The Indiana Uplands Wine Trail’s Annual Chocolate Lover’s Weekend got off to a great start thanks to the wonderful weather provided by Mother Nature.  Who doesn’t like 55 – 60 degree weather in February.  The preferred chocolate treat of the day at Best Vineyards was the Candied Orange Peel dipped in a rich blend of Belgian Chocolate.  These delectable tidbits are the perfect pairing for out white port, Crystal Flame, by bringing out the citrus flavors in the Chardonel and Moscato.  (And, yes, we actually purchased a case of Navel Oranges just for the peel and donated the oranges to a local church.)  Guests to the winery were also offered other wine and sweet treat pairings such as Petite Red Velvet Cupcakes and Nouveau wine.  Join us again this weekend for more scrumptious treats.

And, if the tasting room gets a little crowded, spend a few minutes trying out the over-sized dexterity puzzle specially designed for the Valentines Day holiday.  The hand-eye challenge of rolling a ball into a hole or tilting a capsule through a maze has proved among the most delightful, maddening, and enduring diversions of the modern age, despite, or perhaps because of, its sheer simplicity.  Place six colored balls in the correct colored heart in 60 seconds or less and win a special prize.

Time is running out for those last minute gifts.  What better way to top off those stocking stuffers than with a bottle of wine.  Or maybe you need to relive a little stress after the holiday.  All wines will be 15% off thru December 28th.

We’ll be open the following hours this week:

Tuesday           12-7p
Wednesday    12-4p
Thursday        CLOSED – Christmas
Friday              12-7p
Saturday         12-7p
Sunday            12-7p

The Open House party continues thru Sunday, December 28th.  Enjoy samples of vintage Christmas goodies including old fashioned peanut brittle, red hots candy, wintergreen rock candy, cherry divinity, chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge, buttery carmel, sugar cookies, shortbread cookies and pecan cookies.  These recipes have been in our family for over 75 years and have been handed down thru several generations.  Stop by and taste these goodies when “made from scratch” was the only way.  (while supplies last)

Join us for the last wine festival of 2014.  We’ll be in the Kintner House located on the corner of Chestnut Street and Capitol Avenue (between the Library & Hayeswood Theater) from 3-7pm (or 2pm for those who purchased the pre-sale tickets).  This will be the final weekend for Spiced Apple until the next vintage is release August 29th, 2015.  And, our current inventory is running low for Bluebird.  The next vintage of Bluebird will not be released until sometime in April so be sure to stock up now.  Be sure to pick up those last minute Christmas gifts including our bottles of Bread Dipping Spices, Bags of Mulling Spices, gourmet vinegars, and Grape Jalapeno Jelly, just to name a few.  We will also have a good supply of our “Reindeer Flight Enhancement Supplement” on hand.

Can’t make it to the festival?  Join us December 20th and 21st for our Christmas Open House.  All wine will be 15% off and all of our Pink & Berry T-shirts will be just $7.48/e + tax.  We’ll have a large selection of old fashioned Christmas treats for everyone to sample including sugar cookies, divinity, rock candy, peanut brittle and more.

Forget the hustle and bustle at the Malls and big chain department stores this weekend.  Simplify your life this holiday season.  Take advantage of our Holiday Wine Sale this weekend and give the gift of wine.  Black Friday deals include a whopping 30% off all wine sales plus a slew of other discounts on select merchandise in our tasting room.  Small Business Saturday deals include 25% off all wine sales at the winery.  On Sunday, strangely a day without a special holiday moniker, the holiday savings will continue with 20% off all wine sales.  And, finally, for Cyber Monday, Free Shipping on all case sells for Indiana and Kentucky residence only (Indiana residents must have a shipping affidavit on file with the winery.)

Best Vineyards will also be participating in the New Albany Jingle Bell Wine Walk on Saturday, November 29th from 1-6pm.  We will be located in Todd Coleman’s Classic Furniture on the corner of Pearl and Main St.  Be sure to stop by for a taste of our warm mulled wine and purchase a bottle of Spiced Apple or Bluebird for your holiday gathering.  Tickets are still available for $20 each and everyone is registered to win one of the door prizes donated by each winery.  Other participating wineries include Cedar Creek Winery, Huber’s Winery, Mallow Run Winery, Winzerwald Winery, Indian Creek Winery, Quibbles Winery, Scout Mountain, Bottles Unlimited, and River City Winery.

The long journey began with the first bud break in early spring.  The cold winter may have affected many things but the Chambourcin grape seemed to have had a good laugh at Mother Nature and thrived despite her.  The cool summer followed by a warm fall produced large succulent clusters of grapes begging to be made into wine.  Some were crushed and pressed while others were crushed and fermented on the skin.  But a few select clusters of Chambourcin were lovingly placed in a tank with a few clusters of NY Muscat grapes and began the special fermentation process know as carbonic maceration.   The result is the first wine produced from the 2014 harvest.  Lightly sweetened, this young wine is quite tasty with bright, fruity flavors that pair perfectly with Thanksgiving dinner.

Looking for that unique holiday gift for someone special or a great story to tell at the Thanksgiving Day dinner table this year?  Why not tell your guests about your own bottling experience at Best Vineyards during our Nouveau weekend, November 20 thru 23.  (It also makes for a great photo op.)  In keeping with the fifty plus year tradition in France, customers who wish to purchase a bottle of the 2014 Nouveau wine this weekend will get the opportunity to rinse, fill, cork and label their own bottle of wine.  This wine was produced in the traditional style of the French Beaujolais Nouveau’s but with a Hoosier twist.  Chambourcin and NY Muscat clusters are fermented in a process called carbonic maceration which have produced a very young, fruit forward wine that will pair well with next week’s turkey.  It is also the perfect wine for making that fall favorite, warm mulled wine.

Congratulations to all 7 entries for the Talent Contest on their wonderful performances.  The competition was tough and the voting was close but top honors go to Cody, Kristain, Bryce and Logan as The Dirt Roaders.  Second place went to the duet of Bailey and Kenzie.  And third place honors went to Meadow Ryann and Skyler Jones.  The contestants played to a packed house and rounds of thundering applause.  We hope to see everyone back again for next year’s show (or maybe at a concert during the summer).  Honorable mentions go out for the performances by Quintin Bir, the Rock Stars duet of Macy and Reighley, Dalton Cartwright, and the Better Than Bailey trio of Noah, Cole and Logan.  A special thanks to Marty Hubler for putting together the acts, setting up the sound system, and finding the judges (Hugh Bir, George Stone, Matt Stone, and Mary).  Congratulations again to all the contestants.

With a prediction of perfect weather and the gorgeous fall foliage starting to dazzle the senses with their glorious colors, enjoy a visit to your local winery.  This Saturday enjoy the musical stylings of local musician, Eric Tyler.  Due to the shorter days, the music will be from 3-7pm (1 hour earlier that our summer series).    Enjoy samples of our Spiced Apple wine slightly warmed with a salty pretzel or try a taste of our special Mulled wine.  Both are sure to be a hit at any fall or holiday gathering.

Join us on Saturday, October 11th, from 11-7pm for wine tasting during the Harvest Homecoming festivities.  There will be a $5 fee for the wine tasting which will include unlimited wine tastings and a Best Vineyards souvenir wine glass.  Guests can purchase a glass of wine to enjoy during the festival (try the warm mulled wine) or they may also purchase wines to take home (ask about our claim tickets so you can pick it up later).  We will also have a selection of other wine related items such as our gourmet cheese trays, mulling spices, and bread dipping spices available for purchase.  Guests may re-enter the venue as long as they are still wearing their wristband and have their wine glass.

If you’re a morning person, look for us in Laconia, IN in front of the Post Office for wine tasting during their annual Laconia Days festival.  The parade begins at 11am.  And will be followed by the Old West shoot out in the 4-way.  The Salty Dawgs will also be preforming in the afternoon.  It’s sure the be a great day.

Or maybe you just want to sit back and listen to some good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll.  Well, drop by the winery on Satuday between 4 and 8pm to catch the rocking sounds of the Full House Band.  These good ol’ boys play a little country and a lot of rock.  And, maybe, the infamous Scotty T will drop in and play a song or two with them.  Who knows?  You’ll need to drop in and find out.

Answer:   Why,  Best Vineyards, of course!
Up for a little harness racing?  Join us at the Harrison Co. Fall Harness Racing Meet on Sat., Sept. 27 from 11-4pm at the Harrison Country Fairgrounds.  This event is free to the public but the wine tasting portion will be $10.  Wine tasting is from 12-4pm and includes a commemorative tasting glass for the first 200 attendees.  There will also be a large selection of craft, food and antique booths to browse.

If Harness Racing isn’t your thing,  maybe a food and wine fundraiser is.  We’ll be at the 8th Annual Sips, Samples and Songs fundraiser for Anderson Woods on the RiverWalk (near the Schaefer Hog Barn) in Jasper, IN from 2-6pm.  Guests will enjoy live music, wine tasting from area wineries, delicious food samples from local restaurants, and a silent auction.  All the money (100%) raised directly benefits Anderson Woods and their summer camp program for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.  Please join us in supporting this great cause.

Or maybe you just want to while away a lazy Saturday afternoon sipping delicious wine (or maybe an ice cold slushie) and listening to some groovy hits from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s?  Then we have the perfect local band for you.  Join us a the winery from 4-8pm as The Salty Dawgs set up in the gazebo for an afternoon of great oldies.