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

Excitement of Le Beaujolais Nouveau Extends to Iowa Wine Releases

Aren’t traditions fun?

 

The first wine of the fall harvest can be legally bottled on November 19^th, then, one minute after midnight on the 20^th, the bottles are rushed to Paris to be shipped around the world. This ritual of Le Beaujolais Nouveau kicks off a legendary celebration of wine drinking and fun.

 

Wineries, restaurants, bars and inns tap into this inspiring French tradition with a variety of events featuring the new wine releases, Beaujolais Nouveau-inspired menus, seminars, live music and more.

Join the fun and head out to a local winery to celebrate their new releases. Today, I enjoyed tastes two new vintages at Summerset Winery—Iowa LaCrosse, a white table wine, and Iowa Frontenac, a dry red table wine. I visited with Ron, Kristen and David about this year’s new wines and had a nice afternoon at the winery. If you haven’t been to this winery, between Des Moines and Indianola, plan a visit soon. It’s a great place to do a little holiday shopping, host a social event or hold a seminar or business meeting. By the way, their Wine and Women Luncheon sold out and many folks on the waiting list missed the fun. Summerset Winery has more great events coming up, so keep an eye on their website (www.summersetwinery.com) and reserve early.

I highly recommend you head to Baldwin, Iowa this weekend for Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery’s 12^th Annual Iowa Nouveau Festival. Again, this is a great time place to experience excellent regional wine. From 11:00 – 6:00 p.m. Saturday, November 22^nd and Sunday, November 23^rd, you can sample and buy wine, learn more about holiday food and wine pairings, and shop for unique holiday gifts. Saturday night from 6:00 – 10:00, Scott and Michelle Dalziel will entertain with live music. Winemaker Paul Tabor was featured in the latest issue of Make Mine Wine magazine. His estate winery continues to produce award-winning wines made from the locally grown grapes. He has a scientific mind and a refined sense of taste and I know you will find several wines at Tabor Home to enjoy.

Tassel Ridge Winery has two fine events on Saturday, November 22^nd. The first is a Nouveau Taste-Off to compare Tassel Ridge Winery’s 2008 Iowa Nouveau with France’s famous Nouveau Beaujolais from Georges Duboeuf and Luis Jadot. There is also a pairing dinner with Pears in Nightgowns for dessert! Reservations are required, so check the website, www.tasselridge.com.

 

Check with your local Midwest Wine Country winery about their new release events. Then spend some time at the winery and enjoy the new wines.

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

www.makeminewinemagazine.com