As much as I love living in NYC, I also love heading out of town for fun day trip explorations. It’s nice to escape the hustle and bustle and recover from non-stop running around town. When Sourced Adventures contacted me about their unique tours and day-trips, the Pennsylvania Wine Tour was first on my list! I invited my friend Eliot along for a day trip from NYC to the Pocono Mountains and Lehigh Wine Trail. We met the group at a coffee shop in the Lower East Side and hopped on the bus for our lil adventure.
First stop was Vynecrest Vineyard and Winery located seven miles from Allentown, PA. At Vynecrest we enjoyed 6 tastings from a large selection of 10 whites and 8 reds depending on whether we preferred dry or sweet wines. Along with the wine came a little plate of small snacks. My favorite two wines from the tasting was their Naked Chardonnay 2016 and the Lemberger 2015 signature red. You can purchase both in their online shop HERE. A wine fact I learned at this tasting is that a vineyard can’t name a wine after a grape (ie: Chardonnay) unless it contains at least 75% of that varietal grape. Example their ‘Autumn Gold’ is their blend of wine made from several varietals of grapes.
Second stop on our tour was Blair Vineyards. We tasted 5 wines: 2 whites and 3 reds which were paired with either cheese or chocolates. My favorite was the 2012 Pinot Noir and I even bought a bottle to enjoy at home. Following our wine tasting and light bites, we enjoyed a lunch with gourmet sandwiches on their lovely covered patio and with some time to spare, Eliot and I ordered a glass of the Pinot Noir. I loved sitting on the patio with pretty and relaxing views of the rolling hills and vineyard. Quick Note: Since our trip, Blair Vineyards has been renamed Setter Ridge Vineyards. Same owners and same great wine, they just changed their name for business purposes. When you click the link at the end of this post it will take you to the Setter Ridge website.
The newest vineyard to open in the area, Weathered Vineyards was the last stop on our tour. Richard, the owner, shared the story of how he came to start his vineyard and you can tell how much he loves and cares about his work. What started as a hobby turned into a family business and I wish him all the best with his vineyard and winery. At Weathered, each guest had their choice of a ‘Dry Flight’ or ‘Sweet Flight’ depending on wine preference. Each flight included a tasting of 5 of their wines. After the tasting, we followed Richard for a quick tour of where the wine barrels are kept and then bottled. Before getting back on the bus for our two hour drive home, I popped into their boutique to purchase a bottle of their 2015 Cabernet Franc. Can’t wait to open and enjoy
Thank you Sourced Adventures for treating Eliot and I to this great day outside the city and to our fantastic and fun guide, Colin. I will definitely be signing up for another tour including white water rafting next summer! Stay tuned, soon I’ll be sharing my favorite red wines which includes the two I brought home from the tour.
Learn more about the vineyards: Vynecrest Vineyards + Winery, Blair Vineyards (now Setter Ridge) and Weathered Vineyards
Receive $10 off your first Sourced Adventures trip using this special link: CLICK HERE
xx, Angie
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