Break Out of Your Routine and Have Fun at these Wineries.

Mid-summer … the Iowa wine is good, the wineries are fun and the living is easy when you gather your friends and spend some time at one of these events.

You can also stop in almost any day (wineries are often closed on Mondays) to sample wines, talk to the winemakers, tour the wineries, purchase wine and shop for gifts and wine-related goodies. Many wineries also offer local products, cheese and meats.

All Summer

Heart of Iowa Wine Trail, http://www.heartofiowawinetrail.com

Summer Culinary Celebration

Collect culinary pieces at all 15 Heart of Iowa Wine Trail wineries.

Thursday, July 9

Jasper Winery, Des Moines, Iowa http://www.jasperwinery.com

Pianopalooza (Dueling Pianos) 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., food, fun. Free admission.

Friday, July 10

Wide River Winery, Clinton, Iowa http://www.wideriverwinery.com

Lt. Patty Judge’s Vacation Iowa Tour starting at 3:30 pm. http://www.traveliowa.blogspot.com

White Oak Vineyards, Cambridge, http://www.whiteoakvineyards.com

One Night Stand performs at Friday Night Wine Down

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Fireside Winery, Marengo, http://www.firesidewinery.com

Live music, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Snus Hill Winery, Madrid, http://www.snushillwine.com

Tony Valdez, Live music, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 11

Sugar Clay Winery, Thurman, Iowa http://www.sugarclaywinery.com

Sugar Clay Winery welcomes back Arizona’s singer & songwriter, Eddie Elliott, co-hosted by some serious fans from Whip’s Steakhouse! Music starts at 7pm…tickets $10…appetizers/dinner/dessert available for purchase, starting at 6:30 p.m..  Sugar Clay wine & Nebraska Brewing Co beer available. Check out Eddie and his music here www.myspace.com/eddieelliott

Penoach Vineyards, Adel, http://www.penoach.com

Concert in the Vineyards, The Other Side,

Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville, IA http://www.grapeescapewineryia.com

Wine-In-Movies, Taken, dusk

John Ernest Vineyards & Winery, Tama, Iowa  http://www.johnernestvineyards.com

Dogs on Skis, live music, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Amateur Wine Competition, Lee County Fair Wine Expo, Donnellson, IA www.leecountyfairiowa.com/

July 11, 2009 3:00 – 6:00 p.;m.

The amateur wine competition is open to anyone 21 years of age.

Saturday & Sunday, July 11 & 12

Grillin’ with Iowa Wines

10:00-6:00pm Saturday,

11:00-5:00pm Sunday

Plan your summer road trip on the Western Iowa Wine Trail’s signature event!

Each of the 7 wineries will greet you with delicious grilled foods paired with the right Iowa-made wines that compliment the flavor!   To make your road trip even more fun,

be sure to visit each winery along the trail to collect a piece of the 7-piece gift set, available to the first 225 passport purchasers.

Although you can complete the trail in 1 day, many of our repeat wine trail participants have found that it is much more relaxing over 2 days.  Travel safe!

To reserve your passports with a credit card, please call the winery where you will start your journey. Passports: $60 per couple $35 for a single.

Sunday, July 12

Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery, Baldwin, Iowa http://www.taborhomewine.com

13th Anniversary Celebration with Music in the Vineyards

3:00 – 6:00 p.m.  Bryce Jayne

Snus Hill Winery, Madrid, http://www.snushillwine.com

One Night Stand, Live music, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Park Farm Winery, Bankston, Iowa http://www.parkfarmwinery.com

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

Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton, Iowa          http://www.tasselridgewinery.com

Artist’s Display with Mary Beth Heikes, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Watercolors

Prairie Moon Winery, Ames, Iowa http://www.prairiemoonwinery.com

Erick Hovey Band, Blues, 3:00 – 6:00 pm.

Summerset Winery, Indianola, Iowa http://www.summersetwine.com

Tony Valdez and The Large Band, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Celebrate Tony’s Birthday!

John Ernest Vineyards & Winery, Tama, Iowa  http://www.johnernestvineyards.com

Barefoot Becky, live music, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Wallace Winery, West Branch, Iowa http://www.wallacewine.com

Blues in the Barn

Kevin “B.F.” Burt, 1:30-4:30 p.m. Wine by the glass or bottle and appetizers will be available.

Whispering Pines Winery, Keosauqua, Iowa http://www.whisperingpineswinery.biz

Two Pony Blues Band, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Blues from the 1920s to today.

Tony Blew on guitar and harmonica and Kurt Mielke on slide guitar combine forces to recreate the sounds of the Delta Blues tradition.

1st Annual Calhoun County Amateur Home Wine Making Competition, Rockwell City, Iowa

Sponsored by the Northwest Iowa Grape Growers Association and Calhoun County Expo Board, Calhoun County Expo. For more information: 515-351-9601 or e-mail bcbush@wccta.net by Thursday, July 9th.

Thursday, July 16

Jasper Winery, Des Moines, Iowa http://www.jasperwinery.com

Brian Congdon and Brad Seidenfeld  6:00 – 9:00 p.m., various bands, food, fun. Free admission.

Southern Hills Winery, Osceola, Iowa http://www.shwinery.com

Lt. Governor Patty Judge will be visiting at 1 p.m. as part of the Vacation Iowa Tour. http://www.traveliowa.blogspot.com

Friday, July 17

Fireside Winery, Marengo, http://www.firesidewinery.com

Live music, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

White Oak Vineyards, Cambridge, http://www.whiteoakvineyards.com

Tony Valdez & Don Jacques perform at Friday Night Wine Down

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Fireside Winery, Marengo, http://www.firesidewinery.com

Live music, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Snus Hill Winery, Madrid, http://www.snushillwine.com

Bill Martin Group, Live music, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Southern Hills Winery at Jordan Creek Mall, West Des Moines http://www.shwinery.com

Vino Rita & Wine Festival, Live music and art, food and other exhibits. $5 admission. Purchase a bottle of Southern Hills Winery wine and then take a Horse-Drawn Carriage ride around Jordan Creek Town Center. Friday nights from 6:00 –9:00 p.m. Red Wine Carriage Ride for two $46. White Wine Carriage Ride for two $44. $15 for each additional person.

Saturday, July 18

Sugar Clay Winery, Thurman, Iowa http://www.sugarclaywinery.com

Live Music with Matt Cox  8-11pm  $5 cover/

Free to case club members.

Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, Crescent, Iowa http://www.loesshillsvineyardandwinery.com

Live Music with Enigma 6:00 – 9:00 p.m

The Iowa Wine Trail sponsors The Eastern Iowa Wine Festival

Black Horse Inn, Sherrill, IA http://www.easterniowawinefestival.com

This is an “All Iowa” event featuring Iowa wines from across eastern Iowa, food and bakery products from the local area as well as Iowa musicians, music groups and Iowa artists. Festival Entrance is $10 and includes a Souvenir Wine Glass and program.

Tasting Tickets Available for Sale, Wine by the Glass Available by Sale. Bottles are also available for sale to take home or you are welcome to open the bottle and enjoy with some food from the festival.

Events at the festival include:

Live Music Performance by the Americana Polka Band and the Free-4-the-Haulin Band, Amateur Wine Making Competition and Award Ceremony, Artisan Products available for sale

Grape Escape Winery, Pleasantville, IA http://www.grapeescapewineryia.com

Wine-In-Movies, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, dusk

Dale Valley Vineyard, Stuart, Iowa, http://www.dalevalleyvineyard.com

WINESTOCK

Wine, Music and Fun! Six bands from Noon – 9:00 p.m.

Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette, Iowa http://www.eagleslandingwinery.com

Good Ol’ Summertime Wine-A-Rita Weekend 10:00 a.m.

Emma Big Bears 140th Birthday, samples of Wine-A-Ritas. Try a sample of the summer drink everyone is talking about!

Also, Live music, Sunday, noon – 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 19

Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton, Iowa http://www.tasselridge.com

Asian Fusion Wine & Food Pairing Dinner
Wine Tasting: 6:00 p.m.
Dinner Seating: 6:30 p.m.
Price: $55 per person, plus tax
Join us for an Asian-inspired dinner beginning with Chef Hang’s special spring rolls and Vietnamese steam balls followed by spicy sour chicken soup, Asian grilled pork tenderloin with hoisin sauce, jasmine rice, grilled bok choi, and sticky rice with mango. This 5-course dinner will be paired with select Tassel Ridge wines. Call the Winery at 641.672.WINE (9463), advance reservations required by Wednesday, July 15.

Summerset Winery, Indianola, Iowa http://www.summersetwine.com

Listen to the Bob Pace Band with Barb Miller from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the winery.  Over the years Bob has performed nearly every genre of music–from hard hitting Rock n’ Roll to soothing acoustic solos; from down home Country songs to sensitive ballads, but its playing the blues that is his real passion.  www.bobpaceband.com
 $3 cover per person or $10 a car.  Case Club members get in free.

Snus Hill Winery, Madrid, http://www.snushillwine.com

Ashanti, Live music, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Park Farm Winery, Bankston, Iowa http://www.parkfarmwinery.com

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

Prairie Moon Winery, Ames, Iowa http://www.prairiemoonwinery.com

Amy and Adams, Folk, 3:00 – 6:00 pm.

Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton, Iowa          http://www.tasselridgewinery.com

See new mechanical grape harvestor, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

John Ernest Vineyards & Winery, Tama, Iowa  http://www.johnernestvineyards.com

Holiday Road, live , music, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 22

Entries due for Eastern Iowa Wine Club Amateur Wine Competition, Benton County Fair, Vinton, Iowa

Contact Martin Blind at 319-551-2075 for more information.

Have fun in Midwest Wine Country! Find a bottle or two that you really enjoy and buy a case to take home. It’s the way to support your local wineries.

Cheers!
Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

http://www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Visit the Central Iowa Wineries and Create Memorable Experiences

Recently, several people have told me about their visits to the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail and every one has interesting and favorable comments. The comments from a friend today reminded me of the variety and quaintness of each stop, the hospitality of the winemakers, and the fun of trying new wines.

 

She told me the two of them set out on a dreary, rainy morning this weekend to visit Central Iowa wineries and they had a great time. She particularly liked Snus Hill Winery near Madrid. Since she adores cats, the fun “cat face” logo on the bottles were a hit. At the beautiful tasting bar, they tried some wines that were not what they would normally drink. She liked and bought the light white, Whisker White. 

 

Next they ventured to Adel to Penoach Vineyard & Winery. He enjoyed the setting – a 1900-era farmstead with 10 acres of vines and a barn restored to a winery. They visited with winemaker Stan Olsen and found unique gifts in the Gift Shop. They are just learning about red wine, so tasted a few, and found Iowa St. Vincent to their liking.

 

A stop at Dale Valley Winery near Stuart proved to be another favorite. Prairie grass fields purchased in Guthrie County, Iowa in 1853  became the home site for John Lonsdale and his family. Thirty local residents put their time and talents together to build a school, and soon thereafter Dale City was born. Today, the school house is home to Dale Valley Winery. My friends tried the wines, and enjoyed the tour of the winery and the taste of Solistice, a unique blush with a sweet fruit flavor.

 

Their day-away in Midwest Wine Country was enjoyable and gave them a great chance to relax and visit — probably even giggle and laugh! She said they will plan another day soon to visit a few more “charming” Iowa wineries.

Another friend and her husband stopped by Little Swan Lake Winery at Estherville in Northern Iowa and heard some live music, drank some wine, and had buffalo sandwiches and ice cream. It’s a favorite stop for the locals and she said it was easy to see why … everyone was having a good time.

 

 

 

 

If you are filling your basket with the Picnic in the Vines event on the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail, remember it continues through July 31st.Otherwise, pack a picnic lunch, and get out and appreciate the lush scenery while you tour the wineries and sample the wines presented by our local winemakers.

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Make Mine Wine

http://www.makeminewinemagazine.com

It’s Picnic Time in the Vines on the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail

Close to home weekend fun doesn’t get much better than this!  With 15 wineries on the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail, all within a 60 mile radius of Des Moines, you can visit one, two or three each weekend and taste wine, learn and enjoy!

To add to the fun, you can purchase a picnic cooler for two at any of the participating wineries, and beginning Sunday, June 1st through July 31st, you can receive a unique picnic item from each winery for your Picnic Time in the Vines basket. This is a limited edition event with only 150 picnic coolers available for sale at $40.

 

The fifteen Heart of Iowa Wine Trail wineries are: Dale Valley Vineyard & Winery, Stuart; Eagle City Winery, Iowa Falls; Grape Escape, Pleasantville; Jasper Winery, Newton; John Ernest Vineyard & Winery, Tama; La Vida Loca Winery, Indianola; Penoach Winery, Adel; Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards, Ames; Rosey Acres Winery, Runnells; Snus Hill Winery, Madrid; Southern Hills Winery, Osceola; Summerset Winery, Indianola; Tassel Ridge Winery, Leighton; Two Saints Winery, St. Charles; and White Oak Vineyards, Cambridge.

 

I’ve been to almost all of these wineries and can tell you the people are friendly and helpful, the wineries are interesting and unique, and you are sure to find wines you will enjoy! Hit the trail and have some fun in Midwest Wine Country!

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

 

 

Summer Goes Better with Wine!

Midwest wineries love the chance to entertain their guests on beautiful summer evenings. This weekend’s “after the fourth” events are as tempting as their delicate, tempting summer wines! Take some time and sample both this Friday, July 6th and Saturday, July 7th.

 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. … Sunsets at Summerset with the Stu Calhoun Trio featuring Morgan Halgren. I love the sound of this latin jazz combo band and the beautiful voice of my dear friend Morgan. There will be another Trio there Friday too … Pasta Trio, available from Contemporary Catering. Summerset Winery between Des Moines and Indianola. www.summersetwine.com

Friday Night Wine Down at White Oak Vineyards, Cambridge, Iowa is always a real good time. This week Tina Haase & Lady Blue is performing. 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. www.whiteoakvineyards.com

Stop by King’s Crossing Winery for Desserts at the Winery 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Glenwood. www.kingscrossingvineyard.com

The new Fireside Winery in Marengo invites you to stop by and sample their wines — 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. www.firesidewinery.com

This week’s Front Porch Friday, 6:30-9:30  p.m. features Scott Davis & Jason Danielson (jazz variety). Snus Hill Vineyard, Madrid.

Saturday, July 7th

A special event at the Downtown Des Moines Farmer’s Market takes place this Saturday. There will also be a home-grown Iowa wine-tasting event featuring five Iowa wineries from 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Dale Valley Vineyard and Winery in Stuart hosts the Grand Opening from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stop in and taste their wine. Enjoy music by the Soul Searchers. www.dalevalleyvineyard.com

The first-ever Raccoon Valley Wine Festival will be in downtown Adel, 1:00 – 9:00 p.m. with Iowa Wineries sampling and selling their wine and  Acoustic Mayhem, a popular group of musicians from Iowa City and Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts from the Des Moines area playing Blues & Boogie music. Adel, Iowa.

Sunsets at Sugar Grove with The Likely Suspects (Classic Rock), 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. in Newton. www.sugargrove.com

So have some wine and have some fun!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko