Autumn may very possibly be our favorite time of year.  The leaves turn the lake into a canvas of a thousand colors that magically change every single day.  It’s the time of year for crockpots working hard while we snooze on the couch with the sound of football whistles singing us to sleep.  There is the first day you pull your softest sweatshirt off the top shelf, slip it over your head and feel nostalgic for pumpkin patches, apple picking, and eating far too many snickers bars from the candy bowl on Trick or Treat night.  

There any many traditions in the fall I think we all look forward to, especially up here in the Mid-West, where we do harvest season the best.  But one tradition I know we look forward to every year that more or less kicks off the season is Oktoberfest.

Lake Geneva’s Oktoberfest is something out of a story book.  Our beautiful downtown is decorated in colors to match natures backdrop and truly welcome the season to our little town.  There are crafts, kids activities, food, entertainment, and something to see everywhere you look.  

We have been planning for weeks… like kids looking through the old Sears Christmas Catalog, planning and anticipating our Fall Riesling order.  Oh yes, German Rieslings are our favorite this time of year because when from the cooler climate of the Rhine region of Germany, it tends to have a more apple – and tree fruit taste.  Riesling produced in a little warmer climates (like Austria) have a more citrus and peach flavor due to a later harvest.  While Riesling from Australia has more of a “lime” flavor.

It’s that crisp, clean apple flavor that reminds us of the first chill of the season where you need that extra layer, but still get the tip of your nose a little sunburnt from being out in the yard all day.  It’s refreshing and inviting, the acidity makes for perfect pairings with so many of the heavy flavors we long for like spicy chili, roasted pork, sharp cheeses, and hearty vegetables.  Riesling works well for the hot and cold contrast of spicy and sweet.  Truly a palate pleaser.
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As you can see we are so incredibly excited for Oktoberfest this year.  We can’t wait to share in the beauty of the lake, the beginning of a new season, and of course... introduce to you our favorite Rieslings!    

We will see you from noon to 5pm in the Fancy Fair Mall (Main Street) on both Saturday and Sunday for Riesling tastings.       

We are looking forward to the Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show this weekend at The Abbey Resort, Fontana, on Geneva Lake!  This year the show will feature antique, classic and vintage boats from all over the country.
 
Admission is free. Highlights include boats ranging in style and age from 1900 to modern reproductions.  There will be an artist's fair including many local and regional artists an their works for sale. There will also be live demonstrations with local artists in their chosen medium. 

The annual "starting of the engines" and boat parade will commence at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.  The People's Choice award will be presented on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  

Stop in and see us at the shop when you make it around to our side of the lake!

Seems that every year around this time people seem to turn their focus on that wonderfully underrated grape that is Riesling.

Perhaps its the chill in the air, the fireball if color surrounding our lake or the savory autumn foods we find such comfort in.

No matter the motivation, Riesling has become quite the player again.
Chefs and Sommeliers choose Riesling for its amazing versatility it pairs well with everything from spicy foods to apple pie.

A good Riesling balances beautifully between sweetness and bright acidity. 

Jerry and I are in the process of choosing a variety of wonderful
Rieslings which will debut in the shop the first week of October.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the Oktoberfest weekend here in Lake Geneva! We will have much more information coming up about the much anticipated event, but for now, make sure you get us on the list of things to see and do that weekend as we host a special Riesling tasting Saturday October 10 and Sunday October 11!

Football, fondue, and of course wine!

Who said its only beer, nachos and chili on those fall football Sundays?

Why is it just assumed we use the same old play book every year when it comes to entertaining guests over to watch the game? As much as I think we all love the traditional fare, it's refreshing to try some thing new.  We vote you start a NEW tradition... with FONDUE! 

Commonly, fondue is melted Gruyere and Emmentaler cheeses combined with Kirsch (a dry brandy made from cherries) and corn starch to keep it all together.  Cubes of bread are speared on long forks and dipped into the communal pot.

As much as we absolutely adore bread, there are plenty of other options to keep your guests interested in more than just what's going on with the game.  
Try these delicious options, apples, pears, salami, cooked smoked sausage , bratwurst, pickles, steamed new potatoes, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

Serve with a selection of Riesling , Gewurztraminer and Oregon Pinot Noir.

You are certain to bring on cheers from your fans at the next football party!

We have some major excitement in the Fancy Fair Mall this weekend to make our typical weekend wine tastings that much better! Famous painter of wine, Thomas Arvid will be making an appearance at Galerie Matisse, our wonderful neighbors here in our special little mall on beautiful Main Street, in downtown Lake Geneva.   

Our wine tasting will be from 1pm - 5pm Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12.  So we hope Arvid's art work either inspires you to come down the hall and have a taste with us, or maybe our wine tasting will inspire you to go see some art! Either way, the Fancy Fair Mall is the place to be this weekend!

 

1.       Grapes are one of the world’s favorite fruits, regularly listed in the top 10 (other are mangos, bananas and tomatoes).

2.       Around the world there are more than 8,000 varieties of grape. There are 7 different grape colors: red, green, white, black, purple, blue and golden.

3.       Grapes have been thought to have healing properties since ancient times. In China, wine was mixed with frogs, snakes and other animals to create a cure for illness.

4.       America’s oldest grapevine is 400 years old and is in North Carolina.

5.       Wine has been made from grapes since 5,000BC.

6.       About a quarter of the grapes used in the US come from Chile.

7.       While grapes are 80% water, when they become raisins the water content is just 15%.

8.       You can get about 15,000 glasses of wine from an acre of grapes.

9.       72 million tons of grapes are produced around the world each year.

10.   With more than 200, California’s Napa Valley has the world’s highest concentration of wineries.