Call it Green Friday at Sugarloaf Mountain

Black Friday figures to become Be Back Friday at Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in Dickerson, Md., off how well they did with discounting their case sales this past Friday. Partner Jim McKenna said sales went “very, very well,” proving that not everyone was out at Best Buy and Target on what’s considered the year’s busiest shopping day. Sugarloaf was one of several wineries across the region marking down case sales as a lure to draw in customers. “We’ll definitely do that again next year,” McKenna said.

McKenna said the Cabernet Franc was one of the big sellers, and added that they’ve run out of Pinot Grigio except for cases they’re holding back for The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Two of Sugarloaf’s wine are sold at the center’s Roof Terrace Restaurant and at the wine bar during performances. It’s the only winery in Maryland that currently has that arrangement with the landmark performing arts center.

Sugarloaf’s schedule over the next few months includes a barrel tasting on Sunday, Dec. 7, where you can try some of the wines that aren’t quite ready for prime time yet. That will include food and cost $18, although free for case club members. Reservations are required. Their case club Christmas party will run from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.

With so much happening nearby in D.C, in mid-January, when Barack Obama takes office, the winery is planning its own inaugural weekend on Jan. 17-18 when it officially unveils its tasting room. Expect to find wine tastings and discounts, tours, entertainment and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Do NOT expect to find the winery giving away tickets to the inaugural. One of the state newest wineries, they’re ahead of most regional wineries in coming up with special events to attract new customers. But free tickets --- hmmmmm, that's an enticement even out of their reach.

Crossing Vineyards plans December events

With wineries comes events and activities of all kinds, including this one at Crossing Vineyards & Winery.

A concert by candlelight influenced by Charles Dickens and a night of Christmas Jazz will put the holidays front and center Dec. 11 and 18 at Crossing Vineyards and Winery in Washington Crossing, Pa.

Kate and Dennis Varley and Friends will offer “From Carols to Classics,” Thursday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road. Dressed in Victorian finery, the group will sing a capella in four-part harmony, presenting traditional carols and holiday favorites.
Guests, treated to champagne and dessert in a candlelight setting, will be encouraged to participate with a number of sing-alongs.

The Varleys, a husband and wife team, and their “Friends” are making a return engagement to the winery after wowing an audience at Crossings’ “Summer Under the Stars” concert series with a night of Irish music and step-dancing in August.

On Dec. 18, another popular entertainer at Crossing, Eric Mintel, will bring his jazz quartet for an evening of Christmas favorites and original holiday music beginning at 7:30. Mintel performed at the White House at the request of President Bill Clinton and has played 10 concerts at the Kennedy Center. The evening will include champagne and dessert.

The cost of each event is $45; seating is limited. Reservations may be made by calling the winery at 215-493-6500, ext. 19, or tickets may be purchased on line at www.crossingvineyards.com

Fall Tour: Buckingham Valley Vineyards

Jerry Forest of Buckingham Valley Vineyards in Buckingham, Pa., was off in one of the rooms at the winery on Sunday, squeezing in some more tasks while folks ducked in out of the rain for a tasting or purchase.

Any news there, he was asked by phone? The former newspaperman didn’t skip a beat. Couple of things, he said. One was the release last week of the winery’s nouvelle and nouveau, each selling for $8. The white nouvelle is 100 percent Cayuga grape, “fresh and fruity, with some nose of Riesling,” he said. The red nouveau is 100 percent Chambourcin, and more and more is becoming a staple with the holiday meal.

Forest said they bottled enough to sell early into the new year. It’s meant to be consumed into January, he noted. Some people lay it away, but you run the risk of it losing its freshness and, more often, its color.

As for what’s ahead in December, Forest noted the Bucks County Wine Trail will hold its holiday celebration the weekend of Dec. 13-14. at Buckingham Valley, that means some food and wine for anyone who wanders into one of the state’s oldest wineries, founded in 1966.

Report: Local producers benefit from tough times

As I like to do, amid the local postings, are blog snippets from elsewhere. The New York Wine & Grape Foundation weekly sends out an e-letter that generally focuses on that state's wineries, but also includes news you can use outside the state. Found these two items worth sharing. Otherwise, enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

NEW YORK WINE & TABLE, the 13-segment PBS series co-produced by WXXI public television and the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, is getting lots of airtime throughout New York State and the country. Originally titled “Taste of New York”, the series focuses on New York wines, foods, agriculture and tourism in every region of New York State. Each segment begins and ends at the New York Wine & Culinary Center with host Susan Hunt and former executive chef Dan Martello introducing the region at the beginning, then creating a recipe using its foods and wines at the end. In between, Susan visits wineries, farms, and local attractions to showcase the unique regional flavor. The show literally spans the state from eastern Long Island to Lake Erie, and the Hudson Valley to North Country, with a special segment focused on New York City. We always figured our New York PBS stations would pick it up, but the number of markets in various states throughout the country is phenomenal: Alaska, California (LA, SF, and other cities), Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Texas. The word is getting out: New York wines are in.

LOCAPOUR trend seems to be accelerating despite the country’s economic woes and dismal outlook, according to a recent report from The Nielsen Company which tracks alcohol beverage sales nationally. There are several reasons for optimism: Despite the troubling economy, U.S. consumers are generally reluctant to cut back on beer, spirits, and especially wine, making it somewhat recession-resistant compared with other products. American wines have become more price-competitive because of recent changes in currency exchange rates, forcing importers to raise their prices. In tough economic times, Americans are psychologically more inclined to support local and U.S. products, and domestic wines are now growing more rapidly than imports. Wines from outside of California have also been gaining market share, reflecting the locapour trend. Unless the economy really tanks in the next few weeks, it is likely that consumers will consider wine an affordable indulgence for the holidays. We won’t truly know how consumers behaved this year until after it’s over, but fortunately will get a good look at that on January 12 when the Wine Market Council and Nielsen give their annual presentation at the New York Public Library. This is a must-attend conference for anyone wanting to know what’s happening, and likely to, in the wine market. For more information and to register, visit www.winemarketcouncil.com.

Fall Tour: Galen Glen Vineyards & Winery

Galen Glen's Sarah Troxell (center), from January 2007, when the winery's 2005 Vidal Ice Wine won Best in Show and Best Dessert Wine; she's standing between officials Pat Kerwin and Jim Sharp.

So what’s the best part about the news earlier this fall that The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College in Philly added Galen Glen’s Cabernet Franc to its “Wine Spectator Award for Excellence” list? They came after the winery.

“They called us and asked to come up and see our facilities and our vineyard, and meet with Galen and I, try the wines,” co-owner Sarah Troxell of Galen Glen Vineyards & Winery said by phone the other day. “They brought up a couple of, I believe, three representatives from the school and I believe a student who was in charge of the school student wine organization. And they came and tasted; they had come here with the purpose of [tasting] the Cabernet Franc. In fact, they just ordered more. It’s doing real well. We’re very excited.”

Galen Glen’s Cab Franc is the first Pennsylvania wine to be placed on the school’s well-respected list. Appropriately, this is the first time that the winery has made the grape as a varietal; before it had been used in a blend that Galen Glen produced. And the significance, besides the fact that visitors to a respected restaurant school in Philadelphia are purchasing the wine, serves a broader purpose. “And from our perspective,” Troxell said, “we get to interact, via our wine, with a whole bunch of new chefs, because all of their chefs go through their wine program and work in their restaurants, and that can be fun as these chefs go out into Pennsylvania and work at or create their own restaurants.”

On top of that good news came word that The Café in The Frick Art & Historical Center in Pittsburgh has added Galen Glen’s Beerenauslese, a dessert wine, to its list. Again, those folks searched out Galen Glen. This is a nice little coup for the winery, which like almost all of those across the region struggle to find time to cook up relationships with restaurants.
“It actually is very much a struggle,” Troxell said. “We’ve got a few that do a really nice job, and this is sort of out of our region. So, we’re hoping to attract some Philadelphia customers as well.

“Getting into a restaurant is sort of like having a little star out there; another way for people to meet us and come visit us at the winery. And the best case is to have it happen when somebody wants your wine.”

The Event Grapevine: Nov. 28-30

Among the wineries planning discounts for Friday are Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard in Dickerson, Md., Kreutz Creek Vineyards in West Grove, Pa., and Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery in Andreas, Pa.

Sugarloaf Mountain will offer hot soup, a half-glass of wine and 10 percent to 20 percent discounts on all wines. Those include their 2007 Cabernet Franc, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2006 Chardonnay, 2006 Chardonnay Reserve, 2007 Circe, 2007 Comus, 2006 Comus Reserve, 2006 Merlot, 2007 Rose and 2007 Stomp.
Mulled wine and cider will also be served. Other merchandise will also be available for sale.

Meanwhile, Kreutz Creek will be offering 30 percent discounts on cases with a coupon it e-mailed out to its customers earlier in the week. Those markdowns will take place in the tasting rooms in West Grove and West Chester. Call the winery Friday for more information if you don’t have a coupon.

Galen Glen is offering 15 percent off case sales, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Otherwise, here’s what’s happening this weekend and beyond.


PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli: Fall Foliage Tasting ($$), Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Christmas Wine Tasting ($$), Saturday, Dec. 6, 5 to 9 p.m, http://www.bluemountainwine.com

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Reserve tastings ($$), Saturday, sittings at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m., last ones for this year; holiday open house, Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, noon to 6 p.m., includes free wine tastings; Dessert Wines for the Holidays ($$), Thursday, Dec. 11, 7 to 9 p.m., http://www.chaddsford.com

Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg: Holiday party, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, noon to 5 p.m., http://www.cherryvalleyvineyards.com/

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: Wine Country Style Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, Breinigsville and Robesonia, noon to 5 p.m., with music from 1 to 5 p.m., www.cloverhillwinery.com

Clover Mill Farm Vineyards & Winery, Chester Springs: Open again, Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m., through December, http://www.clovermillfarm.com/

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Wine Tasting in Riedel Crystal ($$), Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m.; candlelight holiday concert ($$), Thursday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., includes dessert and champagne; Wine Tasting for Dummies ($$), Sunday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m.; Bucks County Wine Trail Holiday Festival, Dec. 13-14, http://www.crossingvineyards.com

Hauser Estate Winery, Biglerville: New winery open, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Candle Light Friday/Happy Hour, the last Friday of every month, 5 to 7 p.m. in November, 5 to 8 p.m. thereafter; satellite shop opened at 17 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, http://www.hauserestate.com/

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas: Black Friday sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dickens Holiday open house, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, http://www.galenglen.com

Kreutz Creek Vineyards, West Grove: Music at West Chester tasting room, 44 E. Gay St., Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m.; Black Friday sale (with coupon); holiday open house, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, noon to 6 p.m., includes wassail, chocolate fondue and Christmas cookies; Winter Wine Dinner ($$), Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m., at Amici’s Fine Dining and Spirits, Landenberg, http://www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com/

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music every Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (2 to 5 p.m.), http://www.moondancerwinery.com

Naylor Winery, Stewartstown: December Weekends, Friday through Sunday, cookies, cheeses, fruits and hot spiced wine, www.naylorwine.com

North Wales Winery and Tasting Room, Montgomeryville: Open noon to 9 p.m. Friday, with piano music from 6 to 9, http://www.cardinalhollowwinery.com/

Paradocx Vineyard, Landenberg: Paradocx at Chadds Ford Christmas Candleight Tour ($$), Saturday, Dec. 6, 1 to 6 p.m., Pennsbury Township; Candlelight Christmas at the winery, Saturday, Dec. 6, noon to 8 p.m., http://www.paradocx.com/index.php

Penns Woods Winery, Chadds Ford: Tasting room hours, Wednesdays-Fridays, noon until dark, Saturdays, 11 a.m. until dark, Sundays, noon until dark, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com/

Pinnacle Ridge Winery, Kutztown: Customer Appreciation Weekend, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, www.pinridge.com

Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna: Country Holiday, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, www.sandcastlewinery.com

Va La Vineyards, Avondale: New holiday hours starting Dec. 1, weekdays, 12:01 to 5:27 p.m., Saturday and Sundays, 12:02 to 5:48 p.m., http://www.valavineyards.com/

VyneCrest Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: Christmas open house, Friday, Dec. 12, through Sunday, Dec. 14, www.vynecrest.com

Wycombe Vineyards, Furlong: Bucks County Wine Trail Holiday Festival, Saturday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 14, http://www.wycombevineyards.com

MARYLAND WINERIES

Basignani Winery, Sparks: Christmas open house, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7, Saturday and Sunday, and Dec. 13-14, open all four days from noon to 5 p.m., information on winery at this link

Black Ankle Winery, Mt. Airy: Open for business, winner of Maryland Governor’s Cup in 2008; winter hours start Dec. 1, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., other times by appointment; festive afternoon in the vineyard, Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 to 5 p.m., information on winery at this link

Boordy Vineyards, Hydes: Soups in the Cellar ($$) and local musicians, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; End of Prohibition 75th year anniversary dinner and party ($$), Friday, Dec. 5, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Celtic Christmas Weekends ($$), every weekend in December, http://www.boordy.com/

Frederick Cellars, Frederick: Frosty Friday – All Aboard the Frederick Wine Train, Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; music, Saturday, 7 to 9 p.m., Karyn Oliver; Holiday Recipe Tour, Saturday, Dec. 6, noon to 9 p.m.; Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 6 and 13, noon to 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7 and 14, 1 to 6 p.m., frederickcellars.com

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, Dickerson: Black Friday, special offers include
hot soup,1/2 glass of wine and 10% to 20% discounts on all wines including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Stomp. Mulled wine and cider will also be served. Other merchandise will also be available for sale, http://www.smvwinery.com/

Other MARYLAND winery events can be found at this link, VIRGINIA events at this link and New York events at this link

$$ – Admission charge

Fall Tour: Twin Brook Winery

Stopped by Twin Brook Winery in Gap, Pa., this morning and found winemaker Jason Price bottling blush. They also are pushing to get a couple more dry reds bottled over the next week in order to restock their shelves, as sales this fall have significantly lowered that part of their inventory.

Stopped by Twin Brook Winery in Gap, Pa., this morning and found winemaker Jason Price bottling blush. They also are pushing to get a couple more dry reds bottled over the next week in order to restock their shelves, as sales this fall have significantly lowered that part of their inventory. Bottles of their Consiglieri, their off-dry Chianti-style red, and their medium-bodied 2006 Cab Franc could be found upstairs on the shelf along with a number of dry whites and sweeter wines.

Had a chance to sample a couple of the wines out of the tank: the 2008 Chardonnay and Pinot and 2006 Cabernet. Winemaker Tim Jobe called the Chard the best he has picked off the vine since '05, and I could understand why he said that after one long whiff and taste. It will be put into cold stabilization as early as Friday and could be bottled and put on the shelf before the new year. The Pinot was far more subtle; he said both are clearing up quickly. He also was excited about the Cab, and a look, sniff and taste of that dry red explained why he's eager to share it with his customers. Loved the color, loved the taste. They could be bottling that Cab as early as next week, and then it's a matter of waiting for the wine to recover from the beating it takes getting bottled before it's put up on the shelf. As Price said later in an e-mail, "We will have to be as patient as possible until it shows itself again. Hopefully, not too long."

Jobe said they spent a good part of the year fighting diseases, and survived a rather rainy late part of the spring and early summer, but have come away from harvest convinced this will prove to be an excellent crop and vintage. He’s expecting a busy week and anticipates a busy December, although he said this time of the year the requests for tasting decrease dramatically. People are more intent on coming in, buying what they want, and heading out rather than choosing to linger and taste, he said.

Editor's note: I did open the Cab Franc, one of my favorites reds, on Wednesday afternoon. It is a wine most wine drinkers probably aren’t familiar with, and one that can be found at some but not all of the regional wineries. At Twin Brook, it’s one of their higher price point wines, at $18. As one who’s always looking for a bargain, I generally eschew much above $15, but felt like I got my money’s worth with this one. You’ll generally find Cab Franc as a partner in the bottle, often with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, its offspring, rather than alone. It’s a grape that’s predominant in Bordeaux, one also found across the globe in countries such as Italy, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile. In the United States, the grape has found a home in this area’s cooler climes, up into the Finger Lakes in New York, down across the Piedmont in Virginia, and in small areas of Michigan and Washington.

For those who can get overwhelmed or put off by the darker and heavier reds with their higher tannins, this is a varietal worth at least tasting if you get out to any of the regional wineries that make it "straight up."

Frederick Cellars lists upcoming schedule

This schedule comes courtesy of Frederick (Md.) Cellars co-owner Emily Williams on what's planned for the rest of the year:

Nov. 28
Frederick Cellars
Frosty Friday at the winery – All Aboard the Frederick Wine Train
Fri 9am–9 p.m.
Opening early on Frosty Friday to get ready for Santa’s arrival in Everedy Square. As the Frederick Wine Train (our model train display) leaves the station, grownups can enjoy mulled wine ($); there’s complementary cider and holiday cookies for the kids.

Nov. 29
Frederick Cellars
Karyn Oliver – Solo & Acoustic
Sat 7–9 p.m.
Up-and-coming singer-songwriter with a passionate, soulful voice.

December entire month (closed Christmas Day)
Frederick Cellars
Climb Aboard the Frederick Wine Train
Sun/Mon 1-6 p.m., Tue/Wed 4-9 p.m., Thu / Fri / Sat 12-9 p.m.
Model trains travel around the county, making a whistle-stop at each winery on the Frederick Wine Trail.

Dec. 5
Frederick Cellars
Opening Reception for Art Exhibition “Far and Near” by John Connors
Fri 5–9 p.m.
John Connors’ exploration of Italy, the Delmarva eastern shore, and his Frederick hometown are depicted in an exhibition of some 20 new watercolor landscapes. Free

Dec. 6
Frederick Cellars
First Saturday in December – Holiday Recipe Tour
Sat 12–9 p.m.
Stop by the winery to pick up complementary recipe cards with ideas for using Frederick Cellars wines.

Dec. 6, 7
Frederick Cellars
Winery Holiday Open House
Sat 12–9 p.m., Sun 1–6 p.m.
For grownups, enjoy mulled wine ($) and our signature ‘wine wigglies’ ($); complementary cider and holiday cookies for kids. Hearty soups ($) are available if the weather is nippy.

Dec. 13-14
Frederick Cellars
Winery Holiday Open House
Sat 12–9 p.m., Sun 1–6 p.m.
For grownups, enjoy mulled wine ($) and our signature ‘wine wigglies’ ($); complementary cider and holiday cookies for kids. Hearty soups ($) are available if the weather is nippy.

Dec. 14
Frederick Cellars
Draft Horse Rescue Fundraiser
Sun 4–7 p.m.
Fundraiser for an organization that is committed to saving draft horses from slaughter and adopting them into new homes as trail and schooling horses. Tickets can be pre-purchased (discount) or at the door. Vist www.gentlegiantsdrafthorserescue.com for more information.

Dec. 19-21
Frederick Cellars
Holiday Shopping for Guys
Fri / Sat 12–9 p.m., Sun 1–6 p.m.
If you’ve been waiting for just the right gift-giving inspiration to come along, visit the winery this weekend for special discounts and unique ideas, including luxurious soaps and lotions made from grapeseed oil.

Dec. 21
Frederick Cellars
Holiday Troubadour Music by John Durant
Sun 4–6 p.m.
Come enjoy the Old World Music of Troubadour John Durant. John's special performance will include holiday tunes from around the world and feature the mandolin and other renaissance instruments. Free

Fall Tour: Frederick (Md.) Cellars

Virtually every winery in central and eastern Pennsylvania is parked somewhere in the woods, many off thoroughfares that twist through the countryside en route to the front door. An exception would be Frederick Cellars, in Maryland, which according to its Web site is located in historic downtown Frederick, among the shops and restaurants of Shab Row and Everedy Square.

-

Because of its location, co-owner Charlie Daneri said the other day by phone that the best news they received this year was approval to have entertainment on site, including music, following long-running negotiations with the city of Frederick. “For a long time we were not allowed to,” Daneri said, “and we recently, as in mid-summer, got the right back. So what that means, finally now we’re able to have entertainment again, so we now are scheduling a lot more music, musical groups, for the evenings. So that’s been our biggest news. We did it when we first opened, we did it for about four or five months, and was very successful and people liked it.

-

"You know, because we’re a city winery, we can’t do outdoor events. We don’t do, like a lot of wineries do, where you have summer music festivals and that kind of thing. We just can’t do it. We’re right in the city. We have our property, which is basically our building and a parking lot, and that’s it. So we have to depend on other types of entertainment, and they’re typically smaller scale. For us, if we bring 40 or 50 people in for a musical event, that’s a big event. As opposed to, ‘Yo, I just brought 2500 people in for a summer jazz festival.’ We can’t, and don’t do that. So our focus is totally different. Our focus is on small, focused events.”

Daneri and wife Emily Williams followed that script this summer by creating Wine’d Up Downtown, essentially a Monday through Friday happy hour that ran from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. “Basically, all we were doing was trying to encourage folks to come in in the late afternoon in sort of a typical happy hour-type style. We offered half-price on glasses of wine. It’s still going, although I’m not sure it will continue in the winter. We have some nice outdoor seating, which of course now we have closed down. We introduced it more last summer, but we’ll just have to see in the winter how that continues.”

Frederick Cellars produces 11 wines, which run the spectrum from red to white and dry to sweet. They also advertise sales of an aged Cabernet Sauvignon, from 1999 through 2001. At the opposite end of that is a Nouveau that they plan to introduce in the next week and a half. Daneri said it’s a limited release, 25 to 30 cases, a Chambourcin/ Chelois blend that he calls “nice and light-bodied, just a tad sweet. We had a Beaujolais party and tasted it, and everyone loved it. Now I just got to get it in the bottle. That will be like a holiday wine for us.”

A grower in Montgomery County, Md., provides those grapes. Daneri said in the past they would just blend them with something else, but made the decision to bypass the blend and “see how it stands up by itself. It actually turned out pretty nice. People seemed really happy with it.”

It’s one, Daneri summarized, that’s made in a nouveau style -- absent any oak – and designed to have sooner rather than later.

“The comment we’ve been making is, not only can you drink it young, you need to drink it young,” he said. “This is not a wine that you’re going to put in your cellar and let age. You’re going to take it home and drink it on the holidays.”

Kreutz Creek giving 30 pct. discount Friday

One thing we're starting to see more often are the Black Friday discounts. Kreutz Creek Vineyards of West Grove, Pa., is following in the footsteps of other wineries by having a 30 percent off discount on case sales at the winery and its West Chester tasting room. That sale will take place this Friday.

They sent out a coupon earlier today to its e-mail subscribers that allows for the discount on case bought Friday. If you're not on the list and interested in purchasing a case or two, give the winery a call between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. tomorrow or after 11 on Wednesday. Not sure how late both sites will stay open Thanksgiving Eve. The hours Friday will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Taste of PA locks in for late May in York

It's a long way off, but Brian Dudley sent a reminder today about the second annual Taste of PA Wine & Music Festival , which is scheduled for May 30-31 at the York Fairgrounds. You can find more info on last year's at this link, and expect to read more details once the calendar turns a few times and we head into spring. It's sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion Post 403.

NY director touts benefits of WineAmerica

Sharing these two items with some universal interest to wine drinkers from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation's weekly e-letter:

WINEAMERICA annual fall conference last weekend in Georgia provided several good reminders why ALL American wineries should be members of this one-of-a-kind organization (the only national organization for American wineries). The political sea change in Washington is going to require an enormous educational effort with the new Administration and members of Congress—who need to know right away that our industry generates over $162 billion annually for the national economy. The Farm Bill that was passed earlier this year, which contains many new benefits for “specialty crops” like grapes and wine, is now in the implementation phase—which is very complicated to sort out. While direct interstate shipment of wine has been going on for several years, with major increases after the 2005 Supreme Court decision, there are still lawsuits in different states that can change the picture. And with the global, national, and state economies all in a tailspin, there’s no doubt that “sin taxes” will again surface, as they already have in California where Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a “nickel a drink” excise tax hike that would be devastating to consumers and our industry. Fortunately, we have WineAmerica to look after our interests—and it’s one of the best investments you can make.

MODERATE CONSUMPTION of wine seems to lower the microvascular complications of type 1 diabetes (not generally associated with obesity), with less benefit from beer and none from spirits, according to a new study. The effect was especially strong for people consuming between 3 and 18 drinks per week and on a regular basis (5-7 days a week) rather than sporadically. A separate study showed that moderate wine consumption also lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia. In other words, regular moderate wine consumption is good for the heart, and good for the mind (and great for the soul).

Ex-Flyers part of NHL Signature Series

Here's a case where the wineries aren't

from the area, but the former sports

stars who have their name on the label are.

Bob Clarke and Dave Schultz have given Philly sports fans plenty to be thankful for since they both joined the NHL Flyers, one in 1969 and the other in 1971.

So it’s appropriate that you should be able to toast their wines at the Thanksgiving Day table, as both are representing the Flyers in the NHL Alumni Signature Wine Series. Had a chance to taste the Clarke Cabernet Sauvignon last week and would give it a smile as big as the one he used to flash after assisting on a goal. Schultz has his label on the Chardonnay. And while it was easy to kid him about marrying his mug and signature to a Chard rather than something big and red, the fact is that both wines are made by California winemaker Ironstone Vineyards and will be well worth popping the cork and pouring out the juice.

“I know it tastes good,” Schultz said by phone recently. “Sometimes people think it’s a gimmick-type thing and they want an autograph and they’ll never drink it. I know that the wine is excellent. I want people to taste it; that’s why we’re doing the tastings because once they taste it, if they like that type of a wine to continue to drink it.”

Both wines are selling for $14.99, joining Mike Schmidt’s Zinfandel on store shelves. Schmidt’s is part of a home run hitters’ collection that is listed for $17.99. Schultz said you can find both his wine and Clarke’s in stores throughout South Jersey down to the Shore, and noted they are just beginning to find their way into state stores in Philadelphia area. Tastings for both are planned at those stores, and Schultz said he’ll attend some of those to lend some momentum to the sales.

The NHL Signature Wine Series features two ex-players from six different teams promoting either a Cab or Chard; among some others behind included in this series are former Blackhawks Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito, former Red Wings Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, and former Rangers Rod Gilbert and Mike Richter.

Money from the sales will support charities affiliated with the NHL Alumni Association, and also the team and player represented. Clarke’s, as you’d expect, will go to the American and Canadians Diabetes Associations; his ability to achieve so much despite diabetes gave hope to an untold number of young athletes. Schultz selected Katie's Krusaders, which raises funds and awareness regarding the incidence of cancer in children.

“They were responsible for building the Ronald McDonald House at St. Christopher’s Hospital,” said Schultz. “They help families who have very sick children and have to spend every day traveling to the hospital . . . they help them with paying expenses and that kind of stuff.”

Tour de Tanks counts 12 wineries in 2009

While preparations focus on this holiday, a number of wine trails are looking ahead to next year, including those that are members of Uncork York. Essentially a passport event similar to what they do on many other regional trails, this fourth annual Tour de Tanks will take place every weekend in March at the 12 regional wineries.

These stretch from around Harrisburg south to almost the Mason-Dixon Line, and from the Susquehanna River to west of Gettysburg. The cost, once again is $15 per person, which will allow access to any of the wineries as many times as one wants for all five weekends in March.

Generally, all the wineries have put out a sampling of food. In some cases it has been home-made, in other cases the wineries have used a caterer. Next year, the trail is also pairing with restaurants in York, Pa., on the Fridays in March for exclusive Meet the Winemaker Dinners.

Tickets and additional information is available at this link.

The core of this group of wineries has been together since the beginning in 2006, when the price of a ticket was $10 for the then 10 participating wineries. Allegro, Adams County, Nissley, Naylor and West Hanover have been among the original wineries that have been involved. Next year, Marburg in Spring Grove isn’t participating, but Hauser Estate in Biglerville, which opened just a couple of months ago, is taking its place and will be joined by Reid’s Orchard and Winery in Ortanna, which will make its grand opening during Tour de Tanks. That will put three wineries – Hauser Estate, Adams County and Reid’s – in very close proximity.

Alison Smith, of the York County Convention & Tourism Bureau, wrote in an e-mail that 1,400 tickets were sold for the 2008 Tour de Tanks. Wineries saw an increase in the number of bottles sold reach, in some cases, 300 percent, and 256 room nights were booked either by phone or at the Web site.

The Event Grapevine, Nov. 21-23

I wanted to get the word out on this promotion at Chaddsford Winery that appeared in their November e-letter.

During November, up through the Thanksgiving holiday, Chaddsford Winery will be organizing a food drive to benefit Philabundance and those in need in the Philadelphia region. To encourage generous giving during this season of abundance, we are offering our customers a free tasting anytime you bring in 3 canned or boxed goods . So get involved in the fight against hunger -- invite your friends and family, gather some canned goods to share with those less fortunate, and enjoy a complimentary tour & tasting at the winery! For more information on Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, see www.philabundance.org.
Otherwise, here’s what’s happening this weekend and beyond.

PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli: Fall Foliage Tasting ($$), Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.; Nouveau Weekend, Saturday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (noon to 5 p.m.); German Night ($$), Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m., http://www.bluemountainwine.com

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Reserve tastings ($$), Saturday, sittings at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m.; Frequent Buyers “Virgin Red” Tasting, Friday and Saturday, 7 to 9 p.m., by invitation only, call the winery for more on their Frequent Buyer program; holiday open house, Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, noon to 6 p.m., includes free wine tastings; Dessert Wines for the Holidays ($$), Thursday, Dec. 11, 7 to 9 p.m., http://www.chaddsford.com

Clover Hill, Breinigsville: Wine Country Style Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, Breinigsville and Robesonia, noon to 5 p.m., with music from 1 to 5 p.m., www.cloverhillwinery.com

Clover Mill Farm Vineyards & Winery, Chester Springs: Open again, Sundays, 1 to 5 p.m., through December, http://www.clovermillfarm.com/

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Bucks County Nouveau Wine Festival, Saturday and Sunday; Wine Tasting in Riedel Crystal ($$), Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m.; candlelight holiday concert ($$), Thursday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m., includes dessert and champagne, http://www.crossingvineyards.com

Hauser Estate Winery, Biglerville: New winery open, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Candle Light Friday/Happy Hour, the last Friday of every month, 5 to 7 p.m. in November, 5 to 8 p.m. thereafter; satellite shop opened at 17 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, http://www.hauserestate.com/

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas: Black Friday sale, Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Dickens Holiday open house, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, http://www.galenglen.com

Kreutz Creek Vineyards, West Grove: Music at West Chester tasting room, 44 E. Gay St., Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m.; holiday open house, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, noon to 6 p.m., includes wassail, chocolate fondue and Christmas cookies, http://www.kreutzcreekvineyards.com/

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music every Friday (6 to 9 p.m.), Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (2 to 5 p.m.), http://www.moondancerwinery.com
Naylor Winery, Stewartstown: December Weekends, Friday through Sunday, cookies, cheeses, fruits and hot spiced wine, www.naylorwine.com

North Wales Winery and Tasting Room, Montgomeryville: Piano music, Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.; at St. Rose of Lima holiday bazaar, Sunday; holiday hours, Monday through Wednesday of next week, Nov. 24-26, noon to 8 p.m., http://www.cardinalhollowwinery.com/

Paradocx Vineyard, Landenberg: Paradocx at Chadds Ford Christmas Candleight Tour ($$), Saturday, Dec. 6, 1 to 6 p.m., Pennsbury Township; Candlelight Christmas at the winery, Saturday, Dec. 6, noon to 8 p.m., http://www.paradocx.com/index.php

Penns Woods Winery, Chadds Ford: Tasting room hours, Wednesdays-Fridays, noon until dark, Saturdays, 11 a.m. until dark, Sundays, noon until dark, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com/

Pinnacle Ridge Winery, Kutztown: Customer Appreciation Weekend, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, www.pinridge.com

Va La Vineyards, Avondale: New holiday hours starting Dec. 1, weekdays, 12:01 to 5:27 p.m., Saturday and Sundays, 12:02 to 5:48 p.m., http://www.valavineyards.com/


MARYLAND WINERIES

Black Ankle Winery, Mt. Airy: Open for business, winner of Maryland Governor’s Cup in 2008; hours: Wednesday - Friday: noon to 5 p.m., Saturday: noon to 6 p.m., Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Festive Afternoon in the Vineyard, Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 to 5 p.m., information on winery at this link

Berrywine Plantations / Linganore Winecellars, My. Airy: Nouveau “Summer in a Glass,” weekdays, 10 to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., information at this link

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, Dickerson: Friday, Nov. 28, special offers include
hot soup,1/2 glass of wine and 10% to 20% discounts on all wines including Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Stomp. Mulled wine and cider will also be served. Other merchandise will also be available for sale, information at this link

Other MARYLAND winery events can be found at this link, VIRGINIA events at this link and New York events at this link


FESTIVALS

Pennsylvania Food and Beverage Show, Toyota Arena, York Expo Center, sponsored by www.thepeak985.com, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. ($$), 13 wineries to be represented, the most ever at this event, information at this link

$$ – Admission charge

Sugarloaf plans Black Friday sale

These scheduling announcements come from the folks at Sugarloaf Mountain Winery in Montgomery County, one of Maryland’s newest wineries.

They will be open the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday), Nov. 28, with special offers. The winery plans to offer hot soup, a half-glass of wine, and 10 percent to 20 percent discounts on all wines, including Stomp. That's a light, off-dry red that is best served chilled. Mulled wine and cider will also be served. Other merchandise will also be available for sale.
The wines for sales will be the 2007 Cabernet Franc, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2006 Chardonnay, 2006 Chardonnay Reserve, 2007 Circe, 2007 Comus, 2006 Comus Reserve, 2006 Merlot, 2007 Rose and 2007 Stomp.

It also plans to participate in a couple of events this weekend. One will be the Argyle Country Club's "Fall Festival," which will run from 7 to 11 this evening. The festival is open to the public. Sugarloaf will offer tastings of its wine. And the other will be the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., in Gaithersburg, Md. The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. More than 500 craft designers and fine artists will be there. Sugarloaf will offer tastings of its wine, glasses of wine and bottles of wine for sale. Tickets for Sugarloaf Crafts Festival may be purchased online. For more information, visit the winery Web site.

The winery is planning to close at 3 p.m. Wednesday and, of course, will be closed Thanksgiving Day. That’s a similar schedule to what will happen on Christmas Eve (3 o’clock close) and Christmas (nothing will be stirring).

Finally, Sugarloaf Mountain will begin offering wine “flights” on Fridays from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. A “flight” will consist of 3 half glasses of wine, each paired with an appropriate cheese, fruit or chocolate. The cost is $10.

Big crowd anticipated for 'Virgin Red' Tasting

Some wineries spent parts of the past week celebrating Nouveau, the release of the first wine from grapes that only a couple months ago hung on the vine. Chaddsford Winery puts its own spin on the occasion with a by invitation only “Virgin Red” Tasting for Frequent Buyer members.

This will be held 7 to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday) at the winery and is sponsored by Lane Exteriors. At these events, guests will sample wine from the barrel and other current releases, and will balance that out with cheeses and other snacks.

Here’s how their Frequent Buyer club works, according to the Web site.

1, When you purchase your first case of wine, you receive a 10% discount and a Chaddsford FREQUENT BUYERS card. As you purchase additional cases, your discount will increase.

2, When you buy cases 2-7, your case discount amount increases to 15%. At your 8th case purchase, you will receive a new VINTNERS CLUB card which entitles you to a 25% discount on all case purchases thereafter (at any Chaddsford location).

3, Your discounts will apply to shipped case orders as long as they are called in. We are not able to deduct discounts from on-line orders at this time.

4, Gift shop merchandise, wine & food baskets, café items and wine by the glass are not discounted.

5, Throughout the year, we will post various "specials" and "bottle discounts" for our FREQUENT BUYERS & VINTNERS CLUB members only; such sale items will not require a case purchase.

Co-owner Lee Miller wrote in an e-mail that they expect to welcome around 400 people to the winery this weekend for the special event.

The Frequent Buyer program is essentially their case purchase club, she wrote. “Since it's not feasible for us to have a regular wine club (that ships out selections several times a year) because of the state's shipping laws, we do the Frequent Buyers thing to give our best customers (up to) 25% discounts on their purchases. As just another benefit, all Frequent Buyers get invited to our "No Nouveau" Virgin Red party - at which we show some of the new "virgin" reds from the current (2008) vintage ... and lots of other wines. It's a big fun party all throughout the cellars ... finishing in an outdoor tent with hot mulled wines & sweets! We do another event for our "second tier" Vintner's Club members, which is a vineyard picnic/pig roast in June.

P.S. this year we are showing barrel/tank samples of a new vineyard designated Pinot Noir from the Philip Roth Vineyard, plus '08 Cabernet and Merlot.

'Two-stop' wine dinner draws 55

Regional wineries have their own shares of war stories about getting local restaurants to carry their wines. Then you have the opposite end of the spectrum, where Brandywine Prime in Chadds Ford, Pa., not only carries a number of local wines but operates in concert with a few of them on events.

One occurred last Saturday with the third annual Barrel Tasting and Dinner that Brandywine Prime sponsored along with Chaddsford Winery. Restaurant GM Michael Majewski told me by phone that 55 attended. “That’s awesome," he said. "That's a great turnout for a wine dinner."

Costing $65 per person, the event started with hors d’oeuvres and wine out of the winery, then moved to the restaurant for dinner paired with Chadds Ford’s wines. Majewski said this is the second time they’ve followed the same “two-stop” script, and it’s not one they’re likely to change. “It seems to be a real popular thing, Majewski said, adding he’s planning to maintain a schedule where these are held twice a year.

“I think we’ll do it again in the spring and probably in the fall,” he said. “The fall works out well because they get to taste fermenting wine, and then the spring works out because the fermented wine is finished and racked off, and you get to taste it in a little bit different stage. If you come both times, you get to see a little bit of then and now. But even if you don’t, to taste fermenting wine, that’s pretty cool.

They go to the winery, taste out of the barrel . . . then we they come back to the restaurant and we finish the dinner there. This dinner. I made warm cider with apple spice wine that [Eric Miller] makes [at Chadds Ford]. Then I splashed it with a little bit of Wild Turkey. We had a little bourbon pumpkin pie and that was a big hit.”

What helps the Brandywine Prime-Chaddsford Winery pairing is their proximity; they’re only a couple of miles away. Majewski wouldn’t rule out trying the same idea with another winery, say, when Brad Galer reopens Folly Hill in another year or so. Otherwise, the distance from winery to restaurant eliminates many of the others on the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail.

“We could do it at Penns Woods, but he doesn’t have that winery up and running yet,” Majewski said. “It’s gotta be someplace close, because if you’re in the car for more than 10 of 15 minutes, it kind of loses something.”

Three Beaujolais tastings set for tomorrow

I had mentioned in a previous post about the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and its release Thursday of the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau. The significance of tomorrow is that Beaujolais Nouveau Day is celebrated internationally the third Thursday in November, marking the debut of the first wine made from the annual harvest of Gamay grapes produced in the Beaujolais region of France. It will sell for $13.99 in stores across the state.

As part of the release, public tastings of the Beaujolais along with hors d'oeuvres will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. tomorrow will be held at the following locations:

East region of Pennsylvania:
Sofitel, 120 South 17th Street, Philadelphia

Central region of Pennsylvania:
Harrisburg Hilton
One North Second Street
Harrisburg

West region of Pennsylvania:
The Renaissance Hotel
107 Sixth Street
Pittsburgh

Fall Tour: Blue Mountain Vineyards/Winery

Caught up to Vickie Greff of Blue Mountain Vineyards & Winery in New Tripoli, Pa., yesterday and she was coming up for air after what’s becoming one of the busiest weekends on the winery’s calendar.

For one, they were welcoming visitors for Nouveau Weekend, one of a number of events that members of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail hold throughout the year. Not only did they release their first new wine from the 2008 crop0, but they paired it Saturday with Cranberry Glazed Chicken. In addition, March Madness 2009 Passports went on sale at all nine wine trail wineries. Those cost $30 apiece and are limited in quantity. The trail uses the holidays as a pitch to visitors to buy them and give them away as stocking stuffers. Those passports can be used any weekend in March to sample wine and food pairings at any of the nine wineries on the trail and also receive a complimentary wine trail gift, which this year is a Prodyne Vino Gondola two-bottle wine bucket. This black wine bucket is embossed in gold with the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail logo and the names of all the wineries. These can be picked up in March at the winery where folks buy their passports.

On top of all that, Greff said that they held their fifth annual German Night celebration on Saturday night. For $18.50 a person, attendees get to dine on authentic German food, music and dancing, and leave with a souvenir glass.

Otherwise, they are reveling at what has been up to now a good business year. Sales have been steady, she said, and the events have been well-attended. The designation of the Lehigh Valley trail as an American Viticulture Area in April enhanced the reputation of all the wineries. That has helped Blue Mountain and others forge new relationships with restaurants that have in the past only carried wines from outside the region. Now, the official AVA designation has turned some heads. Still, she admitted, it’s a fight for recognition and respect that hasn’t ended. Trying to pitch Blue Mountain in particular and local wines in general remains a challenge, something they are forced to squeeze into their schedules amid a number of other priorities.

Still, with the winery 23 years old and going strong, and with a wine trail that gives added support, she and husband Joe are counting their blessings and looking ahead to 2009 with a great deal of expectation.

Oh, what’s on the horizon? Two more Sundays of the Fall Foliage Tastings, from 2 to 5 p.m., and then the ninth annual Christmas Wine Tasting, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Fall Tour: Mount Felix Winery

Mary and Peter Ianniello only have had Mount Felix Vineyard & Winery open for less than two months. Located in Havre de Grace, Md., in what they term on their site as the Birthplace of American Viticulture, the couple just sent out the winery’s first e-letter a few days ago.

That included the link to their new Web site, which is a dramatic improvement on what they used before. With the vineyards and winery as part of a bigger estate, the new site features photos of the rooms in the manor house, loads of info on the vineyards and the wines, a link to John Adlum, the Father of American Viticulture, and key words to other pertinent information.

Peter had written by e-mail a few weeks ago that they’ve been quite satisfied with their volume and the interest in their winery. They also feature a link to retail outlets around them, more than 15 strong, which are carrying their wines. I always preferred the wineries that included the price on the wine list, but certainly in this region those are in the minority.

Still, nice to see progress, evidenced by the correspondence and the upgraded site. One thing that always adds some flavor is the background of the family and the winery. In this case, Peter explains that this idea took root as he was growing up, listening to grandfathers Luigi and Giulio talk about wine and how it became such an important aspect of their family. “I recall fond memories,” he writes, “of passionate debates filed with laughter when arguments ensued over what tasted better, Grandpa’s jug wine or Uncle’s vintage Barolo.

What will I try when I eventually swing by? Well, there’s neither the jug wine nor the Barolo. But the Chambourcin, called Adlum’s First, would work just as well for me. A full-bodied red, they describe it as possessing complex flavors of dark cherries, spices and smoke.

Pretty much open full time, the winery welcomes visitors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and Fridays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sand Castle to head west to York

-
Sand Castle Winery will be pouring at The Pennsylvania Food & Beverage Show this coming weekend in the Toyota Arena at the York (Pa.) Expo Center. The show will run Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

The November e-letter also noted that the winery, located in Furlong, Pa. will hold a Country Holiday Weekend on Dec. 6 and 7. That will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and feature a horse-driven sleigh and carols, plus plenty of drink, including hot spiced wine.

Allegro opens first shop in grocery store

If it had been up to Carl Helrich of Allegro Vineyards in The Brogue, Pa., he would have had a retail outlet in a grocery store long ago.

But his lengthy wait is over now, as he operates what he said is the first Pennsylvania winery to place a shop inside a grocery store. Opened for business on Nov. 5, the retail outlet allows customers to taste the line of Allegro wines, buy bottles (including chilled), and purchase other wine accessories. The outlet, staffed fully by Allegro employees, is open noon to 8 p.m. Sundays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays.

“Giant Foods has been great to work with,” Helrich, the winemaker and owner (along with wife Kris Miller) of Allegro, said by phone on Friday. “They want to work with a Pennsylvnaia winery. I’m a Pennsylvania Preferred winery, and they work with a lot of Pennsylvania Preferred vendors. Selling wine in Harrisburg is our kind of market, too. We’re known for our premium dry wines, and people up there are really taking to them. I’m really surprised actually with the split between the dry and sweet [wines] up there. People up there definitely enjoy their better wines.”

Besides the winery, Allegro maintains a retail outlet on the outskirts of York, along South Queen Street a few miles north of Dallastown, a spot in the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, and operates as part of a cooperative in Lancaster with Twin Brook Winery of Gap, Pa., and Tamanend Winery of Lancaster. Helrich noted that at those locations the percentage of sweet wine sold might exceed 70 percent, but that the shop in Enola has dry-sweet sales that are closer to equal. “I was a little surprised at that,” Helrich said, “although that is what I was hoping. But now that I know a little more about it and have seen more of the demographic numbers, I’m not surprised any more.”

You can’t miss the Allegro outlet as you pull into the Giant store. About 570 square feet, it’s located in an area in what formerly was a bank. “The opening of the Allegro Wine Shoppe enables us to continue to showcase and promote quality products found right here in Pennsylvania's own back yard," Jeff Martin, Giant’s executive vice president for sales and merchandising, said in a release when the announcement of the opening was made. “The Allegro Wine Shoppe will provide customers with the convenience of purchasing wines from a well-recognized vintner at the same time they are shopping for their groceries. We look forward to their great success.”

For Helrich, it ends what he called a five-year search that began with an unsuccessful broaching of the idea to Wegmans and then a spot in a Weis Market in York. But that turned out to be a temporary relationship.

“We were using a special permit, like a festival permit,” Helrich said. “We called it miniature festivals in the Weis. That was December 2005, I think, right about the time that shipping ban was going on . . . and then after that got overturned they decided, well they’re going to do tit for tat and they going to tighten up on festival permits. So they took that away from me, and so I was not be able to sell from a grocery store again. And Weis was not being cooperative as far as letting me open up a shop because they are a little more of a conservative organization, they didn’t want me blowing holes in the outside of their building to put in the outside entrance that’s required. So, about four years ago, I went to an expo for Giant vendors. I gave them all the information and talked to people and said, ‘Boy, if you guys want to, I’ll be there. And they contacted me about a year and a half ago.”

Going cold-turkey into holiday wines

If you don’t mind a mishmash of sentiments on wine for Thanksgiving and the other holiday, step on in.

This is all starts with a piece that John Farlow wrote for Baltimore magazine on Maryland wines that would be perfect for the holiday table. Farlow is a longtime author and aficionado of wines worldwide, and was kind enough to call me back and talk about what he’s finding at wineries closer to his home. There are 34 wineries now in Maryland, and that number is far exceeded in the surrounding states of Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York. Farlow agrees that slowly the bar is being raised, and that the opening of Black Ankle Winery and others of its ilk will force others in the state and region to change, in varying degrees, what they are doing.

Two of the wines that Farlow recommends come from Woodhall Wine Cellars in Parkton, Md., which made note of his article in the November e-letter.

Deb Morris, who produces the e-letter, noted:
“The current Baltimore Magazine (November 2008) recommends the use of Maryland wine for the holidays. John Farlow, in his Grapevine column (p. 220) enthusiastically recommends two Maryland whites, one Maryland Rose and three Maryland reds for his readers table. Two of the three reds are Woodhall wines. Here is what he writes:

“I couldn’t pick between Woodhall Cabernet Franc 2007 and Woodhall Sangiovese 2007, so consider them both. They are impeccably made: the Cabernet Franc is a bit darker and leaner, and the Sangivese is brighter and broader. They possess the finesse to cope with Turkey Day without actually overwhelming the turkey.”

We commend Mr. Farlow. Not for recommending Woodhall wines (although we agree with him, as you will see later in this newsletter), but for recognizing the quality of Maryland wine and its appropriateness at celebratory dinners. It certainly doesn’t make sense to import wines from halfway around the world when wines just as good are available locally.

And, under the Wine of the Month, came this entry:
“We agree with Baltimore Magazine’s recommendations of Woodhall Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc as wines for Thanksgiving, but would expand the list. Thanksgiving dinner is a cacophony of flavors, generally on the heavy, rich side. Roast turkey and white wines usually create a metallic taste in the mouth. Big tannic reds with high alcohols (think California) add to the heaviness without cleansing the palette. So, the Woodhall Gang recommends lighter bodied red wines with moderate tannins. Should you need a white wine, consider the slightly sweet Woodhall Vignoles. But in our experience, reds are best. The lightest of our reds are the Sangiovese Rose and the Pinot Noir. The Chambourcin, with its dark purple color and spich flavor works well, as does the Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc recommended by Baltimore Magazine. For a step up in quality, try the Vintner’s Prestige series, Jubilee Reserve Barbera 2007. Deep blueberry/red color…herbal/black cherry aromas, and earth, terrior-like flavors brings an added dimension to Thanksgiving.

You can hit a number of regional winery Web sites and find references to what they’d suggest for the holiday.

On a state level, Pennsylvania’s Wine and Spirit stores will begin selling the Beaujolais Nouveau next Thursday, Nov. 21, and will hold tastings at a number of stores around the Commonwealth. Here’s the tasting schedule for next Thursday, and at this link you can find the daily tastings schedule for this item and many others.

Finally, I’ve always admired the site of a California writer named Deb Harkness, whose knowledge of wines and the way she’s able to integrate her Web entries with a mix of history and modern culture has turned her Good Wines Under $20 into an award-winning blog that’s chock-full of information and entertaining reading.

While my blog focuses on regional wines and wineries, I don’t mind sharing her take, which incorporates a more global scale. Enjoy, and an early happy holidays to everyone.

Her entry, produced on Nov. 6, follows:
Every year, new visitors come to this site in search of a delicious, affordable, and available bottle of wine to pair with their holiday meal. Old friends visit, too, sometimes to suggest their own picks for the year and sometimes to take issue with something I've picked. It doesn't matter why you're here--I'm glad to see you, and hope that what follows will be helpful to you as you plan for the big dinner.If you are looking for general advice on Thanksgiving wine and hospitality, I'd encourage you to check out this article I wrote a few years ago on issues facing the host/hostess and the guests. If you are wondering what to drink with your meal, and with leftovers, you're in the right place.

Here are my picks for 2008--all of which offer great taste and great value in an easy-to-find package. Clicking on the wine's name will take you to the winery's site where you can find more information about the wine and its makers. Many of the wines I picked this year are made with organic grapes, are farmed with sustainability in mind, and/or are made by families with great stories of how they got in the business of grape-growing and wine-making. Clicking on the range of prices will take you to a list of retailers who stock the wine. Maybe one will be near you.

Sparkling Wines

What's a holiday dinner without some bubbles? These two picks are great for toasts, appetizers, brunch the morning after, or drinking with the main meal. Sparkling wine has great acidity, which means it pairs with most foods and there's no doubt that sparklers are festive.

NV Roederer Estate Brut ($15-$20). For my money, this is the best value around in domestic sparkling wine. Expect tiny bubbles, aromas of brioche and Meyer lemon, and flavors of apples, toast, and nuts. Just as good with food as without.

NV Domaine Allimant-Laugner Cremant d'Alsace Rose ($16-$19). If you're looking for a pink sparkler, try this one. It' made with 100% Pinot Noir and has knockout fresh strawberry aromas with light berry, mineral, and citrus flavors. Like the Roederer Brut, this wine is as good with food as it is without.

Rosé Wines

Rosé wines are perfect for turkey and all the side-dishes that make us groan afterwards. If you feel that rosé wines are too "casual" for a fancy dinner, don't forget the leftovers. Wouldn't a cool rosé be perfect on Saturday with your turkey sandwich? These rosé wines are dry, not sweet, and very refreshing.

2007 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Rosé ($12-$16). Fort Ross makes some of the best Pinot Noir out there, and this is the rosé version of their wine. It's a beautiful color, with raspberry and strawberry aromas and flavors and a delicious stony note that keeps it complex and interesting.

2006 Jeriko Estate Rosé ($9-$13). This is a round and full rosé, with aromas and flavors of strawberries and minerals. If you don't like watermelon notes in your wine, you'll like this. Made with organic grapes.

White Wines

I'm a fan of white wines for Thanksgiving. I like their freshness, and the way that they pair so beautifully with stuffing, gravy, turkey, cranberries, Waldorf salad--you name it, these whites will go with it. They're versatile and flavorful, but won't overwhelm the food.

2006 Brooks Riesling ($14-$19). This is not a sweet wine. It's dry in style, with aromas of lime, apple, Meyer lemon, petrol, and stone. You will taste lime, slate, currants, and a touch of honey which makes it ideal if you are serving smoked turkey or a turkey made with lots of spices. Exceptionally complex for the price.

2006 Adelsheim Pinot Gris ($14-$20). Delicious aromas of peach, honey, and a kiss of caramelized sugar, but there's lots of bright acidity to keep the peach and apple flavors in balance. This aromatic wine would be perfect if you are serving sausage stuffing, and while it may give a sweet impression it finishes dry.

2006 Mauritson Sauvignon Blanc ($13-$17). One of the best domestic Sauvignon Blancs I've had in a long time, made with no oak and no assertive aromas or flavors. Warm melon, Meyer lemon, and clementine aromas and flavors accompany fresh, grassy notes.

2007 Clif Bar Family Winery The Climber White ($13-$15). This white blend has a core of Sauvignon Blanc with the addition of Pinot Blanc (12%), Chenin Blanc (4%) and Muscat (3%). The result is a wine with good acidity but an impression of softness. Aromas of pink grapefruit and nectarine, and flavors of Meyer lemon, nectarine, and peach.

2007 Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay ($11-$13; also available in CostPlus World Markets). A new label to me, this wine had clean and fresh apple and citrus aromas and flavors. There is a lovely creaminess to this wine, and a touch of mild oakiness. Very much like a white wine from Burgundy at a fraction of the price.

Red Wines

There are a lot of people out there recommending Zinfandel for Thanksgiving. Unless you are very, very careful you may overwhelm your food with a jammy, high-alcohol wine. That's true for many other red wines, too. If you are serving turkey and lots of different sweet and savory dishes, red wines may not be your best bet. However, the ones below will not overwhelm your food--and the flavors may be just right for you if you like dark meat, or are serving something smoked or (gasp!) not serving turkey at all.

2006 Domaine du Vissoux/Pierre-Marie Chermette Vieilles Vignes Cuvee Traditionelle ($12-$16). Gamay is a low-alcohol, high-acid grape that produces fresh, zesty reds. You will smell cherries, berries and some chalk in this wine, and the flavors are pure, juicy Bing cherry with an earthy undertow and some mineral notes.

2006 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast ($12-$27) A great bargain in Pinot Noirs, this wine has high-toned cherry and raspberry fruit aromas, with a touch of allspice. There are flavors of cherry, raspberry, allspice, and fresh-baked cobbler with a terrific, silky texture.

2004 Quivira Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley ($18-$20). If you must, this is the Zinfandel to get. With aromas of black cherry, allspice, and cedar, and flavors of cherry, baker's chocolate, and pepper it has beautiful acidity and is very food friendly. This Zin feels and tastes more old fashioned and restrained--just the way I like them. The 2005 is also in the market, and while I haven't tasted it, ordinary drinkers on CellarTracker! seem to give it thumbs up, too.

2004 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Crianza ($7-$12). If you think I'm nuts to suggest Tempranillo with turkey--trust me. I'm not. This is one of the great bargain reds, from Osborne's Bodegas Montecillo. There are aromas of roasted herbs and spicy berries, and nice, high-toned red fruit. Beautiful acidity and some dusty tannins make for a long, juicy aftertaste.

Whatever you serve on Thanksgiving, remember to relax and enjoy your friends and family. That's what the holiday is really all about!