PRESS RELEASE:

( Eastern Pennsylvania ) Berks County Wine Trail gives a whole new meaning to “cool” during its upcoming annual summertime wine tasting event: “COOL WINE TREAT WEEKEND.” Member wineries will be showing off how cool they are with clever cooling concoctions made with Berks County produced wines.

During COOL WINE TREAT WEEKEND, wine lovers are encouraged to “be cool” or “cool off” by visiting each of the trail wineries during Saturday August 9th (noon to 5 PM) or Sunday August 10th (noon to 5 PM). Admission is free and no reservations are required.

For wine lovers old and new, serious and capricious – this will be a fun chance to celebrate summer and sample award-winning locally produced wines at the same time! And while you’re visiting your area winery – be sure to grab a brand-new BERKS COUNTY WINE TRAIL map too! The trail’s new maps include all the current wineries on the trail plus more detailed location and contact information for each.

Some of the “Eau de COOL” wine drinks to sample during COOL WINE TREAT WEEKEND will be:

“Pink Pussycat” drinks made with Manatawny Creek’s Rufus’ Rose wine instead of gin traditionally used for this cool-cat cocktail.

“White Wine Sangria” laced with local fruits will be polished off with Blair Vineyard’s blizzardy-cool Chardonnay.

What’s better than an ice slushie on a hot August day? An ice slushie made with ice wine! J.Maki Vineyards/French Creek Ridge will be chillin’ with their “Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Slushies.”

Wicked cool will be the “Wine Mojito” that will cool down anyone coming to Pinnacle Ridge with Vidal Blanc.

And no cool factor is complete without the party-fun of “Jello Wine Shots” which Calvaresi is icily creating with their rich Port wine.

Visit the events page of http://www.berkscountywinetrail.com soon for more information and further additions to the “cool wine treat” tasting list!

A complete list of the participating wineries is:

BASHORE & STOUDT COUNTRY WINERY (610-488-9466)

BLAIR VINEYARDS (610-682-0075)
CALVARESI WINERY (610-488-7966)
CLOVER HILL VINEYARDS & WINERY/ROBESONIA (610-693-8383

J. MAKI WINERY AT FRENCH CREEK RIDGE VINEYARDS (610-286-7754)
KOG HILL WINERY (610-913-6609)

LONG TROUT WINERY (570-366-6443)

MANATAWNY CREEK WINERY (610-689-9804).

PINNACLE RIDGE WINERY (610-756-4481)

Combined, the Berks County wineries have won hundreds of state and international awards. The winemakers, their families and employees are proud to be able to preserve beautiful countryside landscapes and the agricultural heritage of Pennsylvania farming through the growing and processing of Pennsylvania grown grapes and fruits.

The Berks County Wine Trail’s membership are proud to be associated with Pennsylvania Wine Association, Pennsylvania Wine Society, The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s ‘PA Preferred’ Program, the Greater Reading Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sckuylkill Valley Visitors Bureau, and nine-plus regional Chambers of Commerce.

For more information about the Berks County Wine Trail, its member wineries, lists of wines, maps and directions, please visit: http://www.berkscountywinetrail.com or email berks_county_wine_trail@yahoo.com

At this point the PLCB should just put a sign on all their stores that says, “We proudly carry Jack Daniels and Smirnoff. If you would like something else, Ohio is to your left.”

Christy: Hooray! You’re now about the fourth person I know who loves Campari. I hope you like the cocktail. You’ll find that Chartreuse is expensive but key to some grand drinks (including the Bijou, which is my favorite gin cocktail at the moment). And you only need a little to go a long way.