Celebrate July 4th at a Winery

Taste wine!

Listen to live music!

Dance!

Share a bottle of your favorite wine!

Enjoy delicious food!

Play lawn games!

Entertain your out-of-state … or local friends!

Ooh and aah over the fireworks!

Hang out with people who want to have a good time!

Here are a few of the lively 4th of July events at local wineries:

July 4 Summerset Winery, Indianola,Iowa, 2:00 – 8:00 p;.m., Live Music, good food, great wine, awesome time!

July 4th. Celebrate with Red, White, & Blue, BBQ & Lawn Games at Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton, Iowa. Lawn games: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m . Lunch: 12–1p $15+ tax. Grilled steak sandwiches, crunchy coleslaw, cookies.  Reserv req by Thurs, July 2.

Plans for the 4th? Iowa’s 6 wine trails beckon. Stop during vacation or plan a special getaway. Locations here: http://tinyurl.com/ledoka

July 4th, Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville, Iowa. Smoked Ribs, Potluck (7 pm), Wind Talkers/Nicolas Cage (movie on the barn), The movie is inspired by the true story of the Navajo soldiers whose courage and sacrifices helped win the war in the Pacific. Fireworks following the movie! Bring covered dish to share, lawn chairs.

July 4th, Southern Hills Winery, Osceola, Iowa. BBQ Sandwiches, wine tasting, Music by Katdaddy55, 6:30-9:30p. Fireworks at dusk.

Cedar Valley Winery, Batavia, Iowa. Grand Opening, Sat. July 4th 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sun. July 5th 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Six different wines and food.

Loess Hills Winery, Crescent, Iowa. Live Music with Chris Saub 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. July 4th. Details: www.loesshillsvineyardandwinery.com

July 4th Ribs on the River Fest at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah, Iowa. Details at www.wwwinery.com.

Dale Valley Vineyard & Winery, Stuart, Iowa. July 4th, Live music by Brother Tucker – 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. Details at www.dalevalleyvineyard.com.

Check the website for your favorite winery — some will be closed on the 4th of July — and many have live music on Friday or Sunday.

Remember: leave your pets at home — and do not bring acoholic beverages. Buy a bottle of wine to share at the event and purchase  a bottle or case of your favorite wine to take home! Remember, too, you can order many favorite wines and have them shipped to your home, or as a gift to friends, from www.buyiowawines.com – run by our good friend Matt Wiskus at Muddy River Wine Company at Coralville!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Explore Midwest Wine Country when you follow @makeminewine on Twitter, www.twitter.com

Explore Iowa’s Wine Trails

Over 50 wineries are scattered along Iowa’s Wine Trails and a visit to any of one of them is a mini-vacation from the everyday world. Treat yourself to stops at several wineries along one of Iowa’s 6 wine trails and experience for a great weekend getaway. There is so much to do in Iowa Wine Country. For starters, you can:

Taste award-winning wines

Tour a winery

Stroll through the vineyard

Meet the winemaker

Take pictures for the Make Mine Wine Midwest Wine Country photo contest (scenic, people, still-life, black and white — deadline October 1, 2009 to makeminewine@mchsi.com )

Develop your wine-tasting palate

Pick up some delicious recipes and wine and food pairing suggestions

Relax on the balcony or porch and soak in the scenery

Sign up to harvest grapes — and then do some stomping

Hang out with friends and

Listen to live music.

Hop on a trail while on vacation or schedule a special getaway. For more information on Iowa’s wine trails, click on the links below.

Amana Colonies Wine Trail — 5 wineries in the Amanas –www.amanacolonies.org

Great River Road Wine Trail — 9 wineries in iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin – www.greatriverroadwinetrail.org

Heart of Iowa Wine Trail — 16 wineries in central Iowa —  www. heartofiowawinetrail.com

The Iowa Wine Trail — 8 wineries in northeast Iowa — www.iowawinetrail.com

Scenic Rivers Wine Trail — 15 wineries in southeast Iowa, Illinois and Missouri — www.scenicriverswine.com

Western Iowa Wine Trail – 7 wineries in western Iowa — www.westerniowawinetrail.com

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Make Mine Wine

Find Weekend Inspiration (With Wine!) Here

Are you out there having fun? Your local wineries look forward to seeing you. There’s no end to the fun you can have!

Heart of Iowa Wine Trail Receive 2 Heart of Iowa Wine Trail wine glasses when you complete your passport ($25 each) with stamps from each of the wineries on the trail. Sample wine, find your favorites and take some home to enjoy. Between now and October 1st you may participate in the Heart of Iowa Culinary Celebration – purchase an apron ($40 each) and receive a free culinary item from each winery (15 in all). For more info see www.heartofiowawinetrail.com.

Purchase tickets now for one of the upcoming Wine & Prime Dinners at the Iowa State Fair. Prime rib and the fixings, along with your favorite Iowa wine from the Iowa Wine & Cheese Garden is a first-rate fine dining experience at the Iowa State Fair, August 13 – 23). Call 515/262-8323 for more information.

Scenic Rivers Grape & Wine, Summer Romance in the Vineyards, takes place this weekend, June 27 & 28 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. through Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. Download a map with the 15 wineries and check for details at www.scenicriverswine.com

Saturday, June 27th, downtown Adel is the scene for the Raccoon Valley Wine Festival. Groove with Tony Valdez sample and buy wine, explore the food vendor booths. 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

It’s Music in the Barn, Sunday, June 28th,  with Dave Moore at Wallace Winery. 2:00 – 4:30, West Branch Iowa.

Tassel Ridge Winery’s 2nd Annual Croquet Tournament is this Saturday, June 27th, in Leighton, Iowa. Stop by for wine and BBQ. Enjoy the artist’s work on display. Relax and have fun!

There are plenty of opportunities to hear the live music at Snus Hill Winery, Madrid, Iowa. Front Porch Fridays are from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Snus Sundays are 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sip wine and relax!  www.snushillwine.com

Rumor Has It will be on the big outdoor screen (10′ x 20′ on the side of the barn) at Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville, Iowa, this Saturday night, June 27th. Free popcorn during the movie – bring a chair and, if you like, snacks. Purchase wine from Grape Escape and have fun!  Movie begins at dark — around 8:45/9:00. (Must be 21 and no pets.)

Dale Valley Vineyard at Stuart, Iowa, features live music every other Saturday from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. – check the website for dates and bands at www.dalevalleyvineyard.com.

John Ernest Vineyard & Winery, Tama, Iowa, invites you to join them for live music and wine. Their outdoor entertainment schedule is posted at www.johnernestvineyard.com  Coming up is Major Day on Sunday, June 28th from 3:00 – 6:00 and Route 66 on Friday, July 3rd from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Friday night, June 26th,  One Night Stand will be performing R&B and Jazz at Prairie Moon Winery, Ames, Iowa.

Jasper Winery, Des Moines, Iowa, has Thursday night music events, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.. This week you can hear Tony Valdez, play lawn games and purchase wine, burgers, brats, etc.

Friday Night Wine Downs at White Oak Vineyards, Cambridge, Iowa, feature live music from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. Details at www.whiteoakvineyards.com

Sunset in the Vineyard at Penoach Winery, Adel, Iowa, is a great place to listen to live music on Friday nights. This week it is Louderbox in Concert, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Details at www.penoach.com

Fireside Winery, Marengo, Iowa, hosts their Summer music series from 7 pm – 10 every Friday night.

Sunday, June 28th, Brich & Killion will be at Sugar Clay Winery, Thurman, Iowa, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

SEMBA Bluegrass Jam takes place at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah, Iowa, on Sunday, June 28. Details at www.wwwinery.com.

Park Farm Winery’s Toast and Jam gets underway every Sunday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. It’s a end-of-the-weekend wind-down in Bankston, Iowa.

There are plenty of choices for fun at wineries – all good!

Mark your calendars for next weekends 4th of July Celebration at Summerset Winery, Indianola, Iowa. Be there between 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. for live music, good food, great wine and fun people. www.summersetwine.com

 Of course, you can catch Sunday Tunes at Summerset Winery, Indianola, Iowa, every Sunday, year round from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Did you know, not far from Summerset Winery at  Carlisle, Iowa, (just off the Highway 5 by-pass) has an old-fashioned 4th of July Parade (9:30 a.m.) and a day of activities in the park. Have some fun in Carlisle, then head to Summerset Winery. That night, the spectacular Fireworks display in Carlisle will put a big exclamation mark on a wonderful day!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko Publisher, Make Mine Wine www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Just $12 for 4 quarterly issues of Make Mine Wine

Follow MakeMineWine on Twitter

Caprese Insalata is Perfect for Hot Summer Day

It is hot here today — hot, humid, muggy.

Who wants to cook?

My favorite salad is Caprese. It is delicious, tasty and beautiful. I’ve ordered it in restaurants from coast to coast and in many cases, chefs create works of art. Caprese has been served to be artfully arranged on the plate in swirls, towers and puzzles.

At home, I generally slice the juicy red tomatoes and creamy buffalo mozzarella and alternate them on the plate with full leaves of basil stuffed in between. (I like basil!) No matter how you “slice” it, it is the perfect salad for hot summer days.

Here’s the easy recipe from Make Mine Wine Chef Tom White.

Caprese Insalata

2 large, fully-ripe tomatoes

8 thick slices fresh mozzarella

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons Balsamic or basil vinegar

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, shredded

salt and pepper to taste

Arrange the tomatoes and mozzarella on the plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Chill. Combine and chill the oil and vinegar and drizzle on the salad when ready to serve. Add the basil and enjoy.

If you like, you can splash in a crisp, dry white like Park Farm Winery Plume LaCrosse or Danish Countryside Vines and Wines Twilight White or Grape Escape Winery Simply White. Then enjoy the salad, the wine and a crusty loaf of Italian bread.

You may just forget how hot it is!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher, Make Mine Wine

Distinct Flavors of Iowa Grapes

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has just posted a beautiful and helpful set of Iowa Grape Descriptor Cards on  at http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/Horticulture_and_FarmersMarkets/Brianna.asp

Ten Iowa grapes are profiled with the name and pronunciation of the grape, a large color photo of the grape on the vine, the origin and characteristics of the grape. The taste of the wines made from each grape is also described.

The ten Iowa grapes on the list are Brianna, Edelweiss, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent, La Crosse, Marechal Foch, Seyval Blanc, St. Croix and Vidal Blanc.

The Wines for the Season section in the current issue of Make Mine Wine features Iowa Wines from Iowa Grapes: Park Farm Winery Picket Fence, Bankston, Iowa, fromVidal Blanc; Penoach Vineyard Winery and Nursery Briana, Adel, Iowa, Brianna grape; and Breezy Hills Vineyard Misbehavin’, Minden, Iowa, Concord and Edelweiss grapes.

John Marshall, a Minnesota grower and owner of Great River Vineyard/Nursey in Lake City, Minnesota, is featured in In the Vineyard, and takes readers through the history of The Quest for Cold-climate Grapes.

The development of cold-climate grapes is the foundation for the Iowa wine industry, and our wine makers are producing wine with the fresh new tastes of our grapes.

Whether you sample wine at a winery’s tasting bar, or order a bottle of wine from a winery or www.buyiowawines.com, become familar with the grape in the bottle. The descriptor cards can guide you as you learn the tastes of each grape and wine.

Soon you’ll know what to expect when you order St. Croix, La Crescent, Edelweiss or Marechal Foch.

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher, Make Mine Wine

Subscribe to Make Mine Wine ($12 for 4 issues) at www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Refresh with Delicious Midwest Wine Country Wines

What do you enjoy most on the weekend? I vote for spending time with friends. Often that means relaxing on the deck, laughing and having a drink.

 

Here are great suggestions for the Tasting Time with Make Mine Wine tasters from the Spring 2009 issue.

 

Lynfred Winery 2007 Chenin Blanc (Roselle, Illinois) – pale lemon-colored wine with aromas and flavors of citrus and pear and a hint of sweetness.

 

Two Saints Winery 2008 Iowa Briana (St. Charles, Iowa) – pineapple and ripe apple flavors, tropical fruits, medium sweetness

 

Summerset Winery Vignoles (Indianola, Iowa) – Apricot, citrus and pear flavors – a great “blue bottle” wine.

 

Southern Hills Winery N/V Outback Zak (Osceola, Iowa) — Medium ruby-colored red wine, cranberry and strawberry flavors, moderately-sweet, fruity

 

St. James Winery Friendship School Red (St. James, Missouri) – Medium-intensity red wine, aromatic, medium-bodied, semi-dry, black currant, raspberry and cherry flavors

 

Jasper Winery 2007 Norton (Des Moines, Iowa) – Deep ruby red wine, blackberry and plum fruit, cardamom and black pepper – Let this wine breathe

 

Tabor Home Vineyards and Winery Catawba Rose (Baldwin, Iowa) – Peachy-colored rose wine, aromas of perfume and roses – more flavor than white Zin

 

Chill the wine and invite your friends. Enjoy!

 

Cheers!

 

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Celebrate Father’s Day at a Local Winery

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21^st.  It is a great time to get the family together, and the question is, where to go and what to do. (Is it really fair to make Mom cook again?)

 

Many local wineries have a fun day planned for Dad and the family. A word of caution – these are popular events, so make your reservations early.

 

Father’s Day BBQ, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Summerset Winery, Indianola, Iowa

Bring the whole family to Summerset’s Father’s Day BBQ! Show how much you really appreciate him by spending a fabulous day enjoying delicious BBQ catered by Shane’s Rib Shack. Stay for the Sunday Tunes from 3:00 – 6:00 performed by Tony Valdez & the Retro Rockets.


Adults 21+ $29.95, ages 8 – 20 are $19.95 and children 7 and under eat free.


Buffet style meal includes:

                   Shane’s Ribs with assorted sauces (original, spicy and hot)

                   Pulled pork

                   Chopped brisket

                   Baked beans

                   Potato salad

                   Coleslaw

                   Buns

                   Fresh baked peach and apple cobblers

                   Chocolate brownies

                   Assorted cookies

                   Ice tea

                   Sweet tea

                   Lemonade

                   Glass of Summerset wine or sparkling juice

Reservations required
- call 515.961.3545. No cover charge to attend Sunday Tunes for those that attend the BBQ. 


 

Father’s Day Crawfish Boil, Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Sugar Clay Winery, Thurman, Iowa

Crawfish, brats, pasta salad and more.

Music by The Matt Cox Band 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.-

Reservations Required for the boil. 712.628-2020.

 

13th Anniversary Celebration with Music in the Vineyards, 3:00  – 6:00 p.m.

Tabor Home Winery, Baldwin, Iowa 

Music by Lojo Russo

 

Toast & Jam Session, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Park Farm Winery, Bankston, Iowa

Admission: $5

 

Third Year Anniversary Party

Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, Crescent, Iowa

 

Buck Hollow Band

Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah, Iowa

 

25th Annual Father’s Day Festival and Corvette Car Show, Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Lemon Creek Winery, Berrien Springs, Michigan

Winery recently featured in Make Mine Wine magazine.

70 cars by Corvette Coventry of Southwest Michigan

Libido Funk Circus, dance and party band

Hayrides, children’s games, face painting

5 Tastings with admission. Food by Outdoor Kitchen  available to purchase.

Admission cost is $7.00 per person 21+ years and free admission to those under 21. Presale tickets are available at a discounted rate and can be purchased at the tasting room or by phone.
Wine listings, specials and festival rules may be found at www.lemoncreekwinery.com.

Classic music, excellent wines and a Corvette car show; this is definitely a Fathers Day event worth taking dad to. 
 

 

Father’s Day Barbeque, 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Augusta, Missouri

The buffet will include all of Dad’s favorites: pork steaks, chicken breasts, corn on the cob, cole slaw, baked beans, potato salad and apple crisp for dessert. Live music and breathtaking views of the Missouri River Valley. $15 per person. Seating is limited. Reservations at 800.467.9463.

 

Let me know if you are aware of other Father’s Day events at Midwest Wine Country Wineries. I’ll spread the word.

 

Happy Father’s Day!
Cheers!
Barbara Rasko

Make Mine Wine magazine

Have Some Fun this Weekend in Midwest Wine Country!

Iowa Wineries

June 5

• Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50s Band, Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville
• Horse-drawn Carriage Rides at Iowa Favorites, West Des Moines
• Live music at Fireside Winery, Marengo
• Live music with SPAM at White Oak Vineyards and Winery, Cambridge

 

June 6

• Bottle Shock – Movie shown on side of barn at Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville
• Loose Neutral will be playing at John Ernest Winery, Tama
• Back Stage Boogie Band will be doing their thing at Dale Valley Vineyard and Winery, Stuart
• Music at Loess Hills Vineyard and Winery, Crescent

 

June 7

• Live music with Birch & Killion at Breezy Hills Winery, Minden
• Home Brood Band performs at Whispering Pines Winery, Keosauqua
• Reverand Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys will be at Summerset Winery, Indianola.
• Catch the Toast and Jam Session at Park Farm Winery, Bankston

 

All Summer

Join Tabor Home Winery’s 13^th Anniversary Celebration throughout the Summer:

• June 7, Scott and Michelle Dalziel
• June 21  Lojo Russo
• July 12  Bryce Janey
• July 26  Joe and Vickie Price
• August 9  Scott and Michelle Dalziel
• August 23 Bryce Janey
• September 6  Lojo Russo
• September 20 David Zollo

 

Illinois

Head over to Edwards, Illinois for the 2^nd Annual Illinois River Wine Festival hosted by Kickapoo Creek Winery, June 6 & 7. Live music, food vendors and free vineyard riding tours on the new “Grape Train”. $15 adminission includes 5 wine tasting tickets and a free event wine glass. Participating wineries: Kickapoo Creek Winery, Edwards, August Hill Winery, Utica; Ridge View Winery, Mt. Sterling; Hill Prairie Winery, Oakford; Sleepy Creek Winery, Fairmount; Willetts Winery and Cellar, Manito and Spirit Knob Winery, Ursa.

 

Are you going to be in Chicago this weekend? Don’t miss the Chicago Botanic Garden Wine Festival, June 6-7. Sample from more than 200 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations. Enjoy food from some of the Chicago area’s finest restaurants and caterers. Local musical talent will perform live each day.

 

Enjoy some close-to-home fun and experience regional wine. Your local wineries are looking forward to entertaining you.

 

Cheers!

 

Barbara Rasko

Publisher, Make Mine Wine