Galen Glen Winery and Vineyard
by
K.L. Sullivan
Traveling the roads to Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery, took us through farmland with acres and acres of corn growing alongside the road. Tree farms are also located in the area. All of this makes for a delightful countryside setting on the way to the wine tasting room.
Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery, is located in eastern Pennsylvania along the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail. The vineyards decorate the countryside’s rolling hills and the European style tasting room stands out overlooking the acres of grapes.
The land the vineyard is on has been in the Troxell family for more than 200 years. Before being developed into a vineyard, the land was a dairy farm. Today underground stone cellars, which were hand dug by ancestors for fruit and potato storage, are used to house oak barrels.
Galen Troxell was sent to Germany on business. Sarah, his wife, accompanied him to Europe and they saw an area of Germany that was just like the land back home. After this, friends in Hawaii sent wine to them. Between the wine from Hawaii and the land with a terrain like the land in Germany, they decided to begin to produce European style wine. Then began the hard work of transforming the dairy farm into a vineyard. Galen did double duty with working full time for several years on another job and beginning the vineyard. Since Galen had grown up on the farm, he knew the soil and climate. With the advise of a vineyard consultant, Galen and Sarah began the vineyard in 1995. They planted Stuben and Chambourcin grapevines. Now they grow Chardonnay, Grüner, Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Riesling, Chambourcin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir and more. Today they produce 6500 gallons (over 2700 cases) and are interested in slightly increasing production in the future.
The vineyard is maintained by hand. Friends help the Troxell family hand pick the grapes during the harvest season. Wells on the property provide water for drip irrigation of the grapevines. Galen has a good sense for the individual needs of the different grapevines. While walking through the vineyard he told us to feel the upper grape leaves. They were slightly cool. This indicated that the grapevine was still working efficiently.
The approach to the tasting room has several bright blue half barrels filled with annual flowers. Along the left side of the tasting room is a patio with tables available for sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the scenery. The tasting room is a comfortable room with draperies creating a slight separation between the tasting counter and several tables for special events. Behind the wood tasting counter are large windows overlooking sloping vineyards. Lovely wine accessories and gifts are available to choose from as well as several food items. Painted wine bottle lights and hand painted glassware are all available.
All of the Galen Glen wine is sold in the tasting room and at wine festivals. We tasted several of their wines and enjoyed each one we tasted. The best selling wine is Winter Mountain Red produced with the Concord grape. The best white selling wine is Winter Mountain White produced with the Cayuga grape. The Grüner Veltliner has a fruit bouquet and is acidic and fruit forward. It is light-bodied and pairs with white meats and fish. Erin’s Auslese has a sweet floral bouquet, with fruit on the taste and a fruit and crisp aftertaste. The Chambourcin 2005 has a very crisp and red fruit taste. Paragon is a blend with 17% Pinot Noir, 17% Cabernet Franc, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot. The Late Harvest Vidal has a great floral bouquet and is sweet.
Most likely, when you visit Galen Glen winery, you will meet Galen or Sarah in the tasting room. A friendly couple, they are enthusiastic about what they have created, their wines and wine in general. We believe you will enjoy a visit to this winery. This is a family-run boutique winery. Sarah is the winemaker, however Galen tinkers with a few tanks of wine. Galen’s and Sarah’s oldest daughter, Erin, is studying viticulture at Cornell University. Erin may one day work alongside her parents creating award winning wines.
While you are visiting, ask about the stick logo, which you will see in the cement on the walkway to the tasting room. When planting the first vineyard, they ran out of measuring sticks. Galen cut a sapling to measure the distance between the grapevines. As their website says, “...it serves as a reminder of the Vineyard’s humble beginnings and how a ‘can do’ attitude makes anything possible.”
Galen Glen Vineyard and Winery
Andreas, Pennsylvania
GPS N 40° 45.382 W075° 48.873
Local lodging: Hilton Garden Inn, Allentown West
