Wet Whistle Wine Fest offers award-winning wines, a grape stomp, hearty sandwiches, & live music! It isn’t the 2,000 visitors smiling all the time that’s weird. Nor is it the trombonist standing in a grape-filled barrel while playing an amazing riff. Nor the people with sticky purple feet dancing onstage. This is normal at a wine fest and to be expected. What’s odd at Wet Whistle Wine Fest are all the costumes. We don’t ask anyone to show up dressed as wine bottles, or nuns who smoke cigarettes. And these are just a couple examples of Wet Whistle Wine Fest goings-on that we just couldn’t make up. Don’t take our word for it… come to the wine fest and see it for yourself!
This Wet Whistle Wine Fest is a fundraiser for the Community Improvement of Algoma, and the Algoma Fire and Rescue. Come out to support these great non-profit organizations of Algoma!
Friday
Free admission, but canned food donations for Kewaunee County Food Pantry are welcome! All weekend, children under 12 FREE. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.
Band: Cat Five • 4–8pm
Specialty Foods • 4–8pm
Saturday
$10 Admission. All weekend, children under 12 FREE. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.
Band: Beaker Street • 10am–1:30pm
Band: The Groove Hogs • 2–6pm
Tours & Wine Tasting • At Winery, 9am–6pm
Specialty Foods • 10am–6pm
Celebrity Stomp Off • 11am & 11:20 am
Grape Stomp Heats: 12:20pm, 1:30pm & 3 pm
Grand Grape Stomp Off • 4:30pm
Vintage Wine Tasting • 12:30pm to 4 pm in the production building. More Information.
Need a place to stay? Visit the Algoma Chamber of Commerce for lodging and a list of other great things to do while in town for the Wet Whistle Wine Fest.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Bluegills – Blues Band
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
Come enjoy the music of Howard & the Bluegills as we wind down the summer and enjoy another amazing Summer Cuisine Concert of 2017. Howard and the Bluegills, a blues band based out of Manitowoc, will be live August 19th from 12:30-4:00pm. Nothing says relaxation better than a glass of wine and an afternoon of blues music on the lake shore.
The music is going to be great. Add to the music a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite von Stiehl wine or maybe even a beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
Von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our award-winning gourmet wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
Howard & the Bluegills, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Bluegills
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
Beaker Street will be live on stage August 12 from 1:30-5:00pm as part of our 2017 Summer Cuisine Concert Series. Beaker Street’s music includes rock, blues and many popular hits from the past and present. Come join us after the Shanty Days parade. We will continue to celebrate the lake, the amazing Algoma weather and all things summer.
The music is going to be great. Add to Beaker Street a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite von Stiehl wine or maybe even a craft beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
Von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our award-winning gourmet wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
Music by Beaker Street, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful scenic shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Bluegills
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
Join us for as we continue to celebrate our beautiful summer with the Kevin Crocker Jazz Quartet in concert. Their name says it all. Kevin Crocker Jazz Quartet will be live on stage August 5 from 12:30-4:00pm as part of our 2017 Summer Cuisine Concert Series. Nothing says relaxation better than an afternoon of jazz music on the lake shore.
The music is going to be great. Add to the music a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite von Stiehl wine or maybe even a beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our award-winning gourmet wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
Jazz music, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Bluegills
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
Join us July 29 from 12:30-4:00pm for some Door County music featuring Three Souls in concert. Three Souls will be live on stage as part of our 2017 Summer Cuisine Concert Series.
Nothing says summer and relaxation better than outdoor Door County music.
The music is going to be great. Add to the music a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite von Stiehl wine or maybe even a beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
Von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our gourmet award-winning wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
Three Souls, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Bluegills
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
Join us as we continue to celebrate our beautiful summer with The Hits in concert. The Hits will be live on stage July 22 from 12:30-4:00pm as part of our 2017 Summer Cuisine Concert Series. Nothing says summer and relaxation better than an outdoor concert.
The music by The Hits is going to be great. Add to the music a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite von Stiehl wine or maybe even a beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our award-winning gourmet wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
The Hits, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Blue Gills
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
We are pleased to announce that River City Six featuring Zoomie is returning once again to perform as part of our 2017 Summer Cuisine Concert Series. This group of talented artists specializes in New Orleans/ Chicago style jazz. Please join us on Saturday, July 15th from 12:30-4:00pm. Nothing says summer better than relaxing outside listening to live jazz music.
The music is going to be fantastic. Add to the music a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite award-winning von Stiehl wine or maybe even a beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our gourmet wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
River City Six, jazz music, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Aug 12 – Beaker Street (1:30-5pm due to Shanty Days Parade)
Aug 19 – Howard and the Blue Gills
Aug 26 – 12 Volt
What do you get when you combine a touch of Jazz, Blues, Gospel and a lot of Rock? Nothing other than The Annie Rose Band! Annie Rose is often referred to as “Green Bay’s best kept secret.” She is returning to the von Stiehl stage to help us kick off our 2017 Summer Cuisine Concert Series on Saturday, July 8 from 12:30-4:00pm.
The music is going to be great. Add to the music a cool Lake Michigan breeze, a beautiful riverside view, delicious gourmet cuisine from Skaliwags, a glass of your favorite von Stiehl wine or maybe even a beer from Ahnapee Brewery and then you have the recipe for the perfect lakeside summer afternoon.
von Stiehl Winery, Wisconsin’s oldest licensed winery, features a gorgeous outdoor terrace alongside the Ahnapee river with beautiful views of Lake Michigan. The terrace has relaxed seating for approximately 200 guests. Bring along a friend or two. Once here you can enjoy an afternoon of great music, your favorite wine or beer, amazing food and join us as we continue the celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
Arrive early to sample some of our gourmet wines in our Civil War era building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or even take a tour including a visit to our underground limestone tunnels and our 10,000 square foot production facility.
Annie Rose Band, Gourmet Wine, Ahnapee Beer and Skaliwags! All in one location along the beautiful shore of Lake Michigan.
Admission is free.
*Bands may be subject to change. Sorry, no carry-ins allowed, but wine, beer, food, water & soda will be available for purchase.
Wet Whistle offers award-winning wines, a grape stomp, hearty sandwiches, & live music! It isn’t the 2,000 visitors smiling all the time that’s weird. Nor is it the trombonist standing in a grape-filled barrel while playing an amazing riff. Nor the people with sticky purple feet dancing onstage. This is normal at a wine fest and to be expected. What’s odd at Wet Whistle Wine Fest are all the costumes. We don’t ask anyone to show up dressed as wine bottles, or nuns who smoke cigarettes. And these are just a couple examples of Wet Whistle Wine Fest goings-on that we just couldn’t make up. Don’t take our word for it… come to the wine fest and see it for yourself!
This Wet Whistle Wine Fest is a fundraiser for the Community Improvement of Algoma, and the Algoma Fire and Rescue. Come out to support these great non-profit organizations of Algoma!
Friday
Free admission, but canned food donations for Kewaunee County Food Pantry are welcome! All weekend, children under 12 FREE. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.
Band: Cat Five • 4–8pm
Specialty Foods • 4–8pm
Saturday
$10 Admission. All weekend, children under 12 FREE. Under 21 must be accompanied by an adult.
Band: Beaker Street • 10am–1:30pm
Band: The Groove Hogs • 2–6pm
Tours & Wine Tasting • At Winery, 9am–6pm
Specialty Foods • 10am–6pm
Celebrity Stomp Off • 11am & 11:20 am
Grape Stomp Heats: 12:20pm, 1:30pm & 3 pm
Grand Grape Stomp Off • 4:30pm
Vintage Wine Tasting • 12:30pm to 4 pm in the production building. More Information.
Need a place to stay? Visit the Algoma Chamber of Commerce for lodging and a list of other great things to do while in town for the Wet Whistle Wine Fest.
December may be a frenzied Christmas gift shopping month, but you can still enjoy a couple great experiences while you shop! On Saturday afternoon, December 3, Beauty and the Beads will return to von Stiehl Winery.
The day has two parts. One part will be to take part in a presentation including Clinique. The second will be a bracelet and ornament design class where you’ll walk away with your very own designed piece.
Makeup is a form of art. Shellie will help you learn to apply makeup in a way that brings out your natural beauty. While she is presenting to half of the group, she will be doing a few makeovers on attendees. She’ll share the ins and outs of applying age-appropriate makeup, and will share how tactics change over time. Plan for a night out because you’ll leave looking great!
Rock of Ages will return to von Stiehl’s Beauty and the Beads to bring you the other half of your experience. Sheila and Cami offer a full fledge experience in designing and creating beauty with beads. You’ll learn the basic tricks of beading, and will go home with an ornament or bracelet of your beading design.
Let’s not forget that this is happening in a winery! Included with your $30 admission, you’ll receive a glass of wine and enjoy light after-lunch snacks. You might as well shop while you’re looking great! To make the trip to Algoma even more worthwhile, we’ll be giving you a goodie bag with a surprise gift and coupons to be used in our retail store. Also, enjoy a “Beauty and the Beads” wine special and 25% off all gift merchandise.
This is the kind of event that you’ll want to bring a girlfriend or two with. There are plenty of activities to go along with shopping. You could even come early or stay late and enjoy a wine and chocolate pairing, Select Tasting, or regular tasting at our bar. If your significant other wants to come along but doesn’t want to take part in the event, they can hang out at the Tap Room next door and enjoy Ahnapee beer!
If summer was only a month long, then we’d have the entire season left! As it is, the time to give it is here and there’s no shortage of things to see in Algoma in August.
You might think summer activities would be dying down by August, but in Algoma, we’re just getting started!
Cuisine Concerts on August 6, 13, and 20
Our summer concerts are still gaining ground. With extra seating next door, you probably won’t even need a lawn chair. The August band lineup:
August 6 – The Outpatients, led by lord of the lick, Bob Balsley. If you love great guitar, he’s your guy.
August 13 – The Jenirators, led by Jenny Funk. Her vocal range and power is amazing, and not to be missed.
August 20 – 12 Volt, We don’t know much about these guys, but they come highly recommended by a former employee. Come listen and tell us what you think.
Enjoy food at the Skaliwag’s food trailer along with our wine and Ahnapee Brewery beer!
Tall Ship Sneak Peak on August 3
These ships will be in a bit of a race that finishes outside of Algoma. The TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Race finish line will leave them mustering off shore in Algoma before heading to Sturgeon Bay. There’s something involving a massive floating duck associated with this festival that we haven’t completely figured out. As part of the mystery, a seven-foot baby duck will be set up outside the winery on the 3rd. Ahnapee Brewery is the beer sponsor. So come enjoy a Tall Ships Lager and see the massive ships from our brewery patio. Read more about the Green Bay event here.
Shanty Days August 12-14
Fishing Shanties are the small buildings that used to line the Ahnapee River. They served as the home base for commercial fishing vessels in our port. A couple shanties remain, and they are a popular subject for photographers and painters in the summer and fall. To commemorate these local historic icons Algoma hosts Shanty Days. This annual event supports a number of non-profit organizations in the area. Fair food never tastes better than when a lake breeze is blowing through and at Shanty Days you’ll find everything from fried chicken on a stick to funnel cakes.
Do they have our wine? You betcha! Find five of our top varieties in the Algoma Main Street tent. One note – if you’re planning to visit us on August 13, be aware that the streets around the winery are closed all morning due to the noon parade. Things get flowing around 1 pm when the blockades come down. Until then you may want to wear your walking shoes!
It’s working! Our bubble making machine is actually working! The new bottling line is pumping out still AND sparkling wine in a glorious manner. The unexpected add-on of a bottle washer and dryer only makes the end product that much more enticing. Now it’s time to have some fun. Our first batch of apple cider, aka Apfel, will be passing through the machine on its way to our tasting bar in just a couple of weeks.
This isn’t watered down, cheaply-sweetened apple-flavored ale, like what the big beer companies have been marketing so successfully in the last few years. This is true apple cider fermented by a winery. The fruit comes from Hillside Apples, just twelve miles west of the winery. These are, in fact, the same apples that are blended for our Apple Icing.
Owning a winery in Wisconsin is both rewarding and heart-breaking. Most of our customers welcome our wine profiles ranging from Door County cherries to Sonoma reds. So often the judgement is laid down that Wisconsinites aren’t qualified to make wine; that only Californians and Europeans are recognized as quality producers. That’s the heart-wrenching part. Never mind the 49 years that we’ve been putting smiles on wine drinkers’ faces.
That opinion is completely absent when we talk about our Ahnapee Brewery Wisconsin beer since everyone knows Wisconsinites make great beer, even if their family hasn’t been doing it for generations. Suds are received with glee, and guests are open to trying all sorts of beers from light to dark. Never once have we been asked “What? they make beer in Wisconsin?”
There is one category that perfectly suits our Wisconsin winery, and that’s cider! True apple cider can only be made by a winery. Given our great relationship with Hillside Apples, we thought it time to try our hand at apple cider.
Our 2015 hard apple cider is created from five carefully selected varieties of Hillside Orchard’s apples. They are blended together to produce a crisp, smooth and refreshing hard cider with just a hint of sweetness.
Ask for a sample of our apple cider this summer when you visit!
Many mysteries are at work in our production building, officially named “Over There.” There’s no shortage of unexplained noises coming from the upper floors of the pre-prohibition-era brothel. Stencil-lined walls and gunshot holes in the floor are clues to the origins of past mysteries. The tavern that lived Over There operated from 1902 through the late 1990s. During prohibition, it was noted that ‘near beer’ and soda were popular, but we think that much more was going on. Many owners and many stories passed those walls and we’re sure that many more will!
The present offers new conundrums, including how we’re going to fit 100 guests trying to solve the March 2016 Murder Mystery Dinner in the same room as our new bottling line Over There. Riddles like these are meant to be solved, as well as those brought to us by Without A Net Entertainment, who will again be entertaining us on the nights of March 11 and 12th. If you are interested in helping, please give us a call at 1-800-955-5208 to sign up for the show.
Our Murder Mystery begins with a wine reception at 6:00 pm, followed by the dinner theater at 6:30. During dinner you will enjoy three courses of catered food matched with von Stiehl wines. The murder mystery and laughter will continue through dinner, and should end around 8:30 pm.
Looking for a place to stay? Find plenty of hotels options in Algoma. Stay at the Hotel Stebbins if you’d like to be in walking distance. Enjoy the lake shore views of the Algoma Beach Motel. Don’t miss this evening of fun, food, and, of course, wine!
Cost: $49 per person. Visit the winery or call for reservations by March 6. 920.487.5208.
Sometimes Moscato is orange, but most of the time it is not. For von Stiehl, it is Orange Muscat, but it doesn’t have any oranges, and it isn’t Moscato. Follow?
Orange Muscat is a grape that you’ve probably never tasted. It is one of over 200 varieties of the Muscat, or Moscato, grape family that is best known in Italy. Orange Muscat is part of the family, but isn’t a Moscato. This small part of the family was popular in France at one time, and is now grown in the Veneto region of Italy. Fortunately for us, Orange Muscat is also grown in small amounts in California and Washington. This white grape exhibits Moscato characteristics with, you guessed it, a strong orange nose. Just to be sure that we are all on the same page, we do not add oranges or orange juice to the wine. Oranges are for breakfast… and possibly mimosas, when mixed with Titletown Wine (Sparkling Muscat).
Our Orange Muscat is sourced from Mendocino grape farmers. Now Mendocino is to Napa what Algoma is to Door County. Great quality without the price. A beautiful adventure without the hubbub. Lake breezes without the aroma of exhaust. A slower pace without the long lines.
Made from grapes grown in this laid-back and relaxed region, Orange Muscat is smooth and settled. Clear like your mind when you’re sitting on a warm beach. Sweet like the gratification of a hard day’s work at closing time. Here’s the winemaker’s version:
‘This rare and delicate Orange Muscat grape evokes aromas of peach, apricot, and orange blossoms. The flavors of tangelo and honey meld to produce a perfect accompaniment to cheesecake or peach cobbler á la mode. Residual Sugar 3.0% by weight.’
Just as White Zinfandel was the go-to semi-sweet and easy-to-drink wine of the 80s, wine drinkers are enjoying those virtues in Moscato today. While a limited amount was offered last year in a 500ml bottle, our Orange Muscat has grown up in quantity and is now wearing a full-size 750ml glass casing. Enjoy it for $14.99.
Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Honors Algoma Brewery
Ahnapee Brewery was first put on the map in 1868 when sales of “the foaming beverage” were in high demand by Civil War veterans. The newly-revived brewery was put on the map last weekend for a second time on a national level by the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The GABF only awarded 274 medals to over 6,600 beer entries.
Ahnapee’s Munich Helles, named Long Goodbye, was awarded a Silver Medal. It rated above 53 other breweries in its category. Head Brewer Nick Calaway says, “It’s great to get a bit of validity for our young brewery in a light (colored) beer category. Lighter beers show all the flaws a brewer may or may not have made; there is no hiding them. I feel the Great American Beer Festival awards represent the highest standard in the craft beer world.”
Long Goodbye is well described as “a Munich Helles that is light in body, color, and hops. Subtle grainy sweet flavor with a smooth, lingering finish.”
The next batch of Long Goodbye will be introduced this fall in the brewery’s two–stall garage-turned–tap room. Ahnapee brewery, located at 105 Navarino Street in Algoma two blocks from Lake Michigan on the Ahnapee River, is open Wednesdays through Sundays, and is only two doors down from the von Stiehl Winery. To see the entire list of beer offerings, visit www.AhnapeeBrewery.com, or call (920) 785-0822.
Beware of Wine Bottles and Dancing Nuns at the Wet Whistle Wine Festival this year in Algoma!
The wine festival is earlier than ever this year — perhaps the earliest it will ever be! Join us on September 11 & 12 for a grape stomping good time!
Here are a few tips:
*For a better time, bring a chair, costume, and lots of friends.
*Plan to eat food and drink water along with your wine.
*You may feel out of place if your party isn’t wearing matching shirts.
*The brewery patio will be serving burgers Friday afternoon and Saturday night. Wine is now available in the tap room.
*It’s not the best setting for children.
*The nuns aren’t really nuns. The walking wine bottles aren’t full of wine… until the end of the day.
*The Police uniforms aren’t costumes.
*Intoxicated wine bottles aren’t allowed outside the wine festival grounds without a police escort.
*The wine festival tasting tent is packed from 11 am to 4 pm so plan to sample early or late.
*It’s a great day for a free self-guided walking tour of the winery.
Special Vintage Tasting Saturday at Wet Whistle Wine Festival
We are bringing back the special vintage wine tasting from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the production building. We’re still pretty small beans at von Stiehl so it’ll be just us owners along with our assistant winemaker Dave.
To participate in the event, we ask that you buy one of our crystal Riedel stemless glasses for $10. In that glass we will pour five samples of our special vintages. No reservations are needed. Just knock twice on the alley door on the west side of the production building!
We just received six medals at the International Eastern Wine Competition (IEWC) in Sonoma County, California. Established in 1975, the IEWC is one of the oldest and largest professional wine competitions in the nation.
The judging was held Feb. 10-11, 2015 in Sonoma County, California. Traditional awards were given in each division; any wines given a gold medal were then entered into a Taste off to see which wine was “Best of Class”.
Doc Stiehl’s Cherry Bounce, a sweet and smooth concoction of cherry wine and cherry brandy distilled from von Stiehl’s cherry wine, brought home a Double Gold and Best of Class. The high-alcohol Bounce is produced from Door County Cherries grown by Seaquist Orchards in Sister Bay. The cherry wine is then distilled into cherry brandy at Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee. Once back at von Stiehl the brandy is blended with more cherry wine and aged in red wine barrels for six months prior to release. Barrels help to smooth out the high alcohol, which comes in at 20.5%. Winemaker Aric Schmiling says, “Next to the 30 month aged Cherry Bounce, this is one of the finest cherry wines that our winery has ever produced.”
The IWEC poured out more medals for von Stiehl’s wine. A gold medal was also awarded to Symmetry, an off-dry white wine. Blueberry received a silver medal, and bronze medals were awarded to von Stiehl’s Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio.
Grape Stomp • Live Music • Art Fair • Heritage Foods • Wine Tasting
The Wet Whistle Wine Fest is almost here! Are the matching t-shirtsready for the group? Are the costumes ready to go? A spare change of clothes for after the grape stomp? A campsite or hotel room confirmed? With the wine festival only a few days away, we hope that you’re prepared for a great little small-town festival.
There are two main draws to a wine fest. Some attend to simply enjoy wine along with friends and entertainment. This group enjoys being goofy at the grape stomps and will most likely be in matching costumes. A great wine experience with music and friends is what’s important.
The second type of wine fest attendee is planning to explore. These visitors like to wander the aging tunnels, look at the bottling equipment, read up on the history of the oldest licensed winery in the state, and take in more of the winery experience. For this second group, we are bringing back the special vintage wine tasting from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the production building. This tasting isn’t technically part of the wine fest as it is held off of the grounds and away from the busy tents. To participate in the event, we ask that you buy one of our crystal Riedel stemless glasses for $10 per person. In that glass we pour five samples of our special vintages. No reservations are needed. Just come through the door located in the alley which connects the winery to the festival.
Find out what else is going on in Algoma during the wine fest weekend at algoma.org.
If you don’t like change then you’ll be happy to know that this year’s Ladies’ Fest will be every bit as much fun as the last five. Shopping, massages, a Naughty Girl glass with two fills of wine, lunch and a chocolate truffle all for $35. Classic rock by Two Souls in the morning, then Men in Suits will return from 2 pm. to 6 pm with cover favorites and disco. Don’t worry, they keep their suits on. If you liked Ladies’ Fests of the past then come this year to relive the day one last time. Due to dwindling attendance, we’ll be making some tweaks to the 2015 festival according to your feedback. Please let us know what you like and don’t like about the structure of the event this year so that we can make it more attractive in future years. We’d like to do away with the $35 admission fee to grow the event and perhaps offer something at the tap room next door for beer lovers. Either way, mark your calendars for the June 20, 2015 mystery event!
Stiletto Stroll
You know how it’s all about who you know? A good friend owns a boutique in Green Bay called Nell’s that specializes in prosthetics and high end wigs to help women fighting cancer. It’s a confidential, classy, and established joint which is Medicaid-qualified. Stacey’s compassion for those suffering from cancer motivated her to get involved in the Northeast Wisconsin Ribbon of Hope campaign. We noticed that a number of Ribbon of Hope supporters were also involved as Ladies’ Fest vendors. After a few glasses of wine, the ideas were flying and the Stiletto Stroll was born. Last year it was known as the Strut, but a cease-and-desist letter from another organization quickly initiated a name-change to Stiletto Stroll.
Long story short, they want you and your heels at 10 am on the morning of Ladies’ Fest. The $10 entry fee goes to the good cause, while you go for a walk along the Algoma boardwalk in comfortable shoes. Save your stamina for the last few-tenths of a mile where you are welcome to strap on heels and cross the finish line in style. Is it a contest? Yes, but not a race. Contestants will be judged on attitude, style, costume, and most interesting shoes. Then there is an overall winner. Want that trophy? Just think outside the box. Here’s a picture of last year’s winner so you know what you are up against. The rest of the prizes are awarded in wine.
Wine Fest Next Month
In 2011, the Groove Hogs played their last reunioun concert for the wine fest. To get them back we had to rent a sound system and pay a little higher price to cover airfaire for a couple of the band members. We moved on to the rythm and blues of In Black ‘n’ White last year and while they brought it, many were sad to have lost the Hogs. The magic is back. After some begging and pleading, the band has agreed to buy plane tickets, rehearse, and show up to relive their glory days on the grounds of this fall’s Wet Whistle Wine Fest. This is where we would normally copy something off of their website about their music style, but there is no longer a website. To help you get the idea, they have brass, love playing songs from the past 40 years that were written by musicians that had brass, and rock them and the crowd to no end. It wasn’t uncommon to see 80+ year-old grandmothers dancing on picnic tables (no disrespect to grandmothers, they can move with the best of them). They don’t mind if you dance on stage with them while they tend to tight harmonies as they scale the scales and rock the grannies.
Don’t let the Groove Hogs steal the thunder from The Cougars on Friday afternoon or the Annie Rose Band on Saturday morning. Both these bands have strong female vocals. The Cougars are a year-old band that should be charging more. With three female leads and a solid rock band behind them, they will get you dancing and keep you saying “wow they sing that too!” Bring your ear plugs for Annie Rose as it won’t be a quiet Saturday morning overlooking the lake. She’ll have you looking over your shoulder for Bobby McGee while the wine shakes in your glass.
Of course there will be plenty of our wine, a beer bar, specialty foods, fine art fair, and multitudes of creative costumes. One suggestion: plan wine tasting for Friday or Monday. Due to so much traffic during the weekend, we set up tasting outside in a tent in small plastic cups. It’s not ideal but serving free wine to 2,000 in one day is no small feat; even if they’re purple. Flanking the crowded days will be a busy Friday and slower Monday and those will be the best for visiting the regular tasting bar.
If you grew accustomed to enjoying the vintage wine tasting we apologize as there will not be one this year. Instead, we will most likely plan an event over winter when the crowds aren’t loud, allowing us to talk in our normal voices as we pour the high end wines.
Wet Whistle Wine Fest! • September 13 & 14, 2013
Grape Stomp, Wine Tasting, Great Music, Specialty Foods, & Fine Art Fair
Admission Charge $10 (Saturday) Friday Free
Friday 4 PM to 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM
Music Friday: The Cougars 4 PM to 8 PM,
Music Saturday: Annie Rose Band 10 AM to 1:30 PM, The Groove Hogs (Reunion Concert) 2:00 PM to 6 PM
Event location: Legion Memorial Park & von Stiehl Winery, Algoma, WI
algomamainstreet.org or vonstiehl.com • 800-955-5208
Ahnapee Brewery first opened its doors in 1868 in the city of Ahnapee, now named Algoma. Bohemian immigrants brought skilled craftsmen to erect Kewaunee County’s first sizable building. Beers were produced under the supervision of the head brewmaster, Henry Schmiling (the great- great-great-great uncle of the current owners). The Civil War veteran sold barrels of beer by horse and sleigh, rail and the schooner, “Whisky Pete.” Schmiling’s Ahnapee Lager was known far and wide for its Wisconsin-made quality. Hops blight put the original brewery out of business in 1886. A new chapter in the brewery’s history began in July. Fueled by the dreams of our General Manager and Head Brewer, Nick Calaway, we’re picking up where Henry left off. This time small craft batches of full-flavored beers with aging potential will be served for limited hours.
Right now, we’re open from 2 pm. to 8 pm on Fridays and noon to 8 pm on Saturdays. Beer on tap: Ahnapee Lager, Little Soldier Amber, Bavarian Dunkel, German Style IPA. On deck: Chocolate Milk Stout, Bavarian Helles.
While the brewery is located five miles out of Algoma and not open to the public, the tap room is located at 105 Navarino Street just two doors east of the winery.
The Door County Festival of Nature is your opportunity to learn more about the wildflowers, geology, birds and insects of our peninsula. During field trips and hands-on programs, guides will walk you through some of the most pristine and unique natural areas in the county. Many of these areas are not typically open to the public and can only be accessed during this special event, taking place from May 23 -25, 2013. Conservation organizations in Door County will share ways in which they are working to preserve our rich natural heritage for the future. Along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to share your love of the natural world with other conservation-minded participants from all over the Midwest.
Spring is a great time to experience the natural wonder of Door County. Migrating warblers and other songbirds return to the peninsula and shorebirds gather on our lakes and bays. Wildflowers are opening out into the spring sunshine. Come join us!
Highlights of the Door County Festival of Nature
Canoe & Kayak Trips – Paddle the Peninsula!
Birding Hotspots
Wildflower Outings
Photography Workshops
NEW! Nature Trivia Night
NEW! Local Land & Lake Picnic featuring organic and locally sourced foods
Early morning birdwatching trips to local hotspots for waterfowl, warblers and more
Geology of the Door Peninsula
An old-fashioned Barn Dance / Social to wrap up the weekend’s activities
Register for Festival of Nature Events
Online registration is the fastest and easiest way to register for the Festival. You get up-to-date information on trips that are fully booked and reserve trips immediately. You can pay by credit card or print your registration form and mail it to The Ridges Sanctuary with payment by check or debit/credit card.
Visit von Stiehl While in Door County
Add one other item to your spring must-see list while on the Peninsula: von Stiehl. While there isn’t much wildlife at the winery, but we do have Ladies of the Vine, our wine club that you automatically become a member of when you purchase one case of wine per year. Come and take a tour of our beautiful facility in the charming waterfront town of Algoma!
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!
Wet Whistle Wine Fest • Friday, Sept. 15 | 4–8pm (Free) • Saturday, Sept. 16 | 10am–6pm ($10)
beans at von Stiehl so it’ll be just us owners along with our assistant winemaker Dave.
