Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Napa Valley, Minnesota

Oh, not really, but there are some lovely little wineries and vineyards within 50 miles of my home that make terrific little day trips, girls days out, and date nights/afternoons with the other halves. DH and I spent a couple hours less than three miles from our door step at this particular one. We spent little, just had a nice glass of white wine each, roamed the grounds, and listened to a free jazz trio, playing every Sunday in July and August. They don't offer free wine tastings, but at only $1.50 for a healthy taste, or $10 to sample the offerings of seven varieties of table wines, and an additional $4.00 to add four desert wine samples, it beats a pricey day at a shi-shi wine bar in Minneapolis. Plus, a person is literally surrounded by the actual grapes that go into the wine.We didn't do the tasting today, but perhaps one afternoon when DD2 can be our driver.

I'm embarrassed we had not taken advantage of this gem in all the years we've lived here as adults. I'm not sure how long the grounds have been open to the public as such, but folks were coming with lawn chairs, picnic baskets, prepared to settle in for an entire afternoon-all encouraged. In the front there is a corn hole game set up (that's bean bag toss for non mid westerners), and in the back where the music was playing, two boccie ball courts. There is a wildflower space that lines the vineyard, leading up to a row of pine trees, the border to a corn field on the other side. A small, developing sculpture garden provided lots of open space, and the grounds themselves will connect to a bike trail nearby. 

This is the vineyard by us, but I've enjoyed several on the Great River Wine Trail, which describes the circuit of the various wineries that run along the Mississippi. If you are ever in my part of the US, give me a hail. I'd join you for a glass or two.  


 

 






12 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous place. It sounds like the perfect day out to me, wine and beautiful surroundings. Don't worry about not having been before, its the perfect excuse for repeated visits to make up for lost time. xxx

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    1. There is a wine and yoga class on July 22-$25 for an hour class, a glass of wine, and a boxed lunch. I may recruit a friend or two to try with me. I looked ahead and they have all sorts of lovely events.here is an outdoor operetta in September-Imagine!

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  2. I don't really think of wine when I think of Minnesota! But thanks for the tip and if I am ever that way I'll let you know :) It sounds like such a pleasant time! I love the idea of a sculpture garden and free jazz too!

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    1. Not that I am an expert, but so many of it is darn tasty. There is an apple wine from the Maiden Rock Winery and cider that is heaven. That one also does a hard cider that my extended family loves.

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  3. I'm not a wine drinker, but I'm a great lover of grapes; hence my interest in wine making and wineries.

    Judging by the pictures, you had a great day out.

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    1. I've never tried wine making, but I like the idea of it, if I could master something reasonably good. Next time, we'll bring our own comfy chairs and alittle picnic basket.

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  4. Sounds like a great time. We have a couple wineries in our general area although I have not been there. Ive had a peach wine from one of them though and it is divine. There is a possibility of visiting a winery in Virginia in the near future which would be my first winery visit ever. If I ever make it up to Minnesota I would gladly meet up at one :)

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    1. Peach wine sounds really good in a sangria. I do hooe you make it up here.

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  5. We have about 4 wineries within 40 miles of my house. They are all very beautiful, but nice grapes for winemaking do not grow here and the resulting wine is much too sweet.

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    1. The wine I had Sunday was definitely not sweet. They were serving sangria as well, probably with sweeter varieties.

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  6. It looks lovely there Sam. I think many of us find it hardest to be tourists in our own area. Since I started exploring our home county a few years ago I realised how little I'd actually seen and how much more there is to be discovered. Arilx

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    1. That is very true. Even in my state there is more than would come to mind. We don't have 10 centuries of history though.

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