Surprising and Creative Events at Midwest Wineries

It’s been rainy … summer is over … and you may be feeling a little down.  It’s time to change your mood with some fun and frolic in Midwest Wine Country. The wineries are known for producing great wines. Now you’ll have a chance to experience their great events. Below are just a few of the events listed on makeminewinemagazine.com.  Find one in your neighborhood, grab some friends and have a good time. Check each winery’s Web site for additional information – in many cases reservations are required.  

Dress in black and try for the best Johnny Cash look-alike at “The Man in Black” Party at Sugar Clay Winery in Thurman, Iowa. www.sugarclaywinery.com. 

Enjoy your buffalo pie meal and tap your toes to the Ceolmhor guitar trio at Little Swan Lake Winery in Estherville, Iowa. www.lslwinery.com. 

Don’t be spooked by Sugar Grove Winery’s Dinner by Ghostlight: The Ghouls Next Door. This all new show features surprising and delightful musical and comedic twists – and you can play Name that Spooky Tune. Dinner is an Elegant English Country Cuisine. Newton, Iowa. www.sugargrove.com. 

The Progressive Wine Trail hosted by the wineries on The Iowa Wine Trail is your chance to learn more about planning holiday dinners around Iowa wines. Save $10 on your ticket if you purchase before October 31^st. The event is in Eastern Iowa November 3^rd & 4^th – check it out on www.iowawinetrail.com. 

Or on November 3^rd and 4^th head over to Western Iowa for The Sugar Trail with wine, sweets and Christmas ideas galore. Tickets are available at the Western Iowa wineries: Whispering Hills, Breezy Hills, Sugar Clay, Danish Countryside, Prairie Crossing & Kings’ Crossing. Like murder mystery shows?

V.A.M.P will be performing several Halloween Murder Mystery shows at White Owl Winery in Flat Rock, Illinois. www.whiteowlwinery.com.

The HalloWine Party will include a murder mystery at Fox Valley Winery in Oswego, Illinois. www.foxvalleywinery.com. 

There are so many more opportunities to play. Check out events at www.makeminewinemagazine.com. As always, I would love to hear about the fun. Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

www.Makeminewinemagazine.com

Cooking with Wine

I enjoy knowing interesting people and great food! 

Not long ago I met an interesting lady – Luann Alemao. She is a leadership, image, etiquette, food and nutrition expert – and she enjoys wine! Recently we filmed a ‘cooking with wine’ segment for her popular TV show, Get Fit, which airs on CFU Cable Channel 15 in Cedar Falls. 

First Luann and the camera crew, Tyler Gray and Mike Verlo, shot footage for the show at Eagle City Winery in Iowa Falls. They visited with the owner and winemaker, Dr. Ken Groninga, and bought Eagle City wine back to use in a recipe on the show. www.eaglecitywinery.com.

When I arrived at Luann’s Home in Cedar Falls, it was time to get the final segment in the can, as they say. Together, for the Get Fit audience, Luann and I prepared the dishes she had developed:  Chicken Veronique with wine and grapes, mouth-watering biscuits with wine, and tasty salad with wine in the dressing. The food was beautiful, nutritious and delicious.

If you live in the Cedar Valley area, you’ll be able to see the show soon on Channel 15. When the show airs (around November 1^st) Luann will post her recipes on her Web site, www.laanda.com. 

While we were filming the show I was reminded of how easy — and rewarding  – it is to cook with wine. It is fine to sip while you cook – but I’m talking about the other cooking with wine! 

Wine is a flavorful, robust ingredient. 

This morning I had breakfast with Tony and Sue Putz, owners of La Vida Loco Winery near Indianola. We talked about a few great ways to use their famed Jalapeno-Raisin Wine as an ingredient.    

Jalamimosas – Jalapeno-Raisin wine and orange juice           

Jalapeno Bloody Marys – Substitute Jalapeno-Raisin wine for the hot sauce           

Jalapeno-raising wine as the liquid in bread recipes, to marinate steaks or fish, or add to the stock in soups and stews.           

One of their customers even adds a little to Pepsi! I don’t think I’ll be trying that one!

Think about your favorite wine. How can you use it to flavor soups, stews, or marinates? Consider pouring wine over fruit or adding some to favorite recipes.  Experiment, or play it safe and choose a tried and true wine-flavored recipe.

In the Fall I take more time to plan and cook delicious meals. This year I’ll be adding some wine – why don’t you!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Make Mine Wine

www.Makeminewinemagazine.com