REGION’S CHAMBOURCIN WINE GRAPE IS STAR OF OCTOBER LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL EVENT
LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – October 4, 2017 – Wine drinkers know Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinot Grigio, but do they know Chambourcin? The Lehigh Valley’s wine grape may be lesser known amongst the more popular varieties, but it grows so well in the climate and soil of this region that it has become the only wine grape grown by all eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.
Local wine lovers can become familiar with it during the wine trail’s Chambourcin Weekend event on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15. Each winery will feature its own activities such as wine tastings, live entertainment, vineyard tours, or food and wine pairings (see detailed list below). Event hours at all of the wineries are Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon – 5 p.m. (Chambourcin Weekend is a free event, however some wineries charge for wine tastings, tours, and/or entertainment.)
In the greater Lehigh Valley, there are more than 40 acres of Chambourcin that ferments into approximately 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.
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. For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.
CHAMBOURCIN WEEKEND WINERY HIGHLIGHTS
Amore – will serve Pasta Bolognese in red sauce paired with Chambourcin. There will be pumpkin picking, hayrides to and from the pumpkin patch, and a corn maze. Fall fruits and vegetables will be for sale, along with mums, pumpkins, and corn stalks for fall decorating.
Blue Mountain – will sample Victoria’s Passion both days paired with cupcakes from Blended Bakery. Artist Janet Dean will do painting demonstrations and sell her artwork. On Saturday from noon – 4 pm, there will be free live music by musician Ralph Pagano. BMV employees will host a chili cook-off that guests can taste and vote for their favorites. On Sunday, the Scott Marshall Band will perform for Sunday Blues from 2-5 pm. Tickets are $5 (includes a wine tasting) and must be purchased in advance. The Bob-B-Que food truck will be onsite on Sunday only from 11 am -2 pm.
Clover Hill – will offer a free sampling of its Turtle Rock Red wine paired with Wensleydale cheese with cranberries.
Franklin Hill – will offer Chambourcin Chili and our Spiked Pumpkin Pudding using their Potion X wine. Hayrides at 1 pm and 3 pm – $10 for adults, which includes a glass of sangria or mulled wine, and kids ride free with hot chocolate and cookies. Shareable menu items will be available for purchase as well as Carmel Apple Sangria by the pitcher or glass.
Galen Glen – will commemorate the wines fermented from Chambourcin by offering a complimentary pairing of their 2017 Chili Competition Winner Cheryl Leone’s recipe for Fire House chili with a taste of Chambourcin or Cellar Red. Her recipe will be featured on the website throughout October. Think you have what it takes to be the next legendary chili competition winner? Request an application to throw your chef’s cap into the ring of fire!
Pinnacle Ridge – Their friends at Camillo’s Italian Restaurant in Kutztown will be whipping up a batch of their hearty rigatoni, stuffed with a combination of creamy ricotta and zesty parmesan cheeses, and topped with a freshly homemade blush sauce. This scrumptious food will be paired with the customer’s choice of either 2015 Chambourcin (light-bodied, dry) or 2016 Quaff (semi-sweet).
Tolino – will celebrate Chambourcin Weekend with wagon tours of the vineyard, live music by George Baier on Saturday, and a glass painting event on Sunday. (Glass painting is a ticketed event for $25). They will pair Chambourcin with classic Italian lasagna and will offer a sneak peek of their newest semi-sweet Chambourcin blend “Rad Red” that will released later in the month.
Vynecrest – Vynecrest Winery will pair their 2015 Chambourcin wine made from 100% estate-grown Chambourcin grapes with a slice of white pizza made with fresh basil pesto sauce and sliced fresh tomatoes by the Cibo Pizza Truck. The Cibo Truck will be at Vynecrest all weekend with a variety of pizzas for sale. Mike Spangler will play the baby grand piano in the Vyneskeller on Saturday from 1-4 pm.
Information Provided By:
Tracey Werner
Blabbermouth Communications
