Weekend highlights on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

Here are just a few of the many things taking place this weekend at our member wineries:

• Galen Glen Winery in Andreas - Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16 - Tractor and Wagon Tours of the Vineyard - depart at 1, 2, 3 & 4 pm. See their new vintage start to develop on the vines. Free. (See photo left of Galen on tour!)
• Pinnacle Ridge in Kutztown - Sunday, May 16 from 3 - 6 p.m. - Skip Moyer's Jazz Jam. Wine by the glass and light food available.
• Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli - Benefit for Sarah Ayers - May 15 from 1-6 p.m.
  One of their regular performers, Sarah Ayers, has been forced to take a leave from her singing career due to health issues involving her vocal chords. Admission is $20 and includes wine tasting, entertainment, food & silent auction. Ticket proceeds will go to Sarah. Please call for reservations.
• Also at Blue Mountain - Sangria Sunday Wine Tasting on May 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy live acoustic entertainment from Leechboy on their glass-enclosed deck with views of the mountains and vineyards. Gourmet cheeses and fresh baked bread available for purchase or bring your own snacks. They will offer pitchers of fruit to make your own sangria for $1. Admission $5. Please call for reservations.

Mother's Day wine suggestions from the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail

Whether you are making mom a homemade meal for which you need a wine to pair, or need a great gift-giving idea, let the nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail help you out with the following suggestions for their own moms:

Amore - This Mother's Day, pair our lovely Red Rapture with one of our beautiful hanging baskets that Mom can enjoy all summer long.

Big Creek - Dominic's Mom likes big red wine, so it will be Frontenac - a big, dark, fruit-laden mother of a wine.

Blue Mountain - Vickie will be drinking our 2007 Merlot but of course our Victoria's Passions is amazing with dark chocolate!

Cherry Valley - Toast to mother with Raspberry Spumante and dark chocolate.

Clover Hill - owner and mom Pat Skrip will be drinking Turtle Rock Red (Gold Medal - PA Wine Competition) slightly chilled with her three children for Mother's Day.

Franklin Hill - Kiss, award-winning blush pairs well with appetizers, chicken, fruit, or just to enjoy on a spring day.

Galen Glen - We suggest trendy Comso-ritas made with our Vidal Blanc to glamorously celebrate all Ladies!

Pinnacle Ridge - For Mom we recommend some bubbly! Our Brut Rose’ and Blanc de Blanc, as well as a twist on a time-honored French drink, “Kir.” Our “Cir” is  made with half Concord and half Blanc de Blanc.

Vynecrest - Jan will be drinking Pinot Gris, recent Gold Medal winner at PA Wine Competition, which is estate-grown and pairs well with chicken and fish.

Sangria Sundays return to Blue Mountain Winery!

It's time once again for Sangria Sunday Wine Tastings at Blue Mountain Winery in New Tripoli!

Every Sunday in May from 2 - 5 p.m. enjoy live acoustic entertainment on their glass-enclosed deck with commanding views of the mountains and vineyards.

Gourmet cheeses and freshly baked bread are available for purchase, or bring your own snacks. They offer pitchers of fruit to make your own sangria for $1.

Admission is $5. Please call for reservations - (610) 298-3068 - or e-mail info@bluemountainwine.com.

Performers Schedule:

• 5/9 - The WOW Brothers
• 5/16 - Leechboy
• 5/23 - Rob & Marty
• 5/30 - Jake Kaligis & Mike Rauscher's Dynamic Duo

Final thoughts on LVWT's first A.V.A Weekend Celebration

This post was written by guest blogger Kari Skrip, co-owner of Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery in Breinigsville and features her thoughts on the Wine Trails' recent A.V.A. Weekend.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail was thrilled to celebrate our Lehigh Valley AVA in the end of April.  At the end of the day, after I finished work, I was sipping my glass of Pinot Grigio overlooking the vineyard thinking just how luck I am.  These grapes have given me so many opportunities and things to be thankful for.  To name a few…

Over the years I have learned intimately about the land and developed a real respect for farming.  The Lehigh Valley vineyards and wineries are doing wonderful things to preserve open spaces and maintain a local farming community.  In a global food world, I am most proud to be making a local product that is unique and specific to the Lehigh Valley.  We like to think of wine as a food. 

Our vineyards have also given me the opportunity to work with my family (which most days that is a wonderful thing) and my friends who own the other Lehigh Valley Wineries.  Like all of the nine wineries on the trail, Clover Hill is family owned and operated, and it is a pleasure to work with my mom, dad and brother everyday.  I value and appreciate all of the wine trail wineries, almost as if the wine trail is an extension of family.  It is exciting to see first and second generations working in the vineyards and wineries.  It is a joy witnessing the success and growth of the Lehigh Valley wineries and the acceptance of Lehigh Valley wines in our community. 

Lastly, these vineyards have given me wine!  In my opinion, a glass of wine is the best way to end your day!

Thank you for supporting the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail and choosing to drink wines grown within our precious Lehigh Valley AVA! 

We like to cook with wine, and sometimes we even put some in the food!

We might be excellent wine makers but we're also lovers of good food. After all, what does better with one of our vintages than a homemade meal?

So we've started a series called Cooking with Wine on our Facebook fan page featuring recipes from our member wineries. There are desserts, appetizers, entrees and even drinks.

If you're a Facebook member and aren't already a fan of our page, then we invite you to become one today. Once on our fan page, click on the Notes tab toward the top of the page to see the recipes we've collected so far. Why not print a few out to try at home this weekend? Then post a reply comment here and a photo to our fan page and let us know how what you made turned out.

And if you like these recipes, be sure to pick up a copy of our Lehigh Valley Wine Trail Cookbook at the next Lehigh Valley winery you visit! 

Here's a sample recipe from Mary Sorrenti, owner of Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards in Saylorsburg, to get you started:

Rosemary Garlic Cream Wine Sauce over Cheese Ravioli
Put 2 cups white wine (Cayuga or Chardonnay), 3 or 4 springs fresh rosemary finely chopped and reduce (about 20 min.). Should be around 1/2 cup when finished.

Saute 5 cloves of fresh garlic finely chopped in 1/4 cup good olive oil until very light brown. At the end of saute add hot peppers to liking (we use a Peruvian pepper).

Combine wine, garlic saute and one pint heavy cream, simmer on very low for about 15 minutes.

Serve over cheese ravioli, put good Parmesan on ravioli before topping with the sauce. Sprinkle more cheese and serve with Chardonnay or Cayuga.