During the Iowa Wine Growers Association annual conference in January, Richard and I had the opportunity to meet many of the folks involved in the Iowa wine industry and learn more about the grapes, the process and of course, the wine! During the social hour many of the wineries provide bottles of their wine for the guests to try, and during this tasting process we were able to meet David and Mary Paustian the owners of 42° North Winery. After tasting some of their wine, we knew that we wanted to get their wine into the Wijn House so we could share it with others! We had the opportunity to visit 42° North Winery for an “official tasting” and David and Mary spoiled us with tastes of their wines, followed by welcoming us into their home where we were treated to lunch with their family. The winery is located approximately two (2) hours north of the Wijn House in Vinton, Iowa. Like many of the wineries in Iowa, David and Mary began making wine as a hobby; they planted 1½ acres of grapes in 2010 and made their wines for family and friends. After many positive reviews, they began producing and selling their wine to the public in 2021. They currently carry eight (8) wines ranging from sweet to dry and everything in between. The labels of their wines are colorful and fun, and are all artwork or photographs created by family members, including paintings and photos of beloved pets. The tasting room is attached to their home and is usually open on Saturdays, or you can call them to see if they can accommodate you on a different date or time. Watch their Facebook page for more information or call them directly for a visit. You can find the wines from 42° North Winery in various boutiques and farmers markets, and, starting Saturday, March 23rd, in the Wijn House! We thought the Ladies Getaway Day on Saturday, March 23rd in Downtown Pella would be the perfect opportunity for you to meet David and Mary and taste their wines! Come join us on Saturday, March 23rd between 2:00-4:30 to taste the wines from 42° North Winery including: Blowfish, a sweet fruity white made with Frontenac Blanc grapes. Dog Days White, a semi-sweet white made with the St. Pepin grape and with a very similar flavor of a Riesling. Slinky, their sweetest wine made from California orange Muscat grape and can be compared to a non-carbonated Moscato wine. Wingnut, a sweet, but not too sweet, red blend of Merlot and homegrown St. Croix grapes Tatonka, a dry red blend of 4 grapes with a spicy finish
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Continuing on our journey of Iowa wine exploration, Richard and I decided to venture closer to home with a visit to Madison County Winery. Nestled snugly between St. Charles and Winterset, this winery shares its neighborhood with the iconic covered bridges, just a little over an hour's drive from the Wijn House. Perched atop a hill, Madison County Winery offers a picturesque view of its vineyards and the surrounding landscape. Stepping into the tasting room, we were greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere, complemented by ample outdoor seating to enjoy a tasting or a glass of wine. Our hosts, Doug and Laura, exuded genuine hospitality, their passion for wine evident as they shared insights and knowledge about their offerings. From sweet indulgences like the Strawberry Blonde and Raspberry Blanc to more refined options such as the Bourbon Barrel Red, Madison County Winery boasts a diverse selection to suit every palate. Among the standout favorites currently on The Wijn House shelves are Hunter’s Moon, a tantalizing semi-dry blend resonating with notes of pear and honeydew, culminating in a crisp, citrusy finish. Additionally, the return of Midnight Rain, a medium-bodied red wine boasting a smooth yet earthy character and a Merlot and Petite Sirah that have us eagerly anticipating our next sip. In addition to their exceptional wines, The Wijn House also offers a unique twist with Madison County Wineries red wine vinegar infused with rosemary and garlic, adding a flavorful dimension to culinary creations. Our visit to Madison County Winery was delightful, reaffirming our belief in the richness and diversity of Iowa's wine culture. With its charming ambiance, passionate hosts, and diverse selection of wines, this hidden gem is undoubtedly a must-visit for wine enthusiasts and explorers alike. Our trip would not have been complete without a visit to one of the iconic covered bridges in the area; we hope to be in the area again when we can enjoy the outdoor space. Richard and I are truly enjoying our winery tours; visiting wineries and meeting the winemakers, the owners and the staff is so much fun! One destination on our “bucket list” has been on our list since we saw it off of highway 61 between Dubuque and Davenport over three years ago, Tycoga Winery and Distillery. We were finally able to visit Tycoga and enjoyed everything about it, except how far away it is from Pella. The winery and distillery is located in DeWitt, Iowa approximately 2 ½ hours northeast of The Wijn House. Tycoga Winery and Distillery is a family owned business that began in 2010; today they are the 2nd largest grape growing and production facility in Iowa. The name Tycoga is a combination of the first two letters of names of their three children, Tyler, Courtney and Gabe. The location has a rustic charm with a cozy indoor space combined with an amazing outdoor space complete with a view of their vineyard. In the winter months you can reserve an igloo with heat and lights to enjoy a private space outdoors with friends and family. Tycoga has a wine for everyone from their sweet Serendipity to their dry Noiret and Arndt Private Red which is aged in an oak barrel and then finished in a bourbon barrel. All of their wines are aged in oak which adds a robust flavor to each bottle. After purchasing a tasting of wines you can enjoy a wood fired pizza while you sip on a glass of your favorite. Tycoga also has a wide selection of mixed drinks made with their own vodka and whiskey; Richard is anxious to try the whiskey next! There are a lot of little details at the winery that just add a personal touch, from their wine barrel sinks to the parking strips in the shape of wine bottles. Tycoga Winery and Distillery is definitely worth a visit and you will find something to suit any palette. The Wijn House is happy to have restocked our shelves with the Tycoga wines listed below; stop by for a taste this week and find your favorite!
Cheers, Richard & Rene’ Last weekend Richard and I were able to visit Lubben Vineyards and Wines located in the city of Marion, Iowa. We were excited to embark on this journey for so many different reasons; it’s an area of Iowa we had not yet explored and we were anxious to learn more about the wine-makers from Lubben Vineyards and Wines, and, of course, taste their wine! Marion, Iowa is just outside of Cedar Rapids and is about a two hour drive from the Wijn House in Pella. The winery is family owned and we were able to meet Dan, Judy and their son DJ in their current location, which is an industrial condo. The Lubbens are quickly outgrowing their space and are in the process of building a tasting room just outside of Anamosa off of Highway 151. The goal is to be open at the end of May or the beginning of June of this year; after tasting their wine we are even more excited to share the news of their tasting room, and share their wines with you at the Wijn House. High Brow wines range from dry to sweet and everything in between and all of them are full of flavor. The Wijn House is currently carrying: -St. Pepin, a light and easy drinking dry white wine -Destiny, a semi-sweet Frontenac Blanc -White Lies, a sweet blend of white wine -Petite Pearl, a dry red aged in a mix of French and American oak -Marechal Foch, a dry red also aged in a mix of French and American oak with a touch of a sweet fruit on the nose. There are other wines the Lubben family are working on that we are also anxious to have once they are available, including a dry red blend, a dry white Itasca and a Foch Barrel Reserve. We will be featuring Lubben wines on our tasting menu the week of March 4th through the 9th so you can have a chance to taste some of them; or, keep an eye out for the opening of their tasting room this summer! Cheers, Richard & Rene’ In our continued quest to meet our winery partners and learn more about their wines, I had the opportunity to meet Donna with Calico Skies Winery. Donna was kind enough to come to The Wijn House for our visit, so I did not get the opportunity to visit the winery itself, but I was able to learn more about the venue, their journey, and their wines. The picture of their winery is one I took from their website and, as you can see, it is a beautiful location and the next time Richard and I are thinking of a wine tour, we will try to add this one to our list! Calico Skies began their winemaking journey in 2010 and is located about 30 minutes from Sioux Falls, SD in the town of Inwood, Iowa. Their wines range from semi-sweet to dry and the names of their wines stem from their love of dogs; for instance, Deebo, a blend of Chambourcin, Marquette and Frontenac grape is their dry red blend that is named after one of their rescue dogs. The Wijn House is proud to carry an assortment of wines from Calico Skies and will add them to our rotating tasting menu so you can taste them for yourself.
Last week I took an unexpected road trip to Wisconsin to help a friend during a medical procedure and on the way back to Pella I realized how close I was to Park Farm Winery in Epworth, IA. Since I was close, I thought it would be worth a visit. This was, technically, my first visit to a winery as one of the owners of the Wijn House and I was excited to meet the staff, see the winery and taste their wines. I was NOT disappointed! Park Farm Winery is approximately 30 minutes west of Dubuque and the drive takes you through rolling hills, pastures and woods. The winery itself is set on top of a hill with amazing views throughout the outdoor, and indoor, space! When you walk into the winery you are greeted by their friendly and knowledgeable staff in their tasting room where you can order your wine and, if you like, a wood-fired pizza. There is a wine that will please any palette, from their dry Prairie Reserve red, to their semi-sweet Picket Fence, to their sweet Bankston Red and Daisy Girl. There is something to suit every taste and plenty of space to sit and enjoy. From there, you have several seating choices; the largest seating area is complemented by a beautiful stone fireplace and there is plenty of room for groups of any size. You have the option to go up the stairs to the second and third floors where the views are beautiful, even in the winter! The third floor hosts a smaller room that can be reserved for private functions. The outside space at the winery was amazing and I can not wait to visit again when the weather is more hospitable for sitting outdoors with a glass of wine and a pizza! When you are looking for a day trip, or heading through the area, it is definitely worth a visit! One of the best parts about learning more abut The Wijn House is learning more about the wines from our winery partners. We are excited to have a "new to the Wijn House" wine in our tasting line up for the last week of January/first week of February. Stop in for a taste of El Caribe from Van Wijk Winery in Sully. El Caribe is a dry white wine with hints of grapefruit and vanilla, with delicate mineral and subtle buttery over tones. Caribe is the Spanish term for the Caribbean and, although not exactly beach weather, the warmer temperatures seemed like a good time to share El Caribe with friends. -Rene' Wow, so hard to believe it's already February! Richard and I transitioned as the new owner's of the Wijn House on January 1st and the past month has been a fabulous whirlwind. We have enjoyed meeting our customers and our winery partners and, even though the weather has been an interesting challenge (I understand it's winter, but wow, did it have to come all at once?), we are so happy to be following in Jeremy and Tara's footsteps! At this time, we do not plan on making any large changes to The Wijn House; we might paint and rearrange, but the heart of The Wijn House will remain the same! I think one of the most difficult elements of becoming a small business owner is keeping up with the social media! Quick note - I (Rene') went from only using LinkedIn as social media, to having 3 Facebook accounts, 2 Instagram accounts and a web page. I am slowly learning how to post...and am working on being more active on social media. Richard and I want to thank everyone for their continued support (and patience) as we continue to learn and grow (especially on social media)! Please stop in and see us! It’s been a while since I’ve taken a road trip to find a new winery, and honestly, I was kind of dreading the lone trip up to Story City on a cold Friday morning by myself. Luckily, I talked Bev, our Thursday night gal, into coming with me. (It didn’t take much convincing when I told her there was wine tasting involved). Red Barn Wines is exactly what it is. Wine produced in a little red barn just off the Story City Exit off of I-35. Nevermind the fact that we missed the building the first time we drove by. We simply circled back on the interstate and arrived on time. We introduced ourselves to John, the owner of the business, and jumped right into talking about his land and how he’s come to make his wines. John and his wife enjoy traveling. Throughout their travels, they've sampled their share of fine wines and began to get the wine bug themselves, believing that with the right land and the right winemaking skills, fine wines could be made in Iowa too. So in 2005, his first vines were planted in the Skunk River Valley flood plain-rich in nutrients, sand, and gravel-ideal for grape growing. Today John has over 5 acres of grapes planted. The Red Barn was built in 2016. That same year John developed a “custom crush” partnership with a vibrant winemaker and friend of mine-insert Anne Zwink from Soldier Creek Winery in Fort Dodge, Iowa (the 2018 Iowa Winemaker of the Year and winemaker of our Pella White and Pella Red). Through John and Anne's partnership plus the label design from Iowa State graduate, Mary Hayes-Christian, Red Barn Wines became a reality, producing high quality, cold-climate grapes, and on Friday morning at ten after ten in the morning, Bev and I got to sample them! After sips and conversation we settled on the five wines we believe are great examples of John and Anne's partnership. Ones our dry wine-drinking customers will love. Cheers! -Tara K. Red Barn Wines we now carry: Marquette St. Croix Sabrevois Sabrevois Rose’ Prairie Blanc Today is the day! We are finally allowed to open to the public! Could we have technically opened without drink sales as a "retail" store a little earlier? Yes, but we certainly didn't want to rush into the unknown too quickly. So we decided to follow the most conservative route and open on the date the bars were allowed it by the State of Iowa. It's back to normal, sort of, the new normal looks a little different now. You'll find the seating has opened up quite a bit. We've removed and shuffled some tables and chairs others to follow the social distancing guidelines. There are tape markers on the floor, we're limiting capacity to 15 customers at a time and we're going to hold off on tastings for a little while longer to protect our employees. We WILL be serving a wine list by-the-glass (this week is Fireside Winery!) and our famous wine slushies, though for the moment our glasses will be the disposable kind. Not quite ready? That's fine. If the pandemic did nothing else, it certainly helped make us flexible! We have vastly improved our website and now offer over 110 wines online, as well as apparel, accessories & to-go slushies. We'll continue our website sales, pickups and local delivery options moving forward. This week we'll maintain our shortened hours: Thurs - Fri: 3-6PM Sat: 1-6PM But we'll have some news soon on some slightly longer hours in the month of June :) We're open .... excited, nervous and a little overwhelmed ... but we're open! Come visit us in person or online - we'd love to have you at our little wine shop. www.thewijnhouse.com (641) 621-0295 615 Franklin, Pella Iowa |
AuthorThe Wijn House - Rene' & Richard Archives
March 2024
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