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Summertime “Winemaker’s Experience” Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery
July 17, 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
$45 – $60
——–by Marty Cook
Our July 17th in-person event at Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery has been enhanced and you will want to be on hand to enjoy it! Please note that the start time for this event has been moved up to 6:00 p.m. to accommodate a tour of the wine production facility. This tour will include a talk about the history of Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery, an overview of its wines and wine production, and a tank tasting. The wine tasting will be a selection of three dry wines drawn directly from the storage tanks.
Chef Loic Jaffres has presented us with his tentative menu for the evening’s main event, which begins AFTER the 6 p.m. tour at 7:00 pm, and he has really upped the ante! This event includes eight (8) premium Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery wines (four white, four red, five of which have earned critical acclaim from prestigious competitions) that will be complemented by the following group of small food plate pairings:
Appetizer: Caramelized Onion & Tomato Crostini
Crab Cake with a French-style tartar sauce
Vol-au-vent ~ A savory mix of seafood served in a puff pastry round
Venison Medallion & Wild Mushroom Sauce
Pork Tenderloin with Cranberry Chutney
Crème Brûlée
Chef Loic brings a lifetime of French culinary skills to our event. In the 18 years leading up to his recent retirement, Chef Loic owned and operated his own French restaurant in Maryland. We will be the benefactors of his vast storehouse of cooking knowledge on the night of our event!
The list of wines that we will enjoy during our event include the following four whites and four reds. And, as an added bonus, all Armstrong Valley wines will be sold at a 25% discount to PWS event attendees for that night only!
2019 Chardonnay (unoaked) ~ “Our dry unoaked 2019 Chardonnay is crisp and refreshing. 2019 produced a great vintage, giving the Chardonnay grapes a wonderful aroma and flavor. Try some with light cheeses, chicken, or Alfredo pasta dishes.”
2021 San Francisco Chronicle Int’l Wine Competition SILVER Medal
2020 Finger Lakes Int’l. Wine & Spirits Competition SILVER Medal
2020 Riesling (yet to enter competition) ~ “Our semi-dry Riesling has citrus fruit characteristics & peach-like aromas.” Pairs well with spicy dishes or seafood.
2019 Vidal Blanc ~ “Our semi-dry Vidal Blanc, made from our central PA grapes, contains all the flavors of Vidal, with less sweetness for an aromatic delight.”
2021 San Francisco Chronicle Int’l Wine Competition GOLD Medal
2020 Finger Lakes Int’l. Wine & Spirits Competition SILVER Medal
2020 Pinot Gris (yet to enter competition) ~ “The semi-dry Pinot Gris is a wonderful white wine with overtones of pear, apple and melon flavors.”
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve ~ “Dark dusty ruby color. A distinctive mélange of fruit and spices keeps things interesting. This Cabernet Sauvignon comes from our estate grown grapes. Oak aged in French barrels, creating a delicate balance of tastes & aromas. Great wine with red meat, cheese tray, or that special appetizer.”
2021 San Chronicle Int’l. Wine Competition GOLD Medal
2020 Finger Lakes Int’l. Wine & Spirits Competition GOLD Medal
2018 Cabernet Franc ~ “Garnet color. Aromas and flavors of Granny Smith apple, under ripe berries, and sour cherry candies with a supple, tangy, dryish light-to-medium body and a hot, swift finish with a suggestion of oak flavor. A tangy quaffer for rich, homestyle foods, red meat, chicken or a vegan dish. Well-balanced and oak aged.”
2021 PA Sommelier Judgment Honorable Mention
2019 Pinot Noir (yet to enter competition) ~ “Produced from our estate grown grapes. Oak aged in French barrels specifically designed for the Pinot Noir wine. This creates a wonderfully drinkable wine with light fruit overtones and a well-balanced palate.”
2018 Chambourcin (oaked) ~ “A pleasing dry red. Mild tannins and berry flavor for an easy-to-drink wine that goes well with all red sauce pasta dishes, hamburgers, steak, and tacos.”
2020 Finger Lakes Int’l. Wine & Spirits Competition SILVER Medal
Our event will take place in a dining area adjacent to the tasting room, where we can sit in air conditioned comfort from what could be stifling July heat and humidity. Our accommodations could easily accommodate in excess of 40+ with ample room for social distancing, should there be concern.
Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery is located north of Harrisburg and the easy 40 minute ride is scenic and enjoyable. My preference is to follow Rt. 322 West to the Clark’s Ferry Bridge, then continue northward along the east shore of the Susquehanna River to the eventual intersection with Rte. 225, then traveling through Halifax to Armstrong Valley Road and the final destination on Rutter Road.
Ample parking is available in the rear of the campus. We will congregate in the tasting room for the pre-event tank room tour, and then we will return to our dining area adjoining the tasting room facility where we will enjoy the main portion of the evening’s festivities.
Please make plans to attend our kickoff of the Pennsylvania Wine Society Summer in the Vineyard Series on Saturday, July 17th at 6:00 pm for a wonderful evening of wine and food! All are welcome
Member: $50 Patron: $45 Nonmember: $60