with wild game, like pork or venison, or with a light blush pasta sauce.

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.

February events and specials at Clover Hill Winery

Celebrate February at Clover Hill

Even though the groundhog wished us six more weeks of winter, there is much to celebrate during the month of February! It is a leap year, and we would like to consider this extra day in February to be a good excuse to share a bottle of wine with friends. And our favorite reason to celebrate February is that Generations Sparkling Pinot Noir is back in stock! We love these bubbles and make it our drink of choice for any celebration.
 
Owner's Selection
Our semi-sweet Riesling is bursting with aromas and flavors of peach, apricot, and minerals with a refreshing acidity. This wine pairs beautifully with spicy Thai food or Mexican food with a kick.

Enjoy a 10% discount on Clover Hill Riesling the entire month of February. Receive a 20% discount on the Owner's Selection when included with case purchases. Click here for some of our favorite recipes to go with Clover Hill Riesling.

Upcoming Events

Sweets and Treats
Sat., February 18 from noon - 5 p.m.

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery will partner with Angel 34 Foundation for a wine and chocolate event.  Angel 34 is a national organization united in the fight against childhood cancer and dedicated to finding a cure. 100% of the funds raised by Angel 34 go directly to providing services and support for children battling cancer. Enjoy your day at Clover Hill Winery sampling food, chocolates, and great wines, all for a great cause. For more information on Angel 34 visit: www.angel34.org.

Wine Rack Sale
All Clover Hill Locations
Feb. 23 – March 4

Visit any of our Clover Hill locations to find big savings on all in stock wine racks. All wine racks will be discounted from 10-70% off. This is our once a year sale on all wine racks. Don’t forget to stock up on Clover Hill Wine while you are shopping.

Holiday wines at Clover Hill Vineyards

The holidays are upon us and there is no better time of year to enjoy a glass of Clover Hill wine with friends and family.  Here are a few suggestions to put you in the Holiday spirit.

2010 Pinot Noir
This new vintage is just released and we think it is an amazing wine! 2010 was the best growing season Clover Hill ever experienced and as a result this Pinot Noir is full of the classic flavors of strawberry, leather and berry. Pairs perfectly with your holiday ham or turkey.

Holiday
Of course this is our favorite wine to help you spread holiday cheer. "Holiday" is a spin off of German Glühwein with its sweet flavor. It is spiced with cinnamon, clove and citrus. Pull the cork, set the bottle in a crockpot on low heat and celebrate the holidays! 

Boysenberry
This is the newest limited addition to the Clover Hill line up. Boysenberry is a sweet dessert wine made from both boysenberries and grapes. Decadently delicious served chilled after dinner or add a splash of Boysenberry to a glass of sparkling wine for a festive champagne drink. 

December Owner's Selection
With Clover Hill's 2009 Chardonnay you will initially notice strong aromas of toasty oak. On the palate there is a tickle of pear and apple. The finish is lingering with a persistent butter flavor. Enjoy a 10% discount on Chardonnay the entire month of December. When included in a case purchase, we will take an additional 10% off.

Beginners Wine Tasting Class
Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2 p.m.
At the winery in Breinigsville

TICKETS REQUIRED- $25 per person
Learn how to taste and talk wine. Join Clover Hill Winery for a fun 1 & 1/2 hour tasting class. We will teach you the basics of how to taste wine, learn what style you like, how to describe what you taste, and learn to talk like a wine pro. Tickets make great holiday gifts for any wine lover or wine enthusiast. For tickets call 610.395.2468.

Pinnacle Ridge's holiday news and announcements

NEW RELEASES 

We've been getting lots of questions about these two wines and we have finally released our 2009 Chambourcin Reserve and our 2010 Cabernet Franc.  To keep up with everything going on at Pinnacle Ridge please visit our Facebook page.

GREAT REVIEW FOR OUR 2010 PINOT NOIR 

See this link for a review of our 2010 Pinot Noir by Vino Vic. He really liked it. 

PINNACLE RIDGE'S ANNUAL CASE CLUB CHRISTMAS CASUAL - TWO WEEKENDS IN DECEMBER
                          
December 3 & 4 and December 10 & 11
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

‘Tis the season! Pinnacle Ridge owner and winemaker Brad Knapp, his wife Christy and the Pinnacle Ridge staff invite all to sample wine and shop for the holidays. We’ll be serving an array of savory and sweet delicacies and making wine pairing recommendations for your holiday meals. This event is free for Case Club members or $5 per person if you’re not a case club member. Buy a case of wine on the day of the event and the food is free.

WINE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The winter holidays are a time of year when folks get a little more creative with their wine choices. At Pinnacle Ridge we have several wines that you might want to consider for your holiday celebrations. Our Brut Rosé or Blanc de Blanc sparkling wines are a great choice to have with appetizers before a special
meal. If you are having a casual gathering with munchies, these wines will add a special elegance to the occasion.

But don’t wait to long to pick up your bubbly as we may sell out near the end of December. Another specialty wine to consider for that special meal is our 2010 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc. This is a classic dessert wine that pairs beautifully with fruit desserts, crème brulee, or cheesecake. Your guests will be impressed.