Hold Your Event Here!

Trade River Winery offers a beautiful, family-friendly, setting for any occassion! With several options for patios and picnic areas, we have something for a group of 5 or a group 0f 200!

*Bridal Showers
*Anniversary parties
*Family Reunions
*Birthday parties
*Morning wedding brunches
*Corporate events
*Fundraisers

Event Schedule Reminder

Can you believe it's August already? Wow! Here's a rundown of what's left on our event calendar for the rest of our summer season.

Wednesdays at Trade River Winery we're open from 2-6 p.m.


Thursdays at Trade River Winery is Ladies Day! We're open from 2-6 p.m. This includes:
*1/2 price tastings on wine for the ladies ($2.50 for 5 samples)
*$1 per minute chair massages
*Each week we feature something new for ladies. So far this year we've had Bellinis, cheese and crackers, jewelry displays, health drink samples, candles, etc. Coming up on August 13 at 2:30 and 5:00, Nicki Peterson, certified wine professional, will give a short presentation on "How to Throw a Wine Tasting Party". Notice - two different times so you'll be sure to make it to one of them!
*Featured "Wine of the Day" - a great wine with a reduced price of only $10 - changes weekly!

Fridays at Trade River Winery we're open from 2-8 p.m. and it Tapas Night! Our theme schedule includes:
August 7: Greek
August 14: Italian
August 21: Spanish
August 28: Specialty Cheeses
Includes three tapas and three wines for only $10!

Saturdays at Trade River Winery we're open from Noon - 8 p.m. and we have live music most afternoons. Our schedule is:
August 8 from 4-7 p.m.: Bo Billy
September 5 from 4-7 p.m.: Rex Cactus
September 19 from 3-6p.m.: City Vibe
September 26 is our German Fest from Noon - 8p.m. with live music by the Elk River Band ... check back for more details on this event!

Sundays at Trade River Winery we're open from 1-5p.m.

Tonight's Tapas Menu

Tonight from 5-7pm we will feature Portugese food and wine pairings. The menu sounds delicious! Here it is:

*Baguette with olive tapenade
*Imported cheese with figs
*Portugese bean salad

Paired with:

*Costa do Pombal - a blend of white grapes, this wine is from Pinhao, Portugal. It is dry, round, smooth and well balanced. Pairs well with salads, fish, pasta and risotto.
*Damasceno Rose is a blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Aragones grapes. On the palate it is young, fresh and very fruity. This wine hails from Poceirao, Portugal.
*Pontval Trincadeira/Touriga Nacional is from Alentejo, Portugal and is a blend of the unique portugese grapes Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional. It has a deep ruby color with flavors of mature fruits. Very smooth and easy to drink.

$10 per person.

July 27-August 2 at Trade River Winery

Grecco's in St. Croix Falls, WI will soon be launching Chef in a Box, so when you can't get to Grecco's you can have it delivered at home! We have been selected to be the wine purveyor for his program. Chris will be at Greccos' this afternoon for the filming of the how-to videos which will be included in the Chef in a Box. Stay tuned for more details!

Wednesday we're open from 2-6. Come join us for some wine and relax on our elegant patios!

Thursday is ladies day. Sheila Waldoch will display her sterling silver jewelry and Sue Schneider will be here with her healthy juice drinks, Mona Vie. Of course, we will have half price tastings for the ladies and $1/minute massages as usual! We're open from 2-6 pm on Thursday.

Friday's tapas menu has a Portugese theme. Check back for the menu.

Saturday, we're open at the winery from noon-8pm. New Roots Duo will be playing their music from 4-7pm. Nicki will be sampling Trade River Winery wine at the Lakeview Center in Siren, WI for their art show from 1-3pm. You may purchase wine throughout the day as well.

Sunday we're open at the winery from 1-5pm.

Headliner quartet for 2009 is named Storm Front

It has been quite a journey for the 2010 International Quartet Finalists. The 2002 Rocky Mountain District champs have made seven trips to the International contest stage, including Top 10 placement each of the past six years.

For these four guys, the love of barbershop and great entertainment has blended to create show-stopping performances. They have been blessed to see so much success in such a short time. They are thankful to all the chapters and individuals who have supported them and are most especially thankful to their families and friends for the love and encouragement they provide.

They hope you can come to see them perform at the Unity High School with the Indianhead Chorus on October 10, 2009. Show times are 2 PM and 7 PM. For tickets, call Ken Mettler at 715-483-9202 or email him at kbmett@hotmail.com or get them at Trade River Winery!

July 20-27 at Trade River Winery

Another fun week here at Trade River Winery! Here's a glimpse at what's going on:

Wednesday we're open from 2-6pm.

Thursday is Ladies' Day! 1/2 price tastings for the ladies, $1/minute chair massages, $10 featured bottle of wine. Also, Lois Thompson Baldwin with Scentsy Candles will be here from 2-6pm.

Friday is Tapas night - this week's menu includes:
*Pecorino cheese from Italy paired with San Pietro Chianti Reserva
*Brie from France paired with Juan de Arges sparkling wine
*Manchego cheese from Spain served with Luis Gurpegui Berceo
All served with champagne grapes and crackers for only $10. Food is served from 5-7pm but we're open from 2-8pm for wine tastings.

Also on Friday, Lisa will be at Dresser Food & Liquor from 3-6pm offering wine samples.

Saturday we're open from noon - 8pm with live music by Bo Billy from 4-7pm. The Grantsburg volleyball team will be here from 4-7 as well serving food as a fundraiser - come hungry and support the girls!

Sunday we're open from 1-5 pm. Lisa will also be back at Dresser Food & Liquor from 1-4 with more wine samples!

We'd also like to congratulate Britta Anderson and Mike Ryan on their upcoming nuptials!

Fernando On Tour!

Fernando Festa, owner and winemaker of Cavas de Chacras and Festa wines (which are all organic and biodynamic) from Mendoza, Argentina is here for his annual visit! If you'd like to meet him, take your picture with him or have him autograph you favorite CDC/Festa wine, here's where you can find him:

Today (Wednesday) until 4pm at Trade River Winery
Today from 4:45-5:30pm at Island Wines in Cumberland
Today from 6-8pm at Bistro 63 in Barronett, WI (just north of Cumberland)
Tomorrow (Thursday) at Nokomis in Duluth, MN
Friday from 2-4pm at Trade River Winery
Friday from 6:30-?? at Vinifera in Wabasha, MN

Tasting Events, Appetizers, Meet the Winemaker Fernando

It's going to be a great couple weeks here at Trade River Winery!

Tuesday at Mona Lisa's in Eau Claire from 6-8pm Nicki will be serving up samples of premium wines. Stop in and try them out!

Wednesday the winery is open from 2-6pm.

Thursday is Ladies' Day at the winery. 1/2 price tastings for ladies, $1/minute massages, cheese and crackers....more details to come. We're open from 2-6pm.

Friday at the winery, we are open from 2-8pm. From 5-7 pm we will serve Greek Meze paired with premium greek wines. The menu includes Domades (stuffed grape leaves); Mediterranean Olives; Fresh Tomato with Feta Cheese and Pita. Wine pairings include Lafkiotis Moscofilero (white), Lafkiotis Kleoni (rose), Lafkiotis Agiorgitiko (red). Only $8!

Friday in Rice Lake, WI Nicki will be at Burnell's Decor sampling out wines during their "Afternoon with the Arts" event. 2-4 pm.

Saturday we're open at the winery from Noon-8pm. Come and meet Fernando Festa, owner and winemaker of Cavas de Chacras from Mendoza, Argentina. Buy some of his organic and biodynamic Cavas de Chacras or Festa wine and have him autograph your wine bottle! Also, from 1-3pm we have the Bright Knights Barber Shop Quartet playing. Support the Grantsburg 8th Graders' trip to Washington DC by having lunch with us from Noon-3.

Also on Saturday, from 12-3pm, support the Grantsburg 8th graders by having lunch at the winery. All proceeds go towards their trip to Washington DC.

Sunday we're open from 1-5pm.

Next week

Fernando Festa, owner and winemaker of Cavas de Chacras wines from Mendoza, Argentina will be at Bistro 63 in Barronett, WI on July 8 from 6-8pm. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and wine samples.

Thursday, July 9 Fernando will present his wines at a Argentinean style BBQ dinner at Nokomis in Duluth, WI.
http://nokomisonthelake.com/events.htm

The theme for Small Plates night on July 10 is Argentine (served from 5-7pm)...come and meet Fernando from 2-4pm! $8 (more details to come).

After his afternoon of meet and greet at Trade River Winery, Fernando Festa will head down to Vinifera in Wabasha, MN to share his wine and knowledge. Reservations recommended. (651) 565-4171.

Week of June 22 at the Winery

Wednesday we're open from 2-6pm or by appointment.

Thursday is Ladies' Day! Ladies receive 1/2 price wine tastings, $1 per minute messages, a featured bottle of wine for $10 and bread and dipping oil samples.

Friday is our first in a series of "Tapas" nights - small plates of delicious food. This week's theme is Italian. Food served from 5-7pm (winery is open from 2-8pm).

Other events:
Thursday, June 25th, the Frederic Golf Course is hosting a "Ladies Guest Day" starting at 4 pm. $18 includes 9 holes of golf, Dinner, Door prizes, Games and Wine Tasting with Lisa from Trade River Winery! Pre-register by calling 715-327-8250.

Frederic Golf Course
905 Wisconsin Ave. (State Highway 35)
Frederic, WI 54837

Next week:
Tuesday, June 30 at Mona Lisa's in Eau Claire, WI - Nicki will sample out our Alvor White, Cantine Mothia Vela Latina (Grillo/Chardonnay blend), Cantine Mothia Hammon (Nero d'Avola/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend) and Cavas de Chacras Pinot Noir. Free samples - hope to see you there!

Friday, July 3 at Burnell's Decor in Rice Lake, WI - join us for an Afternoon with the Arts as we provide wine samples from 2-4 pm.

Grecco's Dinner Tonight

Inspiration Vineyards' Owner & Winemaker at Grecco's in St. Croix Falls tonight!

Come enjoy a special wine event. Jon Phillips from Inspiration Vineyards, considered a 'best in class' California winemaker, will be featuring the vineyards' handcrafted Russian River Valley wines at Grecco's.

Justin's pick are: Old Vine Zinfandel & Pinot Noir.

To make reservations, please call 715-483-5003.

Meet the Winemaker in Wabasha - Wednesday

Vinifera Vine & Dine is hosting a special winemaker’s dinner this Wednesday, June 17th with Jon Phillips from Inspiration Vineyards. Come enjoy a California inspired four course chef’s tasting menu paired with four of Jon’s fabulous wines. Dinner will begin at 7:00, but come early to meet Jon and talk about wine. Price is $45 per person, and seating is very limited for this event so reserve your seats now! Cheers!

Vinifera Restaurant
260 Main St W
Wabasha, MN 55981
(651) 565-4171

Some easy steps to food and wine pairing…

When the food is…

TART:
*Serve a wine that is equally sharp or even more so, or the wine will taste off and shattered.
*Avoid red wines, except those of a sharper nature (Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Gamay)
*Don’t overlook dry roses and sparkling wines as options.

SLIGHTLY SWEET:
*Make certain that the wine accompanying the food shares its personality traits: choose a wine that is slightly sweet, such as Chenin Blanc, Riesling, or even Sake.
*If you really want a dry wine, serve one that’s young and very, very ripe.
*Remember that sometimes a wine with oak can work if the wood’s sweetness mirrors that of the dish; however success is not guaranteed.

SALTY:
*Pick wines with low to moderate alcohol content, as the salt will exaggerate the wine’s heat.
*Play with wines that have some sweetness; salt and sweet can enjoy each other’s company!
*Avoid wines with high levels of oak or tannin.

SPICY OR HOT:

*The spicier the dish, the more difficult it is to pair with wine. Select young wines with low to moderate alcohol content, minimal (or no) oak, and if possible, some residual sugar (for whites or roses).
*Among still wines, stick to off-dry whites and roses; sparkling wines can also be nice foils for heat.
*You may have to forgo wine with Texas five-alarm chili or those Thai, Indian, and Korean dishes that make your hair stand on end. Opt instead for beer and yogurt-based drinks, along with large, large bowls of rice!

BITTER:
*Select wines with bitter components (oak aging, tannins) to complement the personality of the recipe.
*Try wines with high acidity. This doesn’t always work, but it’s better than the opposite extreme. After all, tannin is an acid.

DOMINATED BY A STRONG SAUCE OR CONDIMENT:
*Forget the main dish and match the wine to the sauce or condiments and side dishes.

SERVED VERY HOT!
* Allow the dish to cool off, or it will ruin your enjoyment of the wine and make the alcohol (by heating it) seem overwhelming.
*Serve chilled wines if it’s essential that the dish be served very hot.

Winemaker Visit

Jon Phillips, owner and winemaker of Inspiration Vineyards from the Russian River Valley in California will visit us June 16-18. Please join us at one of the following events to meet Jon, try his wine and enjoy some delicious food!

Please make reservations directly with the restaurants:

Wednesday, June 17 at Vinifera in Wabasha, MN (651) 565-4171

Thursday, June 18 at Grecco's on the St. Croix in St. Croix Falls, WI (afternoon tasting and evening dinner). (715) 483-5003

June's Featured Wine

Each month we will have a featured wine on sale in the gift shop. June's selection is Ciavolich "Ancilla" Trebbiano from the Abruzzo region of Italy.

This is a brilliant, light and delicate white wine that offers a fragrant, fruity bouquet and a taste that is crisp and refreshing!

Regualar price: $15
Price for June: $12

Fortified Wine

What is fortified wine and how is it made? Some wines are classified as fortified because their alcohol has been strengthened, or fortified, by adding a high-alcohol spirit (brandy) to the wine. The most famous are Port, Sherry, Marsala and Madeira.

Why did people start fortifying their wine? To stabilize them and preserve them for shipping/travel (started by British merchants who shipped the wine long distances as they built the British wine trade).

If a spirit is added during fermentation, as in Port, the spirit will raise the alcohol content to a level at which fermentation will stop (around 15%) which means that not all sugars will have turned into alcohol leaving the port sweet. If the spirit is added after fermentation, as in Sherry, the sugars in the grape juice are all converted to alcohol, producing a dry wine. It can be sweetened later in the process if necessary.

Fortified wines are often used as an aperitif with nuts, olives and cheese or as an after dinner drink. If the fortified wine is sweet it is often a wonderful match to a variety of desserts. If you are serving a dessert and want the perfect wine match, just ask and we'll help you pick it out.

Check out our selection of port, sherry, madeira, and marsala at www.traderiverwinery.com/wine