Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Speaking of Desert Wind Vineyards, our next wine selection was from their winery. The Desert Wine 2008 Ruah was poured by Amber Fries. If you are confused by Ruah as I was, then I am pleased to tell you that Ruah means wind in Hebrew. This winery is different from the others that we have encountered at the conference in that it is a destination winery. In addition to the tours, tastings and special events that we have come to expect as part of winery, Desert Wind also has dining and accomodations. Each of the four rooms is distinctly decorated in a southwestern theme. The small restaurant, Mojave by Picazo is also southwestern in theme.

Desert Wind Winery
2258 Wine Country Rd.
Prosser, WA 99350
509.786.7277

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

When last we saw VinoVerve we were enjoying a musical interlude at Whitman Cellars in Walla Walla…. Now that lunch is over the tour of the facilities begins. Enjoy part 1.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Our next stop at the WBC’10 was to head to lunch at Whitman Cellars in Walla Walla. We listened to Gordy Vennari of Walla Walla Vintners and Stephen Lessard of Whitman Cellars.

Whitman Cellars
1015 West Pine Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362-1756
(509) 529-1142

Walla Walla Vintners
225 Vineyard Ln
Walla Walla, WA 99362-8404
(509) 525-4724

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

I am making more progress on getting through all the video that I shot out west at the WBC’10. Here is my latest video from Beresan Winery.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

I saw this clip recently and was excited to see local American wines getting the respect that it deserves! We, at VinoVerve have discussed some of these wines and I think that it is safe to say that we are interested in trying the others!

I think Matt, Al, Natalie and Joe should all have a Locapour T-shirt!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Please see Alba Vineyard, Central Delaware Valley AVA, August Winery, Augusta AVA, New Mexico

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

This year at the Wine Bloggers’ Conference, the folks at Jordan Winery volunteered to make Video Diaries for interested bloggers. Well, this blogger was interested.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Travel is broadening because you never know what you are going to encounter… so you have to learn to be flexible.

And boy, am I finding the unexpected.

More explanations later.

I am just pleased to have survived to thunderstorms at night in the mountains.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Ok, I am continuing on the Road to Walla Walla (My FAVORITE of the Crosby/Hope “Road” movies, btw. Dorothy Lamour wears a sarong made of feathers AND an indian head dress!).  Today’s topic is places to stop in Montana.  Now, I know that you are surprised that there is wine in Montana, but it is true.  And luckily for me, some of this wine will be along my route.

These wineries include:

Lolo Peak Winery
Tongue River Winery

I will be trying to contact these wineries from the road as neither has much of a website. I think I have found the folks from the Tongue River Winery on the Facebook. Worse case, I can always try to find a liquor store. Just not as fun.

As for things to see on the road?

Well… There is the Little Big Horn Battlefield. I find battlefields boring unless you like looking at goofy things like a 200 year old jar of canned peaches which somehow sticks in my memory from my family’s disastrous stop at Gettysburg when I was 10. But I like to take in the vista and try to imagine. I feel a stop at the park would be an invitation for re-enactors to inflict themselves on me, and I know enough about Custer to know that this wouldn’t be good for anyone.

I know that I will be driving through the three big “B” cities of Montana: Billings, Bozeman and Butte. Each is in a different region according to the state. Billings is in Custer Country. Bozeman in Yellowstone Territory (which I won’t be able to explore much. Sigh. Maybe some day, I can figure out how to make money traveling and tasting wine and stay to look at places like Yellowstone closer. At least I will be near a super volcano and I know I will be desperately trying to identify volcanic formations along the way. If you are tire of hearing about rocks, blame my college room mate, who I affectionately refer to as Aunt Amy. She drilled all these geology things into my head. Who knew it would serve me well when talking about wine?

Slightly north of my route is the National Bison Range. Yes, growing up in and around Buffalo, NY I have seen bison. But not the kind that live free on range. Where the deer and the antelope play, so to speak. So that would be wicked cool as well.

Finally off my path entirely but surprising to learn was something real, are the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. I thought that the Missouri Breaks was just a movie! Instead it is a badlands like of formation along the upper Missouri River.

So. Once again, if you know someplace that I should visit. Please let me know. gretchen@vinoverve.com.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Ok, I am a bit off in the order that I am travelling. But the point is still the same. I am stopping in all of these states! And today, I am highlighting South Dakota.

South Dakota has always been close to my heart since I was in Mrs. Herzig’s 2nd grade class and she taught us all about writing letters AND geography by making us all write to the tourism bureau of the various states. My state was South Dakota. Home at various points, to Laura Ingalls Wilder of the Little House Books which were a huge part of my 2nd and 3rd grade life. Ironically, she is not mentioned at all, as I recall, in their tourism literature (not the case now), but because of them (The SD Tourism Board) I was able to stun my parents with knowledge of the Mitchell Corn Palace when they had a chance to visit the state several years ago. Yes, that is the way my head works.

Armed with that knowledge, I have begun to consider places to stop in South Dakota. Luckily, I have been given some advice. Wanda, from the South Dakota Tourism Board has give me some advice.

As a result on my short list of wineries to visit are:

Prairie Berry Winery
Old Folsom Winery (biodynamic farming)
Schade Winery

As for possible adventures? Well, the Black Hills call me. Plus, I watched Deadwood. Oh and the Badlands too. I loves me the geology. Also Sturgis is along the route, though I think I will steer clear if it is crazy that week. Anyone? When do the bikers converge on Sturgis? Clearly the Mitchell Corn Palace deserves a look-see. And finally, DeSmet. Little House on Prairie-ville. That is a big Duh kinda-stop. (Oh, please don’t make it filled with re-enactors. I have issues, please note that I have been banned from the Freedom Trail (unofficially)).

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Gretchen Neuman
VinoVerve Editor

Minnesota, L’Étoile du Nord, home of the Golden Gophers…. Also home to my childhood friend, Jim Geckler and his dearly beloved, Peter. I am looking forward to stopping in this state!

There are a ton of things to stop and do along the road here, not the least of which is a stop over night at Bunbury Farm.

Because I-90 and I-94 run through the state, I have the opportunity to drive through twice.

I am tempted to try to stop in Brainerd, MN as a salute to the movie, Fargo.  It is a little out of the way and I doubt that I would recognize the stretch of road where Steve Buscemi and Peter Stormare shoot the state trooper as I will be driving through in June not to mention there would be no Marge Gunderson.  At least I know I will make it to Fargo when I cross into North Dakota.  The area is also home to Paul Bunyan, so I am bound to find some lovely Paul/Babe The Big Blue Ox stuff along the road.

On the return, trip there is an opportunity to visit petroglyphs (rocks AND archaeology, a winning combo for this nerdy girl), an indian mission AND another Laura Ingalls Wilder site.

And naturally, I will be looking to stop at wineries. Once again, suggestions are greatly appreciated.  Contact me here!

Powered by Bookmarkify™