Positively Pittsburgh Live! Schmorgasports--Sampling of Burgh Sports Teams 7-30-12

Positively Pittsburgh Live!

Schmorgasports--Sampling of Burgh Sports Teams

 7-30-12

Listen to the show here. 

Yes, Pittsburgh is the City of Champions with winning teams like the Penguins and Steelers and this year the Pirates have had a pretty good year, too. But Pittsburgh really is a sports town with so many outstanding teams. Tonight's guests are just a few of them. A sampling of the intense sports climate that envelopes the City of Pittsburgh.

Guests:

Kimberly L. Zubovic, General Manager, Pittsburgh Passion

Anthony Simasek, Player/President of the Pittsburgh Rugby Football Club

Justin Evans, Head Coach and Director of Business Relations, Pittsburgh Riverhounds

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Pittsburgh Passion

2012 National Championship Weekend
Weekend of August 3^rd- August 5^th

The Pittsburgh Passion will host the inaugural 2012 Breaking Barriers Festival, featuring the SilverSport Women’s Football Alliance National Championship on Saturday, August 4th at Heinz Field.

2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of Title IX and also the 40th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. Four decades after a collective threshold of breaking barriers, the two will commemorate at the legendary home of the City of Champions. This will be the first Women’s Championship in history to be hosted at an NFL Stadium.

August 3rd, 5:30-7:30 pm: VIP Reception, hosted by the Heinz History Center, the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. For all WFA Team Owners, Host Committee Members, Guest Speakers, All Star Members and National Partner representatives. 8:00 pm:  Meet N Greet, open to all players and fans! Come mingle and meet everyone in Pittsburgh! Drink specials at the Pittsburgh Bar and Grille.

August 4th, 4:00 pm: Championship, The 2012 SilverSport Women’s Football Alliance National Championship will showcase the best of women’s football nationwide!

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS NOW! 

Kimberly L. Zubovic

Tickets include admission to the National Championship Game, the Immaculate Tailgate Challenge, the Fan Fest on the Plaza, and the Hall of Fame Enshrinement!

ESPN3, espnW, ESPN OnDemandCoverage will be provided by ESPN3 and espnW, making the event available to more than 73 million homes nationwide! The highlights of the Championship weekend will also play nationally on ESPN OnDemand!

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Pittsburgh Rugby Club

Anthony Simasek is a current player and the President of the Pittsburgh Rugby Football club.  He started playing rugby nine years ago at the University of Virginia and has been a part of the game ever since.  In addition to playing and administering for the Pittsburgh Rugby Club, he is also the head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Women's Rugby Club.

The Pittsburgh Rugby Football Club was established in 1964. Since that time, the club has identified itself as an organization of diverse and colorful people with one common passion: to play the best rugby possible. In the long history of the club, people from all occupations have played for the team including doctors, lawyers, mechanics, students, police officers, engineers, etc. The team has grown to represent the city from which it has sprung. Whether it be its diverse makeup of members, its hardworking and gritty reputation, or even the colors it wears (Black and Gold), the PRFC is the city’s team. They play in the city. They practice in the city. Hence their nickname as they have come to be known around town – “Pitt-City.”

They currently have two men's and one women's team. The men play in the Midwest Division 2 and Division 3 leagues and the women play in the Midwest Division 2 league. The women have been national finalists in Division 2 for three of the last four years. This past year, the men qualified for the Midwest playoffs and lost to the eventual D2 National runner up. In addition to being players, they also provide coaching for the University of Pittsburgh Men and Women's programs, as well as high school programs like Fox Chapel girls and Sto-Rox boys. The teams practice in the Spring, Summer, and Fall on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and play games throughout the Midwest and East coast on Saturdays.  

In addition to fielding rugby teams they also own a bar in the Southside, "Rugger's Pub" - where you can always find a friendly rugger on Thursday and Saturday evenings. They also host one of the largest one day collegiate rugby tournaments each year at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, PA. The Pittsburgh Brewfest, which has grown into a large beer tasting event, is hosted each November by the Pittsburgh Rugby Club and features over 80 beers, 1,200 people, live music and is a great way to enjoy local craft brewers.

For more information on the Club or for info on how to join, visit their website at www.pghrugby.com.

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Pittsburgh Riverhounds

Founded in 1999 as a member of the United Soccer Leagues’ A-League, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds have brought elite soccer to Western Pennsylvania and are the only pro soccer team in the Tri-State Area. 

The Riverhounds recruit players from top programs around the country and the world. Since established, the Riverhounds have not had an official home field and have played at CONSOL Energy Stadium in Washington, Pa as well as a handful of local high schools around the area. In 2007, the team obtained new ownership and began to develop a presence in the area. During this same year, the Riverhounds brokered a relationship with Everton Football Club of England to create a developmental program for youth soccer players. 

The Riverhounds Academy has grown in participation, programming, and value and has proved to be a soccer Academy where young players are trained by the professionals.  The growth of the Academy in the area has been a catalyst for the new stadium. During the fall of 2010, the Riverhounds joined the USL PRO Division created by the United Soccer Leagues. The division sits just below Major League Soccer and will serve as a stepping stone for players looking to jump to the next level. 

The season runs from April through September. For more information, please visit their website at www.riverhounds.com.

***

This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.

Listen to the show here.

Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.

Hug-A-Thon PittsburghSecond Night at the Races, 7 Ways to Win

Second Fundraiser, Night at the Races 

Yunz comin'?  

Second fundraiser to support

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Day

Pittsburgh Hugs the World!

"World Class Pittsburgh Hugs supporting

Home Town Pittsburgh Charities."

The Actual Event is not until September 6, 2012

But the Support Event is August 1, 2012 over 80 people are attending!  Are Yunz' comin'?

Win with Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh

Here are the wins: 

Win1:  You help to create an event that will raise money for Pittsburgh Charities. 

Win 2:  You get to hang out with some great "Winning" Personalities. 

Win 3:  You get to watch the races and have a chance to Win yourself. 

Win 4:  You get to eat Bistecca's Winning Food. 

Win 5:  You get $10.00 in Free Play

Win 6:  You get a ticket to  the Women's Footballl Championship three days later on August 4 and watch the Pittsburgh Passion WIN the championship. 

Win 7:  You get a raffle chance to WIN

That's Win, Win, Win, Win, Win!  See you on August 1 at Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Night at the Races!

Donation is $45.00, you can't beat that.  

This is what you get?

To register:   Click Here

Come to Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh's ™ Night at the Races 

Be there by 6:30p.m. Wednesday Night August 1, 2012

We will watch LIVE horse racing at the 

Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Upper Level Adios Rooms

There will be three designated Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ races for the Winner Circle Photos. (This is for Sponsors only!)

Watch the races from the Luxurious Upper Level Suites

• 50/50 Drawing
• FREE APPETIZERS
• FREEPLAY ($10)
• Fun! Fun! Fun!
• Cash BAR
• 
• Ticket to Women's Championship Football Playoff atr Heinz Field, Saturday August 4

• Complements of Pittsburgh Passion Women's Football, You also are entered into a chance to have dinner with Franco Harris, tickets to the Steelers game/w/parking pass and 3 nights/4 days in Orlando and choice of tickets to various entertainment parks in Florida

To register:   Click Here

Techno Granny™ and PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine™ are throwing another party! This is to benefit the Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™  A City Wide Event.

Hugs are Free on September 6, 2012 but the budget for the event is not!  So we need your help.

Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ Day will be held on September 6, 2012. This is a City Wide Event to raise awareness and funds for our local charities.

To find out more about Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ Day go to our Facebook page and like it to get continuous updates.

http://facebook.com/hugathonpittsburgh

Missed the first Night at the Races? You Missed a Great Party!

To find out about Hug-A-ThonPittsburgh Day

Click Here

Come to Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh's ™ Night at the Races 

Be there by 6:30p.m. Wednesday Night August 1, 2012

We will watch LIVE horse racing at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino

There will be three designated Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh™ races for the Winner Circle Photos.

Watch the races from the Luxurious Upper Level Suites

• 50/50 Drawing
• FREE APPETIZERS
• FREEPLAY ($10)
• Fun! Fun! Fun!
• Cash Bar
• Entry into Great Vacation Package, Steeler Tickets, Dinner with Franco

To register:   Click Here

Your Business can Become a Sponsor. We have great sponsorship packages. See Below! 

If you are one of our wonderful fans and want to hang out with other PositivePittsburghers, then you can purchase anindividual ticket or group sponsorship package!

Call with a credit card to:

Mary Pam Kilgore 412-854-4827 or Al Levine 412-973-9611

OR

Email your name number of tickets and payment information to:

This will be the first time four you to meet our Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Charties
Cancer Caring Center
Sickle Cell Society, Inc.
Pittsburgh Passion's  "Passion for Life Foundation"
Operation Troop Appreciation

If you are one of our wonderful fans and want to hang out with other PositivePittsburghers, then you can purchase an individual ticket or group sponsorship package!

Positively Pittsburgh Live News 7-23-12

Positively Pittsburgh Live News 7-23-12

Listen to the show here. 

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Sets Stage for 2012-2013 Season

with Free “Ballet Under the Stars” Performance at Hartwood Acres

Gather your blankets and picnic chairs, and relax under the stars for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s 24th annual open air performance at the Hartwood Acres Middle Road Concert Area on Thursday, August 16, at 7:30 p.m. with pre-performance activities beginning at 5 p.m.

As part of the Allegheny Summer Concert Series, PBT will perform a free evening of mixed repertoire by August Bournonville, George Balanchine and Dwight Rhoden. Prior to the performance, PBT will host a variety of free, family activities and a VIP picnic dinner under the PBT tent.

Read the entire release here. 

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Free and Almost Free in Pittsburgh

Whole Foods Market

5880 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA"Five Buck Friday! Every Friday through Labor Day from 5pm to 7pm. Join us outside at the grill for seasonal plates that will change weekly. For just $5 you will receive a sample size entree along with a side of your choice. While strolling the store each Friday from 5pm to 7pm, you will have the opportunity to sample our Local items."

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Celebrate & Share Invites You to the  4^th  Annual Breakfast at the Rivers Club 

Celebrate the 92nd Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment! Tuesday, August 28, 2012, Rivers Club, Oxford Centre Downtown, Pittsburgh, PA, 7:45 am - 9:30 am. Donation - $45, Honorary Sponsors- $92.00, Table of 10: $450, Founding Sponsors $1,000. Hosted by Bonnie DiCarlo & JoAnn R. Forrester. Make your reservation by calling Bonnie at 412-480-5247 or emailing her at bonnie255@aol.com or call Joanne at 412.440.6969 or email her at selfimagebz@aol.com.

Join us for a special presentation on "What does the Right to Vote Mean to Me?"

Hear our distinguished panel of women talk about what the Right to Vote means to them. Panelists: Georgia Berner, Owner of Berner International, Inc, & Berner Energy, Inc; Christy Uffelman, V. President of Employee & Organization Development, Mascaro Inc.; Kelly L. Enders, Esquire, Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy; Danielle Howard, Marketing & Sales Agent, Grace Robinson Insurance Agency; Cynthia Shapira, Senior Policy Advisor to County Executive, Rich Fitzgerald.

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JAZZSPACE Resident Artists
Are hittin' the Pittsburgh scene with exciting performances all around the city. Don't miss your opportunity to check out these future jazz masters, starting with Cool Like Dat (The Redux) on July 24. Definitely unique and definitely COOL, this night is inspired by the 90s jazz-hip hop fusion hit. It will feature a collage of some of the hippest young artists in town.

Next, we hope you'll join us at Umoja's African Arts in the Park on Saturday, August 11. Downtown for the second year in a row, this free, eclectic event has something for everyone. Anqwenique will join Joe and his band, KINETIC, for a set of original tunes inspired by jazz, African pop, and African traditional music.

Finally, please SAVE THE DATE for Friday, August 17 for the JAZZSPACE Debut Concert! This will be a fun evening all about the next generation of Jazz in one of the jazziest new venues in town. Keep your eyes peeled for when we announce this location and tickets on sale by email, Facebook, and Twitter. Next week! More details here. 

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Penny Folino honored among Women in the Restaurant Industry
Penny Folino have been selected as a woman of outstanding leadership in the Restaurant Industry. Penny takes her place among iconic women, including Michelle Li.  Having owned restaurants in China, Michelle headed to the United States to fulfill her dream of owning and franchising pancake restaurants.  Now open for business in San Marino, California, Michelle is currently developing her franchise plan. Michelle is a Featured Leader at The IWLA.

We live in a demanding world!  Women are challenged to balance their lives in and out of the workplace, at home, and in the community.  These challenges require that we establish meaningful resources that provide options without obligation, efficiency with effectiveness, relationships with reliability.

These are the aspirations of The IWLA: to inspire you to continue to pursue personal and professional development, to surpass your own expectations, and to support other women as they strive to do the same.

***

NAWBO Awards
As the 2011-2012 NAWBO year comes to a close, it is The Pittsburgh Chapter of NAWBO tradition to recognize the women in our organization and in the Greater Pittsburgh area who have contributed their time, energy and talents to women business owners, to NAWBO and to our community.  We will also recognize our new members and share news on local and national benefits of NAWBO membership..

Please join us for NAWBO's Annual /Awards Celebration.  Reserve the date, Wednesday, August 15th.  We invite you to join us for a special luncheon of celebration of great businesspersons and their friends.  The luncheon will be held at the Grand Concourse, Station Square. Registration and networking start at 1:00 PM.  The cost of the luncheon is $35.00. Read the entire release here.

***

9th Annual Mid Summer Tennis Classic
Saturday, July 29

Mike and Dom have been organizing this tournament since 2004 and are now accepting registrations.To enter, go to their website below and click on the tennis ball for an entry form. 

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Baseball Stories from The Pittsburgh Quarterly Team

As we await the continuation of the Pirates' exciting season, we thought you might like to read a few baseball stories until play resumes Friday night.

First is an outstanding profile on the hottest player in the majors—Andrew McCutchen—written by the late Bruce Keidan: Eye on the ball.

Second, and appropos of the All-Star break, here's a story containing interviews of Major League greats on their recollections of Pittsburgh. It's a fascinating historical piece from many of the game's biggest names, recalling Pittsburgh through the years. Read: Pittsburgh's claim to fame.

Finally, if you want a better understanding of Pittsburgh's prominence in the old Negro Leagues, read the Golden Quill winner, The black diamond and see how "tricky baseball" dominated the Hill District's Pittsburgh Crawfords, while the Homestead Grays represented the city's black establishment. 

We wish you a wonderful summer and let's go Bucs!

***

Roving Pittsburgher Report

Bigelow Grille

One Bigelow Square Pittsburgh, PA 15219, 412-281-5013

I had lunch at the Bigelow Grill in the Doubletree by Hilton Downtown to close the deal to do the gala for Hug-A-Thon Pittsburgh Day on September 6, 2012. I had the Organic Chopped Salad: romaine, avocados, swiss cheese, tomato, cucumbers, bacon, egg, corn, scallion, bell peppers, salmon, with house Balsamic vinaigrette.

Perogies for starters, cheddar cheese loaded with butter, not heart healthy and definitely holds up over all of the Pittsburgh ethnic church kitchens. For dessert we took home tins of famous Doubletree chocolate chip and nut fresh cookies. I had to give them away to my accountant and his eighty two year old mother because just one tasted like an instant coronary, as did the perogies.  But at least I would have died happy.

Will the Three Sisters find happiness?

Chekhov's Three Sisters, translated with a distinctly American flair by Paul Schmidt, directed by Harriet Power. Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre. Jo Ann Forrester’s review started with “Chekov’s “Three Sisters” makes me happy divorce is now an acceptable way of resolving crappy marriages made in haste in youth and repented in leisure in old age."  Review link to come. 

Billy Price Concert Market Square, Friday, July 20, 2012
The feeling of impending rain and the wet seats from the downpour that had just ended did not daunt the spirits of Billy Price Fans as he belted out his unique brand of soul. The scene would remind you of a piazza in Italy with all of the restaurants opened onto Market Square Bar and Grille, the Diamond Market,  La Gondola Pizzeria, Mo’s Southwest Bar and Grill and Nola Café.  We chose Nola Café, the epitome of outdoor dining in Market Square.

NOLA on the Square
24 Market Sqaure, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 412-471-9100The drinks were “healthy” and reasonable and the Gumbo and Oyster Stew were both outstanding. The Oyster Stew featuring artichoke hearts, sherry and huge plump oysters was a meal in itself and so was the Creole Gumbo. This is direct from their website: “NOLA ON THE SQUARE, a New Orleans Jazz Brasserie located on beautifully renovated Market Square. A breathtaking transformation of the storied 1902 Landmark Tavern, a Nouveau Creole menu by Executive Chef Andrew Hebson, Bourbon Street cocktails, live jazz and blues music at least twice a week all contribute to that Big Easy vibe.” For once, I could not have said it better.

George Takai, Zulu, sighting in Market Square
Just when I though it couldn’t get any better, soul, great food, congenial environment, my partner in crime discovered George Takai walking into Nola’s. Billy Price, Creole food and George Takai in one night. That was probably more than this cardiac patient should experience in one night.

To see Techno Granny’s  star struck Star Trek fan moment click here.

And then George Takai, Zulu, sat down. What a treat!

Grandview Saloon Regained its Name
1212 Grandview Ave. Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh, PA 15211, 412-431-1400

Still wonderful dining in the open air with a view of Pittsburgh. The food is wonderful and we could hear the concert in Station Square from on top of the Mountain.  Pittsburgh really is an amazing city.  My friend had a pulled pork sandwich that he said was “almost as good as his daughter in law’s.”  I had an amazing Greek Peasant salad with artichoke hearts, mixed greens and Greek herbed potatoes. It was both fresh and huge.

Serendipity
Two PPG Place, First Floor, Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, 412-325-1122
Serendipity "Accessories to express yourself.” Serendipity has been in the Pittsburgh downtown area for nine years. They carry awesome fashion accessories like designer hats. We met Kim Coppola, and her personality is as bubbly and facilitating as her accessories. I found two big beautiful large brim hats-- Big Brim Sunhat 50+ UPF Protection, malleable great for travel, that means it folds without destroying it, and completely packable. I am going back for a powder blue hat with a huge purple voile flower and a red one.  Also, the jewelry looks like it should be hundreds of dollars instead of $40.00 to $50.00 for big bold green agate necklaces.  What a find for accessories!

***

This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.

Listen to the show here.

Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.

Positively Pittsburgh Live! Pittsburgh Wine Country? Area Wineries

Positively Pittsburgh Live! 

Pittsburgh Wine Country? Area Wineries

July 23, 2012

Listen to the show here. 

Guests:

Ted and Janet Miller, Owners, C.T. Miller Vineyards

Alan Dodd, Winemaker, Foxburg Wine Cellars

Susan Lynn, Owner, Greendance Winery

Sharon Klay, President and Winemaker, Christian W. Klay Winery 

***

Sharon Klay is the president and winemaker for Christian W. Klay Winery in Chalk Hill, PA. The winery is located in Fayette City near Ohioplye, Nemacolin Woodlands and Falling Water.

Sharon and her husband moved to Pittsburgh from Manhattan, after her husband finished his residency. After her husband quietly ordered 1,000 grapevines, they started planting in 1989.

Their vineyards and winery are a fine example of agritourism: they grow the grapes, make, taste and sell the wine and offer an opportunity for the public to experience a working farm. They do weddings in the vineyard, murder mystery dinners in the restored 1880's barn, plan and execute corporate and private events, do fund raisers for four-legged friends, lobster clam bakes, and a lavender festival. They are very involved in the "Buy Local" movement participating in Farm to Table events and farmers markets.

Sharon has been on the board and remains involved with the Pennsylvania Wine Association for many years.

Their newest wine, Lavender Mist, is related to their expansion into lavender planting. The winery is offering a 10% discount to listeners who call to make a reservation to a murder mystery dinner theater event: regular price is only $38.00 plus tax and includes a wine tasting, buffet dinner and interactive murder mystery play.
 

Visit their website at www.cwklaywinery.com or email them at info@cwklaywinery.com for more information.

***

Susan Lynn

The principals of Greendance were running parallel courses toward opening a winery and lived within miles of each other without even meeting. The Lynns, Susan and Rick, and the Schillings, Amy and Rob, produced gourmet small fruits for wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and have even supplied the White House with gooseberries, currants, and golden raspberries for two state dinners.

Gradually they began to recognize that the highest use of their small fruits was pure fruit wines, and that their expertise in cultural practices would accommodate production of quality hybrid vinifera grapes to provide a full spectrum of wines. Although the new winery was planned for six years, it was stalled by the demands of fruit growing and various regulatory issues.

During the final development, the Sand Hill Berries partners discovered Walter and Roxanne Vinoski. The Vinoski family had been making wine and growing grapes for years. Walt had carried forth that tradition with a zeal for quality using both his family experience and his analytical and technical abilities as an engineer. Because of their dedication and award-winning success as private enologists, the Vinoskis envisioned a winery to make their passion available for all to appreciate. Thus, in the late winter of 2007, Greendance - The Winery at Sand Hill was consummated and opened in September of that year. They are located in Mt. Pleasant, PA.

They offer over 40 wines, free for tasting every day. On weekends and during special events throughout the summer they also offer a variety of gourmet snack and sandwich options with a few full luncheon dates available. The Nectar Garden and outdoor Cafe are open daily for to sit, sip, and enjoy the warm sun and gentle breezes through the flowers. Weekends provide added entertainment with live music on the stage. A full calendar of musical guests can be seen on their events page online.

Visit their website at www.greendancewinery.com or email them at greendance@greendancewinery.com for more information.

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Alan Dodd 

Foxburg Wine Cellars is nestled within the majestic Allegheny Mountains of Western Pennsylvania, overlooking the Allegheny River, and only minutes off Interstate 80 near the St. Petersburg or Emlenton exit. 

Foxburg Wine Cellars opened their doors May 1, 2003 and specialize in low sulfated, naturally processed wines, all made and bottled in Foxburg, Pennsylvania.  They feature one of the largest tasting/retail outlet stores in Pennsylvania, offering 30 varieties of wine, wine accessories, glassware, clothing, gifts, meats, cheeses, coffees and home winemaking supplies. Tour the winery any day of the week and lounge in the outdoor, grape-arbor covered patio for an experience of pure wine enjoyment. 

They offer weekend musical entertainment on the patio (2 PM to 5 PM, every Saturday & Sunday through August and possibly into September weather permitting). They are the most western located winery in the Ground Hog Wine Trail (9 wineries - Foxburg to Clearfield area to the Altoona area to the Smicksburg area).

Visit their website at www.foxburgwine.com or email them at foxburgwinecellars@yahoo.com for more information. 

***

C.T. Miller Vineyards is nestled within the rolling hills of Avella, PA. Ted and Janet Miller still raise cattle on the farm, but their hard work and admiration of the land can be tasted in the wine that solely comes from their seven-acre vineyard. The grapes are grown, fermented, and bottled locally, producing a tempting array of wines enhanced by the Miller’s dedication to the art and science of wine making.

Raised in a traditional Italian family, the aroma of homemade wine is one of the most vivid memories from Janet’s childhood. After her father died, she wanted to keep the family’s homemade wine tradition alive. Ted agreed to make wine only if they used homeade grapes. So, in 1998 they planted 80 vines but they did not grow. The next year they planted 2,100 more vines, but a drought stunted the crops. In 2001, they planted 2,900 additional vines and nearly everything grew. The vineyard has now grown into seven acres with over 5,000 vines. During peak production, Ted and Janet can bottle 140 gallons of wine, or 700 bottles an hour!

Ted and Janet Miller

This husband and wife duo’s goal is to establish vineyards, hence wines, that support wine grapes adaptable to our unique region.

They say the tending and care of vines is a 24/7 activity. Grapes need to be raised for the best sugar content. The difference between sweet and dry wine depends on fermentation process and type of grape. Bad wine can be produced from good grapes, but good wine cannot be produced from bad grapes.

Visit them online at http://www.ctmillervineyards.com or email them at ctmiller.vineyards@verizon.net for more information. 

***

This was reported as a reproduction of PositvelyPittsburghLive news done by Joanne Quinn-Smith. (c) Joanne Quinn-Smith and PositivelyPittsburghLive(TM) 2012 All rights reserved.

Listen to the show here.

Tara Darazio is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent copywriter, blogger, article writer, and social media strategist. If you are in need of writing assistance, or need help with your social media efforts connect with Tara on LinkedIn here.