Iowa Wine! If You Try it - You Might Give it a Blue Ribbon!

The Iowa State Fair has been included on the New York Times list of places to see before you die, in a travel book about places to visit in the US and Canada, and one of the top experiences for every Midwesterner by Midwest Living magazine. It was also listed as the #2 choice for summer fun in America by USA Weekend in 2004.

Here are some things you will see at the fair. Biggest boar, super bull, biggest pumpkin, lots of food, funny t-shirts, musical acts, Iowa craft beer tent, funny contests (hog calling, husband calling, twin look-alike, cow-chip throwing), and also the Iowa Wine Experience. Too many to mention. For the day we attended, I printed out a list of activities, it was 15 pages long.

Several thoughts on the Iowa Wine Experience. First, it is atop a large hill. For those unfamiliar with Iowa in August, it is hot and humid. However, once you reach your destination, you are treated to a great view of the entire fairground and much of the City of Des Moines. Very beautiful! In addition to the view, we relaxed at a table under a tree while a nice breeze offered some relief from the heat and the music from a nearby band could be heard. It was very peaceful and relaxing even with the activities of the fair.

For those who drink wine only from a perfectly matched crystal wine glass, this is not for you. Small plastic cups are used to serve the wine, and the wine may not be served at its respective perfect temperature. However, sampling the different wines was fun and I enjoyed the Sangria Slushy.

Here is a recap on some wines you might want to taste.

If you like a sweet white wine, the Fireside Winery’s https://www.firesidewinery.com/ Blu won a Best of Show for Sweet Wine and the overall Governor’s Cup. We tried it and found it to be complex and well-balanced, but a little too sweet for our liking.

If you prefer a dry red wine, try the Oscar Carl Vineyard  https://oscarcarlvineyard.com/ Marechal Foch Reserve.

If you like dry white wine, try the Jasper Winery https://www.jasperwinery.com/ Seyval Blanc. It comes in either an un-oaked or oak-aged style.

Tonight, we are enjoying the:

1. Un-oaked Seyvel Blanc. You can order this from the winery for $16.00. It is a crisp white wine with citrus, green apple, and pear flavors. Nice summer sipper.

This wine was great for a warm-weather sipper. It is fruit-forward and crisp. We both gave it a 3 rating and would suggest giving it a try.

Next week, we are testing ourselves and the wine industry. Does price equal quality? We are going to taste three very different-priced Pinot Noirs and see if price is relative to the quality.