Summer Fun at Western Iowa Wineries!

This weekend, July 11 & 12^th is the Western Iowa Wine Trail’s event, Grillin’ With Iowa Wines. Seven wineries invite you to stop by and sample their paired wine and grilled foods. Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

The first 225 passport holders are eligible to receive a 7-piece gift set when they have completed a visit to all seven wineries on the trail. Most folks on the trail prefer to visit the seven wineries over a two-day period, not one. 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.

Participating wineries are:
Breezy Hills Vineyard Minden

Danish Countryside Vines & Wines Elkhorn

King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery Glenwood

Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery Crescent

Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery Treynor

Sugar Clay Winery & Vineyard Thurman

Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery Carson

Visit http://www.westerniowawinetrail.com for a map and Western Iowa tourism information. You will also find links to information about each winery, its history, wine and the winemaker.

Have fun … and be safe.

Cheers!
Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

Wine Tasting, Beads and Masks Can Be Yours at Mardi Gras on the Western Iowa Wine Trail

Seven Western Iowa wineries welcome you to Mardi Gras, this weekend, Saturday, February 28 (10:00 – 6:00)  & Sunday, March 1st 2009 (Noon to 5:00).

Spend the weekend on the trail, visiting the wineries, sampling Iowa wine paired with samples of Mardi-Gras-style food. Collect beads and have fun!

Passports for the event are $18 per person and are available at each winery. The Western Iowa Wine Trail wineries are Breezy Hills Vineyard, Minden; Danish Countryside Vines & Wines, Exira; King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Glenwood; Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, Crescent; Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Treynor; Sugar Clay Winery & Vineyard, Thurman and Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery, Carson.

Visit
www.westerniowawinetrail.com for more information.

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Make Mine Wine

http://www.MakeMineWinemagazine.com

Summer Grillin’ and Iowa Wines on the Western Iowa Wine Trail

When was the last time you made the easy trip to Western Iowa? This weekend’s Western Iowa Wine Trail event is high motivation for wine lovers to get out and enjoy the beautiful Loess Hills countryside, historical landmarks, and parks and check out the antiquing, museums, casinos, fine dining, Bed & Breakfasts or camping.

 

There’s always plenty to do in Western Iowa and this weekend, July 12^th and 13^th, the main event is the 4^th Annual “Grillin’ with Iowa Wines” at seven host wineries along the trail stretching from Elk Horn to Thurman and back to Crescent. The Western Iowa Wine Trail was featured in the Summer 2007 issue of Make Mine Wine – go grab your copy and hit the trail. (Or, visit www.westerniowawinetrail.com.

 

From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day of the two day event, each winery will be pairing their Iowa-made wines with samples of delectable grilled food. Passports are available for purchase at each participating winery for $60 per couple or $35 per single. The first 225 couple/single passports sold will receive a bonus opportunity to cleck one piece of a 7-piece cheese board set at each winery they visit. Visit all seven wineries over the weekend to complete your set. There will also be one complete set given away as a door prize at each winery.

 

The wineries are Breezy Hills Vineyard at Minden, Danish Countryside Vines & Wines at Exira, King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery at Glenwood, Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery at Treynor, Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery at Crescent, Sugar clay Winery & Vineyards at Thurman, and Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery at Carson.

 

Enjoy the wine – pack a cooler to purchase and transport your favorites home at a safe temperature – and discover the personality of each winery. You’ll meet some wonderful people, see unique gifts in the gift shops, and have a great time!

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

MakeMineWInemagazie.com

Experience the Spring Fling this Weekend on the Western Iowa Wine Trail

Do you want to have some fun this weekend? Here’s the event for you!

 

During the Spring Fling on the Western Iowa Wine Trail, you can sample each winery’s newly-released wines, paired with cheeses, breads and flavored dipping oils.

 

Purchase a commemorative Western Iowa Wine Trail wine glass for $20.00 per person at your first stop … and that’s the ticket you use at each stop. You can visit wineries from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Saturday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 4th.

 

The Western Iowa Wine Trail runs 90 miles from north to south, so plan your route using the map of the Western Iowa Wine Trail available at www.westerniowawinetrail.com/events.shtm.

 

Sample the wines and visit with the owners at these participating wineries:

 

• Darrel and Roberta Morse, Breezy Hills Vineyard, Minden
• Allan and Carol Peterson, Danish Countryside Vines and Wines, Exira
• Rick and Karen Foster, King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Glenwood
• Andy and Julianna Hrasky, Prairie Crossing Vineyard Winery, Treynor
• Larry and Sheila Rohatsch and Ron and Nancy Rohatsch, Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, Crescent
• Frank and Amy Faust, Sugar Clay Winery & Vineyards, Thurman
• Mike and Dana Killinger, Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery, Carson

 

The Western Iowa Wine Trail was featured in the Summer 2007 issue of Make Mine Wine. Spend a Midwest Wine Country weekend on the Western Iowa Wine Trail … you’ll taste some fine wine and meet some wonderful people.

 

Cheers!

 

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

Make Mine Wine

http://www.MakeMineWinemagazine.com

Let Spring Fever Carry You Away to a Winery Event!

Remember your high school days? How did Spring Fever affect you? Were you frisky? Restless? Ready to get out and try something new?

 

It’s time to let Spring Fever get a hold of you again … and this time, I’m guessing you are old enough for a weekend escape … so go out and try some new wines!

Go Grilling with Iowa Wines on The Iowa Wine Trail this weekend, April 26^th and 27^th.  Discover wines that complement your summer outdoor barbeques. The event is open each day from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at seven Eastern Iowa wineries. You can sample tasty grilled tidbits paired with the excellent wines of the Upper Mississippi River Valley.  The Iowa Wine Trail wineries are: Daly Creek Winery, Anamosa, Wallace Winery, West Branch, Sutliff Cider Company, Lisbon, Tabor Home Vineyards& Winery, Baldwin, Park Farm Winery, Bankston, Eagles Landing Winery, Marquette, and Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah.  

Ticket information is available at www.iowawinetrail.com. Free Designated Driver Tickets are also available for food sampling only.

King’s Crossing Vineyard and Winery at Glenwood, Iowa is hosting a Medieval Feast with Vegetable-beef soup, roasted turkey legs, twice baked potatoes, bread and butter, fruits and a medieval dessert … and King’s Crossing wine. They seat 20 royals, merchants, commoners or peasants … so call today for details or to reserve your space. Reservations and pre-payment ($30 per person) required, so call 712-526-2873. If it’s too late to join the fun this weekend, get your reservation in for their next event! www.kingscrossingvineyard.com

 

Head over to Wichita, Kansas, Saturday, April 26^th for the 13^th Annual Midwest Winefest. At the Grand Tasting and Auctions in Century II Exhibition Hall, from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., attendees will sample from over 300 different wines, enjoy gourmet cuisine from Wichita’s finest restaurants, attend cooking with wine demonstrations and participate in silent auctions. Enjoy live Jazz music, browse wine-related booths and a rare bottle exhibit, or visit the Cigar Veranda. You’ll sip new wines, learn some interesting facts, taste outstanding foods and delight in the company of fellow wine enthusiasts.

 

The fast-paced excitement of the live auction begins with the venerable wine auctioneer, Fritz Hatton. Participants will have the opportunity to bid on everything from rare wine to wine dinners to vacation getaways. 

 

Best of all, your attendance will help the Guadalupe Health Foundation serve the needy families in our community. For more information about the Midwest Winefest and the Guadalupe Health Foundation, visit the web site at www.midwestwinefest.com.

 

Already booked this weekend? Plan ahead to attend one of these enjoyable events next weekend!

It’s Southern Hills Winery’s Birthday and it’s time to celebrate. The party is Saturday, May 3^rd  from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. in Osceola, Iowa  … and you are invited. Step up to the taco bar and fill your plate, then relax while One Night Stand entertains with their high-quality contemporary jazz and rhythm and blues sound. Purchase your tickets ($15.00 each) before May 1^st. www.shwinery.com

 

Planning to be in the Cedar Falls area on May 3^rd? Order your tickets now to attend An Evening in Celebration of Wine & Tulips, 6:00 pm – 8:00 p.m This is the 23^rd year for this popular and enjoyable event, presented by the Friends of KUNI/KHKE to benefit public radio in Iowa. Attendance is limited to 800 guests so don’t hesitate to order tickets ($35 in advance and $45 at the door) at 319. 277-1255..

More than two hundred domestic and imported wines are available for sampling with reds, whites, blushes, dessert and sparkling wines on hand. Wines from the vineyards of California, Washington, Italy, France, Australia, Spain, and Iowa, will be poured. Also available for sampling is a variety of Midwestern cheeses, plus breads and fruits to cleanse the palate.

Adding to the festive atmosphere will be live jazz and classical music by Marc Irving Weber, plus arrangements of fresh tulips by Rainbow Florists & Greenhouses (Waterloo).

 

You may be interested in attending the Meet the Distributors VIP Pre-Party – call Angela Vezdos at 319.273.6336 to purchase a ticket at a Patron level.

 

Ready for one more great Spring Fever suggestion? It’s a good one!

 

The Western Iowa Wine Trail wineries present their annual Spring Fling, May 3^rd and 4^th. Again, this is a wonderful opportunity to sample Iowa wines, and enjoy the wineries and their fine hospitality. Participating wineries are: Breezy Hills Vineyard, Minden, Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, Crescent, Sugar Clay Winery & Vineyards, Thurman, Danish Countryside Vines & Wines, Exira, King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Glenwood, Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery, Carson and Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Treynor. To purchase a passport and print a map of a trail, visit the Web site at www.westerniowawinetrail.com/.

 

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Make Mine Wine

www.MakeMineWinemagazine.com

 

Celebrate Mardi Gras on the Western Iowa Wine Trail

Who knew Carnival was being celebrated in Western Iowa?  You’ll find Mardi Gras on the Western Iowa Wine Trail this Saturday, February 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. You can tour six Iowa wineries, taste wine, and enjoy tasty Cajun dishes at each stop. The cost is just $18.00 per person and you can buy your ticket at the first winery you visit. Don your beards and hit the trail: Breezy Hills Vineyard, Minden; Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery, Carson; Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, Crescent; King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Glenwood; Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery, Treynor; and Sugar Clay Winery & Vineyards, Thurman.  Learn more about each winery at www.westerniowawinetrail.com, or in the Summer 2007 issue of Make Mine Wine (www.makeminewinemagazine.com). The Western Iowa Wine Trail is the newest in a long history of trails in that part of the state.  On my last trip out West, I stopped by the Western Historic Trails Center at Council Bluffs. This interactive center lets you explore the historic Western Trails: The Lewis and Clark Trail, Mormon Trail, The Oregon Trail and The California Trail.

 Head west this weekend … a great time awaits!

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko, Publisher

Make Mine Wine

Festive Holiday Drinks and More with Iowa Wine

At our holiday party last weekend, Tickled Pink, the delicious semi-sweet wine from Tassel Ridge Winery, was a hit with the ladies. We were talking about Iowa Wines – and our favorites for sipping and pairing with meals. Of course, the Iowa wines are good for cooking also, and I mentioned the gravy with Kiss Me You’ll find the recipe below.  

Last night I stopped at Hy-Vee for the Wine Tasting. Madison County Winery and Tassel Ridge Winery were there – and I tried the Sweet Mulled Wine from Tassel Ridge Winery. Stock up and try some of these recipes with your family and friends during the holidays! 

Sweet Mulled Wine from Tassel Ridge Winery

1 bottleTassel Ridge Red, White, and Blue wine

1 tsp. whole cloves

1 tsp. whole allspice

¾ cup brown sugar

1-2 cinnamon sticks

1-2 orange slices

Stir sugar into wine until dissolved, add all ingredients into a crock pot on low, float the orange slices on top.  Serve warm.  

Traditional Mulled Wine from Tassel Ridge Winery

4 cups cranberry juice

1 ½ cups apple cider

1 ½ cups Tassel Ridge Twilight wine

¼ cup brown sugar

2-4 ounces Bisschopswijn mulling spices* (add to taste) .Combine liquids in a pot and stir in brown sugar to dissolve.  Add mulling spices in muslin bag (provided in Bisschopswijn package) and heat over medium heat until hot.  Reduce temperature and simmer 30-60 minutes.  Serve warm with cinnamon stick for stirring. *Bisschopswijn is available at Tassel Ridge Winery.  It contains a mix of cinnamon pieces, whole cloves, whole allspice, orange oil and cinnamon oil. 

 White Sangria from John Ernest Vineyard & Winery

1 lemon, thinly sliced

1 lime, thinly sliced

1/2 of a Red Delicious apple, thinly sliced

¼ cup of sugar

1 (750 milliliter) bottle of John Ernest Dusty Road Wine

2 cans of 7-Up, Sprite or Sierra Mist

1 cup green grapes, frozen

Mix, pour and enjoy

American Concord Sangria from Whispering Hills Winery ½ sliced lemon½ sliced lime

½ sliced orange

6 or so Bing Cherries

¾ of a 2 Liter Bottle of Sierra Mist

1 Bottle of Whispering Hills Concord Wine

Mix, pour and enjoy

Fireside from Jasper Winery1 bottle Lucy Lane1 cinnamon stick

10 whole allspice

10 whole cloves

1 cup brown sugar

1 orange

Combine ingredients in a crock pot and heat on low, but do not boil. The orange can float on top.

American Concord Sangria from Whispering Hills Wineryhalf sliced lemon
half sliced lime
half sliced orange
6 or so Bing Cherries three-quarters of a 2 Liter Bottle of Sierra Mist1 Bottle of Whispering Hills Winery Concord Wine  

Maple Turkey with Summerset Kiss Me Gravy

INGREDIENTS
1 14lb fresh turkey, neck and giblets removed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 1/2 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup Summerset Kiss Me wine
2 cups of low-sodium canned chicken stock
2/3 cup seedless red and green grapes, each cut in halfDIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Generously season neck, body, cavities, and underside with salt and pepper. Place bird on a rack in a roasting pan. Baste with 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Place turkey in the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Baste with butter that has accumulated in the pan. Reduce heat to 350 degrees, and loosely cover with foil. Roast for additional 30 minutes more. Baste again. Continue roasting, basting once an hour, until a meat thermometer registers 170 degrees, in the breast. About 3 hours.During the last half hour, grate ginger and put in a small saucepan. Add maple syrup and 1 tablespoon of butter. Heat the mixture until the butter has melted and is bubbling. Remove from heat and brush glaze over turkey several times over the last half hour. Remove turkey from the oven and let rest for 30 minutes.Combine the remaining tablespoon of butter and the flour, mix until smooth. Mix pan drippings and wine together in the roasting pan. Add chicken stock and cook for 7-8 minutes until reduced by half. Add reserved butter and flour mixture and let gravy simmer until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes. Add grapes to gravy and serve with turkey

Here’s another great sugestion to help you turn off the television and have some fun. Treat your holiday guests to a trip into Midwest Wine Country. Check the Web site for hours and then visit your local winery this week.

 Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher, Make Mine Wine  

Surprising and Creative Events at Midwest Wineries

It’s been rainy … summer is over … and you may be feeling a little down.  It’s time to change your mood with some fun and frolic in Midwest Wine Country. The wineries are known for producing great wines. Now you’ll have a chance to experience their great events. Below are just a few of the events listed on makeminewinemagazine.com.  Find one in your neighborhood, grab some friends and have a good time. Check each winery’s Web site for additional information – in many cases reservations are required.  

Dress in black and try for the best Johnny Cash look-alike at “The Man in Black” Party at Sugar Clay Winery in Thurman, Iowa. www.sugarclaywinery.com. 

Enjoy your buffalo pie meal and tap your toes to the Ceolmhor guitar trio at Little Swan Lake Winery in Estherville, Iowa. www.lslwinery.com. 

Don’t be spooked by Sugar Grove Winery’s Dinner by Ghostlight: The Ghouls Next Door. This all new show features surprising and delightful musical and comedic twists – and you can play Name that Spooky Tune. Dinner is an Elegant English Country Cuisine. Newton, Iowa. www.sugargrove.com. 

The Progressive Wine Trail hosted by the wineries on The Iowa Wine Trail is your chance to learn more about planning holiday dinners around Iowa wines. Save $10 on your ticket if you purchase before October 31^st. The event is in Eastern Iowa November 3^rd & 4^th – check it out on www.iowawinetrail.com. 

Or on November 3^rd and 4^th head over to Western Iowa for The Sugar Trail with wine, sweets and Christmas ideas galore. Tickets are available at the Western Iowa wineries: Whispering Hills, Breezy Hills, Sugar Clay, Danish Countryside, Prairie Crossing & Kings’ Crossing. Like murder mystery shows?

V.A.M.P will be performing several Halloween Murder Mystery shows at White Owl Winery in Flat Rock, Illinois. www.whiteowlwinery.com.

The HalloWine Party will include a murder mystery at Fox Valley Winery in Oswego, Illinois. www.foxvalleywinery.com. 

There are so many more opportunities to play. Check out events at www.makeminewinemagazine.com. As always, I would love to hear about the fun. Cheers!

Barbara Rasko

Publisher

www.Makeminewinemagazine.com

Third Annual Summer Grillin’ with Iowa Wine is this Weekend!

That’s right. It’s time to head to Western Iowa for a great weekend of touring Midwest Wine Country and tasting some mighty fine wine. A variety of grilled entrees will be paired with select wines at each of the seven wineries on the Western Iowa Wine Trail.

This special event takes place from 10am to 6pm on Saturday July 14th and Sunday July 15^th. You can purchase your passport and start anywhere along the trail — Danish Countryside Vines & Wines in Elkhorn, Breezy Hills Vineyard in Minden, Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery in Crescent, Sugar Clay Winery & Vineyards at Thurman, King’s Crossing Vineyard & Winery in Glenwood, Whispering Hills Vineyard & Winery in Carson or Prairie Crossing Vineyard & Winery in Treynor.

You’ll love the wine and the hospitality. If you really hustle you can do the entire wine trail in one day, but I recommend you take your time and appreciate the uniqueness of each winery, and enjoy the scenery, the people and the fun. For more information on the event, including pricing and dining and lodging options, visit www.westerniowawinetrail.com. You also might want to check out www.traveliowa.org which carries a complete guide to western Iowa attractions.

The Summer issue of Make Mine Wine has a seven page feature on the Western Iowa Wine Trail. Our editor, Kent Darr, along with his wife Sue, hit the trail a few weeks ago and the article is a wonderful recap of their trip, along with recommendations on their favorite wine at each of the wineries.

You can order the magazine at www.makeminewinemagazine.com – and I’m guessing you can also pick up a copy this weekend if you are on the trail in Western Iowa.

Enjoy your travels in Midwest Wine Country.

Cheers!

Barbara Rasko