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

http://www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Have a Grape Experience. Stomp Grapes in Midwest Wine Country!

Join the newbies and experienced grape stompers heading into the vineyards from now through September. Help with the harvest. Meet some fun and friendly folks. Taste wine. And take some photos to send into the Make Mine Wine magazine’s Midwest Wine Country Photo Competition.

 

Make plans to attend one of these upcoming events … or just check with your local winery and see if they have a harvest festival coming up.

 

Park Farm Winery’s 2^nd Annual Grape Stomp is this weekend in Bankston, Iowa, August 30, from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Contact rguerrero@parkfarmwinery.com.

 

It’s “No-Pick-y, No Stomp-y” at White Oak Vineyards near Cambridge, Iowa.  They pick and stomp two weekends, so check it out at www.whiteoakvineyards.com.

  

Summerset Winery, Indianola, IA celebrates Fall Harvest every Saturday from Mid-August through September pre-paid reservations required. The fee covers breakfast, lunch, a commemorative T-shirt and wine in the vineyard, with a portion of the proceeds going to Dollars for Scholars. After breakfast and picking, the party begins with grape stomping and more.

 

Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Treynor, Iowa, will host their Harvest Party on Saturday, September 6, from noon to 9:00 p.m. www.prairiecrossingwine.com.

 

Pre-register for the Grape Picking Festival with John Ernest Vineyard & Winery in Tama, Iowa, by calling 641-484-8048.  The first 100 people can take part each Saturday, September 6^th or September 13^th.

 

Sugar Clay Winery’s 3^rd Annual Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival will be all day September 20^th in Thurman, Iowa. Stop by for live music, kids and adult grape stomps, crafters, food and wine! Check www.sugarclaywinery.com for details.

 

In Lake Lillian, Minnesota you can stomp three days in a row, September 5 – 7, at the Olde Country Winery and Vineyard’s Grape and Harvest Festival. There is a lot going on – including cash prizes, and while there you can see the world’s tallest wine bottle. RV parking is available. www.oldecountrywinery.com.

 

Are you going to be in the Chicago area? It’s a family affair September 27^th and 28^th, in Roselle, Illinois at  Lynfred Winery’s Oktoberfest and Pig Roast with kids’ and adults grape spitting, adult barrel races and grape stomping for kids, adult and couples. http://www.lynfredwinery.com.

 

You can enter the I Love Lucy look-a-like contest Sunday, August 24^th at the Kickapoo Creek Winery Grape Stomp in Central, Illinois. Expect wine, food, music and fun. www.kickapoocreekwinery.com.

 

The Grape Stomp at Superior Coast Winery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is held rain or shine on Saturday, September 13 at 11:00. The last two years the same person as won the contest for squeezing the most juice from their grapes – so practice up and go for the gold! www.superiorcoastwinery.com.

 

While I was at the Iowa State Fair, I heard a lot about the Harvest Festival in downtown Clear Lake, Iowa.  I don’t know if it the event is sold out yet, so give them a call or check the website to see if you can still purchase a Harvest Bag. The date is Saturday, October 4^th. www.clearlakeiowa.com/harvestfestival.

 

Don’t miss the fun! And don’t forget to send in your photos by October 1^st! Check our website, www.makeminewinemagazine.com for details.

 

Cheers!

 

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

www.makeminewinemagazine.com

Events at Local Wineries are Fun!

I am amazed when I meet people who are in the dark when it comes to Iowa’s growing wine industry. Iowa now ranks 14th in the nation for the number of wineries in a state. The wineries are constantly improving the quality of their wines … and more and more people are tasting and finding Iowa wines that are just right for any meal or occasion.

 

The wineries are also wonderful places to go for events. Each week crowds gather at local wineries for music events, fund-raisers, or pairing dinners. Folks take their out-of-town guests to tour wineries and taste wine.

 

Why? I can answer that in one word.  FUN!

 

This Friday night, June 28th, there are two new events, Save the Ta-Tas Breast Cancer Fundraiser at Snus Hill Winery, Madrid, and Comedy Night with Elliott Treat at Southern Hills Winery, Osceola.

 

Saturday and Sunday is the Spring Open House at Eagle City Winery in Iowa Falls.

 

Summerset Winery, Indianola; Prairie Moon Winery, Ames;  Sugar Clay Winery, Thurman; Snus Hills Winery, Madrid; Tabor Homes Vineyard and Winery, Baldwin; and White Oak Vineyards & Winery, Elkhart will have live music over the weekend. Check the events list at MakeMineWinemagazine.com for details.

 

By the way, you must make reservations by tomorrow, Thursday, June 29^th, for the July 1^st Red, White and Blue Summer Celebration (a wine and food pairing event) with Tassel Ridge Winery in Leighton. It is a kick-off for July and sounds like a lot of fun. You can play old-fashioned yard games and enjoy grilled steak sandwiches, corn-on-the-cob, fresh fruit and strawberry shortcake. This is your change to drink wine-a-ritas – and of course, the other fine Tassel Ridge wines. www.tasselridge.com.

 

 

I was on a little wine tour yesterday with a friend from Chicago and heard that a lot of folks have been bringing their picnic baskets to the wineries for the Picnic in the Vines. The Heart of Iowa Wine Trail event continues through July 31st. Take the Make Mine Wine Wine Score Card (download for free from the Make Mine Wine Website) with you to record your favorites.

 

If you’re going to be in Southern Illinois this weekend, swing by Blue Sky Vineyard at Mankanda. It is part of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and is hosting two events this weekend. An Art Exhibit Featuring Andrea LeBeau will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 Friday night, and the Chamber Music and an Art Fair will be from 2:00 – 5:00 on Sunday, June 29th. More details are available at www.blueskyvineyard.com.

 

This weekend you can also participate in The Epicurean Experience – A Food & Wine Pairing, at Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Illinois. Reservations are required for this 6-course adventure. www.lynfredwinery.com.

 

Have fun this weekend at a Midwest Wine Country winery! And … take some photos for our Midwest Wine Country Photo Competition too!

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

http://www.makeminewinemagazine.com