2016 Annual Lehigh Valley Wine Trail events

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail has announced the following 2016 schedule of events.
All events are free except for Wine on the Mountain and the Vino in the Valley Passport Program, which require the purchase of a ticket and an event passport, respectively.
Event hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m.
For more details on each of these annual events visit: http://lehighvalleywinetrail.com/category/event/ 

• Vino in the Valley – March 5 and 6, 12 and 13, 19 and 20, 26* (*Please note: Our wineries will be closed on Sunday, March 27 for the Easter holiday.) – Customers purchase a $35 passport for access to wine and tasting-sized food pairings at each winery during the four weekends of March. Passports are stamped during each visit and are entered into a drawing for 30 $25 wine trail gift certificates. Passport holders also receive a wine trail t-shirt as this year’s gift. Passports are currently on sale at member wineries and online via Eventbrite.

• Spring Wine and Cheese Event – May 21 and 22– Taking place mid-spring, this event has a “Wine and; Cheese from Around the World” theme. Each winery will select one of its wines to pair with the perfect cheese from a different country 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.

• Wine on the Mountain – July 23 and 24 - Held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, this wine festival includes wine sampling, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, light fare available for purchase, and live entertainment. Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased in advanced at each winery or online starting in April, as well as at the door the days of the event.

• Harvest Weekend: The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker – September 10 and 11 –The wineries proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. Wine pairings, vineyard tours, food, music and other special activities are featured.

• Chambourcin Weekend – October 15 and 16 - Taking place after the harvest is over, this event celebrates the Lehigh Valley’s beloved wine grape, the Chambourcin. It is the only wine grape grown by all nine of our member 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, and the wineries craft it into several styles of wine including nouveau, rosé, semi-sweet, sweet, dry barrel aged, sparkling and port.

• Nouveau Weekend – November 19 and 20 - This is the earliest chance to sample the first wines from the new vintage. It’s also an opportunity to purchase wines for the upcoming holiday season to give as gifts or to drink at dinner. 2017 Vino in the Valley passports go on sale this weekend.

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.

Members include:
• Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth
• Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
• Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
• Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville
• Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor
• Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas
• Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
• Tolino Vineyards, Bangor
• Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

Food trucks, vinyasa in the vineyard, and Pinot Grigio on sale at Tolino Vineyards this summer

New weekday hours - We have decided to change our weekday hours to 1 - 6 pm. Our weekend hours stay the same (noon - 6 pm). Vineyard and winery tours are held Saturday and Sunday at 2 and 4 pm.

FOOD TRUCKS

• July 25 -Taza Truck @ 2:30 pm
• August 15 - Geakers Tacos @ 1 pm
• September 26 - Taza Truck and Aioli Truck at the Music Festival
• October 10 - Bad Bones BBQ @ 1 pm
• October 17 - Trixies Treats @ 1 pm
• October 24 - Stuffed to the Grills @1 pm
• October 31 - Taza Truck @ 2:30 pm

VINYASA IN THE VINEYARD
Vinyasa in the Vineyard continues through the fall. Join Jackie of Om-azing Yoga for a 60-minute class suitable for all levels. Join us on August 15 and September 19 at 11 am for yoga followed by a wine tasting, cheese and snacks, and live music at 1 pm.

SUMMER PINOT GRIGIO SALE
Nothing tastes better than a crisp, cold glass of white wine on a summer day. Our 2012 Pinot Grigio is buy one, get one 50% off for a limited time. This light-bodied white wine is exploding with orange and grapefruit citrus notes, accentuated with a slightly sweet pineapple finish.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Call 610-588-9463 or visit our website for tickets and more details on the following events.

Saturday Music Series - 1 pm

July 25 - Erin McClelland
August 1- Supra Ayers Kilcoyne Kelly Quartet
August 8 - Peshi
August 15 - Tom Vicario
August 22 - Matt Wheeler
August 29 - Brummy Brothers

Paint and Sip
August 29 at 6 pm
$35

Sip wine and paint with your friends. Instructed by Anna Kaszupski. All supplies and a glass of wine are included.

End of Summer Sangria Sunday
August 30

Celebrate the end of summer with various types of sangria for sale by the pitcher or glass. Live music by the Cherry Hill Duo.

Dinner in the Vines
September 12 at 6 pm

The first dinner was such a success that we decided to do it again. Enjoy a full dinner, live music and a glass of wine nestled among the vines. $49.95

Inaugural Music Festival & Fundraiser
Sept. 26 from noon-7 pm
$10 in advance; $15 at door

Join us for the Brummy Brothers, Blue Hearts Revelry,  Matt Wheeler, Mike Pilgemayer and Tom Vicario. The Taza and Aioli trucks will be serving food, and a percentage of wine sales will be donated in the name of Anna Mae Becker.

FIND US IN YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT

We would like to thank our restaurant partners for carrying Tolino wines.

• The Mint Gastropub in Bethlehem
• Maxim's 22 in Easton
• Nectar in Berwyn

Upcoming events at Clover Hill

Annual Wine Rack Sale
February 12-22

At all Clover Hill locations

Shop any Clover Hill location and save 30% off all in stock wine racks.


Love Flights
The Winery in Breinigsville
February 13 -  15 from noon - 5 pm
Tickets required - $9 per flight

Bring someone you love to the Winery in Breinigsville and enjoy a Love Flight. Flights will consist of four wines paired with four samples of cheeses. You will have your choice between a mixed flight of dry and off-dry wines, or a sweet flight.

Each flight is $9 per person. Tickets are limited so get yours early. For tickets, please call 610.395.2468 or visit the Winery in Breinigsville.

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

Stop in the Wine Shop for a perfect pairing for Valentine’s Day. We will offer samples of Blackberry Sparkler paired with chocolate truffle torte from the Amish Village Bake Shop.

Buck A Bottle Shipping Special
February 26- March 1
shop.cloverhillwinery.com

Stock up on Clover Hill wines and have them shipped right to your door. Purchase six or more bottles online and pay only $1 per bottle shipping (minimum order is six bottles to receive the discount). Purchase 12 or more bottles and also receive a 10% case discount along with $1 per bottle shipping charge.

Vino in the Valley Passport Program (formerly called March Passport Program)

A Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event
The Winery in Breinigsville
March 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29
*Passport required - $35 per person

Passports are selling quickly, so don’t wait to get yours online here. View the list of food and wine pairings from all nine wine trail wineries here.

This year’s passport holder gift is a wine backpack. It is recommended that you plan to visit no more than three wineries a day so you can get the most enjoyment out of your experience without being rushed. Groups of 12 or more are by appointment only. To participate in our wine and food pairings you either need a passport, or you can purchase a ticket for the day to sample Clover Hill’s pairings for $5 per person.

Clover Hill is excited to have Chef Nathan return with a fantastic menu:

March 7, 8, 14, 15
Aleppo pepper taco with shaved cabbage and vinaigrette paired with Vidal Blanc
Spiced apple crepe with whipped topping paired with Vignoles

March 21, 22, 28, 29
Sweet Thai turkey marinated skewer paired with Riesling

Join us in 2015 for our six annual wine trail events!

We're excited to announce the following 2015 schedule of events. All events are free except for Wine on the Mountain and the Vino in the Valley Passport Program, which requires the purchase of a ticket and an event passport, respectively. Event hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m.

• Vino in the Valley – weekends only, March 7 – 29 – (formerly known as the March Passport Program) Customers purchase a $35 passport for access to wine and tasting-sized food pairings at each winery during the four weekends of March. Passports are stamped during each visit and are entered into a drawing for prizes. Passport holders also receive a wine backpack as this year’s gift. Passports are currently on sale at member wineries and online via Eventbrite.

• Spring Wine and Cheese Event – May 16 and 17 – Taking place mid-spring, this event has a “Wine and Cheese from Around the World” theme. Each winery will select one of its wines to pair with the perfect cheese from a different country 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.

• Wine on the Mountain – July 25 and 26 - Held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, this wine festival includes wine sampling, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, light fare available for purchase, and live entertainment. Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased in advanced at each winery or online, as well as at the door the days of the event.

• Harvest Weekend – The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker – September 12 and 13 –The wineries proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. Wine pairings, vineyard tours, food, music and other special activities are featured.

• Chambourcin Weekend – October 17 and 18 - Taking place after the harvest is over, this event celebrates the “official wine grape of the Lehigh Valley,” the Chambourcin. It is the only wine grape grown by all nine of our member 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, and the wineries craft it into several styles of wine including nouveau, rosé, semi-sweet, sweet, dry barrel aged, sparkling and port.

• Nouveau Weekend – November 21 and 22 - This is the earliest chance to sample the first wines from the new vintage. It’s also an opportunity to purchase wines for the upcoming holiday season to give as gifts or to drink at dinner. 2016 Vino in the Valley passports go on sale this weekend.

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. www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com

Members include:
• Amoré Vineyards and Winery, Nazareth
• Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kresgeville
• Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli
• Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery, Breinigsville
• Franklin Hill Vineyards, Bangor
• Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery, Andreas
• Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown
• Tolino Vineyards, Bangor
• Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville

The Lehigh Valley region is an official American Viticultural Area as designated by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 85% of the grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Lehigh Valley wineries celebrate the holidays with open houses, special events and new wine releases

The wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are encouraging wine lovers to buy local this holiday season by inviting them to festive events, offering specials on wine, and helping them pick the right wines for their holiday meals.

Passports for the 2015 Vino in the Valley Program (formerly known as the March Passport Program) are now on sale for $35 each at all nine member wineries as well as online, and make a great gift for wine lovers.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Holiday Events and Specials:

Blue Mountain Annual Christmas Open House
December 6 from 6-9 p.m.

This free event is their way of saying thank you for all the support their customers continue to give. Guests can enjoy live music by Adam Motto and complimentary refreshments. Please bring a canned good to support a local food bank. (Wine tasting is $5 for five tastes, and the $5 is redeemable towards a purchase of a bottle of wine.) Call 610-298-3068 for reservations or book online.

Clover Hill Coat Drive at all locations
December 8-14

Customers who donate a gently used coat will get a 10% discount on their purchase as a thank you. They are collecting all coat sizes, which will be donated to The Caring Place in Allentown and Berks Women in Crisis in Reading.

The Breinigsville winery is also selling tickets to its Beginner Wine Tasting Classes on Saturday, January 10 and 25 at 2 p.m. This 1.5 hour long class teaches the basics of wine tasting, gives tips on wine and food pairings, and helps to answer wine questions. Tickets make great holiday gifts and often sell out before the end of this year.

Galen Glen Holiday Open House Weekends
December 6, 7, 13 and 14.

Customers can enjoy a pairing of Voodoo Ravioli and an award-winning aromatic white wine. They are helping Santa collect monetary and toy donations for Toys-for-Tots. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation and receive a gift.

Customers are also encouraged to eat, drink and dress ugly. Dig out that old, ugly Christmas sweater, wear it to the winery and take a selfie by the tree. Then post it to the winery's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts and show it to their staff to receive another gift. On December 15 they will announce an eat, drink and dress ugly grand prize winner.

Pinnacle Ridge is selling specialty gift boxes for wine lovers:

The Classic Selection - $51.76
2012 Cabernet Franc
2012 Pinot Noir
2012 Merlot

The Best of Both Barrels - $29.56
2012 Barrel-fermented Chardonnay
2013 Naked Chardonnay

Additional gift box options are also available at the winery. And its award-winning sparkling wines, Blanc de Blanc and Brut Rose are back in stock starting December 6.

Tolino Vineyards - White Wine Sale

The Bangor winery has a sale on 2010 and 2011 White and Rosé wines. Purchase one bottle for 15% off, six bottles for 25% off, and a case for 50% off. The 2010 Chardonnay is now 70% off. From now through Christmas for every $50 gift certificate purchased, customers will receive a $5 gift certificate to keep for themselves.

Also taste the newly released ice-style white dessert wine, Sweet Frances, named for Carl Tolino's mother. This wine is now available for $28.99 a bottle.

Vynecrest is offering Spiced Winter Red as its three-pack of the month for $25, and is having a Customer Appreciation Weekend on December 13 and 14 with special discounts on wine. It is also releasing two new wines, Spiced Winter White and No. 36, a dry red reserve.  

A month full of special events in August at Galen Glen

Luau Weekend
Saturday, August 2, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, August 3, noon to 5 pm

We chose this theme because August is the anniversary of Hawaii becoming a state, plus it was a bottle of wine from Hawaii that inspired Galen & Sarah to plant the first vines. On Saturday, the Love Food Truck will be here selling tropical-themed menu items and on Sunday, we welcome Food on a Roll--Ellen's Edibles with Hawaiian-inspired comfort food items. Plan to purchase a great lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine on one of our patios.

Walking Tours of the Vineyard and Wine Cellar
August 2, and 3; 30 and 31

On these dates we will hold one walking tour each day at noon. You will depart the tasting room with your guide and meander through the vines to our wine cellar then back to the tasting room. The tours are held weather permitting and we advise wearing sturdy foot gear (sneakers or boots). Tours are complimentary and no reservations are required.

S'more Days of Summer
Saturday, August 9, 10 am to 5 pm
Sunday, August 10, noon to 5 pm

The last month of summer is here already. Gather your peeps and join us for a complimentary, fun wine and s'more pairing that is sure to evoke campfire memories.

Appetizer and Cheese Wine Pairing 
Saturday, August 16
1 pm - $10 per person
Reservations required

Enjoy a sit-down wine, cheese and appetizer pairing with five of our favorite wines and foods. There is very limited seating, and reservations are required with payment at time of reservation. Please call the winery during normal business hours at 570-386-3682 to make your reservation.

Love Hot Dog Company Returns
On Sunday, August 17 from noon to 5 pm, Jason and the crew from Love Hot Dog Company will make their monthly pilgrimage to the vineyard with a truckload of gourmet sausages and dogs. Recently, one of our customers described the bacon jam like a religious experience. You won't want to miss this. Purchase lunch to enjoy with a glass of wine while you drink in our spectacular views.

Winemaker's Dinner
Please plan to join us for our next winemaker's dinner at The Broadway Grille and Pub.
Thursday, September 4 at 7 pm.
See the menu here.

So Long Summer Slushies
August 23 and 24
As summer draws to a close we say goodbye to a favorite treat, our wine slushies. Wrap up summer with this frozen wine treat. One taste of our legendary wine slushies and you will be imagining pitchers of this frozen concoction at your next party. Slushies will be available for sampling on the wine bar and for purchase at $4 a glass each day while supplies last.

Yoga in the Vineyard, May wine dinner and more this spring at Franklin Hill Vineyards

Cupcake and Wine Tasting 
Saturday, May 3 from 1-3 p.m.
The Courtyard Marriott
2220 Emerick Blvd, Bethlehem

Wine, cupcakes and happiness. Experience a match made in heaven. You'll discover how perfectly our wines fuse with an array of fantastic Sugar Babe Cupcakes, and gain a little wine knowledge along the way.
Cost: $30 per person + tax. Reservations required. Call 610-332-WINE to make reservations.

Yoga in the Vineyard 
May 11, June 8, July 20, August 17
10 a.m.

"Wine-down" with an hour of yoga led by Silver Kim from Kula Heart Yoga in Bethlehem. Once you've found your zen we invite you to the tasting room for a picnic-style brunch on the deck complete with cocktails. Wine tastings will also be available. $20 per person. This very popular series sells out early, so call 610-588-8708 to reserve your patch of grass soon. BYOM (bring your own mat)

Touch of Spring Vineyard Dinner at Franklin Hill 
Friday, May 30 at 6 p.m.

Join us for the ultimate dining experience. You and your guest will dine in our vineyard, pairing each course with Franklin Hill Vineyard's exquisite wines. Enjoy a four-course catered meal prepared by North Star Catering Company.  Cost: $150 per couple + tax

First Course:
Caprese Salad
Fresh mozzarella & tomatoes atop a bed of field greens with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette

Second Course:
Pan Seared Seasoned Scallops

Third Course:
Chicken breast stuffed with fresh baby spinach, feta cheese, sundried tomatoes & kalamata olives, pan seared, finished in a light white wine sauce, accompanied with lemon marinated sautéed shrimp, over jasmine rice with carrots and green beans.

Dessert:
Strawberry Shortcake

(Please, no substitutions. This event is rain or shine.)

December update from the Wine Trail

Here are a few highlights from our wineries on what they are up to this month.

Now that the holidays are officially here, several of our members have extended hours at their wineries and/or their wine shoppe locations. So be sure to check their web sites or call ahead before visiting. Also, several of the wineries offer custom wine labels for wine you plan to give as gifts, but the deadline for ordering labels is nearing. Be sure to ask about it soon if you are interested.

Galen Glen's Annual Holiday Open House

Saturday 12/14, 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 12/15, noon - 5 pm

We welcome you to come in from the cold and warm up with some of Gary's Norwegian Shrimp Chowder. In Norway, fish, shrimp and potatoes are staples in a family's diet. Soup is great after a cold day of tree shopping, holiday shopping or decorating. Stop by the winery for our complimentary food and wine pairing. Let our staff help you make your holiday wine selections. We also will have gift cards, gift baskets, glass wear, dips, jellies, jewelry and candles available to help you with your holiday gift giving needs.

There's still time to visit Vynecrest's Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem booth for wine tastings and sales during your trip to Christmas in Bethlehem. 

Thursdays & Sundays: 11 am - 6 pm

Fridays & Saturdays: 11am - 8pm 

12/12 - 12/15 and 12/19 - 12/22

Clover Hill Wine & Food Inspiration

Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market

Saturday, December 14 from 11 am - 4 pm

Visit our Wine Shop for a special wine and food pairing. We will be showcasing some holiday entertaining ideas that will include: 

- Smoked turkey from Mr. Bill's Poultry paired with Oak Vidal

- 'Krab Salad' from Heckenberger's Seafood paired with Cayuga White

- English Cheddar with orange and chocolate from Wittman's World Cheeses paired with Vignoles

Pinnacle Ridge: Need a special gift for that wine lover in your life this holiday season?

Check out our gift baskets full of artisan dips, sauces and all other sorts of wine goodies. Complete with award winning Pinnacle Ridge Winery wines, of course.

4th Annual Christmas Blessings Toy & Gift Drive at Blue Mountain
Sunday 12/15 at 2 p.m.

It's that time of year to spread Christmas cheer to those who need it the most. Bring a new toy and donate it to the Christmas Blessings Toy & Gift Drive. All toys and gifts will be donated to the children's hospital. Put a smile on their face with your donation and enjoy live music with Scott Marshall & The Hillbilly Souls.

Franklin Hill Vineyards recently won 3 medals from the Grand Harvest Wine Competition in Sonoma County, CA. This competition is the only wine competition in North America that is based on terrior.

RedHead, our newest edition to our wine list, is a dry red with a high vanilla oak, was awarded a Bronze Medal.

White Jade, a dry, lightly oaken white, was awarded a Silver Medal.

Fiesta, a fun, sweet, red made with 100% concord grapes with a citrus blend added to it making it like a Red Sangria, was awarded a Silver Medal.

Don't forget to get your Lehigh Valley Wine Trail wine tote this holiday season.

When you purchase 6 bottles of wine or more at one of our 8 member wineries, you will receive this FREE wine tote! The bags are printed on both sides with pictures of our wine bottles. The bag is durable and able to securely hold 6 full bottles of wine. While supplies last.

Save the date for our last wine trail event of 2013 - Nouveau Weekend

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail will debut the first wines from the new vintage during Nouveau Weekend, the last Wine Trail event of the year. Wineries will feature food and wine pairings for visitors to sample.

Nouveau wines are bottled very young without barrel aging, and exhibit lots of fruitiness. They are light, fruity and semi-dry to dry red wines.

 

Nouveau Weekend is a great opportunity to purchase wine to give as holiday gifts or to complement holiday meals.

Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. We will post to our web site details on what each winery has planned soon, so stay tuned.

(Nouveau Weekend is a free event, however some wineries charge for wine tastings.) 

Also, if you are someone who likes to plan ahead, mark your calendars and plan to join us for our six annual events next year. The dates are:

• March Madness - the first four weekends in March (note: does not include the fifth weekend on the month)
• Wine in Bloom – 5/17 & 18
• Wine on the Mountain at Penn's Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa. – 7/26 & 27
• Harvest Weekend – 9/13 & 14
• Chambourcin Weekend – 10/18 & 19
• Nouveau Weekend – 11/15 & 16

Make your weekend plans at our wineries!

Just because it's not an official Wine Trail event weekend doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to visit our wineries. Here are a few events and promotions going on now:

Cast a spell to end hunger

Help Galen Glen Winery "Cast a spell to end hunger" by attending this weekend's Verhext Weekend event. Please bring along a donation of non-perishable food items (or a financial contribution) to be donated to Shepherd House.

"Hallowine" Tasting
October 26 from 5-9 p.m.

Come in costume to add to your fun. Prizes for best costumes in numerous categories. Enjoy our delicious wines while listening to live acoustic entertainment by Jake Kalegis & Mike Rausher's Dynamic Duo. Reservations preferred. Admission is $7.50 and includes a souvenir glass.

Lehigh Valley Harvest

Three of our member wineries - Vynecrest, Franklin Hill, and Blue Mountain - will be participating in this Sunday's Lehigh Valley Harvest event at Allentown Brew Works to benefit Buy Fresh Buy Local Greater Lehigh Valley.

October Owner's Selection at Clover Hill

Save 10% on your purchase of Concord during the month of October. Close your eyes and sniff this wine. Your glass will be full of grapey (better known as ‘foxy’) flavors that will take you back to eating grapes from the arbor. Try it with your favorite spicy chili or blend it with your favorite fruit juices for a refreshing sangria. Now only $8.55. Receive an additional 10% discount when included in a case purchase.

October Specials at Vynecrest

* Wine of the Month - Chambourcin, additional 10% off
* 3 Pack of the Month - 3 First Blush for $25
(at winery only, 3 pack can't be combined with other discounts)

And now for something completely different...

Franklin Hill Vineyards was featured in a new commercial filmed at the winery recently. Check it out and see owner Adam Flatt in action!

According to this recent Express-Times article, a new wine bar opening in Easton will be serving Pinnacle Ridge wines:

Galen Glen Winery and Pinnacle Ridge received a mention this past week by Elaine Labalme on a radio program on WESA 90.5 in Pittsburgh. Listen to it here:

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

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

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

June Specials at Vynecrest:

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

June 22 and 23 - Split Rock Wine Festival

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

June 30 - Jazz Sunday and Vineyard Tour

July 27 and 28 - Wine on the Mountain

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

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

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

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

July 28 - Jazz Sunday

Glass Half Empty

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

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

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

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

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

Don't miss Sunday Blues and the Annual Candlelight Barrel Tasting event at Blue Mountain this spring

Sunday Blues Schedule at Blue Mountain Vineyards

• April 14 - Scott Marshall & The Hillbilly Souls
• April 21 - The Large Flowerheads (We have A LOT of reservations for this show. We ask that you carpool if possible. We plan on having additional parking going up Joe & Vickie's driveway.)
• April 28 - Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

2-5 p.m., $5 admission includes a wine tasting. If reservations are made we ask that you arrive no later than 2:15 p.m. or we may release your table to another party. Adults 21+ only please.

Festivals & Events

April 26 - 4th Annual Wine Tasting & Auction hosted by the ARCH of Lehigh Valley
We're proud to once again host this amazing event at the winery. Tickets are $40 individual, $75 per couple.
Please call 610.573.2500 to order tickets.

Annual Candlelight Barrel Tasting
Saturday May 11 from 5-9 p.m.
Join us as we sample our 2012 vintages. Enjoy live music by Ellyot H Ray, hors d'oeuvres and wine. Tickets are $19.50 per person. Please call or email to make your reservation today!

Blue Mountain Vineyards to celebrate HalloWine this month

October Specials at Blue Mountain Vineyards:

• $1 off 2008 Pinot Noir
• $1 off 2011 Chardonnay (unoaked)

Sunday Blues Lineup:

• October 7 - Wow Brothers
• October 14 - Valerie Borman
• October 21 - Hank Jones & Ellyot H Ray
• October 28 - Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

Call or email us for reservations. $5 admission includes a wine tasting. Adults 21 and older only for music please.

Upcoming Events:

October 6 & 7 - Ottsville Fall Festival
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Linden Hill Gardens
www.lindenhillgardens.com

October 13 - Fall Foliage event
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Sno Mountain
www.upstatewinecountry.com

October 13 - Winetober Fest
1 - 6 p.m. @ Skippack, PA
www.winetoberfest.eventbrite.com

October 20 & 21 - Lehigh Valley Wine Trail's Chambourcin Weekend
Stop by each winery to celebrate the official grape of the Lehigh Valley!
www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com

HalloWine!

It's that time of year again! Join us Saturday, October 27 from 5-9 p.m. for our annual HalloWine event. Come in costume to add to the fun, and maybe your costume will win a prize! Admission is $7.50 and includes a Blue Mountain wine glass. Music will be provided by the Wow Brothers. Outside snacks are welcome. Grab your friends, put that costume on, and come out for what is sure to be a fun night! Advanced paid reservations preferred. Adults 21+ only please. Costumes optional.

Before hitting the trail, check out our web site

If you haven't checked out the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail web site lately, you might not know about all of the information you can find on it about our wineries, special events and more. Here are some highlights:

• On the web site's home page you can sign up to receive our free monthly e-newsletter and download a PDF of our new promotional brochure to print out at home. You can also find icons linking to our social media accounts with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Flickr.
• Across the top of the web site find buttons for each of our eight wineries' pages where you will find their contact information, links to their own social media outlets, a list of their wine shops, hours, driving directions, tasting policy, and a brief overview.
• On the Events tab, get the dates for this year's six wine trail weekend events and details on each one. In the weeks leading up to an event we add specifics such as discounts, food and wine pairings, live music and more that will be taking place at each winery during the event.
• The Just Pressed page features news from our member wineries including recent awards, specials and discounts, and events.
• Our Trail Friends page features a list of area restaurants where you can find some of our wines for sale, and local hotels, inns and B&Bs that are our partners. We will soon be adding a list of local farmers' markets that several of our wineries participate in.
• The Media page is the place to find our current press releases, which are great sources of information whether you are a member of the media or not!
• Use the Google map on the Directions page to see winery locations, and click on a pinpoint for a pop-up box which links to driving directions.
• And finally, under the Contact Us page, feel free to drop us a line with any questions or comments you have about the wine trail.

Thanks for visiting our web site and for connecting with us on social media!

Blue Mountain Winery brings back three popular wines.

Here is the latest update from Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli:

Riesling is back!

We are very excited to announce that our Riesling is being bottled in our wine cellar. Also back in stock are Victoria's Passion and White Merlot. In the very near future we will be releasing Sauvignon Blanc. Stay tuned for details.

January Specials

Save $2  on 2007 Pinot Noir/Beaujolais
Save $1 on 2010 Vignoles

Make sure to print this coupon for a great deal on our 2007 Chardonnay.

For daily news and updates "like" us on Facebook! Our page is listed as Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars. Feel free to send us pictures and we'll get them added to our page. And follow us on Twitter too!

Sunday Blues Schedule

01/08 ~ Wow Brothers
01/15 ~ Billy Patrick
01/22 ~ Rob & Marty
01/29 ~ Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

Special Events

We are now booking events for 2012. Use our vineyard as a backdrop for your special occasion. Bridal showers, birthday parties, corporate events, you name it! For information on renting our private room please call or e-mail us.

Custom Labeled Wine Bottles

Custom labeled wine is great for any occasion! We can do any style in any amount. Check our website for samples or send us your own picture to use. Call or e-mail us for more details.

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail introduces a new promotional brochure

Wine tastings, vineyard tours and special events draw thousands of visitors to the eight family-owned and operated wineries that make up the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail in eastern Pennsylvania each year. To help them plan their visit, the Wine Trail has introduced a new promotional brochure that highlights the wineries and their special events.

Designed by Dina Hall of Dina Hall Graphic Design in Bethlehem and printed by Nacci Printing in Allentown, the new brochure features detailed listings on each of the wineries including hours of operation, driving directions, wine shop extensions, and amenities provided at each location. 

Also included is a map of the wine trail on which each winery location is plotted, and information on each of the organization’s six annual events. The events include:

• March Madness – also known as Passport Weekends
• Wine in Bloom – May
• Wine on the Mountain at Penn’s Peak – July
• Harvest Weekend – September
• Chambourcin Weekend – October
• Nouveau Weekend – November

A PDF version of the brochure can be downloaded on the home page of the Wine Trail’s web site: www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.

The printing of the brochures was underwritten in part by Discover Lehigh Valley, the designated destination marketing organization of Lehigh and Northampton counties. The non-profit organization will also distribute the free brochure through its network of more than 60 brochure racks at local hotels and attractions. Brochures can be requested by mail on the tourism bureau’s web site: www.DiscoverLehighValley.com.

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. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards at state, national and international levels.

 

The Lehigh Valley region is an official American Viticultural Area as designated by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. In order to receive the designation a least 75% of the grapes used to make local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery prepares for annual "Blues in the Barn"

On September 10 and 11, Pinnacle Ridge Winery will hold its annual two-day event “Blues in the Barn.” This free event is held rain or shine.

On Saturday, September 10, The James Supra Blues Band will perform from 1 - 4:30 p.m. followed by the Kelchner Brothers Blues Band from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, September 11, The Wallace Brothers will perform 1 - 4:30 p.m.  with the Kelchner Brothers performing again from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Food will be available for purchase from local food guy Jack Sinnitz, a.k.a. Heaven on a Bun. He’ll be serving up his heavenly burgers and fries.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery’s tasting room will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Its staff will be on-hand for wine tastings, and wine by the bottle or glass will be available for purchase.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery has plenty of room in its 1850's Pennsylvania German Bank Barn. With the barn's high ceiling and old wooden interior, the acoustics are amazing.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery is located in the heart of idyllic "Pennsylvania Dutch Country," along Old Route 22 outside of Kutztown, PA. The winery is one mile from the I-78 Krumsville exit and six miles north of the town of Kutztown.

If you are coming north on Route 737, the road is closed due to a bridge repair but the detour is easy. Travel time is about the same. For more information go to the Pinnacle Ridge web site: www.pinridge.com or call 610-756-4481.

Mark your calendars for Wine in Bloom

March Madness 2011 is now officially over! We hope everyone had a great time visiting our wineries, trying new wines, and sampling our food and wine pairings. We'll do it all again next year.

And just a reminder that passports for the 2012 event will go on sale this fall during our Nouveau Weekend event in November. So mark your calendars and plan to purchase them early since March Madness passports sell out every year!

Our event calendar for 2011 includes a new event in May called Wine in Bloom. It replaces last year's A.V.A. Weekend event in April. We wanted to give you, our customers, and ourselves a little more time to "recover" from March Madness and decided that May would be a better and warmer month for this event.

Held on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22, this event takes place mid-spring as bud break occurs on the vines. It celebrates 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.

An A.V.A. designation was awarded in April 2008 to the wineries in this region after a five-year application process. In order to receive the designation a least 75% of the grapes used to make the local wines must be grown within the region. Wineries in the region are permitted to list “Lehigh Valley” as the growing region on their labels.

Our wineries will be hosting vineyard tours, offering food and wine pairings, and some will even have live entertainment. It will be a fun yet educational event.

So we will see you next in May! Or visit our individual wineries any time between now and then!

Lehigh Valley Wine Trail special events for 2010 announced

The nine family-owned wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail have announced their 2010 schedule of special events. So mark your calendars now and be sure to join us. We hope to see you at all of them!

•    AVA Weekend - From the Soil, to the Vine, to the Glass – April 24 & 25 - This event celebrates the anniversary of the Lehigh Valley region’s designation as an official American Viticultural Area by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau in April 2008. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania.

•    Wine on the Mountain – July 24 & 25 - Held at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, this event includes wine samplings, local artisans displaying their arts and crafts, light fare available for purchase, and live entertainment. Tickets are required for this event and can be purchased at each winery as well as at the door.

•    Harvest Weekend – The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker – September 11 & 12 –The wineries proudly promote the state’s “Pennsylvania Preferred” program by partnering with manufacturers of other Pennsylvania products to showcase their high level of quality. Wine pairings, vineyard tours, food, music and other special activities are featured.

•    Chambourcin Weekend – October 16 & 17 - Taking place after the harvest is over, this event celebrates the “official wine grape of the Lehigh Valley,” the Chambourcin.

•    Nouveau Weekend – November 20 & 21 - This is the earliest chance to sample the first vintages of the new harvest. It’s also a great opportunity to purchase wines for the upcoming holiday season to give as gifts or to drink at dinner. March Madness passports also go on sale this weekend.

All events are free except for Wine on the Mountain at Penn’s Peak. Event hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m.