Finding the Fun in Wine

 Poor wine. It has that bad reputation of being the drink of snobs. For many, thinking of wine conjures up images of pompous asses sitting around and swirling vino in their mouth just to spit it out and claim that it is pure swill. Then, they will proceed to tell you every boring and obnoxious reason as to how and why they have come to such a conclusion. Sadly, though occasionally true, this is not an accurate depiction of a real wine lover. Wine brings joy and whimsy into the connoisseur’s world, and the quest for most of us is to find that next bottle that completely rocks our world, and to enjoy every bottle we encounter along the way. This was a fact that I was reminded of during a recent family trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

               Small towns made up of building and homes that used to be frequented by the likes of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, gold miners and bandits, used as saloons and brothels, the scene for poker games and shoot-outs, one would not expect to find a thriving wine industry in this mountainous area. Whiskey, maybe, but not wine. However, interspersed between the wine bars and restaurants sporting pleasing wine lists, there are a handful of wineries doing their part to show that amazing wine can be found in the most fun and interesting places.

               I had discovered and fell in love with Bell Jolí during my first trip to Deadwood, so, of course, my second time through not only led me to their Deadwood tasting room, but also their sparkling house in Sturgis. During that adventure, as my husband and I ventured our way to Hill City, I had been astounded to see that Bell Jolí was not alone, and that there were a variety of other wineries scattered throughout the area. Then and there, I made a promise to myself that I would try more South Dakota wines the next time I found myself in this beautiful place, and that is exactly what I did this summer.

               The first wine stop of my vacation was to the Deadwood tasting room of Naughti Winery – soon to be Evoke Winery, and once known as Naked Winery. And, though they may be confused as to what their name should be, that confusion did not cross over to their wine.

Connected to a shop stocked full of shirts and snarky paraphernalia, the tasting room gave the vibe of an old-time saloon. Unique décor included a skeleton seated at a piano, they had a winery dog that liked to howl along to its favorite songs – no joke, and they had an enticing snack menu that included pretzel bites with nacho cheese. Walking in, I definitely expected to have fun, but I never expected the quality of treatment and wines we received.

               From the moment we stepped inside, the guy pouring for us treated my mom and I like we were his best friends, took the time to learn our palates and suggest wines that he was obviously very passionate about, and made sure that the rest of our party, there for the food and moral support, were taken care of. And, then, there were the wines. And, holy crap, were they extraordinary wines. Every time I took a sip, I could taste the time and care that went into these delicious quaffs, and I couldn’t believe I was drinking such a wonderful wine selection in such a non-pretentious and relaxed environment. A place that served pretzels with cheese. There wasn’t a single wine at this tasting room I didn’t like, but the three that totally knocked my socks off were the Missionary Cabernet Franc with its crazy spiciness mixed with juicy berries and lavender, the 2020 Better Together Malbec stuffed full of dark fruit, chocolate and pepper, and the Climax Red Blend with its bold and creamy cherry and brown baking spice notes. All three of these were absolutely delicious now and had the structure for aging. I walked out of there with five bottles, a jacket, and a whole lot of happiness. If I had the time, and the Wild Bill Days had not been going on, I would have gone back on another day with a fresh palate to try the wines I hadn’t yet had the privilege to sample. This was a wine experience for the books.

               My next Black Hills wine excursion was to Prairie Berry Winery in Hill City. Sharing beautiful grounds with Miner Brewing Company and a general store, with a variety of indoor and outdoor seating, this location had something for the whole family. After ordering lunch from their lovely café, my mom, sister-in-law and I headed straight for the wine bar. With many wine options containing both noble grape choices and wines made with grapes and fruits grown locally, it was a difficult task choosing which five I would try with my complimentary tasting. It didn’t help the decision-making process that so many of these wines had fun names connected to the Black Hills area. As I am hit-or-miss when it comes to sweeter wines, I chose mostly from their dry wine options, and put two sweet ones into the mix just to change things up. I was so glad that I did, as the sweeter options were definitely the stars of the show, with the Pumpkin Orange taking the cake. And, the best thing about this wine was that all three of us, with our very diverse palates, all loved it. In fact, we all loved it so much that we each bought a bottle to take home with us, and we bought a bottle to split over lunch. It was over this most delicious lunch and bottle of delightful vino that I had to remind myself that sometimes I need to step out of my wine norms to experience something magical, because this bottle of Pumpkin Orange was truly magical.

               My last South Dakota wine stop was to Firehouse Wine Cellar’s Firehouse Smokejumper Station in Hill City. During the planning of our trip, I had mentioned to my husband I would like to stop if we had time, but no biggie if we didn’t. But, after enjoying a glass of their Old Vine Zinfandel at Custer’s Last Stop – a definite must if you ever find yourself in the small town of Custer with its restaurant of simple and tasty food, wide selection of local adult beverages, and fun gift shop – I realized I just had to try more wines from Firehouse Wine Cellar.

               A large room with a square bar right in the middle, patrons were scattered around it trying either the wine, or beers from Firehouse Brewing Co. This tasting room had a comforting and fun air to it, and the three bustling bartenders helped perpetuate this feeling as they welcomed and made sure everyone was adequately taken care of. Another vast wine list with fun names and labels depicting the South Dakota life, the struggle was real when it came to what wines I was going to choose, but I finally made my decision, and boy did I make some good choices.

               Out of the seven wines I tried, not a single one scored less than an eight on my ten-point scale, and once again I was astounded by the quality of this area’s wines with their distinct notes, strong structures, and lasting finishes. I truly felt like I was in some famous tasting room. After I sipped and savored, I bought myself a bottle of the 2020 Gold Bell Syrah, the 2020 Malbec, and the ultra-fun and delicious red blend of Marquette and black currants called Chicken in Pants. Fruity with just the right amount of dryness, this wine was as amusing as its label of a chicken in overalls was. Upon the first sip, I knew I had to have this wine with chicken strips dunked in barbecue sauce. This was the ultimate zany find, and both its flavor and label brought a smile to my face.

               I will forever be grateful for my most enjoyable trek through the Black Hills of South Dakota. This adventure reminded me that you never know when and where you will stumble upon the next special wine. Wine is supposed to be fun, and delicious wine can come in all sorts of packages and from all sorts of places, and it is important to never forget that. Cheers to the whimsy and joy wine brings into our lives.