This weekend, November 15 & 16, the nine member wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are celebrating Nouveau Weekend, the first opportunity to taste the just-off-the-vine, and very young wines of 2014. Each winery will be showcasing their new wines with a food pairing. Nouveau wines are red wines that are bottled very young, without barrel aging, and are light, fruity, and semi-dry to dry.
If you think local wines can't compare to those from Napa or Europe, you're in for a shock. With new grape hybrids better suited for Pennsylvania's relatively cool climate, improved fungicides to combat common moist-climate growing issues, and ever-increasing vintner know-how and experience, the last ten years have brought a renaissance to East Coast wines. If you haven't tasted a Pennsylvania wine in the last few years, you don't know what you're missing. And, several local wineries in the Lehigh Valley offer a fantastic array of wines for a variety of palates--the full spectrum from sweet to dry. Gone are the days of the syrupy-sweet grapes like Niagara and Concord being the only choice for local winemaking. Today, the local wine list includes familiar varieties like Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay, as well as some great German/Austrian vinifera such as Riesling, Zweigelt, Lemberger, Grüner Veltliner, and Gewürtztraminer. The emergence of great Lehigh Valley wines hasn't gone unoticed. Earlier this year, Galen Glen was named on Zagat's Top 10 Reasons to Drive to the Lehigh Valley, and winemaker/owner Sarah Troxell was named Woman-Winemaker of the Year.
The official grape of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is Chambourcin and every member winery
has their interpretation of this red wine grape, which produces a dry or semi-dry wine. The taste is somewhat spicy and smoky, and it's an excellent choice with BBQ or peppery steaks.
If you prefer dry wines like I do, then there are a few member wineries that you especially need to check out that specialize in dry, European-style wines. My recommendations are Galen Glen (Andreas, PA, near Lehighton) and Tolino (near Bath). Other favorites include Vynecrest (Breinigsville) and Pinnacle Ridge (Kutztown). Don't worry if you or a friend have a wine sweet-tooth. There are plenty of sweeter selections still available at these and other member wineries.
Nouveau Weekend isn't the only time you can visit member wineries and enjoy a tasting. Wineries are open year-round (check their websites for business hours). Tastings run about $5 per person for a small taste of six wines. Usually the tasting fee is applicable to the purchase of wine. If you plan on visiting with a group of more than 6-8 people, it's always best to call the winery in advance to make reservations. Most wineries have case clubs for those who purchase twelve or more bottles at the winery during their visit. Case Club memberships bring discounts on future wine purchases, free tastings, advance notice of new wine releases, and invitations to member-only events like winemaker dinners and special tastings and tours.
The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail has several fun events throughout the year including Vino in the Valley (formerly March Madness) in the spring, and Wine on the Mountain at Penn's Peak in July. Most recently, they have launched the Lehigh Valley Wine Lover campaign to encourage local restaurants to carry local wines. Just visit the link provided, download the comment card, and leave it for the manager on your next visit to your favorite restaurant.
For more information about Nouveau Weekend and other events, as well as a listing of all the member wineries, please visit the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail website, or the websites of the individual member wineries. The best way to keep up with the many events at the wineries, including live music performances, happy hours, and tasting events, is to join the mailing list of your favorites. Why not explore this weekend to find out who your favorites are! See you on the Trail!