Blue Mountain to open in 2 Giant stores

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Noted in a post just a couple of hours ago that you could expect to see more wineries opening up shop inside grocery stores.

Well, Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars announced today that it will be opening stores in two Giant Food Stores, with the anticipation that they will be ready for business by the middle of this month. One will be in Hummelstown, near Hershey, at 277 Hershey Road, and the other will be in the Philadelphia suburb of Willow Grove (315 York Road).

Allegro Vineyards, located 15 miles south of York, Pa., opened a shop in a Giant Food Store in Enola one month ago and has reported brisk sales. It is manned completely by Allegro employees.

The Event Grapevine: Dec. 5-7

Pennsylvania winery Kreutz Creek, in West Grove, Pa., has several events and special planned that revolve around the holiday. Through the month of December, the winery will take 10 percent off the sales of six bottles of wine and 20 percent off any case sales.

In addition, the winery will hold a Christmas Open House tomorrow and Sunday. Harpist Maureena Spadaro will be playing Christmas music from 2 to 5 p.m. tomorrow. There also will be chocolate fondue with special treats for dipping as well as Christmas cookies and holiday wassail. Proprietor Carole Kirkpatrick said she made the wassail with “red wine and used a recipe from Germany that a friend gave me. It's delicious with lots of cinnamon and clove spices. It's a perfect wine for this time of year and throughout the winter season.”

Finally, the winery has scheduled a pairing of wines with a five-course dinner at Amici’s Fine Dining & Spirits, in Landenberg, Pa. That’s scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Call 610.255.5777 for reservations.
Otherwise, here’s what’s happening this weekend and beyond.

PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Allegro Vineyards, The Brogue: Holiday open house, at its Wine Gallery in Olde Tollgate Village, 2459 S. Queen St., York, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2 to 5 p.m., complimentary tasting, noshes, gift ideas, wine specials, and featuring jazz guitarist John Link, http://www.allegrowines.com/

Blue Mountain Vineyards, New Tripoli: Christmas Wine Tasting ($$), Saturday, 5 to 9 p.m, http://www.bluemountainwine.com

Buckingham Valley Vineyards, Buckingham: Bucks County Wine Trail Holiday Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14, http://www.pawine.com

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: 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 and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., http://www.cherryvalleyvineyards.com/

Clover Hill, Breinigsville: Wine Country Style Holiday Open House, Saturday and Sunday, 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: 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; Riedel Crystal Wine-Tasting workshop ($$), Sunday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m., 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 8 p.m.; satellite shop opened at 17 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, http://www.hauserestate.com/

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas: Dickens Holiday open house, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., 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 and Sunday, 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 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, Fridays and Saturdays (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Sundays (noon to 5 p.m.); cookies, cheeses, fruits and hot spiced wine, www.naylorwine.com

North Wales Winery and Tasting Room, Montgomeryville: Open noon to 9 p.m. Fridays, although open through much of the weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, 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

Peace Valley Winery, Chalfont: Bucks County Wine Trail Holiday Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14, www.peacevalleywinery.com

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, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., try a slice of Brad’s pizza, www.pinridge.com

Rose Bank Winery, Newtown: Third annual Toys for Tots Christmas Party, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. to midnight, includes food, live music, dancing and open bar, semi-formal attire is required, bring an unwrapped toy to give to Toys for Tots, tickets must be purchased in advance at Rose Bank Winery, The Lion & The Unicorn, The Temperance House, Pro-Shop of Newtown; Bucks County Wine Trail Holiday Festival, Dec. 13-14, http://www.rosebankwinery.com/

Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna: Country Holiday, Saturday and Sunday, wine and food pairings, horse and carriage rides; Bucks County Wine Trail Holiday Festival, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14, will include lighting of the Christmas tree, www.sandcastlewinery.com

Twin Brook Winery, Gap: The 16th stop on 24th annual Christmas Tour, Saturday, http://www.twinbrookwinery.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 and Sunday, Dec. 13-14; tasting and sales rooms will be open Fridays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., through Dec. 21, http://www.wycombevineyards.com

MARYLAND WINERIES

Basignani Winery, Sparks: Christmas Open House ($$), Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14, noon to 5 p.m., http://www.basignani.com/

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: End of Prohibition 75th year anniversary dinner and party ($$), Friday, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Celtic Christmas Weekends ($$), every weekend in December, http://www.boordy.com/

Frederick Cellars, Frederick: Holiday Recipe Tour, Saturday, noon to 9 p.m.; Winery Holiday Open House, Satursday, noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 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, winery link

Linganore Winecellars/Berrywine Plantation, Mt. Airy: Simmering Holiday Wines / Food Pairing, daily through December ($$), sample simmering, spiced grape and apple wines, along with inspired holiday food pairings, Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., winery link

Woodhall Wine Cellars, Parkton: Kids Cookie Challenge and Wine Sale, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14, noon to 4 p.m., with live music: More Cookies and Wine Sale, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, noon to 4 p.m., winery link

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

$$ – Admission charge

Allegro 'well-received' at new location

This note came just a bit earlier this afternoon courtesy of Carl Helrich of Allegro Vineyards,who recently opened a satellite shop within the Giant Food Store in Enola, Pa. His becomes the first state winery to open in a grocery store, but there are rumblings that a couple more will follow in the next month or two. Asked how the store was doing exactly 30 days since it opened, Helrich replied:

The new store up in Enola has been extremely well-received by customers. The vast majority of them are not our current customers, yet our wines seem to have found a good audience with them. I think they appreciate the range of styles we do. We're selling a larger percentage of premium drier wines to the customers in the Giant than we would in say a mall location or a shopping center. I attribute it some to the surrounding demographic, but also to the fact that these folks would have just been shopping for dinner staples and are in a "dinner" frame of mind.

The first week or so, we would have people walk in and watch their jaws drop. They couldn't quite figure it out, how we were able to sell wine in a grocery store. (Technically, it's on the Allegro winery license, and Giant is simply leasing the space to us.) Having a winery out in the Brogue is wonderful for raising grapes and kids. But the wine sales have always lacked something (volume.) We've always known that people liked our product when they encountered it, be it at a tasting or a festival. The new store in Giant allows more people to come in contact with Allegro than we ever had down in the Brogue.