Wine | Star Spirit Adventures

So, I will be the first to admit, I love wine. This past November we visited Cable, Wisconsin for a mini getaway for our five-year-anniversary. We researched the area to find some fun places to visit and I was quite pleased to find Out of the Woods Winery, which is located thirty minutes away in Hayward, Wisconsin. As a side note, I would like to apologize for how long it has taken me to write this post. I had surgery right after our visit and life has been a bit crazy.

Neal and I walked into this establishment looking for some good wine and we got so much more. We were first greeted by Dan, who is one of the owners, along with his father and brother. He took his place behind the bar and poured us our tastings. Not only does he have wine, but also cider. We chose to taste a mixture of 7 wines and ciders.

We tasted:

L1: Spring Lake Sauvignon – quite dry and not my favorite, but if you love dry white wine, this might be for you.
L2: Tiger Cat Riesling – Great flavor. The perfect combo of sweet and slightly dry. We decided to take this bottle home and put it aside for our anniversary next year.
D2: Noval Black Port – I loved this wine! It has a taste of dark chocolate covered cherries. It’s sweet but not too sweet. My husband wasn’t as into it as I was, so I didn’t buy a bottle, but will definitely go back for a glass next time we are in town.
C2: Nektar Zombie Killer – This cider has a prominent honey flavor and is the perfect mix of sweet and tart. It was my favorite cider.
C3: Rekorderling Strawberry Lime – This is their most popular cider. You can taste both strawberry and lime. It’s sweet but not in an overpowering way.
C5: Wyders Dry Pear – This cider has a very light flavor and is too light for me. Dan tells us that it’s great mixed with the Belgian Saison.
C6: The Cider Farm Belgian Saison – Tastes like black licorice. The flavor is soft, but on the metallic floral end. I am not a fan of floral flavors, so this doesn’t cut it for me.
C5 & C6: Wyders Dry Pear & The Cider Farm Belgian Saison – Definitely cut the wild flavor of the Saison, but isn’t something I would go out of my way for. Simply not my thing.

After we completed our tasting, Dan offered to let us try some items he was debating on carrying. We were delighted to give our thoughts.

Bonus Tasting:

Omme Gang Brewery: Rose Cider – Definitely dry and a little bitter, but it would make a nice refreshing gluten-free choice. I would drink it on a hot summer day. I say it’s a keeper.
Wild Tonic Hard Jun Kombucha – Nice flavor. It’s sweet and unlike what I expected from a Kombucha. It would compete well with the ciders and it’s a healthy alternative.
SKOL Red (from Chateau St. Croix Winery) – This is a decent table wine, very flavorful. It smells like strawberries and has a tartness to it. I would definitely drink it if it was in stock.

Dan is charismatic, to say the least. He was able to explain each wine and cider. He told us the history of the winery. He explained how he keeps art displayed regularly throughout the winery because his late mother was an artist and a local farmer recommended hanging art. He told us, “If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.”

As we tasted our way through the list of wines and ciders, we were able to listen to live music provided by John. He sings and plays acoustic as well as harmonica, each Saturday. He stayed longer than normal, simply because he felt like it. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxed. You can’t help but feel as if you have become part of the family. As I look out the window, I see Dan’s father and his brother Jess, stringing Christmas lights. We couldn’t have asked for a more memorable experience. Out of the Woods Winery has truly captured our hearts.

For more information on Out of the Woods Winery, please visit: https://www.outofthewoodswinery.com/

If you live in eastern Minnesota or western Wisconsin and you are looking for something fun to do with your ladies, or maybe even your significant other, come on out to Afton, Minnesota the third Thursday of each month and take part in Ladies Night.

Start your evening off right by checking into, The Historic Afton House Inn. You cannot go wrong with one of their whirlpool suites. Men will feel encouraged to join in if they know all of the excitement and fun involved. This Inn has twenty-one uniquely decorated Jacuzzi suites. Some of the rooms have river views as well as fireplace, and a patio, or balcony. I personally like to use this event for date night because honestly we both have a great time.

After check-in wander through the inn to Current Restaurant for Happy Hour, where you will find great specials on appetizers and drinks. I can personally vouch for the food at Current, it is quite delectable. The low lit room provides a nice ambiance for reconnecting with loved ones, and the service is excellent.

If you are a wine lover, you absolutely must head over to Swirl, which is located inside the inn. They offer a free wine tasting for Ladies Night, but don’t worry men, you won’t be excluded. The tasting consists of a variety of different red and white wines. My favorite by far was the, 2012 Amayna Sauvignon Blanc, which is a nice crisp and refreshing Chilean white wine. Despite having a clear favorite, I greatly enjoyed all of the different wines on the list. Aside from the wine, Swirl has a great atmosphere with wonderfully attentive sommeliers. They also serve food, which I hear, great things about, but have not yet had the pleasure of trying. Rest assured I will be back to visit in the near future and I will do a more in-depth article on this lovely little wine bar.

Other fun things included in this evening are door prizes and games, as well as a variety of sidewalk vendors. You can even take in some free music on the patio outside of Swirl. This month ladies night will take place on July 19^th and the giveaway will be for 187ml bottles of Blanc De Bleu.

After you have had your fill of the wonderful Ladies Night activities, you can purchase a bottle of wine to take back to your Jacuzzi suite and enjoy as you soak away any stress from the week. You will sleep well on the comfy beds which feature, My Pillows, and wake feeling refreshed and ready for the inn’s included, hot and tasty breakfast. Breakfast often features: coffee, tea, juice, fruit and yogurt parfait, and some form of egg omelet or frittata.

I have a history of traveling to many different towns and trying out the bed and breakfasts. This particular experience is one of my favorites, because this inn has a certain charm to it and there are so many things to do in one setting. Don’t take my word for it, try it out for yourself.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

https://aftonhouseinn.com/

http://www.swirlmywine.com/

Adventure is wherever the desire takes you.