Pounce on over to Allentown and dip your paws into Sleepy Cat Urban Winery, the newest addition to the city’s theater district.
Owners Mark and Carrie Gerencher opened their business in August, just 17 months after the idea of creating a winery popped into their minds.
The journey began when the couple celebrated their wedding anniversary in 2012 by taking a winemaking class. Afterward, they bought a kit and began making their own wines.
A few years later, the Gerenchers realized their winemaking hobby could turn into something bigger when guests at a retirement party fell in love with the pair’s creations.
Then, after 18 years of steady work, Mark was laid off from his job in telecommunications.
It was as if the stars aligned.
That same night, in 2015, the two started planning the winery. Within a couple of weeks, tanks were ordered.
“It was like a blessing,” he said.
Sleepy Cat Urban Winery is situated in the West End of Allentown and located in the building that once was Ruffino’s Restaurant, where Mark and Carrie held their wedding rehearsal more than 10 years before.
The walls are now a bright orange with a blacktop wine bar, chairs and tables. The production area can be seen from the front of the building, giving guests a sense of where their wine comes from. Pictures and paintings of the couple’s cats—Teemu, 14; Dante, 10; and Phoenix, 5—decorate the interior and bring the winery’s name to life.
What’s more, the Gerenchers don’t have a vineyard. Instead, they purchase juices made from grapes such as the Aurore, Niagara and Leon Millot from distributors in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Once the juices arrive, Gerencher tests each to make sure it consists of the right sugars, acidity and PH levels. Then he begins fermentation for about a week and finally transfers the product to another tank to let it sit until it’s ready to be bottled.
“My main goal is to make good wine, but to have fun in the process,” Gerencher said.
The fun part comes in naming their wines, from “Purrr-fect Plum” to “19 Lives Riesling.”
Guests can expect wines on the sweeter side of the spectrum for now, with a few dry ones also on the menu. Some flavors include notes of berry, tart finishes and floral aromas. Additional red and white wines will appear in the upcoming months.
Customers can taste up to six wines for $5. If you buy a bottle, the tasting fee is waived.
The winery plans to continue hosting live music and happy hour as well as taking part in local fundraisers. The Gerenchers are even working on teaming up with local caterers to hold wine- and food-pairing events.
But Sleepy Cat Urban Winery isn’t complete just yet. The two are in the works of expanding in the near future. Comfortable chairs will be added for a place to relax, more tables will be positioned near the back and the tanks and production area will be moved into the additional space. A private party area is also going to make its debut.
While you’re enjoying your wine at Sleepy Cat, don’t forget to browse the gift section, which includes wine openers, bottle stoppers, decorative bags and even Cat Wine made from beet juice, catnip and water.
If you’re a wine lover who is also a cat lover, this is the place for you. But even if felines don’t fit your fancy, the friendly vibe of Sleepy Cat Urban Winery is sure to please.
“We want to bring the winemaking experience to the people,” Gerencher said.
Find Sleepy Cat Urban Winery at 1840 W. Allen St. in Allentown; phone: (610) 351-2500.
- Photos: Davin Jurgensen
One Comment