Welcome to Mark's Survey of Wines

Skip the propaganda and link me to the current events.

Mark enjoys drinking wine for its flavor and aroma. Mark has been learned much from wine tastings, wine clubs, and visiting wineries. As a result, Mark has found many local wineries, tasting festivals, and just stores with a wonderful selection to choose from.  This is a survey of what he has learned: Please Note: This is not an exhaustive listing. In fact, the availability of fine wines is constantly changing. I suggest looking at some of the free newspapers and other information available listed under Home Brewing News. I will try and keep on top of the local market within the Twin Cities (of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, USA). I will also try and keep an eye out for the market in the five state region (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas). Please feel free to inform me of additional information.

But First!

Small wineries are having a difficult time distributing their goods because of because of arcane regulations.  Small breweries suffer under similar regulations.  Take a look at the Free the Grapes! campaign.  It is a California trade association, but reflects a national issue.

Current Events

To save my sanity, I have moved all current events up with a the family calendar.  Hope you can sort it all out.

Wine Styles

Life is too short to drink cheap wine.

A summary of Categories & Subcategories of Recognized Wine Styles. 

Wine Tasting & Festivals

If it's good for ancient Druids,
runnin' nekkid through the wuids,
Drinkin' strange fermented fluids,
it's good enough for me!

There are lots of festivals, but I am primarily interested in festivals in the Twin Cities area ... or the five state region ... or having international fame. Come take a look at what I have found.

And for the home winemakers, there is a club in the Twin Cities - Home Winemakers UnLTD.  This will be a very informal group, and the winemaking experience of the members will vary - from seasoned veterans to those who are perhaps just toying with the idea of making wine to those who are not toying with the idea at all but who would just like to drink someone else's delicious homemade wine!  Whether you make cider, mead, fruit wine, kit wine, or vino from fresh grapes, this club will offer you the opportunity to gather with like-minded souls for casual gatherings that feature tips, methods, and resource exchanges, trips to area vineyards and wineries, mini-lectures on varietals and wine appreciation (no snobbery allowed!), and (MOST importantly) wine-drinking events wherein we all share the fruits of our l! abors and socialize, filled stemware in hand.  If you are even remotely interested, please do four things:

  1. e-mail John (longballa@hotmail.com) your pertinent data (name, address, phone number, preferred e-mail address)
  2. initial thought is to meet 4 times per year
  3. tell me at which general proximity you would appreciate meeting - we will try to move the meetings around so as to not favor any one neck of the woods or will try to find a centrally-located spot - hopefully some meetings will take place at wine-related field trip spots
  4. tell three or four winemaking friends about this exciting opportunity


Wine Bars

There are several wine bars, but I am primarily interested in wine bars in the Twin Cities area ... or the five state region ... or having international fame.  Come take a look at what I have found.

Wineries

There are lots of wineries, but I am primarily interested in smaller wineries in the Twin Cities area ... or the five state region ... or having international fame.  Come take a look at what I have found.

Wine Shops

Wine shops are establishments that sell wine. I am primarily interested in shops in the Twin Cities area ... or the five state region ... or having international fame. 
 

On-Line

Wine.com

Grape Varieties

Grape varieties that are acclimated to the climate of the Minnesota. I am primarily interested in grape varieties adapted for the Twin Cities area ... or the five state region ... or having international fame. Come take a look at what I have found.  Also take a look at Nurseries which sell these varieties.


 

Grape Vine Nurseries

Nurseries that sell grape vine. I am primarily interested in nurseries in the Twin Cities area ... or the five state region ... or having international fame. Come take a look at what I have found.  Also look at the Grape Varieties that are acclimated for the Minnesota climate.

Drinking Humor & Quotable Quotes

"Winston, you're drunk." 
     --Bessie Braddock to Winston Churchill 
"Bessie, you're ugly.  But tomorrow I shall be sober.." 
     --Churchill's reply 

Mark has collected a interesting set of humor and quotable quotes on brewing & drinking.  He invites you to smile and enjoy the lighter side of drinking.

For comments, please contact Mark, the webmaster

© 1998 - 2002 Mark D. Glewwe
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Last modified November 24, 2002