Tasting Time with Make Mine Wine Debuts in Upcoming Issue

The tasting notes on wine tasted at the first Tasting Tme with Make Mine Wine will appear in the next issue of Make Mine Wine magazine, reaching subscribers the middle of October.  Whether you are familar or not with our regional wines, I believe you will be interested in what our expert judges have to say.

We have a terrific sponsor for our new feature and that sponsor — with a top-notch service — wil be announced with our wine tasting results.

The Fall/Holiday issue is beautiful, useful and inspiring for wine-lovers as they head into the holiday season. The wine recommendations and recipes are designed for busy folks who want to entertain with ease — so I know our readers will love them.

We have some special wine tours. interesting people, great gifts and good advice. Can’t spill the beans now … but I wanted to let you know this is a tremendous issue that you won’t want to miss.  If you are not a subscriber, there is still time to sign up — just $12 for 4 quarterly issues — and we’ll mail a copy to you in a few weeks. Subscribe or buy a gift a www.makeminewinemagazine.com.

Thanks to those of you who have submitted photos to our Make Mine Wine Midwest Photo Competition. There is still time to submit entries — just email your photos to me at makeminewine@mchsi.com. Details are on www.makeminewinemagazine.com.

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher, Make Mine Wine

It’s a Beautiful Weekend to Have Fun at a Winery!

I just took a peak at the upcoming events for this weekend and I was pleased at the number of things to do at wineries across the state (in addition to tasting and buying wine!).You still have time to enter the Make Mine Wine Midwest Wine Country Photo Competition — so grab your camera and go have some fun.

 

 I’ll give you the list in a moment, but first I have to say, if you are looking for an idea for an event, the one coming up this weekend in Coralville looks like a lot of fun.

 

Matthew Wiskus, proprietor at Muddy Creek Wine Company is hosting the Muddy Creek Wine Walk on Friday. Golfers will first enjoy 9 holes of golf at Brown Deer Golf Course, and then complete the course with 9 gold of wine tasting. Friday’s going to be a beautiful day, and I can predict the folks on the golf course at Brown Deer are going to have a memorable time!

 

As you plan your weekend, consider the wineries and pick an event or two to attend. As always, check the wineries’ websites to get all the details – this list will get you started.

 

Friday, September 19^th there will be live music at Snus Hill Winery at Madrid with ProMusica Trio (jazz);  Jimmy Buffet Night at Southern Hills Winery near Osceola with DJ Tawny, contests and fun;  Summerset Winery will host Flying Silos; Pair of Jacks will be performing at King’s Crossing Vineyard in Glenwood, Morning After will be at Fireside Winery near Marengo and Friday Night Wine Down will be on at White Oak Vineyards, Cambridge.

 

Saturday is Ladies’ Night with Joanne Jackson, the Iowa Jazz & Blues Hall of Famer, at Sunsets at Sugar Grover in Newton. Grape Escape Winery in Pleasantville welcomes you to Wine-In Movies. You can stomp grapes, hear live music, shop the crafters and have an overall great time at Sugar Clay Winery in Thurman or catch Rosey Acres at Des Moines’ downtown farmers market.

 

On Sunday, River & The Tributaries will entertain you at Park Farm Winery in Bankston. Don’t forget to text before arriving for your free glass of wine (see the advertisement in the Summer issue of Make Mine Wine). Summerset Winery between Des Moines and Indianola has music by Switchback; Snus Hill Winery invites you to Madrid to hear Midnight Crisis, there is live music at Prairie Moon Winery in Ames, and Little Swan Lake Winery in Estherville features music by Ceolmhor.

 

I visited Tabor Home Vineyard in Baldwin earlier this month and you can reach more about my trip in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue of Make Mine Wine. Better yet, attend Music in the Vineyard this Sunday, September 21^st. You can bring your own picnic and hear music by Surprise. You’ll have a great time in a gorgeous setting.

 

One more thing … Thursday night, September 25^th, Café Dodici is hosting Guest Chef Lynn Loula and you can be there for the Asian-inspired feast. You may remember Café Dodici has been featured in Make Mine Wine, and we highly recommend this Washington, Iowa experience. You’ll always find international cuisine and wine as well as local art, gourmet foods and more in Dodici’s Shop. Owner Lorraine Williams was a Washington, Iowa native and, after spending 25 years in Italy, came home and created a unique destination.

 

Enjoy your weekend in Midwest Wine Country! And don’t forget your camera!

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Rosey Acres’ Paradise Mist Wins People’s Choice for Second Year

The wine lovers at the Iowa Wine Festival in Indianola favored the tropical fruit flavors of Paradise Mist Wine from Rosey Acres Winery, Runnels, Iowa, and voted it the People’s Choice.

The Iowa Wine Festival once again drew a nice crowd, eager to try Iowa wines from 17 wineries. Chef Isaac Onofree from Joseph’s Steakhouse was a crowd favorite and gave the event its first frog leg dish. Big Daddy Blues and Tony Valdez entertained, and from everything I hear, the day could not have been better.

A special thanks goes out to the hard-working winery owners. August is a high-traffic month for them at the wineries, and they also spend much of the month bringing their wines to tasters at the Iowa State Fair and the Iowa Wine Festival. August also marks the beginning of harvest, and remember, much of it is done by hand.

I hope each of you thanks your local winemaker. Buy a bottle of wine or two to support their business. Don’t forget that wine is a great gift and it is extra special when you buy local.

If you are new to Iowa wines, try one of the award winners from the recent Mid-American Wine Competition, or trust the attendees at the Iowa Wine Festival and sip some Paradise Mist!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Make Mine Wine

Seven Springs Winery and The National Norton Wine Festival

Saturday I spent an enjoyable morning with my Mom in Midwest Wine Country. We visited  Missouri’s newest winery, Seven Springs Winery, just 10 minutes off of Highway 54 between Camdenton and Lake Ozark near Linn Creek in the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.

 

The winery has beautiful space inside and out, knowledgeable and friendly folks at the tasting bar, and excellent wine. I brought a bottle home to set in front of the Tasting Time with Make Mine Wine tasting panel – and you can read the results in the next issue of the magazine.

 

Seven Springs Winery is one of several Missouri Wineries sponsoring The National Norton Wine Festival this weekend, September 5^th and 6^th. The event is a fund-raiser for the Missouri Historical Society and will be held at The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis.

 

Have you experienced Norton wines? I really appreciate the flavor of an oak-aged, robust, full-bodied Norton.  Have a virtual taste with the description of the one that I tasted – and loved – at Seven Springs Winery: An opaque deep plus color, tobacco, oak. Full bodied, spicy smooth persistent finish. Seven Springs Winery is confident their Norton will do well at the festival.

 

I’ve read that the Norton grape is the oldest American grape still being grown. Norton is the official grape of Missouri and serious wine-tasters note that the floral aromas found in the best Missouri Nortons are unique to the Appellation.

 

Some Iowa wineries are now growing Norton/Cynthiana, and I had a chance to see the heavily-loaded vines, and savor a grape or two in the vineyard yesterday at La Vida Loca Winery, near Indianola. The grapes take longer to ripen, so I’m hoping for a late frost!

 

Other Missouri wineries (and proud producers of Norton wine) sponsoring the festival are: Chandler Hill Winery, Chaumette Vineyards & Winery, Crown Valley Winery, Les Bourgeois Blufftop Winery & Restaurant and Stone Hill Winery, Twin Oaks Winery, Cooper’s Oak Winery, Adam Puchta Winery and Hermannhof Winery.

 

If you will be in St. Louis this weekend, check out the festival. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

 

Cheers!

 

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

www.makeminewinemagazine.com