Von Stiehl Winery - Algoma, Wisconsin

 

Wisconsinites who are crazy about ice fishing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing have been a bit blue this winter. While the mild temperatures and lack of snow have their benefits, they interfere with winter sports.

Door County, just north of our Algoma, Wisconsin Winery, is known as a winter wonderland. During typical winter weather, folks flock there to explore its miles of trails on skis, snowshoes, or snowmobiles. Don't stay home just because Mother Nature hasn't cooperated; there is plenty to do in Door County even without snow.

 

• The 25th Annual Fish Creek Winter Festival takes place February 3-5, 2012. Ride the trolley, play human foosball, and check out the Door County Idol contest.

• Candlelight Ski/Hike through Peninsula State Park on February 4, 2012. Warm yourself by the big old bonfire. 5:30-8:30 p.m.

• Fire and Ice at Sturgeon Bay, February 17-19, 2012. Watch professionals carve ice, or try your own hand at it. Evenings are full of dancing.

 

Or forego the festivities and head to Door Peninsula with your sweetie for a romantic getaway. Cute cabins, quaint inns, and luxurious resorts invite lazy mornings and romantic evenings. Be sure to visit the tasting room at our Algoma, Wisconsin Winery on your way north. Find a wine you both like, and maybe some local cheese or sweet treat, to enjoy during your weekend in Door County. Valentine's Day will soon be here; what are your plans?

 

Try a bottle of our 2008 Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon, made with grapes from Washington State's Yakima Valley. A special wine for a special occasion.

Ah, it's that time of year. The time when green leaves in Algoma and Door County Wisconsin transform into glorious shades of red, gold, orange, and yellow. The heat of summer dissipates, and cool, crisp days invite outdoor activity. It's the perfect time to run away to a cabin in the woods or by the lake.

Von Stiehl Wisconsin Wine augments every weekend getaway. Grill a steak and share a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon after a long hike through the trails of colorful Door County. Sip on our Dry Apple "Wrap" after a long bike ride. Spend all day outside then curl up by the fire with a glass of our Oak Aged Cherry Kirsche.

Autumn and von Stiehl Wisconsin Wine. They go together.

We are thrilled to announce that six of our Wisconsin Wines recently won awards at the 2011 Tasters Guild International. We submitted six wines, and all six won!

Tasters Guild was established in 1987 and currently boasts 40 active chapters throughout the country. Each chapter sponsors a variety of food and wine events throughout the year. Tasters Guild also conducts an Annual International Wine Judging each spring, when experts review and award new releases.

This year, our Algoma Winery took home gold medals for our new White Stileto and our Cabernet Sauvignon. We took home silver medals for our Naughty Girl Wine, Cherry Bounce, and our Crimson Royale. And we took home one bronze medal for our Risque Riesling.

It is gratifying to have the quality of our wine recognized by experts in the field. Yet feedback from our customers is no less important to us. Come see for yourself - visit our Algoma Winery and try some of our wine. Ask us to pour you a glass of White Stiletto or our Naughty Girl Wine. Plan to come to one of our Cuisine Concerts later this summer, or to Ladie's Fest in early July.

We make our wine for you to enjoy, and we are truly honored by the awards granted us by Tasters Guild.

Please visit Tasters Guild for more information about the organization.

One of the best parts of fall is the reemergence of comfort food. During the heat of summer, appetites wane and we're easily satisfied with a big bowl of salad and maybe a skewer of barbecued meat. We drink refreshing Wisconsin white wines like Chardonnay, Dry Riesling, and Lakeshore Fume. Once temperatures start to drop in the fall, however, we find ourselves craving full-bodied red Wisconsin wines and food we can really sink our teeth into, like cassoulet.

The origins of cassoulet are obscure. At least three towns in southern France call it their own dish, while others insist it was brought to Western Europe by the Arabs. In any case, the dish first gained fame in the late middle ages in southwestern France, and is today one of the most beloved French dishes throughout the world.

Hearty and warm, rich and satisfying, cassoulet is made with white beans and just about any type of meat, barring fish or chicken. It should always include sausage, and may include duck, goose, lamb, pork or even venison - whatever strikes your fancy. It's best when it can stay in the oven for many hours, forming and reforming a nice crust on the top. The smells alone will drive you wild.

Below is a simple recipe for Cassoulet. Enjoy it with our Cabernet, Merlot, or even our Satin Red. This dish brings out the best of any of our red Wisconsin wines.

Cassoulet
1 onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery stalks, sliced
Saute in a little olive oil.
Transfer to an oven-safe casserole and add:
1 -14 1/2 oz. can stewed tomatoes
32 oz. white beans, rinsed and drained
2 oz. old red wine (who lets red wine get old???)
1/2 lb. bologna, cut into chunks
1/2 lb. Polish sausage, cut into chunks
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. tarragon
1/4 tsp. sage
salt and pepper

Mix together and bake in a covered casserole at 325* for one hour, or longer at a lower temperature, stirring occasionally.

Serve in large soup or pasta bowls with more red wine and lots of crusty bread.

It's a new decade, and it's time some of our Wisconsin Wine had a new look. That's the motivation behind replacing our Dry Riesling with the new Risque Riesling.

Folks who have had a few sips of this new blend (such as the lucky ladies who attended the Wine and Cheese gathering earlier this month) say they like it, and we sure hope you will too. We are preparing 600 cases for the warmer months, when drinking refreshing rieslings is the best way to stay cool.

In the meantime, you may want to pick up a few bottles of something more hearty to help you make it through the rest of the winter, such as our rich Meritage or the Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select. While you are at our Algoma Wisconsin winery, stop by our tasting room and ask to try our new Risque Riesling. You may find that you are ready for it now.