Selection of Galen Glen wines
Looking for a memorable winery near Tamaqua, Jim Thorpe, or the Lehigh Valley? Galen Glen Winery in Andreas, Pennsylvania, is one of the state’s most celebrated wine destinations, and an easy, scenic addition to a stay at Bischoff Inn. Surrounded by vineyard views and the rolling hills of Schuylkill County, Galen Glen offers estate-grown, cool-climate wines, a welcoming tasting-room experience, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it ideal for couples, friends, weekend travelers, and anyone planning a Pennsylvania wine-tasting getaway.
Bischoff Inn in Tamaqua provides a peaceful, character-filled home for visiting Galen Glen Winery. The drive from the Inn to Galen Glen is approximately 20 minutes, making it easy to enjoy an afternoon tasting and return to Tamaqua for dinner, a walk downtown, or a restful evening. Rather than staying in crowded Jim Thorpe, guests can pair a winery visit with Tamaqua’s historic small-town setting, nearby restaurants, local breweries, farm markets, train excursion to Jim Thorpe, and outdoor adventures.
Why Visit Galen Glen Winery?
Galen Glen is much more than a beautiful vineyard. The winery is operated by sixth and seventh generation farmers who have built a national reputation for expressive wines made in Pennsylvania’s cool-climate growing region. Their approach is rooted in the belief that good wine begins in the vineyard, and guests can taste that sense of place in crisp whites, dry rosés, food-friendly reds, sparkling wines, and distinctive dessert selections.
The winery is particularly known for its Grüner Veltliner, an Austrian white-wine grape that Galen Glen helped pioneer in the United States. The family planted Grüner Veltliner in 2003, becoming the first winery east of the Rockies, and only the second in the country, to grow it. Galen Glen’s Grüner has earned considerable critical attention, including praise from wine critic Stuart Pigott, who described the winery’s Grüner Veltliner as potentially the best American expression of Austria’s signature grape.
Galen Glen Grüner Veltliner
Galen Glen has also been named Best Pennsylvania Winery at the New York International Wine Competition in 2015, and its wines have received awards and recognition both nationally and internationally. It is a worthwhile stop for dedicated wine enthusiasts and casual tasters alike, particularly for visitors hoping to experience a winery that feels rooted in its landscape and agricultural history.
Galen Glen’s reputation extends beyond its vineyard tasting room. Its Grüner Veltliner appears on the published wine list at The Love in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square, and Philadelphia Magazine has highlighted it as a pairing at Vernick Fish—one of the publication’s top-ranked restaurants in 2024. For guests exploring Pennsylvania wine country, these restaurant connections offer another reason to discover this local producer.
Plan Your Visit
Visitors enjoying a glass of wine at Galen Glen Winery
Galen Glen Winery is open year-round on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Last pours for glasses and bottles are served at 4:30 p.m., and guests should plan to depart by 5 p.m. The winery may also offer seasonal Thursday summer hours and holiday-hours variations, so check its current website or social media before departing Bischoff Inn.
A visit can be as simple as a tasting followed by a bottle enjoyed with vineyard views, or it can become the centerpiece of a leisurely local wine-country afternoon. Arrive near the opening hour for a quieter experience, allowing time to enjoy the landscape, and bringing home a bottle or two to enjoy later. Galen Glen also offers light snack pairings such as artisan cheese and charcuterie selections; groups of more than 12 should contact the winery in advance.
A Wine Country Itinerary From Bischoff Inn
Take a bottle of Galen Glen wine home to Bischoff Inn
Begin with breakfast and coffee in Tamaqua at Hope & Coffee, then take the approximately 20 minute drive from Bischoff Inn to Galen Glen Winery. Spend the afternoon tasting estate-grown wines, taking in the vineyard views, and selecting a favorite bottle to bring back to the Inn.
After Galen Glen, continue about two miles to Cellar Beast Winehouse for a second tasting in a different style and setting. If you would like to extend your outing into the evening, Eight Oaks Farm Distillery in New Tripoli is roughly a 20 minute drive from Galen Glen and offers spirits, cocktails, food, outdoor seating, and occasional live music. Designate a driver, arrange transportation when available, or enjoy tasting responsibly so everyone can return safely to Bischoff Inn at the end of the day.
Add a Visit to Cellar Beast Winehouse
Blanc de Blancs wine from Cellar Beast Winehouse
Just over two miles from Galen Glen, Cellar Beast Winehouse is an excellent addition for visitors who want to enjoy two distinct Andreas wineries in one outing. Cellar Beast is a boutique, award-winning Pennsylvania winery known for small-batch wines, guided tastings, winery tours, and an intimate barrel-room atmosphere. Its Andreas location makes it a natural companion to a Galen Glen visit, while its separate Jim Thorpe tasting-room presence offers another option for guests exploring the area on a different day.
Cellar Beast is generally open Friday through Sunday, though its schedule may change by season, private event, or special programming. Reservations are recommended but are not always required, so check current availability before planning a same-day tasting. Together, Galen Glen and Cellar Beast create a rewarding low-driving wine itinerary with two different approaches to Pennsylvania winemaking.
Extend the Fun at Eight Oaks Distillery
Eight Oaks Distillery cocktail
For guests who enjoy spirits as well as wine, Eight Oaks Farm Distillery in New Tripoli makes an excellent evening extension. About 20 minutes from Galen Glen, Eight Oaks produces award-winning Pennsylvania spirits with a farm-focused approach, including bourbon, rye whiskey, gin, vodka, tequila, and applejack.
The distillery offers a full food menu, cocktails, beer, wine, cider, outdoor seating, fire pits, and regular live-music programming. Current hours are Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Monday through Wednesday. Check the current event calendar before your visit, especially if you hope to catch live music or a special menu.
Stay at Bischoff Inn
Bischoff Inn exterior
A stay at Bischoff Inn lets you turn a Galen Glen Winery visit into more than a quick stop. Spend one day exploring wineries and distilleries, then use another to visit Jim Thorpe, take a train excursion from Tamaqua’s historic station, browse local shops and galleries, explore nearby parks and trails, enjoy farm-market finds, or simply relax between outings.
Whether you are looking for a winery near Jim Thorpe, planning a Pennsylvania wine-tasting weekend, celebrating a special occasion, or searching for a quieter place to stay near Galen Glen Winery, Bischoff Inn offers a welcoming and convenient base for experiencing the region’s wine, food, history, and mountain scenery.