Settlers Hospitality 9th Annual Wally Wine Fest Water and wine combine for a divine summer event. Wally Wine Fest returns to The Waterfront at Silver Birches, June 13-15. The indoor/outdoor event on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack offers three jam-packed days of sampling, shopping and soaking in the scenery. Visitors may enjoy sips from more than 100 domestic and international labels, a varied marketplace of artisan goods and live music on two stages. Festivities kick off on Friday, June 13 with a Platinum Wine Dinner at The Settlers Inn. The Live Fire Dinner in Grant’s Woods features a five-course wild game feast in collaboration with Fossil Farms that boasts duck rillette, rabbit ragu, lamb kofta and roasted elk French rack. Guests will take a seat in the open-air woodland dining venue and watch executive chefs from The Settlers Inn and guest chefs from Fossil Farms prepare the feast in the outdoor kitchen. Located in Boonton, NJ, Fossil Farms specializes in providing the highest quality farm-raised game birds, exotic and natural meats. Each course is paired with a fine wine from Trinchero Family Estates in a Sonoma vs Napa Vally taste test showdown. A $200 Platinum Ticket allows access to the Live Fire Game Dinner as well as entry to Wally Wine Fest on Saturday, June 14. Wally Wine Fest shifts to Silver Birches Resort on Saturday and Sunday where visitors will have the opportunity to sample vintages from more than 100 domestic and international labels. Wineries from as far away as New Zealand, Italy, France, Napa Valley and the Pacific Northwest are represented as well as varietals grown and produced in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Claude Briere, a sommelier for Settlers Hospitality, personally selects each wine. Briere is a renowned wine expert who travels the globe as a consultant and lecturer advising on wine selections, pairings and service. Novice wine enthusiasts will have the opportunity to sample a variety of pours and discover which wine suits their palate. Wine connoisseurs will relish the opportunity to interact one-on-one with wine makers, restauranteurs and sommeliers who are knowledgeable in flavor profiles, can discuss the differences among wine, grapes and varietals, plus point out the notes to be enjoyed for each. Bottles of every wine featured are available for sale. With prices ranging from $10-$100, there’s something to match every taste and budget. An indoor and outdoor marketplace will overflow with fine food, gift items and decor fit for wine lovers– all available for purchase. Visitors may shop offerings from places such as Art on the Edge, which features home/wine décor. Kryzan Design offers hand-poured candles in a variety of scents including some wine-inspired selections. A Silent Auction benefits Lake Wallenpaupack’s Fourth of July Fireworks and features overnight stays at some of the area’s finest accommodations plus gift cards to local restaurants and businesses. Golf and spa packages, as well as boat and paddle board rentals, are also up for grabs. Satellite events at other Hawley area venues extend the Wally Wine Fest celebration. The Settlers Inn will offer a Bubbly Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visitors may savor a brunch menu, live music and a tasting flight of sparkling wine. Glass-wine.bar.kitchen at Ledges Hotel will present live music by Mike Metzger on Saturday night. Wally Wine Fest at Silver Birches runs from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday. Everyone who attends receives a commemorative wine glass. Admission is $40 in advance or $50 at the door and includes 15 sampling tickets. The sampling tickets may be exchanged for wine tastings. A $50 VIP admission allows entry to the festival one hour early and 25 sampling tickets. The $200 Platinum admission price offers early entry, increases the sampling tickets to 25 and includes a seat at the Live Fire Game Dinner at The Settlers Inn on June 13. Admission for designated drivers is $20. Tickets are available at wallywinefest.com Special thanks to Champagne Level event sponsors Silver Birches Resort, Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and Trinchero Family Estates, as well as Cabernet Level sponsor, AM Skier Insurance, Chant Realtors and Olsommer and Clarke Insurance. Settlers Hospitality would also like to acknowledge the support of many local sponsors including Bold Gold Media Group.
Chamber Hosts 8th Congressional Candidates for Private Forum The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce hosted a private forum on Monday, October 14, featuring 8th Congressional Candidates Congressman Matt Cartwright and Rob Bresnahan. This exclusive event allowed candidates to network with Chamber members and representatives from regional Chambers of Commerce and Visitors’ Bureaus. “We are pleased that the candidates for the 8th Congressional District recognized the importance of addressing the questions and concerns of our members. And we are proud to once again team with our fellow regional Chambers and Visitors Bureaus to speak with a unified voice on behalf of the business community of northeastern Pennsylvania,” shared Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber. The forum, structured to foster engagement, allowed attendees to hear directly from the candidates on various business, economic, childcare, affordable housing and healthcare, and workforce topics that impact northeastern Pennsylvania. Moderated by Bob Durkin, president of The Chamber, the questions asked of the candidates were geared towards legislative priorities submitted by Chamber members. In partnership with the Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, The Chamber collaborated with the Pocono Television Network to film and distribute the 8th Congressional Forum to media outlets across the region. The Chamber and its leadership are committed to facilitating important dialogues between the business community and local government, ensuring that the voices of area businesses are heard and represented in legislative matters. Regional Chambers of Commerce that participated in the 8th Congressional Forum: Back Mountain Chamber of Commerce; the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce; the Chamber of the Northern Poconos; and the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber of Commerce. Watch the 8th Congressional forum online here!
