Wine Tips - Pinnacle Ridge Cabernet Franc and Manatawny Soleils Jumeaux

Greetings from Vintage Connections! 



 This week's wine tips.

Pinnacle Ridge Cabernet Franc 2008  

This excellent example of a cabernet franc is deep ruby red in color.  It has a very fruity nose with hints of pepper.  It has herbal flavors and a smooth mouthfeel.  It is aged in Pennsylvania oak barrels which gives the wine a “subtle toastiness”.  They feel this is their best cabernet franc yet.   Excellent when paired with hearty foods.  Available only at the winery for $16 a bottle. 

Cabernet Franc is used often as a blending grape with partners like merlot and cabernet sauvignon to make “Bordeaux” style blends.  It is such a treat to find it standing alone and so delicious. 

Pinnacle Ridge Winery is owned and operated by Brad Knapp and Christy Allen.  The winery was established in 1993 by Brad who believes in minimal intervention using traditional methods of wine making.  Many of their wines have won state, regional, national and international awards. 

The winery is located in a beautifully restored barn north of Kutztown just off of Route 22 near Krumsville.  Christy keeps a close eye on the tasting room and everyone is pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable.  They are open seven days a week, Sunday through Friday from 12 until 6 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM until 6 PM.  Take a beautiful ride out to the country and visit this excellent winery, you won’t be disappointed. 



Manatawny Creek Winery Soleils Jumeaux  

This tasty, cooling white wine is an excellent summer sipper.  It is a slightly sweet blend of Cayuga white and Seyval Blanc wines.  It is pale yellow in color with aromas of citrus and stone fruits.   Its flavor is crsip and clean and easy to drink with hints of peach and apricot. 

Soleils Jumeaux means twin suns or in Manatawny’s definition, twin sons of which Joann the wine maker has a pair.  With the addition of being two white wines being blended to make one wonderful summer wine, this name seems entirely appropriate.  Great with summer salads, shrimp cocktail and mild cheeses. 

The winery is located in Amity PA on the family farm along the Manatawny Creek.  Ten acres of that farm are planted with grapes for making their wines.  They are open 7 days a week, Monday through Satruday 10 AM until 6 PM and Sundays 12 until 6 PM. 

Soleils Jumeaux is available only at the winery and sells for $10.95 a bottle. 

Up-coming Events

Private Tasting of 6 USA Red Meritages (or similar red blends)
Sunday, July 11, 4-6 PM, we are hosting a private (blind) tasting of six USA Red Meritages.  Two seats are available at $25 each.  As we prepare for Bottle Shock Revisited on September 18, we are tasting wines that we may use for that event.  Join us and help determine what wines we will use as the finalists on 
September 18.

Please email us at VintageConnections@Comcast.net or call us at 610-469-6164 to reserve these two remaining seats.

Jazz Jam at Pinnacle Ridge

Sunday, July 18



Manatawny Creek Wine Festival 
Saturday, July 24

The Great PA Wine Toast
August 14
Across the Commonwealth
Let's Toast!
More Info Coming Soon

Bottle Shock Revisited!
USA vs. France blind wine tasting
Saturday
September 18
6:30 - 9:30 PM

Benefits the American Wine Society Educational Foundation

Wine and Appetizer pairing and
"blind tasting" 
of USA vs French wines.

Taste and vote for your favorites!

Perkiomen Valley Library, Schwenksville
$49 per person
$90 per couple
$350 per group of eight.
More details coming soon!
Visit the Perkiomen Valley Chapter of AWS.

Mom's House
Benefit Wine Dinner 

Saturday, October 23 
Five course dinner, each course paired with a different wine.  
Kimberton Arts Center  6:30 PM
For more information about Mom's House, click HERE

This Week's Fun Fact 
Cabernet Franc is one of the parent grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon, having been bred with Sauvignon Blanc to create Cabernet Sauvignon.  Someday, there will be a quiz!

Contact us at 610-469-6164 to discuss a wine seminar, tasting, or other event for your business, organization, or at your home.