RED WINE LOVERS CAN DISCOVER WINES FROM THE LESSER-KNOWN CHAMBOURCIN GRAPE
DURING OCTOBER LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL EVENT
LEHIGH VALLEY, PA – October 8, 2018 – Red wine lovers know Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, 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 that is grown by all nine wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail.
Local wine lovers can become discover it during the wine trail’s Chambourcin Weekend event on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21. Each winery will feature 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.) www.chambourcinweekend.com
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 Vineyards – will serve Sodexo’s chicken medallions with rice paired with both Chambourcin and Chambourcin Reserve. There will be self-guided tours of the vineyards, and all porches and patios overlooking the vineyard will be open for outdoor relaxation and wine enjoyment.
Black River Farms & Winery – Wine tastings will feature food samples curated by the chefs from feast to pair with Chambourcin. Purchase a glass or bottle of wine to pair with food from these food trucks:
Saturday – Texas BBQ will feature fresh hickory smoked BBQ.
Sunday – Cone Appetit food truck will serve comfort foods nestled in a flash-fried bread cone.
Crafting in the Tent – Kathy Kovacs will teach simple screen printing by Chalk Couture. Create a personalized canvas, sign or coaster to add to your home’s décor. Pay per piece.
Live music: Saturday from 3-5 pm by John Rodden, and Sunday from 2-4 pm by Steve Brosky.
Blue Mountain Vineyards – will pair Victoria’s Passion or Chardonnay with a specialty chili from Cathy’s Creative Catering. Music by Kate and Those Guy from 1-4 pm on Saturday. Sunday Music Jam featuring Scott Marshall and Hillbilly Souls from 2 – 5 pm; $5 fee, includes wine tasting. CJ’S Gourmet Mustard will be onsite with samples.
Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery – They will welcome K’Town Pub Taphouse & BBQ in Kutztown for on-site cooking and serving-up tasting size morsels of their culinary specialty, while the winery serves a tasting of Chambourcin to pair with it. Cooking demonstrations will be featured both days at 1 & 3 pm.
Franklin Hill Vineyards – One of the newest food trucks in the area, Brogies, will offer a line-up of handmade, gourmet pierogis. Hayrides at 2 & 4 pm; tickets are $10 and include a mug of warm mulled wine. Kids ride for free and get hot chocolate and a bag of cookies to snack on while they ride. Social Still spirits will be featured in cocktails, and they’ll have several local vendors onsite.
Galen Glen Winery – Enjoy a complimentary pairing of their 2018 Chili Competition Winner, a hearty smoky, meaty twist on America’s favorite autumn soup with a taste of Chambourcin or Cellar Red. Copies of the recipe available at the winery or on its website. If 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 Winery – From Camillo’s Italian Restaurant in Kutztown they will serve cavatelli pasta in a light garlic and butter sauce, with a freshly harvested, locally-sourced vegetable medley of squash, zucchini, and mushrooms, paired with 2016 Chambourcin (dry, light-bodied) or 2017 Quaff (semi-sweet, fruity).
Tolino Vineyards – will feature Randevoo Food Truck onsite Saturday and Sunday selling tasty bites. Tolino will pair Randevoo’s corn fritters with Chambourcin or their sweeter Chambourcin blend, Rad Red. During tractor-pulled wagon rides through the vineyard at 2 and 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday where guests will have the chance to taste a ripening Chambourcin grape right from the vine. On Saturday, Andrew Moses will perform from 1-4 pm.
Vynecrest Winery – will feature wine made with their estate-bottled Chambourcin grapes paired with Nonna’s Pizza from Nico. On Saturday enjoy Steve Myers playing live in the Vyneskeller from 1-4 pm, and on Sunday listen to Dan Green play from 1- 4 pm. Wine by the glass, beer, and tapas menu for purchase. Food truck on premises all weekend.
