Wine of the Week

Try a South African wine this week that is sweet and juicy. Personally, I couldn’t help but grab the Jam Jar bottle to try it out when I saw it sitting on a store shelf. It has a twist-top that looks like a red-checkered picnic tablecloth. This sweet shiraz has the ripe flavors of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. I loved it. The bottle label boasts that it makes a perfect partner for bacon cheeseburgers, soft cheese and desserts. It also works well to relax at the end of a hard week.

A favorite of mine is The Wine-ing Farmer’s Wife made in Morgan, Minn. (near Redwood Falls). I love the name, don’t you? It’s a semi-sweet white wine, and it’s oh, so delicious. This is one wine you can serve to anyone and they are guaranteed to love it. The Wine-ing Farmer is the red version — and I highly recommend that one, too. I stumbled upon this winery while visiting southern Minnesota a few years ago. They made their wine then at the family farm, and I took a tour through the big red barn where they make their delicious wines. These days, they’ve moved to downtown Redwood, Falls where they offer tastings Thursday to Sunday. The family-run winery offers a few fruit wines and a variety of reds and whites. I think their dessert wine, Debauchery, is next on my list!

Now, that's just fun. Cheeseheads vs. Vikings

If you’re looking for a fancy wine, Cheesehead White won’t be for you. But if you’re looking for a fun bottle to bring out on game day, you’ll love this white wine from Chateau St. Croix Winery and Vineyard in St. Croix Falls, Minn. The twist-top is covered by a piece of yellow cheese. Seriously. If you want to get conversation rolling, offer up Helga’s Red (complete with a Viking hat on it’s top). Which one will be most popular? It’s up to your friends to decide! It just so happens that the Living Social deal for today is $23 for a tour and tasting for two at the Chateau St. Croix Winery (regular $46). You even get two glasses to bring home.