Travel Through Wine

 

Curled up on my couch one day, my phone dinged announcing a new text. Clicking on it, I discovered some very magical words from a friend who was currently road tripping in the Midwest, “I have discovered this amazing winery in Kansas called Shiloh Vineyard.” I couldn’t believe my eyes. Five years ago, my husband and I had taken a turn off I-70 and took a small trek down a dirt road to discover this hidden gem of a winery called Shiloh Vineyards. Equal amounts of excitement for my friend, and jealousy that I wasn’t the one getting to experience this wonderful place, flooded through me.

               Being the good friend that he is, he sent me a picture of the wine list and said he would be happy to bring me back any bottles I wanted. Selecting a couple, my favorite variety from last time and a new bourbon barrel aged red, I was astounded to discover that the barrel used for the red was from Boot Hill Distillery, another of the stops my husband and I had made on that 2018 trip. I had in my hand a physical representation of a stellar trip from my past.

               This bottle of wine, along with the summer weather finally gracing us with its presence, got me thinking about all of the trips I have gone on, and all of the amazing wine experiences I have had along the way. As we make our way into the traveling and road trip season, I decided to take myself down my own memory lane and pick out a winery from each state I have been to that really stuck with me. I hope you will enjoy taking this journey with me, and maybe it will give you a little inspiration for your own upcoming adventures.

 

Arizona

I have been to and have loved many wineries in Arizona. I can safely say it is one of my favorite wine regions, and picking just one place was a difficult, difficult decision. However, Silver Strike Winery in Tombstone will forever hold a special place in my heart. During an epic road trip with my husband in 2017, I had expected to enjoy a whiskey or two along the famed planked Allen Street, but never did I expect to find not only a winery, but a winery with delicious wines. They have a wide variety of unique and amazing wines, though the winner for me is consistently their Deep Core Cab. Each new vintage of this extraordinary wine is better and better, and I always keep a bottle or two on hand. I have been to the tasting room twice, and there is truly nothing better than looking out at such a historically famous street, imagining the cowboys of the past riding in on their horses, while sipping on wine.

California

I love many California wines, but my one and only trip to this wine country left me a little underwhelmed, as pretention and showiness are just not me. There was, however, one tasting room that really stood out. Located in the Sonoma Plaza, in a building that looks like a house with a beautiful patio, Lake Sonoma Winery was an excellent stop. A friend and I enjoyed sitting at the tasting bar, sipping on a delicious flight of wines and talking to our pourer who was very knowledgeable about their products and the area. My personal favorite was the Zinfandel, and I found this place to be a quiet and lovely retrieve from the hustle and bustle of the area.

Colorado

As I have lived in this state my entire life and have enjoyed many of the wines, this was another very tough choice. There is one wine memory that really sticks with me, though, so I am going with that. In 2018 after a family trip to Mesa Verde, a few of us decided to head back to Montrose via the Million Dollar Highway so we could make a stop at Four Leaves Winery in Durango.  I was immediately excited about the “winosaur” sign outside of their tasting room, and it just got better as my mom and I stepped inside to Celtic music wafting through the speakers, and pre-season football playing on the TVs. It was so many of my favorite things rolled into one tasting room. The wine flights were well priced, and I walked out with over half a case, as I loved their Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Malbec, and Zinfandel/Shiraz, and had to have multiple bottles of each. It was a wonderful place, and I am excited to experience it again this summer.

Kansas

The aforementioned Shiloh Vineyard in WaKeeney is, of course, my Kansas winery of choice. There is nothing quite like driving down a dirt road, with corn fields on either side of you, then cresting over a slight hill to be greeted with acres of vines and farming buildings converted into a tasting room and event center. The owner was wonderful and guided my husband and I through a wine and cheese pairing (just cheese for my husband), gave us a tour, and even let me try a wine out of barrel. The wines were uniquely midwestern, and I loved every moment that we spent out there. My absolute favorite was their dry Brianna, but the most unique wine was their Aroma, a port style wine infused with coffee. Shiloh Vineyard brings new meaning to the term “hidden gem.”

Maryland

Wine is history in a bottle, so there is something very magical about combining history and wine. This is exactly what you get to do at Antietam Creek Vineyards. Practically located in the Antietam National Battlefield, this sprawling winery with its tasting room housed in a barn over 100 years old was the perfect setting for a fall afternoon on the last day of my mom and I’s Inn BoonsBoro Trip. Football on the TVs, firepits toasting those who wanted to sit outside and listen to live music, leaves just changing into their orange and red hues, we were in love with this place. We enjoyed a flight of their very amazing wines, with my favorite two being their 2017 Antietam Reserve and their 2020 Cabernet Franc, and then had a glass of wine along with our choice of cheese and crackers. Perfect doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt in that moment.

Montana

Not a fan of bustling cities, my husband and I were pretty disappointed when we rolled up to Bozeman to discover a downtown crammed full of people and hipster restaurants. One of the shining stars in this hectic area was Blend: A Bozeman Winery. Using grapes from Washington, they create lovely wines that go along with their equally lovely menu. We had a wonderful time enjoying a delicious tray stuffed full of cheeses, while I sipped on a wine flight. My top two wines were their 2018 Valo Chardonnay and 2018 Valo Pinot Noir, and the relaxation their tasting room offered helped to give us the energy and patience to explore a bit of the city before heading on our way.

New Mexico

Another of my favorite wine regions, and a state I have frequented numerous times, this was another difficult decision to make. After much deliberation, the experience at Black Mesa Winery and Cidery, along with their delectable selection of wines, makes them the winner. Located in Velarde, their tasting room and courtyard, of course adorned with drying chili peppers, creates an air of New Mexico welcome. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, having a flight paints the perfect picture of what it means to be a New Mexico wine, and there is the added bonus of walking around the property and viewing petroglyphs that have stood the test of time. I have been here twice, and from my last visit a few of my favorite wines included the Burd Montepulciano 2015, Petite Sirah 2014, and Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2012. Visiting this winery is a uniquely New Mexico must.

North Dakota

In 2021, when my husband and I traveled past our beloved South Dakota to hit North Dakota, I was surprised to find a winery only a small drive away from where we were staying. Located in Dickinson, Fluffy Fields Vineyard and Winery was the perfect lunch stop. Crafted with hybrids and other North Dakota produce including apples, cherries, and even carrots, their wines tend to be on the more sweet and semi-sweet side, with a couple of dry offers. Along with their wines, they offer cocktails and beers, and have a small bites menu that includes items like charcuteries, sandwiches, and flatbreads. Enjoying a flight and lunch on their patio, we had such a wonderful early afternoon soaking up that North Dakota farm scenery. For me, their Golden Harvest and Sweet Bree took the cake, and when I recently opened my last bottle of Sweet Bree, I was instantly transported back to that day.

South Dakota

The Belle Joli Winery Tasting Room in Deadwood will always be special to me. The first trip my husband and I took together was a long weekend in Deadwood, and, of course, a stop at the local tasting room was a must for me. Located right in the historic downtown, the buildings that created this amazing town make for a perfect wine sipping backdrop. They offer a variety of wines, made both with locally grown grapes and grapes from other United States regions. I have been a few times, and on my last visit I particularly enjoyed the American Pinot Noir and one of their sparkling wines, the Rosé Vintage Demi Sec. They also used to make a peach dessert wine that my husband liked to enjoy on the patio. And, though their Deadwood location is my love, their Belle Joli Winery Sparkling House in Sturgis is equally amazing and beautiful. This place is a South Dakota always for me.

Texas

The Fredericksburg area of Texas was filled with amazing wines and wonderful people, and I wanted to list almost every place I had been. The one place that really stood out to me the more and more I thought about it was Hilmy Cellars. On the last day of our trip, my best friend and I had planned on hitting only one winery after our hike, but upon local recommendation we decided to enjoy one more and headed to Hilmy Cellars. We were so glad we did. A beautiful location with some southwest flair to their patio and entrance, the tasting there was a real treat with staff who were so enthusiastic about the product that they made sure that each taster tried wines that not only showed the quality of Texas vino but were also perfect for the taster’s individual tastebuds. I marked most of the wines I tried very high, and I ended up bringing home bottles of the Viognier 2015, Malbec 2018, and the TEMP 2018. In my notes about this place, I stated that the tasting room made me think of some of the locations from the movie "Sideways," and I would love to experience this place again.

Utah

One of my favorite stops in Park City was Old Town Cellars. Making wines from grapes sourced throughout the United States, their beautifully etched bottles are fun to bring home, not only for the yummy wine inside, but also for the souvenir decoration. In fact, I am currently growing flowers in one of my emptied bottles. The tasting room is gorgeous and very speakeasy looking, and I had a nice time chatting with the staff. A few of my favorite wines were the Elusive 2019, Mountain Town Red, and the Outlaws 2014. This was a very memorable place.

Virginia

This one was easy, as the visit my mom and I made to Valerie Hill Vineyard and Winery in Stephens City is not only of my favorite trip memories, wine memories, and memories with my mom, it is one of my favorite memories in general. Housed in a building constructed in 1807, on property containing the remains of a tavern from the mid-1700s, the pure joy of standing among such history was truly a gift. Now, add amazing wine and the fact that Ghost Hunters did an episode here, and I felt like I had struck gold. We had the most wonderful time participating in their Reserved Tasting Experience, and then had a glass of wine and charcuterie for lunch. Exploring the building and property was such a treat, and I loved getting to stand in the same spot that Steve from Ghost Hunters did. A-maz-ing! I fell in love with so many of their wines, including their 2019 Vidal Blanc, 2018 Cabernet Franc, and 2018 1807 Blend, that I have actively been trying to become part of their wine club, and will hopefully get to make another visit here someday. I am truly in love with this place.

West Virginia

If you like a relaxed and homey feel, Rusty Nail Winery in Martinsburg is the winery for you. The tasting room was rustic chic, the wines were as unique as their names, and the entire vibe was inviting. Many of their wines are created with hybrids, and each bottle had a story behind it, making the tasting incredibly personal. I am generally not a semi-sweet wine fan, yet my two favorite wines, Shenanigans and Uva Bella, were semi-sweets I absolutely adored. It was a delightful stop.

Wyoming

Mustang Mountain Winery in Lovell is the perfect stop for an afternoon tasting. Ran by a mom and daughter, my husband and I had a wonderful time chatting with the two of them, while I sipped on some wine. Sadly, when I was there last year, they had such an extraordinary summer of wine selling that they were down to only two, their Palomino 2021 and Frontenac 2019. Both were so good that I took home two bottles of the Palomino and one of the Frontenac. This was definitely one of the friendliest wineries I have ever been to, and it is a must for anyone traveling through that area.