Maize Valley

So, Jason and I have been diligently working on our new goal of visiting all the local vineyard and wineries every Saturday after working all day out in the hot sun on what seem to be an unending field of vines. Last week at Wolf Creek was cool, but this week we took a different way home and stumbled on Maize Valley Market and Winery.

First off - check out Maize Valley - blog

Anyway, we showed up at about 6pm, exhausted from being in the sun all day and were super happy to see that they also offered small amounts of sustinence along with booze. We did a basic tasting of all the grapes grown on site, the server was pleasant as we pointed to names of wines on a bright red colored menu and tried them for a quarter a piece. We went through almost all white wines before I asked her - do you grow any reds? The answer, not really. I got a taste of the Red Neck Red which includes some wine grown on site, but it kinda tasted more like a white than a rich red. But I still ordered a glass to break my string of white wine loving and Jason settled on a subtle but delicious La Crescent.

The wine that I liked the most at Wolf Creek that they grew on site, the Vignoles, also found its way in to the Maize Valley vineyard, but their mix in the wine was a lot less sweet and a lot more pleasant on the pallet without being overwhelmning. I was excited to try the Traminette wine, a variety we grow, but was almost knocked out of my seat with the sugar content and was equally stunned to find out they didn't grow it on site. Pity, but after seeing the winter die back, I can certainly see why.

I liked the Chardonel, which def tasted like champagne, but the white Vidal was waaaay too sweet for my blood. All in all though, the flavors of their selection were far greater than the previous vineyard and the hand hewn barn beams, large selection of produce and pickles, along with the incredible salami really stole my heart.

We sat outside on a large patio that kinda seemed more like a pavilion with a rope around it. It was laid back while staying upscale enough to make you not want to get loud and drunk. There were a few small outposts for the kids along with some tame representatives from different types of farm animals just beyond the patio, however the quarter machines with feed were all empty. Pity. I really wanted a mule to eat out of my hand.

I knock down a couple of points for the grape wallpaper in the bathroom and the light up grapes around their merchandise. I give mad props to them for classy wares and local artists along with a very rustic yet clean and crisp building. I liked the locally grown produce on their shelves and if I had my own building, I think it would be a fusion similar, with local artists, local meats, local cheeses, local musician, and our own wine and beer made on site. It really got me thinking... hmm, I could get a loan out and rebuild the old mill and do something --- wait. I already work my butt off 7 days a week. I do not want to get ahead of myself. Sheesh

I liked their little petting zoo and the wildflowers. Their grapes were very young. The sheep were friendly and... massive! The pig wanted nothing to do with people. The mule had huge, dopey ears. And while we were enjoying our cheese plate, we witnessed the pygmy goats getting out and mowing down half a row of new grape vines before I ran in frantically telling the lady behind the meat counter about their rampage of destruction. After thinking about it though and knowing how destructive our goats have been on my three year old vines at home that look like I just bought and planted them yesterday, I thought they probably already figured out that was a bad idea but fencing in an ornary set of goats is like trying to hold water in your hands without loosing a drop. They always sneak out.

I loved the wildflowers. Blue bachelors buttons and black eyed susans sat back in patches around oddly placed newly planted trellises and vines. The hen house was empty. The hay house was full. A John Deere tooled around with a happy looking farmer mowing grass with a brush hog. It was a very pretty place and very pleasant as well.

We ended up going home with a bottle of La Crescent with a picture of an ostrich on it. I did like how they had a photo contest to see what picture to put on their wines. I do wish they would have had a signature on the photos though or their logo or something. I do love the simplicity of their MV stamp, which was on everything from the wine bottle seals to their burlap carrying bags. It has a great impact and it really got me thinking what the hell our little logo would be... but then again, what the hell is our name going to be?

As we were leaving and the place was filling up with people of all ages, I would certainly go back... although I would bring a few friends to share the experience with me.

Oh, and I would bring a pocket full of food for the mule as well.