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."