Galen Glen Vineyard And Winery Review
Address: 255 Winter Mtn. Dr. Andreas,Pennsylvania 18211.
Phone Number: 570-386-3682
Tasting Hours: Wed-Fri 12:00-5:00, Sat 10:00-5:00, Sun 12:00-5:00
Region: Lehigh Valley AVA, Pennsylvania
Reviewer: Kat Collins
Review Date: 1/16/2016
Reviewer: Kat Collins
Rating: 5
The Review
Your first thought is, Where are we? Is there really a winery out here? Driving winding back roads through Andreas, Pennsylvania, I admired the beautiful, hilly farmland. There is an austere beauty to the bare trees creaking in the wind and a lone farmhouse framed against the grey sky. Round and up I went, the vines appeared in the distance dotting the hillside. I must be in the right place. I came upon an unassuming sign that said Galen Glen Winery and turned into the gravel parking lot.
The building isnt much from the outside. The impression is that it was made to not compete with the stunning scenery surrounding it. The winery sits on top of a large hill overlooking the farmland and vines of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley AVA. Picture opportunities abound. There is an enclosed heated pavilion to the left and the tasting room on the right.
I pulled open the incredibly heavy and imposing wood door to the tasting room and was greeted warmly by the staff behind the tasting bar. The tasting room is simple and clean. Galen Glen has a very small selection of wine accessories and gifts, but its obvious the focus is on the wine and with good reason! Sarah Troxell, the winemaker, was named Best Woman Winemaker at the 2014 International Womans Wine Competition, and the winery was awarded Best Winery, PA at the 2015 New York International. Additionally, their 2013 Stone Cellar Gruner Veltliner Reserve recently won Double Gold at the Six Nations Wine Challenge. That is just three of Galen Glens most recent awards. They have won numerous accolades for their wine over the years.
We were offered a tasting of six wines of our choosing for $5.00. Tastings are done in a full-size, elegant wine glass, which is also available for sale. Galen Glens focus is predominantly on Austrian and German white wines, although they do have a small selection of red wines to appeal to a broader audience. Considering I had bought one of their recently awarded Stone Cellar Gruner Veltliner Reserve wines, but left it at a friends home after visiting with them and never got to drink it, it was must on my list. Galen Glen is a long-time advocate for Gruner Veltliner in the United States. Their Rieslings, dry and off-dry, are always winners, as well as their Ice Wine when it is available (sadly, not this time). If you love Gewurztraminer, a floral spicy white wine, you must try it here.
The wine that intrigued me most this time was their 2014 Stone Cellar Zweigelt, an Austrian red grape that is rarely seen in the United States. Galen, Sarah Troxells husband and the winery’s winegrower and namesake, apparently has become an expert on the Zweigelt grape and has given numerous talks on the subject to grape growers and winemakers in the United States. It is a young, fruit-forward style featuring abundant ripe cherries, so easy to drink and food-friendly. It is almost reminiscent of a young, juicy Pinot Noir. I can picture it pairing deliciously with roasted pork. A bottle of this wine came home with me, too.
I rarely leave this winery with less than six bottles and today was no exception. They offer a 10% discount on twelve bottles, but I decided to stick with just seven bottles for now. If you are ever in the area, or even if youre not, you must make it a point to visit this little winery in the countryside that is making a notable difference in the white wine world. You wont be disappointed.