Click on the attachment at right for a peek at Crossing Vineyards' calendar of events.Christine Carroll, the director of marketing and public relations at Crossing Vineyards and Winery in Washington Crossing, Pa., has among the four most extensive events calendars in the region and lots of other initiatives in motion at their expanding operation. Few wineries market and publicize what they do as well as this place. Indeed, they tout on their home page they the winery was listed No. 3 on a top 10 list of up-and-coming wine producers that appeared in the 2009 edition of Tom Stevenson's Annual Wine Report, an international guide to the wines of the world. Crossing held the No. 5 spot in that publication in 2008.Carroll wrote in an e-mail she sent yesterday that the winery continues its green initative with the construction of an energy-efficient, 3,000-square-foot addition there.
She continued: "Crossing Vineyards broke ground in December, 2008, for the construction of a 3000 square foot addition to its winery. In keeping with the company's "green focus," the new building is designed to accommodate the future installation of solar panels and will feature a high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system. It will also include a water recharging well that collects and recyles groundwater instead of allowing erosive runoff.
"The new building will allow Crossing to serve customers better, while conserving natural resources, protecting the environment and reducing the company's carbon footprint.
"We also have a great spring schedule of classes, workshops, music and food events. One of the offerings I am most proud of is our Wine 101 class. It is a six-week course that goes from how wine is made to food and wine pairing. It is offered on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. beginning on March 23. "We have also had a great response to the Pairing Wine and Cheese class. This is not an uncomplicated subject and not many people know enough about it to offer classes. We have gotten a lot more knowledgeable since the opening of our Wine and Cheese Shop at The Mohegan Sun Casino; so we are in a position to offer a quality class."
Received an e-mail yesterday from Mak McKeehan of 3RD idea, an agency in Gettysburg, Pa., that has become the primary marketing voice for Hauser Estate Winery. The winery opened late last July on a site that offers a sweeping panorama of the surrounding countryside and parts of the Gettysburg battlefield; it opened a shop in downtown Gettysburg a few months later. Run by the Hauser family (Jonathon Patrono is the company president), it features the winemaking skills of Seattle-bred and Cornell-educated Michelle Oakes. Looking forward to trying her wines next week when I'm out that way for a conference.McKeehan and his staff have given the Hauser Estate Web site a new look, which launched last Friday, featuring multiple layers that include info and prices on the wines, a new photo gallery (of which I swiped one of the view from the tasting room to add to this post), a tasting room blog, company history and the chance for people to sign up for the newly created “Cork Club.” That's a monthly e-mail newsletter from the winery about events, wine news, tips and sneak previews.
In addition, Hauser Estate has started a Facebook page and are looking for fans. The page can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=35103779&ref=frmf#/pages/Biglerville-PA/Hauser-Estate-Winery/50884969935?sid=9e56123ebcc4259d83509d1299c03e20&ref=s
McKeenhan noted in his note that starting in June and due to the huge success of the Candlelight Fridays, Hauser Estate will be hosting Live Music and Food twice a month. You'll be able to find a complete schedule on the Web site and, of course, amid the weekly listings that are part of this blog under the heading The Event Grapevine.Hauser Estate is part of what is for now a singular event wine trail. Tour de Tanks will take place starting Feb. 28 and every weekend in March at the 12 wineries that make up Uncork York. In addition to being able to sample wines at each of the participating wineries and share in whatever goodies they also put out, all for the cost of a $15 passport, the York County Convention & Tourism Bureau has announced a series of Friday night winemaker dinners at five York restaurants. Space is limited and advance reservations are required for these events. An all-inclusive ticket includes a full-course meal and selected wines, as well as tax and gratuity.
Wine writer and blogger Roger Morris tackled the Uncork York trail at some point last fall and wrote about his visit in a piece that appears in the Winter 2009 edition of the Wine & Spirits Quarterly. In that story Morris quotes Ralph Papalia, a state store employee in York who for my money provides more insight on his product than anyone else I've encountered in the biz. Want the lowdown on those dazzling bargains hidden on the shelves? Just track down Ralph.
