Perfect Pairing

ArtsQuest announces winter wine-centric festival, market event for February

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – ArtsQuest invites novice sippers, experienced oenophiles and culinary tastemakers to sip, sample, savor and shop from some of the state’s best wineries and retailers offering wine-adjacent goods at the Winter Winefest and Market planned for Sunday, Feb. 19, inside the ArtsQuest Center.

Sampling from participating Pennsylvania Wineries at the Winter Winefest and Marketplace is unlimited!* Immerse yourself in a variety of offerings from top wineries, including Binah Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyards & Cellars, Cellar Beast Winehouse, Clever Girl Winery, Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery, Easton Wine Project, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Mountain View Vineyard Winery, Brewery, & Distillery, Renegade Urban Winery, Rowan Asher Winery, Sleepy Cat Urban Winery, Sorrenti Family Estate, Tolino Vineyards and Vynecrest Vineyards and Winery.

As attendees mingle about the 14 participating wineries, they’ll be greeted with new winter-inspired varieties and favorite staples to sample and purchase by the glass, learning about winemaking from the local experts, including Breinigsville-based Clover Hill Vineyards & Winery.

“Tasting at an event like this is a great opportunity to learn,” said Clover Hill co-owner Kari Skrip. “We’re eager to share our premium wines, make some new fans for Clover Hill and enjoy an afternoon at ArtsQuest! We’re also grateful for the community support of our locally grown and produced wines.”

Skrip shared that Clover Hill will have some of its special, seasonal sangria on-hand and available by the glass. “We’ll also have the recipe available for folks to recreate at home,” Skrip added.

Beginning at noon and lasting until 5 p.m., those with general admission tickets can sip while shopping from chocolatiers and all sorts of vendors and retailers –think cheese, snacks and so much more. Guests can also opt to enhance their festival experience via interactive charcuterie board building seminars and tasting sessions for sippers of all skills eager to learn more about the finer points of wine sampling. The seminars will be held in the Blast Furnace Room of the ArtsQuest Center.

The first seminar, “Wine Tasting 101,” will begin at 12:30 p.m., led by wine tasting and hospitality expert Jay Nee of Juniper & Grain. Nee has presented more than 400 wine, beer and spirits events for thousands of guests, partnering with ArtsQuest to launch his signature event, The Ginvitational in September 2022. With commemorative keepsake glass in-hand, attendees of this seminar will experience a tasting journey through a sampling of two red wines and one white wine, all while Nee presents the five staples of successful wine tasting, “See, Swirl, Sniff, Sip and Savor.”

At 1:30 p.m., meat and cheese expert Matt Conway of Conway Provisions/Boar’s Head and Black Box Charcuterie of Easton will offer tips and tricks to build the perfect Charcuterie Board.

Those attending this seminar will learn the secret presentation tips and tricks, combining all the components and flavors to create the tastiest bites imaginable!

At 2:30 p.m., Butterhead Kitchen’s Jason Sizemore will offer a seminar on creating vegan Charcuterie Boards. Not only will Sizemore offer guidance on preparing the perfect plant-based snack plate during the seminar, but he’ll also offer samples of his delicious food. Attendees will also get to keep the commemorative board and be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift card to Butterhead Kitchen, which offers online and in-person vegan cooking events, in addition to small batch products, t-shirts, aprons and more.

Those looking to get a jump on the sipping, shopping and savoring are encouraged to consider attending as a VIP. In addition to unlimited sampling offered to all attendees, VIPs will have early entrance beginning at 11 a.m., with exclusive access to the fourth-floor lounge, a free bottle of wine, and a special goodie bag featuring Boar’s Head products.

“Pennsylvania has some absolutely fantastic wineries and we’re really excited to shine a light on them during the Winter Winefest and Market,” said ArtsQuest Senior Director of Programing Ryan Hill. “We’re building a day wherein wine lovers can get a full experience of not just wine, but some of the food and wares associated with the culture.”

Now through Dec. 21, tickets are $24 for general admission, $44 for VIP, with $39 VIP and $19 general admission tickets for ArtsQuest members. The price increases $5 for all tickets Dec. 22 through Feb. 12, with a $10 increase on all tickets a week leading up to and including the festival and marketplace. More information and tickets may be purchased here.

For the most up-to-date line-up of participants and events for the Winter Winefest and Marketplace, click here.

*Each winery has the right to set a sampling limit at their table.