The Event Grapevine: Feb. 12-15

Crossing Vineyards and Winery in Washington Crossing, Pa. is offering some alternatives to the standard Valentine’s Day celebration: two opportunities for a five-course, candlelit dinner at the winery; a class on the world’s most romantic wine – champagne (how does it get those bubbles?) – and a wine and chocolate-pairing course for lovers.

“Champagne For Lovers” will be presented Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the winery, 1853 Wrightstown Road. Crossing’s French sommelier, Eric Cavatore, will explain the "methode champenoise" - or how champagne gets its bubbles - in an exploration of wines from the Champagne region of France. Attendees will learn what champagne is, from which grapes it comes, and how, exactly, it’s made. They’ll also sample the bubbly and some companion desserts. Cost is $45 per person.

A lavish, five-course gourmet dinner will be offered on both Friday and Saturday, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Guests will be treated to a glass of champagne and a bottle of wine per couple.
Dinner will feature an amuse bouche of Foie Gras on Petit Toast with Wild Berry Reduction Drizzle, paired with Crossing’s Blanc de Blancs (NV); entrée - French Onion Soup with Parmesan Tuiles; plat du jour - Filet Mignon with Truffled Mushroom Ragout, Rosemary Whipped Potatoes with Au Jus Gravy and Roasted Asparagus; cheese course - Assorted Cheese with Dried Fruit and Walnuts; dessert - Chocolate Pots de Crème, served with coffee or tea. The plat du jour may be substituted with advanced notice.

Cost of the evening is $100 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Crossing is teaming up with Lindt Chocolate of Princeton, N.J. at 2 p.m. Feb. 15 for “Wine and Chocolate For Lovers,” a Valentine’s version of the winery’s wine and chocolate-pairing workshop.

Discussing the finer points of making premium chocolate and wine, and what creates the variety of flavors of both, will be Cavatore and Stacey Glynn-Brady, a confectionary aficionado and Lindt’s store manager.

Guests will sample Crossing’s award-winning wines, assorted chocolates, and will take home a Lindt chocolate bar of their choice.

Cost of the workshop is $35 per person and includes learning materials.

Reservations for the candlelit dinner, “Champagne For Lovers” or “Wine and Chocolate For Lovers” may be made by calling the winery at 215.493.6500, ext. 19 or on-line at www.crossingvineyards.com.

As for what’s going on elsewhere, both this weekend and beyond, take a look:

PENNSYLVANIA WINERIES

Adams County Winery, Orrtanna: With Wine Class ($$), Friday, Feb. 13, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Gettysburg Wine Shop location, reservations required at 717.334.4631; wine and chocolate pairing, Saturday, at Gettysburg Wine Shop, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wine Appreciation class ($$), Saturday, Feb. 21, 6 to 8:30 p.m.; home wine-making ($$), Sunday, Feb. 22, 1 to 3 p.m., link to winery

Allegro Vineyards, Brogue: Sweetheart Serenade, Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m., Olde Tollgate Village, 2459 S. Queen St., York, about 1 ½ miles from I-83, appetizers, with complimentary wine tasting and an offering of wines for purchase by the glass or bottle, reservations required at 741.3072; Fridays’ Weekly Winedown ($$), 4 to 7 p.m.; Sweet & Spicy Saturdays ($$), 2 to 5 p.m.; Sip & Savor Sundays ($$), 2 to 5 p.m., all require reservations at 741.3072, all events at the Wine Gallery in Olde Tollgate Village EXCEPT for Tour de Tanks, link to winery

Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars, New Tripoli: Sunday Blues Wine Tastings, music every Sunday ($$), 2 to 5 p.m., through April; brownies topped with raspbery and wine this Sunday. link to winery

Chaddsford Winery, Chaddsford: Wine and Chocolate Reserve Tastings ($$), every weekend in February, sitting at 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m.; Barrels on the Brandywine ($$), every weekend in March at any of the members of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail; reserve tastings ($$) begin in March, 1, 2:30 and 4 p.m. every Saturday; winemaker dinner ($$) at Caffe Gelato, Newark, Del., Sunday, March 22, 6 p.m., link to winery

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville: Wine and Chocolate Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, a Berks County Wine Trail event, at Robesonia location; beginner tasting class ($$), Saturday, Feb. 21, 3 p.m., annual wine rack sale ($$), all Clover Hill locations, Feb. 19 through March 8; March Madness ($$), passport required, a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event, link to winery

Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing: Wine Tasting for Dummies ($$), Sunday, 2 p.m.; Champagne for Lovers ($$), Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; candlelit Valentine’s dinners ($$), Friday and Saturday, both start at 7:30 p.m.; Wine & Chocolate for Lovers ($$), Sunday, 2 p.m.; Wine Tasting for Singles ($$), Friday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., link to winery

Galen Glen Winery, Andreas: St. Valentine’s Day Weekend, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; President Day Weekend, Feb. 21-22, pizza and wine pairing, link to winery

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; Valentine’s Day at Hauser Estate, Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m., warm food and live music, link to winery

Kreutz Creek Vineyards, West Grove: Music at West Chester tasting room, 44 E. Gay St., Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m.; Valentine’s Day Celebration, Saturday and Sunday; Barrels on the Brandywine ($$), every weekend in March at any of the members of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, link to winery

Manatawny Creek Winery, Douglasville: Chocolate & Wine Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, a Berks County Wine Trail event; hours have changed to Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, noon to 6 p.m., link to winery

Moon Dancer Vineyards & Winery, Wrightsville: Music every Saturday (2 to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (2 to 5 p.m.); will close Fridays at 5 p.m. at least through February; vineyard hike and mulled wine ($$), Saturday, Feb. 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., link to winery

Naylor Wine Cellars, Stewartstown: Lovers Weekend Dinner White Wine Tasting ($$), Saturday, 3 to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m., link to winery

Paradocx Vineyard, Landenberg: Valentine’s Day at the Vineyard, Saturday; Barrels on the Brandywine ($$), every weekend in March at any of the members of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, link to winery

Penns Woods Winery, Eddystone: Barrels on the Brandywine ($$), every weekend in March at any of the members of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, link to winery

Pinnacle Ridge Winery, Kutztown: Chocolate & Wine Weekend, this weekend, a Berks County Wine Trail event; March Madness ($$), passport required, a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., will be pairing Chocolate Sacher Torte, a famous Viennese desert served in many a cozy café in Austria and throughout Europe, with the winery’s 2007 Late Harvest Vidal Blanc, link to winery

Rose Bank Winery, Newtown: Winter Wine Concert Series, Sundays through March 8, 1 to 4 p.m., at Shady Brook Farm, link to winery

Rushland Ridge, Rushland: Closed January and February; will reopen March 5, link to winery

Sand Castle Winery, Erwinna: 9 Days of Valentine’s, through Sunday; Sweetheart Festival, Saturday; gourmet wine dinner ($$) at Villa Capri Ristorante, Doylestown, Thursday, Feb. 19, featuring Sand Castle Johannisberg Dry Riesling, link to winery

Tamanend Winery, Lancaster: New winery open, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m., classically styled premium wines in their bottled wine group, and premium sweeter styled wines in their Bag in Box group of wines, link to winery

Twin Brook Winery, Gap: Valentine’s Concert in the Vineyard ($$), Saturday; Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Weekend, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Barrels on the Brandywine ($$), every weekend in March at any of the members of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail, link to winery

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: Valentine’s Day weekend event, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Mardi Grad Saturday, Feb. 28, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.; March Madness ($$), passport required, a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail event, link to winery


MARYLAND WINERIES

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; wine and chocolate flight ($$), Saturday, five wines and five matching chocolates, advance reservations recommended by calling Sarah at 240.464.3280 or e-mailing Tracy at the winery, link to winery

Boordy Vineyards, Hydes: Fond of You Fondue ($$), Saturdays in February, 1 to 5 p.m.; Stew in Our Juices ($$), homemade stews and wine pairing, with musical entertainment, every Sunday in March, 1 to 5 p.m., winery link

Frederick Cellars, Frederick: Happy Hour, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every weekday, glasses are half-price; Frederick’s Fire in Ice celebration, Saturday, Bo Weevil to play from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; Valentine’s Day dinner ($$), Saturday, reservations required at 301.668.0311; President’s Day sale, 25 percent off some wines, Feb. 14-17; Mardi Grad party, Saturday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.; music in the Cellar, Saturday, March 7, 7 p.m., link to winery

Fridays Creek Winery, Owings: Winemaker’s Dinner ($$), Saturday, reservations only, link to winery

Linganore Winecellars at Berrywine Plantations, Mt. Airy: Cask to Kisses ($$), wine and chocolates pairing, every day in February; Southern Rock performer Dean Crawford concert ($$), Saturday, Feb. 22, 1 to 4 p.m., all natural soups from Chesapeake Gourmet available for sale, http://www.linganorewines.com

Sugarloaf Mountain, Dickerson: Forget Your Troubles party, Friday; Valentine’s Day couple package ($$), wine and food sampler; Saturday; President’s Day sale on Merlot, Feb. 15-16; Valentine’s/Presidents Day, Feb. 13-16, chocolate and wine pairing; barrel tasting ($$/nonmembers), Saturday, Feb. 21, 1 p.m.; red wine sensory tasting seminar ($$), Saturday, March 7, 1 p.m.; soup will be served in the tasting room on Saturdays and Sundays throughout February; Friday Flights ($$) is every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m., which consist of 3 half glasses of SMV wine, each paired with an appropriate cheese, fruit or chocolate, reservations at 301.605.0130, link to winery

Woodhall Wine Cellars, Parkton: Annual barrel sale, futures sale and chocolate tasting ($$), beginning Saturday and extending on weekends through March 29, 2 to 4 p.m., call 410.357.8644 or send an e-mail to reserve your spots; Patricia Della Casual Fine Dining will be serving lunch and dinner from noon to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. each weekend by reservation (410.357.5078), link to winery

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

PASSPORT WEEKENDS

Tour de Tanks, starting Feb. 28 and continuing every weekend in March, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, cost is $15 per person, pick up tickets at any participating winery or order online here, wineries include Adams County, Allegro, Cullari, Four Springs, Fox Ridge, Hauser Estate, Moondancer, Naylor, Nissley, Reid’s Orchard, Seven Valleys and West Hanover; information on Meet the Winemaker dinners here.

Barrels on the Brandywine, starting March 1 and continuing every weekend in March, noon to 5 p.m., cost is $25 per person, pick up tickets at any participating winery or order online here, wineries include Black Walnut, Chaddsford, Kreutz Creek, Paradocx, Penns Woods, Stargazers and Twin Brook.

FESTIVALS

Washington D.C. International Wine and Food Festival ($$$), 10th annual, Feb. 14-15, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, click here for information

$$ – Admission charge