Spring in Door County wine country is filled with blossoming orchards and vineyards regenerating after a long winter. With these buds and blossoms comes the excitement of a new crop and every farmer and vintner's hope for a bountiful harvest.

On the weekend of May 17-19, the Door County Wine Trail Weekend will take place. Celebrate the spring by indulging in a wide array of individual events at seven local wineries including orchard and vineyard tours, cheese and chocolate pairings, live music and salsa dancing. Take part in a barrel tasting seminar or dinner show.

Maximize your wine trail weekend experience by picking up a wine trail brochure including our new passport program. Visit all seven wineries, collect a stamp at each and receive a limited edition wine trail logo embossed glass, while supplies last.

Door County Wine Trail Weekend Events

At von Stiehl: Barrel Tasting Saturday morning starting at 10:00 am

We will host a special Wine Futures and One-Of-A-Kind Barrel Tasting in conjunction with the Door County Wine Trail Weekend. Dave, one of our winemakers, will be on hand to pull samples from the barrels in our cellars for you to taste, forecast, and purchase at a discounted price. Be one of the first to try the Zinfandel, Brunello, and our estate barrel-aged Marechal Foch, an estate wine made entirely from grapes grown in our own Stony Creek vineyard. Enjoy the barrel tasting in von Stiehl’s 150 year old limestone tunnels starting at 10 a.m. Saturday May 18. $6 per person.

Murder Mystery Dinner Show at Door Peninsula Winery: Saturday night 7 - 10 p.m.

Styled like a winemaker dinner, Door Peninsula Winery welcomes the Dinner Detectives to Door County. Enjoy a four course dinner paired with select Door Peninsula wines while you solve a Murder Mystery. A truly unique tasting experience intermingled with the excitement & suspense of dinner theater. This event promises to be memorable - great wine, great food and great entertainment. Cost is $75 per person (plus tip) and will take place at Bistro 42, attached to the winery. Dinner starts promptly at 7 p.m. with mystery solved by 10 p.m. Follow this link to make your reservations. Reservations will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. Menu will be posted as it is finalized and paired with wines.

See the full event list on the Door County Wine Trail website.

Get over the winter with a fabulous weekend of female fun! The fifth annual Groovin' Sisterhood Weekend is coming up from April 25 - 28th.

Celebrate womanhood in the beautiful and historical city of Sturgeon Bay, in Door County. Embrace life, love, and laughter during this women-oriented four-day weekend! Come to shop, discover, and revitalize with other fabulous women! Enjoy a weekend filled with activities, seminars, and groovin’ classes!

There will be a variety of fun activities over the weekend! You can participate as much or as little as you would like. There are also optional sessions for a small fee. Receive your exclusive Groovin’ Sisterhood coupon book, fabulous tote, and Sisterhood Enquirer, which details all sessions and events, included in your registration bag!

Events and Sessions at the Groovin Sisterhood Weekend

All weekend long, the Door County Trolley will be providing free transportation around Sturgeon Bay. Explore Door County!

There will be art and craft sessions as well - everything from glass blowing to floral design to food and beer pairings.

Check the Groovin' Sisterhood webpage for more updates soon.

Registration starts at $65, with a variety of other ticketed events you may want to attend.

Wine and Women - A Wonderful Combination!

While you are in Sturgeon Bay for the weekend, take the short drive to Algoma, a cute waterfront town about 17 miles South. We have a winery tour every Saturday at 2 p.m. when you can see our underground arched limestone caverns and the new production facility. At only $4, you can't find a cheaper way to enjoy 30 minutes! Plus, the wine tasting is always complimentary. Our tasting room and shop is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

While visiting, you may want to become a member of the Ladies of the Vine club. Enjoy unique wine and food pairings, shopping discounts in our store and the opportunity to order from our gift and decorating catalogues at great discounts. The Ladies of the Vine have at least three unique events per year.

On Saint Patrick's, everyone can be Irish for a day! Sturgeon Bay parade gives you your chance! Brush off your green duds and join in the fun of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Saturday, March 16.

While it is not a national holiday, communities all over the country celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parties, parades and wearing of the green. Of course in Sturgeon Bay and Door County, we have our share of Irish Americans (and those that wish they were!) We don’t dye the waters of the bay green, but the Sturgeon Bay parade is not-to-miss. Come check out the floats, cars, trucks, horse and of course Leprechauns!

The Sturgeon Bay Saint Patrick's Day Parade Route

The parade starts promptly at 11 a.m. on the West Side at Sawyer Park, and goes up Oak Street to Madison Avenue. It turns South on Maple, goes across the Oregon Street Bridge, then turns left on Third Avenue to Jefferson Street, before ending at 7th Avenue. Awards are given for Best Irish Entry, Best Tavern/Bar Entry, Best Retail Entry, and Best Non-Profit Entry. Last year it was 70 degrees and there were over 60 parade participants. We hope this year the parade will be even bigger!

To get you in the Saint Patty's day mood, here are some fun facts about the holiday:

• In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
• Most Catholics attend mass in the morning and then attend a St. Patrick's Day parade.
• The phrase "drowning the Shamrock" comes from the custom of floating a shamrock on the top of a whiskey shot before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Stop by von Stiehl winery in Algoma on your way home from the parade to wrap up your day with some local Wisconsin wine!

Have you been feeling the need to get your hands dirty? Or looking for something to entertain you during these long winter nights? Why not try an art class?

Just around the corner from our winery in Algoma is Clay on Steele studio, where Professional potter and teacher Dean Hoegger will be holding a once-a-week class starting next week on January 24th.

Experience working with clay and relax, create and explore your artistic possibilities!

Weekly, multilevel classes run throughout the year with an emphasis on wheel throwing and advanced hand building using high fire stoneware. Each class runs for five consecutive weeks in the evening at 221 Steele Street, which is literally a three minute walk from our winery.  The cost is $100 plus a material fee, which includes clay, glazes, two firings, and the use of studio tools.  For most students the material fee is between $13 and $25, depending on the amount of clay used.

The next class starts Monday, January 24. Call 920.487.3501 for more details.

Stop by for a Wine Tasting before Class!

With the art classes starting in the evening and our winery tasting room open until 4 p.m., it's great timing to stop by and try some of our award-winning Wisconsin wines, have a glass of wine and head over to Clay on Steele.

Our most renowned wine is the Riesling. Popular for its semi-dry fruity taste, the Riesling is perfect for those that have experience with wine as well as those that are just starting to become interested. It has won a myriad of Gold medals thus far, and continues to turn heads and please taste buds for wine judges across the country.

You can also taste von Stiehl's Cherry Bounce, which is fortified with cherry brandy distilled at Great Lakes Distilling in Milwaukee.  Be ready for a very cherry experience!

Famous European artists throughout the ages drank wine before, during and after creating great works of art. Emulate their style - we hope to see you in the tasting room soon!

The Door County Trolley is a quaint and fun way to take a scenic tour of the Sturgeon Bay area. Right now, they are offering a special holiday tour called Winter Wonderland. Trolley guests tour and taste at a Door County winery (possibly the Orchard Country Winery, but speak with the Door County Trolley Tours for details), followed by a cozy sleigh ride through picturesque winter landscapes. Finish off the tour with a fireside lunch at the romantic English Inn. The Winter Wonderland tour is $60 plus tax, which includes your trolley ride, lunch and sleigh ride. The tour usually lasts 5 hours.

The Door County Trolley will pick you up at your Sturgeon Bay lodging between 9:30 and 10 a.m. or at Door County Coffee and Tea at 10 a.m. Call 920-868-1100 to reserve.

Dates:

• Saturday - December 29, & 31 (Monday)
• Saturday - January 5, 12, 19, & 26
• Saturday - February 2, 9, 16, & 23
• Saturday - March 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30

A Trip Advisor Review of the tour (from 1/9/10):

"The Winter Wonderland Trolley Tour was a blast. A.J.(our trolley guide) was fantastic!!! He had us laughing from the moment we stepped foot on the trolley and by the time we left him we were much more educated to historic Door County. We visited two different wineries, Simon Creek and Orchard. Both were very nice. The lunch at the Gull in was good but could have been better...........(the only thing that I would say could see improvement) The sleigh ride was neat and for a normally slow day in January my wife and I found ourselves also having a lot of fun. I would highly recommend this if you are looking for something to do in Door County during the winter months."

We may not be on the tour, but we hope to see you in nearby Algoma for a tasting at our Wisconsin winery!

Ever since Pirates of the Caribbean was released in 2003, with a kohl-eyed Johnny Deep playing the swarthy Jack Sparrow, there's been a resurgence of interest in all things pirate.

This holiday season, take your family or your loved one for a fun and educational trip to the Sturgeon Bay Maritime Museum for the exhibit "Pirates - Ship to Shore." The exhibit explores the life and times of the buccaneers that roamed the east coast of North America and the Caribbean Sea during the golden age of piracy.  Visit the costume room to play pirate dress-up; explore the old port village of Nassau and walk the decks of the pirate ship Fortune. The bold can ready Fortune's guns to fire. Take in fine art inspired by these scalawags by renowned artist Don Maitz, housed in the village's small fort. You can even check out some genuine sunken treasure found in the assayer's office. Maties, don't miss it!

Visit the Maritime Museum this Winter

Exhibit curator Jon Paul Van Harpen provides an exhibit that the museum promises is better than the predecessor.  "Pirates - Ship to Shore" closes January 31, 2012 after more than a seven month run! The exhibit includes an eye-popping backdrop that will take you back some 300 years to a seafront port in the Caribbean. The museum is always a great place to spend a cold, grey winter day - even more so if it makes you feel like you're in the Caribbean!

Pirates Love Wine and So Should You!

Captain Jack Sparrow was never far from a bottle of rum or wine - and indeed, we recommend the same for you! A visit to the museum is even better with a stop at Wisconsin's finest winery. We are about 20 minutes outside of Sturgeon Bay in Algoma. Come in before your trip to the museum for a tasting (always free) or on your way home to pick up some Wisconsin wine to serve with dinner.

Don't you love when someone gives you a gift basket? Those themed items - like wine and cheese, desserts, coffees and teas or even bath products - make the gift seem well-rounded. Here at von Stiehl, we think gift baskets are great for the holidays and we are having an event to celebrate. Christmas is coming and the von Stiehl elves want to help you put the most popular gift under the tree.

Build Your Own Holiday Basket

On Saturday December 1st from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., join us for a fun afternoon of wine drinking and gift making. Bring a basket and items to put inside, or use some of ours! This event is meant to be affordable for everyone, so the cost is $5/basket for supplies. Plus, every attendee receives a complementary glass of wine! If you want to bring items from the dollar store to stuff your basket, go for it! On the other hand, if you'd like to use red caviar and Godiva chocolate, that's fine too. We will have a selection of retail items, like dried fruit mixes, wine, hard cheeses, breads, crackers and preserves to purchase for stuffing baskets.

We’ll help you assemble and arrange the perfect gift baskets for friends and relatives. No need to RSVP, just stop by our Algoma winery for some wine and fun! We will have all the supplies that give that extra-special touch to professional baskets: ribbons and cellophane wrapping, decorative stuffing and more.

Hope to see you there!

Memorial Day Weekend in Door County means the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair. It's a great excuse to experience springtime on the Door Peninsula. This art fair is part of Door County's Festival of Blossoms, meaning it's a lovely time to visit.

The fun runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27. 2012 is the 13th annual Fine Art Fair, and it looks like this year's event will be bigger and better than ever.

The Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair features original art work from close to 90 Wisconsin and Midwest artists. There will be sculpture, painting, jewelry, photography, fiber, and ceramics. Most of the artists will be on hand to discuss what they do and how they do it. All is for sale.

In addition to art, there will be music. Randy Peterson, Dan Ognavic, and TC Hatter are scheduled to take the stage several times throughout the weekend.

This is a child-friendly festival, with many activities designed to spark creativity in children.

Spend Memorial Day Weekend on the Door Peninsula. Drop by our Algoma, Wisconsin Winery on your way north. Taste some wine and buy a bottle or two of your favorites to enjoy over the weekend.

Happy Memorial Day!

Additional information is available at Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair.

Try a bottle of Lakeshore Mist over Memorial Day Weekend.

Von Stiehl Winery is about as close as you can get to Lake Michigan without being in Lake Michigan. Actually, the winery sits on the banks of the Ahnapee River, which spills into nearby Lakes Michigan. The walk from the Algoma Marina to our Wisconsin Winery is short and sweet. This makes von Stiehl a great place to visit when you're out boating on Lake Michigan.

As you're making your plans for summer outings, whether they be on sailboats or motor boats, put Algoma on the map. Pull your boat into the Algoma Marina and walk up to von Stiehl Winery. Take a tour of the winery or sidle up to the bar for some complimentary wine tasting. On warm afternoons, enjoy drinks and tasty treats on the terrace.

Summer will be here sooner than you think, and warm weekends will be here even sooner. When you feel the urge to get out on Lake Michigan, remember our Algoma Winery. Stop by and pick up some cool Wisconsin white wine to enjoy on the lake, like our Lakehore Fume or our Lakeshore Mist.

The terrace.

Mother's Day Weekend is fast approaching. Why not bring Mom to von Stiehl for a little wine tasting on May 12 or 13, 2012?

You could just offer Mom a bottle of our Wisconsin Wine--say, Naughty Girl Red or Cherry Blossom Blush. But wouldn't it be much more fun to surprise her with an outing to a charming town on the shores of Lake Michigan? Take a tour of our historic winery, spend some time sampling our wines, and buy mom a bottle (or two) of her favorite wine.

Many mothers of adult children just want to spend time with their kids on Mother's Day. Many mothers of small children just want a couple of hours away from the kids. Wine tasting at von Stiehl Wisconsin Winery is the perfect activity, either way.

We're offering a Mother's Day Weekend special. Purchase 6 or more bottles of wine and, in addition to the usual quantity discount, we'll throw in a beautiful floral umbrella and a packet of seeds. If you think your mother (or the mother of your children) would like that, bring her to our Algoma, Wisconsin Winery. We have limited quantities!