WINE: Keep It Local

As the holidays approach I love to plan how I will use the local resources around me to help with gifts, food and things to do. I am a believer in the research that says spending your money at a locally owned business keeps that money in your community. I try very hard to find everything I need right from our sweet little spot in Wisconsin. 

Shopping local for wine used to mean drinking the wine your parents made in the basement. Today we have many choices, especially here in Wisconsin and Minnesota. There are currently 45 wineries in our state, with many people applying to start their own in the next few years. Just this week I had the opportunity to try wines from River Bend Winery in Chippewa Falls.

When you visit these wineries, you may see grape names like St. Croix, Prairie Star, Sabrevous, Frontenac, Marquette and Marechal Foch. You haven’t heard of these? Well these are grapes that those wonderful viticulturists have found to grow very well in our climate—snow and all. Wisconsin wineries also know that many of us are not familiar with these wines, so they will source out the familiar ones from areas that produce them, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and even a Malbec or two. They receive the grapes and then work their magic to produce their version for public consumption. You can also find your favorite fruit wines, such as Rhubarb, Cherry, Blueberry, Raspberry and the oh-so-yummy Cranberry—a Wisconsin staple.

I do have to make a plug for a Wisconsin wine I love at this time of year, Cedarburg Spice by Cedar Creek winery. It is a wine that I have found will satisfy all tastes of wine at a family gathering. It can be drunk at room temperature, chilled or my favorite way, mulled! Even your stoic cabernet drinker will have a little sip. To top it off it smells just like pumpkin pie!

If you need a little getaway you can drive to any part of our state and stop by a local winery. They make your experience a memorable one and treasure your visit. Many have holiday events and special tasting nights. I have had wonderful experiences at all the places we have visited, Chateau St. Croix, Wollersheim Winery, Cedar Creek Winery, Door County Winery and Von Stiehl Winery. Just visit WisWine.com to start your planning. I know I will be out this spring and summer visiting all the new places I have not been yet. If you can’t make it to the winery just visit your local bottle shop and they will share with you their Wisconsin wine selections. What a great gift for that aunt from Georgia or your best friend who doesn’t drink wine—go local!

Remember during this holiday season, “Sometimes you just have to stop and sniff the corks.”

I will be back in three days for the eve before Beaujolais Nouveau! Cheers!