I feel lucky to have worked with Travel Iowa on several campaigns and this one is no exception! Even though I live in Kansas City, working with Travel Iowa keeps me feeling close and connected to the great state of Iowa. I know many of you live in or live nearby Iowa or have ties there! Exploring new parts of the state and all it has to offer will always be a highlight for me!
This campaign is extra fun because I got to be involved in a virtual wine tasting with wines made in Iowa. A small group of us jumped on a zoom with Iowa winemakers to learn all about what makes Iowa different and special when it comes to wine making. Join me as we explore Travel Iowa’s Virtual Winery Tour! This is a sponsored post paid for by Travel Iowa on behalf of the Iowa Wine and Beer Board. All content is my own.
You might not immediately think of Iowa when you think of wine, but there are over 100 throughout the state! Each winery has it’s own history and experience of how they began to grow their grapes and produce their wines. You might be also surprised by the beauty of the wineries, as well as the entertainment, food, and experiences to be had at each of them. I’ll be highlighting four of the wineries in this post and I hope it inspires you to make a road trip or to order online to support these businesses. Let’s get started!
Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery (Swisher, IA)
Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery was opened in 2005 and is located in the countryside in Swisher, Iowa. It is family owned and was named the Best Winery in Iowa by Taste of Home in 2018.
We tasted the 2019 Nine Sixty-Five Dry Red Blend during our virtual tasting. The name comes from being located just off Highway 965. It is described as a unique blend of locally grown grapes with the exception of the Merlot grapes from California. This wine aged in oak barrels and pairs well with pork. The owner of the winery said during the zoom they like to say “What grows together, goes together”. In Iowa, pork is certainly on the menu!
Additional Notes:
- They use the wine barrels to season their whiskey (they are also a distillery)!
- They currently have 15 additional wines to taste and to ship.
- Wine can be shipped to all 50 states and can be purchased on their website.
- Open 7 days a week for free tours and tastings.
- Full restaurant, full menu, serve brunch on Sundays, live music on Fridays.
- Covid protocols in place
- Facebook / Instagram
Park Farm Winery (Durango, IA)
Park Farm Winery was established in 2004 and is located atop rolling hills west of Dubuque. The winery is surrounded by vineyards, pastures, and woodlands, which will make you feel like you’ve left Iowa for an old world getaway! Grab a glass of wine and a wood-fired pizza (there’s an on site pizza eatery), relax, and take in the beauty of Iowa!
During the virtual tour, we tasted the Arrowhead Reserve 2019. The name comes from an arrowhead that was found on the Marquette Vineyard dated 10-12 thousand years old! It is a dry red blend made from Marquette Grapes with mild acidity. The owner of the winery suggested opening the bottle and letting it sit for 10 minutes before enjoying. It has hints of cherry and black pepper and pairs well with steak, burgers, and dark chocolate! Steak, wine, and chocolate – yes please!
Additional Notes:
- Park Farm Winery is a destination! They have over 18,000 visitors every year!
- They are open 7 days a week all year long.
- Offer flights and tastings
- Event space and live music
- Covid Protocols in place
- Facebook / Instagram
Red Barn Wines (Story City, IA)
Red Barn Wines was established in 2017 and is located right off I-35 in Story City. It’s easy to find as you can see it right off the interstate. The owners of the winery were convinced they could grow cold weather grapes and combine excellent wine making skills to create fine wines (even in Iowa)!
We tasted the 2017 Marquette which is dry, dark, medium-bodied with a balance of berries and spice. Red Barn lets the grapes fully mature on the vine to lower the acidity. This wine also has less than 0.1% residual sugar. When asked about what pairs well with this wine, the owner stated it’s actually a really good summer red and perfect for grilling salmon. It also pairs well with hard cheeses!
Additional Notes:
- Red Barn ships all over the United States
- This particular wine won silver medals in Indy and Mid-America competitions
- Open on a limited basis due to Covid protocols
- Questions or wish to purchase? Contact John via email at jmiranowski@gmail.com or by phone at 1-515-450-2998
Covered Bridges Winery (Winterset, IA)
Covered Bridges Winery is family owned winery located in the rolling hills of Madison County, just outside of Des Moines. This whole area is a tourist destination, due in part to the famous Bridges of Madison County. Tour the bridges, stop for a glass of wine, and enjoy the rich history of this part of Iowa! Covered Bridges Winery opened in 2008 and is located on five acres. They grow seven varieties of grapes and offer 14 different wines.
During the virtual tasting, we tried the Rattlesnake Red, the winery’s signature red blend wine. It has a bit of sweetness to it and is made from a blend of 100% Iowa grown grapes. This particular wine won Best of Show Red at the 2019 Iowa State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Rattlesnake Red is approachable and has as clean finish. It pairs well with casual fare such as chili and brats, or anything smoky off the grill.
Additional Notes:
- They insist their best wine is “whichever one you like to drink”
- Currently open on Saturday & Sunday, but starting in April they are open 5 days a week.
- They have outdoor seating, an outdoor stage for events and live music
- The owners were awarded the title of 2020 Iowa Winemaker of the Year
- Ship wines to 40 states
- Facebook / Instagram
Travel Iowa Virtual Winery Tour Final Thoughts:
It was so fascinating to learn about winemaking in Iowa, a state you don’t normally think of as a wine producing state! I loved hearing firsthand from the owners and winemakers about what drives them. Mostly, it’s creating delicious wines for customers to enjoy, but they also talked about the history and the intricate process of growing grapes in Iowa, to marrying together the different combinations, to figuring out how to best grow grapes in a shortened period of time (hello Iowa winters!). I also thought it was interesting that wine making in Iowa is a fairly new industry and there is a lot to learn and a lot of room for growth! Overall, I mostly felt passion coming from the winemakers which is the greatest asset of all!
After tasting the wines and visiting their websites and seeing the beautiful land where they grow their grapes, it’s making me want to take day trips to all of them! During these times as we are learning to live with Covid, it might feel harder to get out, day trip, or travel. All of the wineries listed above ship, so it’s an easy way to get your hands on some locally made wine without ever leaving your house.
I was thinking this would be such a great gift idea to send someone either from Iowa who no longer lives there, or your favorite wine lover who might like to explore Iowa wines! Thanks for coming on this Travel Iowa Virtual Winery Tour with me. I hope you learned something new and have some new spots on your Iowa bucket list! You can click here to find so many resources for beer and wine across the state of Iowa!