Mulled Mead … and Great Gift Ideas at Summerset Winery!

I stopped by the Holiday Open House at Summerset Winery today (It’s from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. today, tomorrow, Sunday and Christmas Eve. Rob Lumbard will perform from 2 PM – 5 PM on December 21 and 22. On December 23 Soul Searchers will be playing, and Rob Lumbard returns on CHRISTMAS EVE, December 24. 

Stop out and try the mulled mead … you’re in for a treat. They are serving soups, hors d’oeuvres, holiday treats, a variety of mulled wines to try as well as complimentary wine samples. Special discounts on store merchandise and custom made gift baskets will be available. 

Centrally located between Indianola and Des Moines, it’s a great spot for music in the summer and of course, a fun place anytime. The Jimmy Buffet is coming up in January – and if you’re looking for a great gift – there it is!  This annual (and always sold out event) is January 19, 2008 from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. with Jimmy Buffet music performed by FreeStyle. Tickets are $45 per person for the wine reception, dinner with wine, and dancing and cavorting to FreeStye.  

Here’s another great gift idea – a Southern Iowa Wine Tour! Anytime Limousine Service now offers winery and vineyard tours. Reserve your spot today on the Southern Tour of Iowa Wineries where Summerset Winery is your first stop. Tours are approximately 4 hours long and cost $280 for up to 8 people. For more information call Anytime Limousine Service at (515) 962-0126.

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher, Make Mine Wine

www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Festive Holiday Drinks and More with Iowa Wine

At our holiday party last weekend, Tickled Pink, the delicious semi-sweet wine from Tassel Ridge Winery, was a hit with the ladies. We were talking about Iowa Wines – and our favorites for sipping and pairing with meals. Of course, the Iowa wines are good for cooking also, and I mentioned the gravy with Kiss Me You’ll find the recipe below.  

Last night I stopped at Hy-Vee for the Wine Tasting. Madison County Winery and Tassel Ridge Winery were there – and I tried the Sweet Mulled Wine from Tassel Ridge Winery. Stock up and try some of these recipes with your family and friends during the holidays! 

Sweet Mulled Wine from Tassel Ridge Winery

1 bottleTassel Ridge Red, White, and Blue wine

1 tsp. whole cloves

1 tsp. whole allspice

¾ cup brown sugar

1-2 cinnamon sticks

1-2 orange slices

Stir sugar into wine until dissolved, add all ingredients into a crock pot on low, float the orange slices on top.  Serve warm.  

Traditional Mulled Wine from Tassel Ridge Winery

4 cups cranberry juice

1 ½ cups apple cider

1 ½ cups Tassel Ridge Twilight wine

¼ cup brown sugar

2-4 ounces Bisschopswijn mulling spices* (add to taste) .Combine liquids in a pot and stir in brown sugar to dissolve.  Add mulling spices in muslin bag (provided in Bisschopswijn package) and heat over medium heat until hot.  Reduce temperature and simmer 30-60 minutes.  Serve warm with cinnamon stick for stirring. *Bisschopswijn is available at Tassel Ridge Winery.  It contains a mix of cinnamon pieces, whole cloves, whole allspice, orange oil and cinnamon oil. 

 White Sangria from John Ernest Vineyard & Winery

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1 lime, thinly sliced

1/2 of a Red Delicious apple, thinly sliced

¼ cup of sugar

1 (750 milliliter) bottle of John Ernest Dusty Road Wine

2 cans of 7-Up, Sprite or Sierra Mist

1 cup green grapes, frozen

Mix, pour and enjoy

American Concord Sangria from Whispering Hills Winery ½ sliced lemon½ sliced lime

½ sliced orange

6 or so Bing Cherries

¾ of a 2 Liter Bottle of Sierra Mist

1 Bottle of Whispering Hills Concord Wine

Mix, pour and enjoy

Fireside from Jasper Winery1 bottle Lucy Lane1 cinnamon stick

10 whole allspice

10 whole cloves

1 cup brown sugar

1 orange

Combine ingredients in a crock pot and heat on low, but do not boil. The orange can float on top.

American Concord Sangria from Whispering Hills Wineryhalf sliced lemon
half sliced lime
half sliced orange
6 or so Bing Cherries three-quarters of a 2 Liter Bottle of Sierra Mist1 Bottle of Whispering Hills Winery Concord Wine  

Maple Turkey with Summerset Kiss Me Gravy

INGREDIENTS
1 14lb fresh turkey, neck and giblets removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup Summerset Kiss Me wine
2 cups of low-sodium canned chicken stock
2/3 cup seedless red and green grapes, each cut in halfDIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Generously season neck, body, cavities, and underside with salt and pepper. Place bird on a rack in a roasting pan. Baste with 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Place turkey in the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Baste with butter that has accumulated in the pan. Reduce heat to 350 degrees, and loosely cover with foil. Roast for additional 30 minutes more. Baste again. Continue roasting, basting once an hour, until a meat thermometer registers 170 degrees, in the breast. About 3 hours.During the last half hour, grate ginger and put in a small saucepan. Add maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of butter. Heat the mixture until the butter has melted and is bubbling. Remove from heat and brush glaze over turkey several times over the last half hour. Remove turkey from the oven and let rest for 30 minutes.Combine the remaining tablespoon of butter and the flour, mix until smooth. Mix pan drippings and wine together in the roasting pan. Add chicken stock and cook for 7-8 minutes until reduced by half. Add reserved butter and flour mixture and let gravy simmer until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Add grapes to gravy and serve with turkey

Here’s another great sugestion to help you turn off the television and have some fun. Treat your holiday guests to a trip into Midwest Wine Country. Check the Web site for hours and then visit your local winery this week.

 Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher, Make Mine Wine  

Redstone Bed & Breakfast and Park Farm Winery… Both Unique and Wonderful!

Last week I made the easy, three hour trip from Central Iowa to Dubuque in Northeast Iowa to experience a few of the Eastern Iowa Wineries … in the snow!

Dubuque is an interesting city, and if you are planning a little holiday or spring getaway, I know you would find much there to enjoy. There are many interesting bed and breakfast in the area, and I chose the Redstone in historic Cable Car Square. It is a lush Queen Anne built in 1894, given as a 10-year-late wedding gift to Elizabeth and Dan Sullivan by her father A.A. Cooper. I stayed in the A.A. Cooper room at the top of the stairs where drawings of his famous Cooper buggies and sleighs graced the hand silk-screened wallpaper. At the end of the hall is The Governor’s room – Sylvester Stallone stayed there, and on the third floor is the elegant Elizabeth Sullivan Bridal Suite.

Innkeepers Jerry and Kelly have a beautiful parlor and dining room with lots of stained glass, hand carved woodwork, rounded corners and fireplaces.  I enjoyed staying at the Redstone and recommend it highly. It was fun to slip out one snowy morning and walk across the street to do a little Christmas shopping in Cable Car Square. The shops are in great old Victorian houses, and it was a delightful shopping experience.

There is so much to do in Dubuque, but I started with. Park Farms Winery outside of town. If you saw our September 2006 issue, you know the winery is wonderful — old-world inspired in a Chateau style.  The vast views of the countryside are gorgeous, even on a snowy winter day.

Take a look at the photos of the winery at www.parkfarmwinery.com. A large deck was recently added for music events beginning this spring, and, the beautiful rooms and catering kitchen make this an ideal location for family and group events. The winery is beautifully and tastefully appointed – and I was tempted to sit down with a glass of wine and stay for the entire afternoon! David and Elizabeth Cushman and their family have created an inviting, memorable experience for their Park Farm visitors.

I think the Park Farm Wines are very good. Many folks stopped in and sampled wine while I was there. Several bought Picket Fence, a Gold Medal winner from the 2007 Mid-American Wine Competition. I liked the Mississippi Red, the Rhubarbie – check out the great label – and Vintner’s Reserve Vidal Blanc and Vintner’s Reserve Marchel Foch. One of my favorites, the oak-barrel aged Fume LaCrosse, is sold out.

Park Farm Winery is an outstanding Iowa winery – so don’t miss it. Wine-lovers from Iowa, California, France, Chili, or anywhere and feel right at home at Park Farm Winery! It’s a gem in Midwest Wine Country!

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko 

Publisher,

Make Mine Wine

Makeminewinemagazine.com