LEHIGH VALLEY WINE TRAIL TRAVEL PACKAGES RETURN FOR THREE FALL GETAWAYS

Centered on the wine trail’s three fall events, the travel packages combine accommodations at a participating bed and breakfast, inn or hotel with a passport for free gifts at each of the nine member wineries on select weekends in 2008.

Lehigh Valley, PA (GrapeVineTrail) – July 30, 2008 – One of the best ways to experience the Lehigh Valley region in eastern Pa. is with a Lehigh Valley Wine Trail travel package. And fall is the best time of year to make the trip to the two-county, three-city region.

Centered on the wine trail’s three fall events, the travel packages combine accommodations at a participating bed and breakfast, inn or hotel with a passport for free gifts at each of the nine member wineries on select weekends in 2008. Rates start at $69 per room, per night, based on double occupancy. Hotels include popular brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn and Comfort Suites, among others.

Travelers can get complete details on LVWT travel packages by visiting the Travel Packages page on www.LehighValleyPA.org. After selecting a participating lodging property, visitors then call the facility of their choice to book the package. Upon check-in, travelers are given a wine trail passport and “A Journey in Wine” brochure. As they explore the wine trail, travelers simply show the passport at each winery to receive a free gift.

Wine trail travel packages are available only on the following 2008 event weekends:

Harvest Weekend – The Butcher, The Baker and The Winemaker – Sept. 13 & 14 – Each of the LVWT wineries partners with makers of Pennsylvania Preferred products to showcase and promote the excellent quality of Pennsylvania products. Many of the wineries feature food, tours, music and special events throughout this fun-filled weekend. Food and wine is available for purchase.

Chambourcin Weekend – Oct. 18 & 19 - Taking place after the harvest is over, this event celebrates the “official wine grape of the Lehigh Valley,” the Chambourcin. It is the only wine made by all nine of the wineries.

Nouveau Weekend – Nov. 15 & 16 – This is the best chance to sample the first vintages of the harvest. Each winery offers a ‘nouveau’ wine which is a light, fruity, semi-dry to dry red wines which make an excellent partner for the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Each winery will offer food pairings to enjoy with their delicious nouveau wines.

Event hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m. Admission to all three events is free, but a wine tasting fee may be charged.

LVWT is a non-profit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agri-tourism and to create a premiere wine destination and grape growing region while promoting Pennsylvania wines from the region. All of the member wineries have won numerous awards including those at national and international levels. The members include:

Amoré Vineyards & Winery, Nazareth – amore-4u.com

Big Creek Vineyard and Winery, Kunkletown – bigcreekvineyards.com

Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars, LTD., New Tripoli – bluemountainwine.com

Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery, Breinigsville – cloverhillwinery.com

Franklin Hills Vineyards, Bangor – franklinhillvineyards.com

Galen Glen Vineyard & Winery, Andreas – galenglen.com

Pinnacle Ridge, Kutztown – pinridge.com

Sorrenti Cherry Valley Vineyards, Saylorsburg – cherryvalleyvineyards.com

Vynecrest Winery, Breinigsville – vynecrest.com

The wineries were granted an American Viticultural Area (AVA) designation by the Federal Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on April 10, 2008 which enables vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they are purchasing. The Lehigh Valley AVA includes portions of Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Schuylkill, Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. There are currently nine wineries and 13 vineyards in this designation with more than 220 acres devoted to viticulture.

To request a copy of the Wine Trail’s “A Journey in Wine” brochure, call Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-747-0561 or log onto www.LehighValleyPA.org. The brochure can also be picked up at each of the member wineries. For more information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail, visit www.lehighvalleywinetrail.com or call 866-870-7800 .