Wine Trail Tour Features 2 Upper Macungie Vineyards

This is Harvest Weekend for wine connoisseurs in and around the Lehigh Valley.

The eight wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail - including and in Upper Macungie - will host wine tastings, vineyard and winery tours, food and wine pairings and live entertainment this weekend to celebrate the start of harvest season.

The various special events will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Details of the weekend's events are listed below. More information can be found online at: www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail was formed in June 1997, according to Jan Landis, of Vynecrest, one of the eight wineries that comprise the Wine Trail. The idea was conceived at a breakfast meeting at Penn State after an annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Wine Association, Landis added.

The non-profit Wine Trail has partnered with Discover Lehigh Valley to publish a brochure and guide that provides details about the eight wineries in the group.

Details about this weekend's events, based on information from the Wine Trail's Web site, follow below:

AMORE will serve bourbon chicken, assorted breads and dipping oils, along with a selection of cheeses from Goot Esa Farms. It will also feature a new wine, Cabaret Amore.

Harvest Weekend at BIG CREEK VINEYARDS traditionally means freshly picked, tree-ripened apples from nearby Heckman Orchard along with some local artisan cheese.

At BLUE MOUNTAIN, visitors can stroll through the vineyard and witness the last few days before the grapes of 2011 begin the process of becoming wine on a self-guided vineyard tour. Also, guests may sample the products of Tait Farms, grown and produced in Pennsylvania. Di Bruno Brothers, of Philadelphia, will sample some of their cheeses that have kept them in business for over 70 years. Blue Mountain will release its 2008 Merlot.

CLOVER HILL VINEYARDS AND WINERY will partner with Unique Pretzel Bakery, Inc. of Reading; both are longstanding family-owned businesses . The family from Unique Pretzel Bakery will be on site to sample and sell their famous pretzels. Clover Hill recommends a unique chocolate-covered pretzel to pair with a glass of Turtle Rock Red.

FRANKLIN HILL wants visitors to help celebrate the harvest with walks through the vineyard and tours of the winery. There will be local cheeses by Klein's, cider and apples for sale, and light snacks for guests' enjoyment. Apple wine will be available.

PINNACLE RIDGE will celebrate the beginning of the 2011 Harvest with live music all weekend. On Saturday, the Wallace Brothers will play a mix of blues and country from 1-5 p.m. On Sunday, the music starts at 1:30 p.m. with the Kelchner Brothers. Jacob, 15, plays guitar. Younger brother, Janson, 11, plays harmonica and sings. The Wallace Brothers will be back on Sunday and play from 3-6 p.m. There will be wine by the bottle or glass for purchase all weekend. The food vendor for the weekend is Jack Sinnitz and his  "Heaven on a Bun" crew.

has asked fellow vendors from both Steelstacks and Macungie farmers markets, as well as Eagle Point Farm Market, to join them from 1:30-4:30 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday to celebrate PA Preferred and Buy Fresh Buy Local Lehigh Valley.

At the winery, there will be fresh produce available for sale from Bleiler's Fresh Produce Patch (locally grown, pesticide-free), baked goods from Lisa Morton of Hereford Country Store, and mums for sale from Eagle Point Farm Market.

In addition, Vynecrest will pair samples of its blueberry wine with Lisa's lemon poppy seed pound cake. On Saturday at 1 p.m., there will be the final winemaker's tour of the season with an emphasis on the upcoming harvest ($5.00 per person). Live music in the Vyneskeller Wine Bar from 1-4:30 p.m. by Art's Acoustic Oldies (no charge). For more information, visit www.vynecrest.com.