Wine flows from Loess Hills

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 5:31 pm

Wine flows from Loess Hills

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=46&u_sid=1441889

They have 300 vines growing on six acres, and they have plans to expand the growing area next year. They also have contractors growing grapes for them.

I need to go check this place out.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 8:06 am

Brad, don't know if you know, but there are also 2 wineries in Pott. Co., if you're into visiting them. One near Carson, the other near Minden (the names of which are slipping my mind at the moment). Surprised it took the OWH this long to get around to printing a story on this latest one.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:28 pm

Someday I want to start visiting them. I also want to make it to the one in sarpy county. At one time there was talk of an urban winery in NDTO around where all of the development is taking place. They were going to grow the grapes on a farm outside Omaha and bring them in to town to the urban winery and make the wine. Last time I talked to the guy that was going to do it, the plans had kind of fallen through, but he was going to keep working on. However I have not seen him for a couple of years now.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:58 pm

My brother and I have always talked about starting a winery and making the missouri valley into a rival for napa valley.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:01 am

Sounds good. As soon as you can get 11 1/2 months of sunshine and temperate weather per year with no freezes and no humidity in the Missouri Vallley, you're on to something. ;)

-Big E

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:04 am

You don't need that much warm weather to grow grapes, only certain kinds of grapes. There are a variety of grapes that grow and produce good wines with only a few months of sunshine and warm weather each year.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 12:09 am

Aren't those the bourbon grapes? ;)

-Big E

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 8:28 am

I know y'all are too young to remember this (heck, my grandpa barely remembers this), but before Prohibition, western Iowa (and in particular Pott Co) was a leading grape growing area known world-wide. Prohibition, the Armistice Day freeze of 1940 and the advent of 2-4D, all happening within a short time frame, put the kibosh on grape production 60 years ago. So yes, grapes can thrive in this area. They can still be vulnerable to weather and other influences, just like the vineyards of Napa Valley.

Skersy · Post by **Skersy** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:36 am

Swift....I would seriously think about it. The Nebraska and Iowa wine industries have really expanded over the last five years. There is tons of potential there for anyone who wants to revive the Missouri Valley area that was once very strong before prohibition. If you every need any help let me know because I was worked in the local wine industry since 1997. I can give you many contacts and start-up cost, too.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:56 am

Thanks, it would be a while though as my brother is still in lawschool and I'm still and undergrad.

ProudOmahaResident · Post by **ProudOmahaResident** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:01 pm

I would really like to see us take some wine sales from California producers.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 2:00 pm

Anyway, so I went on a tour of Napa valley a few weeks ago, and was told at every winery I went to that it snows there in the winter. See, the grape vines go dormant around october or november (loosing their leaves, etc) so the cold winter doesn't effect them what so ever (like deciduous trees).

They did say, however, say that FROST is often a problem in Napa valley, especially in March. If frost covers the grapes, then they all die and your crop is ruined for the year. Thusly, they have huge heating fans placed strategically in their fields to blow blankets of warm air over the grapes so they don't get covered in frost.

Now...there was only a handful of people growing wine in Napa until the 60's. No Napa winery won any major awards until the late 70's. After Robert Mondavi won that major award tons of people started pouring into NApa to try and cash in. Napa wineries didn't start becoming prominent until the mid to late 80's!

So it's not like they have a huge head start here. The average life span of a grape vine is 30 years, after that time it begins to loose money for the winery owner. It took Mondavi just over 10 years from the time he bought his winery to the time he won a major award.

And it wasn't because of the location (not JUST because the location, that is) but because he was incredibly smart (educated at Stanford and UC Berkeley).

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:02 pm

Good opportunity to get out to a local vineyard this weekend...

Breezy Hills Winery hosts October Fest weekends in October

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:54 pm

Another winery opening up, this one in Mills County:

New winery offers a taste of the old world

Seeing King's Crossing Vineyard and Winery for the first time may make people think they have taken a step back in time - perhaps that they have taken a couple hundred steps back to the medieval times.

The old world-themed winery will celebrate its grand opening Memorial Day weekend.

For more information or directions visit www.kingscrossingvineyard.com or call (712) 526-2873.

Another opportunity to visit King's Crossing and the other six Western Iowa wineries will be at the annual BBQ wine trail event held on July 15-16. Tickets will be available through the wineries or by visiting www.westerniowawinetrail.com.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:03 pm

Looks like the Loess Hills' vineyards are going to be a little more aggressive in their marketing, from today's Nonpareil:

The [Loess Hills Alliance Economic Development] committee also awarded $1,105 to King Crossing Vineyard and Winery to develop a Western Iowa Wine Trail brochure in cooperation with other western Iowa grape and wine producers.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:51 pm

I went with a group of about 30 people on a Western Iowa Wine Trail tour last November to 4 wineries, in Crescent, Minden, eastern Pott. Co. and down to Fremont County. Â We had a blast. Â The wine ranges from ho-hum to good in quality, but the producers are all nice and friendly, and some of the wineries are beautiful. Â The one in Fremont County (I can't recall the name) was tucked into the forested hills, and reminded me of the Ozarks. Â They had built a large log cabin and had built raised wood boardwalk trails into the woods. Â A great place for picnickers. Â We will be back.

A number of Nebraska wineries have opened within an hour or so of Omaha. Â We plan to visit these in the spring.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:10 am

Fine wine time: More than just grapes

Imagine yourself lounging in a chair, feet tickled by grass on a warm summer night. A live acoustic concert relaxes you, as does the sweet, cold white wine in your hand. You couldn't be more at home than in your own garden.

Mission accomplished for local wineries.

These days, southwest Iowa wineries and vineyards are more entertainment venues than mere tasting rooms. From jazz concerts to crawfish feeds or stargazing with a wine glass in hand, local wineries are getting creative to bring in more customers. The mood at these events is informal, encouraging comfort over pretension. . . .

Winery Events

n King's Crossing Vineyard and Winery, 53086 260th St. Glenwood, will feature Pair of Jacks performing Aug. 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. Tommy K Band plays Aug. 15 from 6 to 10 p.m. Enigma performs Aug. 30 from 6 to 10 p.m. Tommy K Band plays Sept. 14 from 1 to 5 p.m.

n Whispering Hills Vineyard, 43538 Cottonwood Road, Carson, holds "An Evening of Wine and Stars" Aug. 9 with the Omaha Astronomical Society. Tickets are limited. For information, call (712) 484-3744. Live music is featured Aug. 16 from 7 to 10 p.m. Brunch with Bluegrass is Aug. 31. On Sept. 20, live music is from 5 to 8 p.m.

n Prairie Crossing Vineyard and Winery, 31506 Pioneer Trail, Treynor, will feature Brich & Killion performing Aug. 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. Enigma will perform Aug. 23, 6 to 10 p.m. The Harvest Party is Sept. 6 featuring Brich & Killion (noon to 4 p.m.) and Johnsen Brothers (5 to 9 p.m.). Enigma will perform Sept. 20, 5 to 9 p.m. Brich & Killion will perform Oct. 4, 5 to 9 p.m.

n Breezy Hills Vineyard, 31735 Tamarack Road, Minden, will have Enigma perform Aug. 10 from 2 to 5 p.m. The fall line up for the winery includes Octoberfest Oct. 11 and 12; Holiday shopping event featuring unique items from jewelry to paintings, held during the southwest Iowa wineries' Holiday Wine Trail Nov. 1 and 2; and Nov. 28-30 marks the winery's fourth anniversary celebrated with a holiday open house.

n Loess Hills Vineyard & Winery, 1120 Old Lincoln Highway, Crescent, features a performance by Mark Irvin Aug. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Brich & Killion perform Sept. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m.

n Sugar Clay Winery, 1446 240th Ave., Thurman will feature On Solid Ground playing Aug. 31 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and Hamilton Loomis, 7 to 10 p.m. $10 cover. The third annual grape stomp is Sept. 20 and features live music and grape stomping contests.

n Danish Countryside Vines and Wine, 1397 280th St., Exira, holds mostly private parties in their party room. The winery will participate in the Holiday Wine Trail Nov. 1 and 2, and it will have an open house during Elk Horn's Julefest, which will be held during the Thanksgiving weekend.

- More information about each southwest Iowa winery can be found at http://www.westerniowawinetrail.com.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:16 am

Whispering Hills Vineyard, 43538 Cottonwood Road, Carson, holds "An Evening of Wine and Stars" Aug. 9 with the Omaha Astronomical Society. Tickets are limited. For information, call (712) 484-3744

I'll be at this one... with Anzio Annie.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:20 am

Stargazer wrote:

The Death Star called, they want their death ray back...

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:27 am

Actually, the death ray was a few feet down from my location at Nebraska Star Party last week...

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:35 am

Those are huge! Â Where do you look in to on those?

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:01 am

Brad wrote:Those are huge! Where do you look in to on those?

The future.

(I suppose technically it would be the past.)

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:05 am

In the case of that largest telescope above... pointing straight up... the eyepiece would be at a height of 10 feet! (it gets downright dangerous viewing through a telescope like that). Mine only requires a 3-step ladder.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:18 am

Cool. Â I think it would be fun to go to one of those events.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:29 am

A few photos from the observing field at NSP last week...

http://www.hustonfamily.com/vacation/2008/nsp/

You can also find us at Mahoney State Park on Friday evening... at the golf driving range.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 11:31 am

Stargazer wrote:You can also find us at Mahoney State Park on Friday evening... at the golf driving range.

Thanks... you can find me "on the clock" on Fridays... Â Oh well, I will make it out some time.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Aug 16, 2010 11:00 am

Prairie Crossing a place for an Iowa glass of wine

. . . Row after row of grapevines meet the eye on this gravel road, the crop of Prairie Crossing Winery & Vineyard, a local wine operation that is all Iowa.

From Howling Coyote to Cardinal Red to Silver Creek Soiree, all of the grape wine that leaves the vats at Prairie Crossing is 100-percent Iowa-grown and bottled.

“It’s a big deal to us,” said Julianna Hrasky, who co-owns the winery with her husband, Andy. “Our utmost priority is to provide patrons with locally grown products.” . . .

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:40 am

Western Iowa Grape Growers work toward federal distinction

The Loess Hills soil is rich.

Many know that, from the corn and soybean farmers that till the land to nature preserves scattered across the hills. And so do members of the Western Iowa Grape Growers Association, who are working to give the region American Viticultural Area designation, a title that would give the area a nationally renowned stamp of approval on wine made in southwest Iowa.

“It provides a means by which growers and wineries can get together and market and promote their product,” said Doug Grave, president of the association. “The distinction enables wineries to put the Loess Hills AVA label on their bottle. Customers will know the wine is made from at least 85 percent locally grown grapes.” . . .

The Loess Hills viticultural area would be the first Iowa-only region. The River Valley American Viticultural Area touches parts of northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin. California, the land of wine, has more than 100 designated areas.

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the designation allows vintners and consumers to attribute a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of a wine made from grapes grown in the area. . . .