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 http://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

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