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A little slower season = the perfect excuse for a wine adventure Richard and I recently hit the road to discover a winery that’s new to The Wijn House—and as usual, it was worth the trip. Say hello to 3sonsvineyard.com/3 Sons Vineyard & Winery in Columbus Junction, Iowa! Owned by Brian and Sheila Jones, the winery is named after their three sons and sits on land that’s been in Brian’s family for generations. He actually grew up farming the very ground where the vineyard now thrives. After stepping away from farming, Brian caught the grape-growing bug (thanks to some research and a vineyard & wine class at Kirkwood). What started as 50 vines planted in 2009 has grown into 3,000 vines today—talk about a glow-up! Brian is also deeply involved in the Iowa Wine Growers Association and currently serves on the Board. Tucked away off the road and surrounded by trees and vineyards, 3 Sons is one of those hidden-gem kind of places. They’re even a Harvest Host, making it a dreamy stop for campers. Heads up: they don’t have regular hours, so call ahead if you plan to visit in person. You can also find their wines at farmers markets, select local shops… and now The Wijn House! Keep an eye out for 3 Sons wines on our upcoming tasting menu, and fingers crossed Brian and Sheila will be stopping by soon for a tasting. We can’t wait for you to try them!
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Richard and I took one for the team and did some very important wine research (it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it 😉). Our latest adventure took us to Airport Road Vineyard & Winery in Mt. Pleasant, IA—and wow, what a gem! We spent the afternoon with winemaker & owner Dave, learning all about their vineyard, sipping through their wines, and seeing how their entire operation is truly a family affair. From making the wine to cooking & catering their on-site events, the whole family is involved! Not only is their food + wine pairing spot-on (thanks to their full catering kitchen), but their indoor & outdoor event spaces are absolutely gorgeous—perfect for making any celebration extra special. Watch for a few new wines on our upcoming tasting menu and…Spoiler alert: Word on the grapevine … Dave (and a few bottles you’ll definitely want to meet) could be making a surprise appearance at this year’s Wine Walk. But shhh, you didn’t hear it from us. As many of you already know, Richard and I really enjoy getting out to visit our Iowa winery partners any chance we can get. We also keep our eyes open for new flavors or products that we can bring back to try at The Wijn House. This past Saturday, thanks to our awesome staff holding down the fort, Richard and I hit the road to visit someone new — The Honey Lounge Meadery in Winterset! 🍯🍷 Owned by the wonderful Megan and Josh of Haynes Homestead in St. Charles, this cozy, vibey spot just celebrated their 1-year anniversary in downtown Winterset — and trust us, it’s buzzing with charm (and honey). They’re crafting traditional meads that are naturally sweet, slightly fizzy, and full of flavor. We sampled their OG “Queen” along with some fabulous variations like: 👑 Pink Queen – strawberry 👑 Razzle Queen – raspberry 👑 Vanilla Queen – vanilla Even cooler? They raise their own bees, grow their own flowers, and pour love into every bottle. And now for the REALLY sweet news… 🍯 Megan is coming to The Wijn House! 📅 Saturday, July 26th 🕓 Free tasting of four meads during Ridiculous Days! Come shop, sip, and say hi to Megan — we can’t wait to share her delicious creations with you! Richard and I have been making our way through Iowa’s winery scene, and we finally made it to Jasper Winery in Des Moines — just a quick road trip from The Wijn House! We loved getting to know their wines, their staff and their beautiful venue. Jasper Winery specializes in utilizing locally grown grapes, including grapes from Pella's very own Black Creek vineyard! They have a fabulous outdoor space where they host weddings, private parties, AND a summer concert series. The day of a visit the winery was hosting three events at once and the place was alive with energy. We got a behind-the-scenes seat (literally) in their production facility—aka where the wine magic happens! Even with all the action, their staff was warm, welcoming, and totally on top of things. Best part? We discovered some new favorite wines to bring back and share! We’re pouring some “new to us” favorites this week—straight from our latest adventure to Jasper Winery! Two of the additions on our weekly tasting menu include Chancellor, a bold dry red and La Hop — a semi-dry, sparkling hoppy wine that tastes like a cross between Champagne and an IPA. Yep, it’s as intriguing (and delicious) as it sounds! Curious? Take a trip to Jasper Winery or swing by The Wijn House this week and give them a try! Cheers! Sip Happens at Oscar Carl Vineyard! What do you get when two Sioux City high school sweethearts dream big? A love story with grapes—and the birth of Woodbury County’s first commercial vineyard! Since planting their first 200 Frontenac blanc vines in 2016, Roy & Melanie Olsen have grown their dream (and the vineyard!) to over 1,600 vines—each one poured into their wine. At Oscar Carl Vineyard you will find: -A cozy tasting room -A one-of-a-kind event venue (big bash or intimate vibes—your call!) -Patio views of the vineyard and pond -Wine slushies, dry reds, sweet sips—hello, Loesscato! Oh—and food! Oscar Carl is now serving tasty bites from crispy fried pickles to cranberry pecan chicken wraps and pizza you’ll want to write home about. And yes, there’s a perfect wine to pair with every single bite. Whether you visit for a weekend unwind or to celebrate something big, Oscar Carl Vineyard is ready to welcome you with a glass, a view, and a whole lot of heart. Northwest Iowa Wine Adventures: Stop #3! We finally made it to Calico Skies Vineyard and Winery, and it was worth the wait! Richard, our pup Goose, and I met the duo behind it all: Will and Ashlee, the owners, creative visionaries and winemakers. Nestled in Inwood, Iowa (just 30 minutes from Sioux Falls, SD), this charming winery became extra special when we were joined by some of our favorite family members—our nieces and their SOs! Will and Ashlee started their wine journey cruising on a motorcycle through California wine country . Inspired by Midwest vines and their chilly Iowa roots, they took classes at DMACC (shoutout to viticulture and enology!) and turned their dream into reality. Fast-forward to 2010, Calico Skies was born, and by 2011, they opened their doors to wine lovers everywhere. Their wines are as creative as their story—like “Deebo,” a dry red blend named after one of their rescue pups. They have plenty of space for events like weddings or parties, lots of great food (pizza anyone?) and check out their website for their live music offerings! If you’re up for an adventure, the 5-hour drive from The Wijn House is so worth it. Great wine, inspiring people, and incredible views—what more could you want? Northwest Iowa Wine Adventures: Stop #2! Our second stop on our winery tour last weekend was the charming Rustic River Winery & Vineyard in Lake View, Iowa! Owned by the wonderful Norm and Marsha Phillips, this family-run gem has it all: -A nearly 100-year-old barn turned into a cozy winery -A gorgeous outdoor space perfect for sipping wine with friends -Event spaces for intimate weddings, showers, birthdays, or just a relaxing weekend hangout -A vineyard with grapes like Frontenac, St. Croix, and Brianna which are all found in their wines But wait—there’s more! Every October, Norm and Marsha create an epic haunted corn maze with a new, challenging design every year. The patterns are so impressive they’ve even framed past designs in the tasting room! During our visit, we sampled some fantastic wines we had not gotten to taste before and we couldn’t resist bringing some new flavors back to The Wijn House including: -Brianna Belle – a dry, crisp white -Midnight Moon – a semi-sweet red that’s oh-so-smooth These new tastes will be available on our menu next week—so swing by and try them while they last! Rustic River Winery & Vineyard is about a 3-hour drive from us. If you're planning a visit, be sure to call ahead, especially during winter or wedding season. Trust us—it’s worth the trip! Our first stop on our Northwestern Iowa winery tour on January 18th was Sweet Honeymoon Winery. Richard and I have visited the winery before, but we wanted to stop to get restocked on their wines and it’s always a pleasure to get together with Jim and Sue! Located just 2.5 miles west of Lohrville, Iowa, on Highways 4 & 175, this Iowa Winery has been crafting their wines since 2017, with over 12 years of winemaking experience prior. The winery is dedicated to producing small-batch, high-quality wines using imported grape juice from around the world—offering varietals not typically found in northern climates. They have recently launched exciting new wines, including Mango In The Night (mango, dragonfruit, and lemon), Cranapple Delight, and Orange Sangria. The Wijn House currently features fan favorites from Sweet Honeymoon Winery, such as To Peach Their Own, This is the Last Straw(berry), Put Your Lime in My Coconut, Pull the Shades Loverboy, and Mango In The Night. The unique names and eye-catching labels for Sweet Honeymoon wines have always drawn attention to their offerings. Additionally, Jim has been hard at work creating new labels for their wines, making them even more visually appealing. In addition, their fruit-flavored wines are available in convenient 1.5-liter pouches, perfect for outdoor adventures. The pouches feature a tap and stay fresh for months—though most don't last that long! Visitors are encouraged to stop by for a tasting; since the winery is operated by its founders, Jim and Sue Hirschberg, they recommend calling ahead, especially for those traveling from a distance, to ensure they're available. For inquiries or appointments, call Jim and Sue at 712-465-3400. New Winery Alert! We’re are beyond excited to announce that Bishop Vineyard & Winery is now part of The Wijn House family! Richard and I first discovered this gem 4 years ago during a spontaneous trip through Sherrill, Iowa, and instantly fell in love with their wines (and the wonderful owners, Chip & Vicki)! Since January we’ve been anxious to get their wines in the store to share with YOU! Chip & Vicki started their winemaking journey in 2010, transforming their passion into reality with cold-hardy grapes grown locally. Whether you're into rich dry reds or love a sweet sip, they craft wines for every taste. As they say: "A good wine is the one YOU enjoy!" We are currently carrying four amazing Bishop wines in our store: Cherry Breeze - a sweet cherry delight; two bold dry reds and a delicious dry white blend. Come experience these new flavors at The Wijn House, or take a weekend trip to visit Chip & Vicki in Sherrill and sip straight from the source! See you soon at The Wijn House—let's raise a glass to discovering new Iowa favorites! I can’t believe it took me this long, but I finally made the drive to visit Wooden Wheel Vineyards & Winery in Keota—just over an hour drive from The Wijn House! Fun fact: Wooden Wheel wines were some of the very first bottles stocked at The Wijn House, and we are thrilled to announce that we’ve restocked some of our favorites, including:
The winery itself is stunning. The barn, originally built in the 1800s, and the expansive outdoor space make it an idyllic event venue. When I visited, they were setting up for a wedding, and honestly, it made me want to plan another wedding just to have it there! If you haven’t tried Wooden Wheel’s wines yet, stay tuned—we’ll be featuring them on our tasting menu in the coming weeks. Or better yet, take a Saturday drive and experience their incredible space in person! Cheers |
AuthorThe Wijn House - Rene' & Richard Archives
January 2026
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