New construction began a few weeks ago. Here are a few more pictures to show where we are in the process. Stop by the winery and sample a few wines. We’ll give you a tour (weather & mud permitting) and tell you all about the new secret project. shhh!!
The valiant effort to save the blackberries continues. Here are a few pictures of the “protection” process that took place over the weekend. It seems like a simple process to drape a 15 foot wide cloth over a 100 foot long row of berries, especially thornless berries. Apparently, Mother Nature thought differently as she sent 5-10mph breezes wafting across the field and whipped the covering 15 feet into the air. But, Upper Management and Worker Bee fought it out with her for several hours and persevered. (thanks to a few leftover vineyard posts) By the end of the day, 6 rows of berries had been saved. The big question now is, “Is Mother Nature done? Or will the cold weather return?” Stay tuned for further updates in this ongoing saga.
In other news, Worker Bee and her posse continue to remove the old vineyard posts and re-attached the wires to the new posts. Progress is slow due to spring rains and muddy fields. With the addition of new help, the goal is to have the wires in the vineyard attached to the new endposts before the vines start to bud out. But, pruning cannot start until the post project has been completed.
The recent 60 and 70 degree weather has been superb and lots of green things are starting to pop at the winery. Stop by to see all the green shoots popping out on the Blackberries. Due to the potential for colder temps, we’ll be covering a few rows this weekend and keeping out fingers crossed that we can ward off the potential frost damage. We want to make a blackberry wine (with our berries) this year.
We’re still taking entries for the 2016 T-shirt contest. Only 3 weeks left to get your entries in. No need to be an artist. Just give us the concept and a hand drawn sketch. Our graphic artist can make the winning entry pretty. Stop by the winery to pick up an entry form or download a copy here.
And for those of you who scrolled past the T-shirt entry form, here’s a few pictures of our recent construction project. Stop by the winery and we’ll tell you all about it. More pics of the construction project to follow over the next few months.
It’s February again. The month of Love & Chocolate and the Uplands Wine Trial’s Chocolate Lovers Weekends. Grab your sweetheart (or not) and indulge your sweet tooth. On February 6th, 7th (yes, even on Su
per Bowl Sunday – but hey, the game doesn’t start until 6:30pm), 13th & 14th, Best Vineyards will be offering up some scrumptious desserts. There will be decadent Red Velvet Brownies with a Cream Cheese Icing, divine German Chocolate Brownies with Coconut-Pecan Frosting, tantalizing Smore’s Dessert Pizza toasted to perfection, petite Pound Cake Cupcakes with a wine reduction (in lieu of frosting), and the ever-popular (and addictive) Candied Orange Peel dipped in a luscious Dark Chocolate. This year we’ll have a small amount of Candied Orange Peels for sale in the tasting room. Complete recipes can be found on the back of your tasting sheet at the winery or on our recipe tab shown above. Start your journey on the Uplands Wine Trail this weekend and enjoy the Chocolate Extravaganza.
February 6th is also the opening weekend for 2 contests we will
be having. The first is our bi-annual T-shirt contest. Click HERE for a downloadable version of our entry form. Entries must be received by close of business on April 7th. The winning entry will receive a $75 cash prize*, 2 free T-shirts and their photo on our website and facebook page. (See official form for more details on cash prize.) Contest is open to all ages.
The second contest is called “CORKED” will be held in conjunction with Butler Winery and Brown County Winery. While the three wineries are still working out the details, we are looking for your BEST CORK SCULPTURES. Each sculpture must contain at least one cork from a winery on the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail. See the winery for more details.
A few scenes from our first official winter storm of 2016. While it may be pretty to look at, it’s crazy out there on the road but Shaggy seems to enjoy the cold weather as he gazes our across the vineyard from the front deck. Everyone keep warm and be safe. The winery will be open for business. For those souls brave enough to venture out, come on out and enjoy a few snowballs.
Don’t miss out on your chance to pick up those last minute Christmas gifts before the holidays. The winery will be closing early (at 4pm) on 12-24 (Christmas Eve) to celebrate the holiday with family. And, we’ll be closed on Christmas Day (12-25). But, for those who need to take a break from the family (or the kids), we’ll re-open on Saturday, December 26th at 12 noon.
We still have a few packets of the Reindeer Flight Enhancement Supplement for those who still need it. Dasher, Dancer and the rest of the crew are getting a little bit older and need all the help they can get.
We hope everyone has a very, merry Christmas this year. Please drink responsibly and drive safely.
Can’t make it to the winery for our mega sale? You can catch us at the New Albany Jingle Walk on Saturday, November 21st from 1-6pm. We’ll be in Coleman’s Classic Furniture on the corner of Pearl & Main Street.
Some of the posts to the website have been long overdue but were delayed due to computer issues, internet issues (FYI dial-up still sucks), and excessive overtime at the day job. But, we would like to congratulate the winners of our talent contest. 1st place went to Brandon M. 2nd place went to Dalton Cartwright. And 3rd place went to The Outlaw Country Gang. Special thanks to Marty Hublar for putting it all together and to the wonderful group of judges from Conrad’s Music Store in Corydon, IN. You guys (and gals) were terrific.
Join us for some awesome blues music, cute & cuddly furry friends and good food (Chili courtesy of the Elizabeth Lions Club). Let’s raise money for a great cause. 5% of all Best Vineyards sales on October 24th will be donated to the Harrison County Bark for Life. In addition to the concert, local rescues and various canine supporters will be on hand.
Great music and wine will be on hand this Saturday. Stop by the winery on Saturday to listen to the musical stylings of local musician, Eric Tyler. As usual, we’ll have a selection of cheese trays available and maybe a little barbeque. What could be better than an afternoon of great music, delectable food, and award winning wine?
But, if you can’t make it to the winery, you have several other opportunities to catch us while we’re out and about.
On Friday, October 9th, during Harvest Homecoming, we’ll be in New Albany tasting wines at Todd Coleman’s Classic Furniture from 12-8pm on the corner of Pearl & Main. Stop by and tryout a recliner or two between your booth excursions and sample a few wines.
On Saturday, October 10th, we’ll be back at Classic Furniture from 12-8pm. Feel free to stop in and sample a little mulled wine in the warm and relaxing atmosphere. Or, join us in Laconia, IN for the Laconia Days Festival from 10am til the event shuts down.
