Cheers from Vintage Connections  

For the past few (and for the next few weeks) we're writing about nearby PA wineries and wine bars.  The weather is great and there are lots of fun activities, in addition to tasting wine, going on at PA wineries.  Take some time, take a drive, and enjoy! 

This week, we're featuring Manatawny Creek Winery, where Joanne consistently makes great wine, both dry wines we love and sweeter crowd-pleasers.

Experience Manatawny Creek Winery this Saturday, June 25, at their Summer Solstice Festival, 10AM to 6 PM.  Music, food, tours, crafters, WINE, and more.  See details below.

Winery of the Week

Manatawny Creek Winery

Manatawny Creek Winery has long been one of our favorite wineries, not just in PA but of all the wineries we have visited, from the Finger Lakes to the North Georgia mountains.  Joanne Levengood, the winemaker, consistently makes excellent wines including drys, semi-drys, semi-sweets, and a few sweet wines that are real crowd-pleasers.   

Joanne shoot-pruning in the Vineyard

 This Saturday, June 25^th is their Summer Solstice Festival from 10-6.  

Music - The Eileen Tipping band will be playing from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm.  

Food -Tarbos BBQ will have their famous pulled pork sandwiches, Chef Lesle will have wonderful cheese and bread plates, and Greshville Inn will be serving something yummy.

Darvin, the tour guide (president, chief bottle washer, father), will be giving tours of the winery at 2:00 and 4:00.

Darvin riddling the new sparkling.

The crush pad area outside will be used for cold wine sales and will be CASH ONLY.  The fun part is that Sangria by the box AND by the glass ($5/glass) will be available for purchase.  

Vicki in the Tasting Room.

 In the tasting room, tastes this Saturday are limited to 5 during the afternoon to avoid congestion and allow everyone a chance to taste.  No charge for tasting at Manatawny, one of the few wineries left ANYWHERE that doesn't charge for tasting. 

Mary (mom) pouring a taste.

No outside alcohol permitted.   

Here's to a fun day at the festival!

For directions and more info about the winery, go to the

Manatawny Creek Winery locator.

Wine Sampling at Manatawny Creek

It's no secret, we love Manatawny Creek wine, especially their dry reds and whites.  We're not sweet (or even semi-sweet) wine drinkers, but Joanne's semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet wine is well-balanced (residual sugar, acidity, fruit, alcohol) so we enjoy it when the mood strikes us.  We even bought a box (a BOX, oh no!) of their recently packaged and released Sangria.  If you like wines with a little (or more) residual sugar, you'll find several wines you'll love at Manatawny. 

Usually, however, we drink dry reds and theirs are outstanding. 

We especially like Manatawny's Cabernet Franc.   

Each vintage (year of harvest) varies due to weather, so some years the wine is bolder than others, but year after year, it's hard to beat.  Cabernet Franc grows well in PA, we think producing the best Cab Franc we've tasted, even better than those from France (Loire Valley and Bordeaux) and at about half the price. $14.95 at the winery. 

Syrah has become another of our favorite reds.  Big, bold, and tasty.

"Wow" with lamb.  $15.95 at the winery.

At Manatawny, there's a wine (or two or three or more) for everyone.  Try a few (limit of 8 usually, 5 this Saturday afternoon) for FREE in the tasting room and enjoy. 

Up-coming Events

 Manatawny Creek
Saturday, June 25
Summer Solstice Festival

Details above.

Blair Vineyards
Friday, July 8, Happy Hour
Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10, Summer Cool Down with food, music and wine.
 Click to events.
 

Vynecrest
Music in the Vyneskeller every Saturday.  Winemaker's Tour Saturday June 25, 1 PM, $5 per person.
Click to website.

Fun Fact 

Cabernet Franc is one of the grapes used in French Red Bordeaux.  Although Bordeaux is most often primarily a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Cab Franc is often added to enhance the flavor and color.  Cab Franc can be the primary grape in Bordeaux, especially in less expensive ones.  It is the primary red grape of the Loire Valley.  But, it grows great in PA and along the East Coast. 

For links to some of our favorite wineries, etc. see last week's blog.

Contact us to arrange a customized wine tasting, wine and food pairing, or any kind of wine related event.