Wine festival season gears up this spring with a new event in Schuylkill County sure to unite wine lovers with vintners.
The first Appalachian Wine Festival — sponsored by Murphy Jewelers and T102 — will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 21 at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Summit Station.
“Murphy Jewelers and T102 decided this wine festival would be a great way to bring people in the community together to have fun and to try something new,” Patrick J. Murphy, owner of Murphy Jewelers, said. “We’re really excited to support the Schuylkill County Fair Association, as well as 11 local wineries, 15 craft vendors and five food vendors.”
Area wineries scheduled to be featured at the Appalachian Wine Festival are Long Trout Winery, Auburn; Blue Mountain Vineyards and Cellars, New Tripoli; Peace Valley Winery, Chalfont; Bouchette Vineyards, Pine Grove; Stone Mountain Wine Cellars, Pine Grove; Paradocx Vineyard, Landenberg; Red Shale Ridge Vineyards, Hegins; Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery, Klingerstown; Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery, Halifax; Stonekeep Meadery, Jim Thorpe; and Ferrone Winery, Scranton.
There will be musical entertainment by Vertigo Vibe and DJ Dave Smith. The event will go on rain or shine.
Tickets are being sold in advance at Murphy Jewelers, 115 W. Market St., Pottsville, and T102 Radio, 212 S. Centre St., Pottsville, for $15.
Tickets will also be available at the gate on May 21 for $20. Participants will receive wristbands, and anyone wishing to sample wine must be at least 21 years old.
“We hope to make this an annual event and continue to sponsor it every year,” Murphy said.
The Appalachian Wine Festival is the latest offering in a series of celebrations promoting area wineries and their products.
Several wine-related festivities are slated throughout the summer and fall, with the Schuylkill County Wine Festival in Hegins among one of the largest, drawing an average of 3,000 visitors. In addition to the wineries mentioned above, other wineries in Schuylkill County include Fieldwood Winery LLC, Schuylkill Haven, and Galen Glen Winery, Andreas. A listing of upcoming events follows:
• June 18: Wildcat Ridge Wine & Musical Festival, Route 25, Gratz Fairgrounds, from 1 to 6 p.m.
• July 30: Taste of the Valley, TLC Tree Farm, 21 Harvest Lane, Hegins, at 2 p.m.
• Aug. 6: Benigna’s Creek Summerfest Wine Festival, 1585 Ridge Road, Klingerstown, time to be announced.
• Sept. 4: Schuylkill County Wine Festival, Hegins Park, admission and music begin at noon, with wineries serving from 1 to 6 p.m.
• Oct. 8: Pine Grove Wine Festival, Pine Grove Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company 1, One Orchard St., Pine Grove, more details pending.