Tassel Ridge Winery–May 2009
Special Edition
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Celebrate 2008 Iowa
Steuben Release May 22–25
We are releasing the new 2008 Iowa Steuben this weekend beginning Friday through Memorial Day. Come on in for a taste of the new wine paired with a chicken salad canapé that complements the flavors in the wine.
The 2008 Iowa Steuben was made entirely from grapes grown in our Mahaska County vineyards. This very popular semi-sweet wine is light, fruity, and easy-drinking and is best served chilled. On the nose, 2008 Iowa Steuben offers cherry and apple notes with just a hint of cinnamon and on the palate, the wine presents cherry and apple flavors and a slightly spicy finish. Try this wine with an Asian stir fry or chicken salad.
Price: $13.00 per 750 ml bottle, plus tax
Try More New Wines
We’ve also released our 2008 Iowa Edelweiss. This popular semi-sweet, white wine is perfect for sipping as an aperitif or with foods that complement its tropical flavors and nose. How about grilled swordfish with a salsa made from diced papaya, white onion, rice wine vinegar, a little sugar, and chopped cilantro. Wow! This wine is available now for tasting at the Winery.
Price: $14.00 per 750 ml bottle, plus tax
And, our new Oskyfizzante Pink is a bubbly with nice fruity flavors and a touch of sweetness. It is a great wine for celebrations.
Price: $14.00 per 750 ml bottle, plus tax
Artist Angela Van Roekel Presents
Her Works at the Winery on
Saturday, May 23, 12–4 p.m.
Angela Van Roekel will present her mixed medium works at Tassel Ridge Winery on the Visitors’ Gallery on Saturday, May 23, from 12–4 p.m. Angela uses mixed mediums and color palettes to create a series of personal lenses to captivate, complement, and create warmth. Using her experiences and love of nature, she presents an uncommon statement. Angela was raised in Sully, is an art instructor at Pella Community Center, and now lives in Marion County.
Two New Wines to be Released Soon
The release party for American Dry Riesling is scheduled for the weekend of May 29–31. This is a great food pairing, dry white wine that will nicely complement fish, chicken, and some pork dishes. Or, it will work well as an aperitif before dinner.
The release party for Finalé Iowa Red is scheduled for the weekend of June 5–7. This dessert wine is made entirely from grapes grown in our Mahaska County vineyards. It is intended to be used with or after dessert.
Join us Saturday Evening, June 6
for Our First Dinner in the Vineyard
Wine Tasting: 6:00 p.m.; Dinner Seating: 6:30 p.m.
Come and enjoy a unique dining experience under a tent in the vineyard at Tassel Ridge Winery. We will begin with wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres followed by a spectacular BBQ buffet featuring beef brisket, pork loin with a chipotle apricot sauce, and other savory dishes paired with award-winning Tassel Ridge wines. For dessert, enjoy a pear-almond 
cobbler paired with Tassel Ridge Prairie Snow. After dinner, stroll through the vineyard and experience an up close look at the vines. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Advance reservations are required by Friday, May 29. Call 641/672-WINE (9463) for reservations.
Cost: $50 per person, plus tax
Did You Receive Your Spring 2009 Events Program in the Mail?
If not, it means that we don’t have your postal address. Please sign up again but this time, please include your postal address, and we will take care to see that you receive the Events Program quarterly by mail in the future.
2009 Heart of Iowa Wine Trail Passport Is Your Ticket to Iowa Winery Experiences
A 2009 Heart of Iowa Passport makes a perfect gift for people interested in wine or simply interested in learning about wineries located around Des Moines. The Heart of Iowa Wine Trail includes fifteen wineries located within about 60 miles of Des Moines. Each winery offers a different experience, different wines, and a different and very interesting story. The Passport recipient presents his/her passport at each of the member wineries and it is stamped with that winery’s special stamp. A full passport earns the passport owner a set of two engraved Heart of Iowa Wine Trail wine glasses. Get prepared to enjoy the pleasures of the Heart of Iowa Wine Trail wineries.
2009 Heart of Iowa Wine Trail Passport - $25.00 plus tax
Tassel Ridge Winery Harvest Club
We are pleased to announce the formation of the Tassel Ridge Winery Harvest Club. Members receive four shipments of Tassel Ridge Wine each year in March, May, September, and November. We have picked those months because they are usually temperate enough that we can ship wine without excessive heat or cold to damage it. Each shipment contains two bottles of wine which are priced at retail plus shipping unless club members pick up their shipments at the Winery. In that case, there is no shipping charge. The average price of each shipment including shipping is $45.
We offer two wine preferences:
- Dry wines for pairing with food
- Sipping wines that are generally sweeter
Re-orders of full case quantities of the Harvest Club selections are always priced at retail less 20% when orders are placed within 60 days of the original shipment.
Harvest Club members have the first opportunity to purchase limited edition wines before they are offered to the public. They are also offered special tasting opportunities when they visit the Winery. In the future, we plan to have Harvest Club Members only wine and food pairing dinners, special tastings with the wine maker, and opportunities to see how wine is made. All of this is designed to make the experience of consuming Tassel Ridge Wines especially enjoyable.
The Tassel Ridge Harvest Club is open to people 21 years of age and older. Shipments are paid for with a credit card that is kept on file.
This is a great way to stay up-to-date on our new wines. Because some of our wines are never sold through retailers, you may not see some of these wines unless you visit the Winery regularly or are a Harvest Club Member.
Consider a Tassel Ridge Harvest Club membership as the perfect gift for a person who enjoys wine. Call 641/672-WINE (9463) for more information.
Interested in Pairing
Specific Foods with
Tassel Ridge Wines?
Are you interested in suggestions of foods that pair well with specific Tassel Ridge wines? We’ve put some suggestions on our web site under Recipes and Food Pairing Suggestions. You can link directly to this page at www.tasselridge.com/recipes.htm.
Last Call on Wines About to Run Out
We are nearly sold out of the following wine:
- Fruit Stand Cranberry Fruit Wine
We have small quantities of this wine available at the Winery on a first come, first served basis. Case discounts of 10% on twelve bottles of any of our wines apply.
Our Hours:
In May and June 2009, our winery and gift shop is open seven days a week, including Memorial Day (9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) for tours, wine tastings, and shopping during the following hours:
- Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Sunday, Noon–6:00 p.m.
Our Location:
Tassel Ridge Winery is easy to find. It is just south of State Highway 163 on 220th Street in Leighton. From Ottumwa and Oskaloosa, drive northwest on 163 to 220th Street and turn left toward Leighton. From Des Moines and Pella, drive southeast on 163 and turn right at 220th Street. Drive west on 220th about 0.7 miles from the Highway and right into the Tassel Ridge Winery parking lot. view maps
—Bob Wersen, President
Email Jody Brockway at info@tasselridge.com to sign up a friend for our e-newsletter.