Sure you can image it, but I’m telling you, it’s not the same!

Every day I receive announcements of upcoming events in Midwest Wine Country. I can read the details and imagine the fun while staring at my computer, but it’s sure not the same as being there … drinking some wine, listening to the music, seeing friends and neighbors and joining in the good-natured camradarie. Maybe you’re prefer dressing up for Halloween and sitting down to a chef-prepared feast. Or you might choose to view holiday lights from a helicopter and come back to the winery for dessert and wine. You can’t imagine the entertainment options at the wineries near you!

 

Next weekend, November 1st and 2nd, is a special one with wine trail events and a special open house –

 

Eagle City Winery, Iowa Falls

Open House November 1st and 2nd – Meet winemaker Dr. KenGroninga and sample some of his award-wiinning wines. Choose some to bring home to pair with your Thanksgiving meal – you and your guests will love them! The winery is about one hour north of Des Moines and worth the trip! www.eaglecitywinery.com

 

The Iowa Wine Trail Holiday event features eight Iowa wineries in the Upper Mississippi River Valley – if you haven’t visited this wonderful collection of wineries, this is the perfect chance. If you have, no doubt you’ll be going back. Added incentive is the holiday treats that will be paired with the delicious Iowa wines. If you’re from the Chicago-land area, plan a weekend getaway and hit The Iowa Wine Trail. Details are at www.IowaWineTrail.com.

 

Getting out and having fun is a good mood lifter – so do it this weekend and the next and the next! You’re going to love these wine-related, close-to-home events. Reservations are required in some cases so check the websites. The hospitality is genuine, the cost is low, and great to buy local! Here are a few of the upcoming events – and remember you can check out the events list for more ideas at www.makeminewinemagazine.com

 

Have fun!

 

Tonight, October 23rd, in Sandwich, Illinois, get on over to Girl’s Nite Out. Fox Valley Winery and JJJitters Coffee Studio will offer live music, snacks and more. It’s free. www.foxvalleywinery.com.

 

Saturday, October 25th, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., $5 cover

Live music featuring Ben Green Original Acoustic Blues

Sugar Clay Winery, Thurman, IA   www.sugarclaywinery.com

 

October 25th, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Linn Creek, Missouri

Seven Springs Winery’s Halloween Bash

Enjoy live bluegrass music with Cletus McDuff and Blind Willy from 11:30 – 5:30. Enter to win a prize: funniest, scariest or best couple costume and jack-o-lantern  judging at 4:00 p.m. www.sevenspringswinery.com

Sunday, October 26th, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Summerset Winery Sunday Tunes with the Bob Pace Band featuring Barb Miller

 

Friday, October 31st, Washington, Iowa

Dress up and go to dinner at Café Dodici in Washington, Iowa, where Mike Tschantz is the guest chef for the evening. There’s a 10% discount if you wear your Halloween costume. http://www.cafedodici.com/

 

Friday, October 31st, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Indianola, Iowa

Summerset Winery’s Fall Case Club Costume Party

Stop out at Summerset Winery and buy a case and you’ll receive an invitation to this fun event – great food, live music preformed by Blues Bureau Trio, door prizes, prizes for best costume, discounts in the gift shop … and your favorite Summerset wines.

 

Saturday, November 15th, 11:00 – 3:00

Summerset Winery, Indianola, Iowa

Women & Wine: A culinary and shopping experience

Wine reception, lunch with wine, gift bags, giveaways, shopping and a ton of fun! www.summersetwinery.com. Reservations required.

 

November 20th – December 20th, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings

Renner, South Dakota

Strawbale Winery presents Twilight Flights – enjoy appetizers and wines, hop a helicopter to view the holiday lights of Falls Park and Sioux Falls, then return to the winery for dessert and wine. Details at info@strawbalewinery.com or call 605/543-5071.

 

 

November 26th, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Whether you are a beginner or a wine enthusiast you can learn about tasting wine at , you can take a class and learn more about tasting wine at Vineria Wine Shop in Cedar Rapids. If you enroll by the 22nd you pay $25.00. It’s $30 after that. www.vineriawineshop.com

 

Many wineries host music events on Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, so check the website for your closest winery. Be there and enjoy!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

May 1st – May Day Baskets – My Mother – Mother’s Day – Brunch and Fun with Wine

Does the first of May trigger the same stream of thoughts for you?

 

When I was growing up, it was traditional to make May Day Baskets of construction paper, add pansies and anything else that was blooming in the flower garden, and run to the neighbors house (hopefully you wouldn’t be seen!), leave the basket, knock on the door and ………..RUN!

 

My brother and I were lucky because our Mother was good at making May Baskets and growing flowers. We had a lot of fun.

 

Mother’s Day is May 11^th, so it is time to plan for a wonderful day with your Mother or special lady at a Mother’s Day Brunch or special event at a local winery. There are many Midwest Wine Country wineries to choose from, so make your choice and call today to make your reservation.

Prefer to celebrate Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 10^th? Reservations are accepted through Wednesday, May 6^th for the Tassel Ridge Winery’s Mother’s Day Brunch at Leighton, Iowa. 641-672-WINE.

 

Sunday, May 11th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. you can enjoy the Mother’s Day Wine and Fondue event at Wallace Winery, West Branch, Iowa.  Call 319-643-3000 for details.

 

The Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta, Missouri features a gourmet buffet for Mother’s Day with ham, roast beef, pasta, salads, omelets and desserts. The wine and music will add to the treat. Call for reservations: 800-467-WINE.

 

Here’s a great idea. Combine a Mother’s Day Luncheon on the Spirit of Dubuque (call 563-583-8093) with a winery tour. It’s not far from the Spirit of Dubuque dock to the Stone Cliff Winery in the historic Dubuque Star Brewery at the Port of Dubuque. You’re also close to the beautiful Park Farm Winery at Bankston.

 

Join the Salute to Mothers at Wollersheim Winery, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on Sunday, May 11from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The winery will be open for tours and tasting.

 

While you’re in the area, you may want to go on the Special Mother’s Day Mississippi River Cruise aboard the Mississippi Explorer Cruises. “Bald Eagle viewing on the River” will be the theme of this two-hour cruise departing at 2 p.m. from the St. Feriole Island riverfront, Prairie du Chien, 1-877-647-7397.

 

Jazz on the Vine is at The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, May 9 – 11. The 6^th Annual Jazz on the Vine features world-renowned jazz artists and over 100 wines from international and domestic vineyards. Call 920-876-3366 for more information.

 

May I also suggest, if you are preparing Mother’s favorite meal at home, you pick up some fine Iowa wine to go with it. Many Iowa wineries have just released their new wines, so check those out.  In the Spring 2007 issue of Make Mine Wine we featured brunch recipes and recommended A Real Sweetie, a Muscato-style wine, from Tabor Homes Vineyard and Winery’s estate LaCross grapes (www.taborwines.com), Summerset Winery’s sparkling Festiva (summersetwine.com) and the fresh and fruity Sweet Cheeks from roseyacreswinery.com. Or pick up a delicious bottle of wine at your local winery. Give them a try!

 

Happy May Day!

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko