Lehigh Valley wineries celebrate holidays with special events

Wineries of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail are encouraging wine lovers to buy local this holiday season by inviting them to festive events, offering specials on wine, and more.

The Lehigh Valley Wine Trail is a nonprofit organization of wineries whose mission is to promote agritourism 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 awards at state, national and international levels.

Some of the events include:

• Blue Mountain Annual Christmas Open House; Saturday, from 6-9 p.m.

The winery says thank you to its customers. There will be live music by Adam Motto and complimentary refreshments. Bring a canned good to support a local food bank.

There is a fee for wine tasting which will be applied toward purchase. Call 610-298-3068 for reservations or book online.

• Clover Hill Coat Drive at all locations: Dec. 8-14

Customers who donate a gently used coat will get a 10 percent discount on their purchase as a thank you. They are collecting all coat sizes, which will be donated to The Caring Place in Allentown and Berks Women in Crisis in Reading.

The winery is also selling tickets to its Beginner Wine Tasting Classes in January. This 1.5 hour long class teaches the basics of wine tasting, gives tips on wine and food pairings, and helps to answer wine questions. Tickets often sell out before the end of this year.

• Galen Glen Holiday Open House Weekends: Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 13 and 14.

Customers can enjoy a pairing of Voodoo Ravioli and an award-winning aromatic white wine. They are helping Santa collect monetary and toy donations for Toys for Tots. Bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation and receive a gift.

Customers are also encouraged to eat, drink and dress ugly. Dig out that old, ugly Christmas sweater, wear it to the winery and take a selfie by the tree. Then post it to the winery's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts and show it to their staff to receive another gift. On Dec. 15 they will announce an eat, drink and dress ugly grand prize winner.

For information on the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail and all of the upcoming holiday events, visit www.LehighValleyWineTrail.com.