| Sometimes wine sneaks up on you. But this story | | | | and crops include 10 varieties of grapes, strawberries, |
| isn't what you might be thinking. If you love to travel | | | | elderberries, chokecherries, and more. We loved the |
| like we do, you've learned to keep an open mind and | | | | White Riesling, with its flavors of grapefruit and |
| experience what your destination offers. In the case | | | | apricot. Also their most recent Chardonnay, with a |
| of South Dakota, I'll readily admit we weren't seeking | | | | tropical fruit nose and mildly spicy mouth feel. |
| a wine travel experience. But it's funny how things | | | | For the third stop in our Sioux Falls winery trek, we |
| work out sometimes. We weren't looking for South | | | | visited perhaps the most architecturally interesting |
| Dakota wine, but South Dakota wine found us. And | | | | winery we've seen. It's Strawbale Winery, in the |
| we're glad it did! | | | | town of Renner. The winery itself is actually insulated |
| Our plans called for a drive across South Dakota on | | | | with straw bales, hence the name. This is truly a |
| Interstate 90 to visit the famed Black Hills and Mt. | | | | farm setting, as the winery sits between a beautiful |
| Rushmore area, just outside of Rapid City. Interstate | | | | century old red barn and the vineyard used for |
| 90 is the main thoroughfare here, stretching the | | | | Strawbale's wine. Grapes are cold hardy varieties that |
| entire 400 mile length of the state. | | | | thrive in this South Dakota valley climate. Dechanauc |
| After some preliminary research, we learned the | | | | and St. Croix grapes are used to form Ruthie's Red, |
| Missouri River cuts across South Dakota and forms | | | | a semi sweet red named after a cherished pet. We |
| an abundant fertile valley area in the extreme | | | | also enjoyed their clear, dry Seyval Blanc, which |
| southeastern part of the state. This is where you'll | | | | paired nicely with some locally made cheese we |
| find the small city of Vermillion, where Iowa and | | | | purchased the day before. |
| Nebraska intersect with South Dakota off of | | | | From here, it was time to travel west on Interstate |
| Interstate 29. | | | | 90, through South Dakota's heartland. It's a good |
| Viewing the surrounding landscape, we were | | | | day's drive from here to our ultimate destinations: |
| reminded of our recent wine trails trip to Missouri, | | | | Rapid City, Mt. Rushmore, and the famous Black Hills |
| with high bluffs and rolling hills and the Missouri River | | | | area. Along the way on this roughly 300 mile trek are |
| below. So it was no surprise to see an advertisement | | | | two of America's most well known tourist |
| for a winery in Vermillion, Valiant Vineyards and | | | | attractions, the Corn Palace in Mitchell and Wall Drug |
| Buffalo Run Winery. With an overnight stay ahead of | | | | Store further west. |
| us about 45 minutes north on Intestate 29 in Sioux | | | | Wine In The Black Hills |
| Falls, it was a perfect time for some wine tasting. | | | | Rapid City isn't large, with a population just over |
| Located on the Vermillion River overlooking the | | | | 60,000. And yet, this area welcomes over 3 million |
| Missouri River, Valiant Vineyards and Buffalo Run | | | | visitors per year as a launching pad for all the area's |
| Winery is actually part of the Buffalo Run Resort. | | | | attractions. Simply put, Rapid City and its environs are |
| This attractive resort is well known in the area, and | | | | beautiful. The air is fresh and clean - paradise for an |
| offers an attached bed and breakfast along with | | | | outdoor enthusiast. |
| typical resort activities. | | | | Two Unique Wineries |
| Along with sampling their spicy Turkey Ridge Creek | | | | After a visit to majestic Mt. Rushmore, we enjoyed |
| Shiraz, our friendly hostess told us a bit about grape | | | | the hospitality at the two wineries here in western |
| growing and wine production in South Dakota. As we | | | | South Dakota. Both are well known for using South |
| surmised, South Dakota's winter climate doesn't | | | | Dakota grapes and fruits to produce their products. |
| make for ideal growing conditions, but certain wine | | | | Let's first explore Prairie Berry Winery, in nearby Hill |
| grapes do very well in the southern section of the | | | | City, about 20 miles from Rapid City. |
| state. Commonly grown varieties include Frontenac, | | | | At Prairie Berry, owner Sandi Vijta oversees the |
| St. Croix, Brianna, and La Crosse, a white wine grape | | | | production of 30+ traditional and fruit wines, carrying |
| with Seyval Blanc parentage. South Dakota vintners | | | | on a family wine making tradition since 1876. You can |
| also take full advantage of various fruits, giving | | | | eat lunch at their bistro, or sample their many award |
| wineries an abundant spectrum of choices for wine | | | | winning offerings. Their Frontenac and Frontenac Gris |
| lovers. | | | | have won gold medals from the San Francisco |
| After leaving the resort, it was a short drive up | | | | Chronicle Wine Competition. |
| Interstate 29 to South Dakota's largest city, Sioux | | | | Prairie Berry specializes in making regional wines from |
| Falls. On the way, in nearby Beresford, is a brand | | | | domestic and wild fruit of the prairie, including |
| new winery, Birdsong Vineyards. For now, they're | | | | chokecherries, buffalo berries, rhubarb, currants and |
| producing fruit wines from area orchards, with the | | | | locally raised honey. They also make wines from new |
| expectation of offering at least a dozen different | | | | grape hybrids, specifically developed to grow in South |
| wines by summer 2008. | | | | Dakota's colder, drier climate. Be sure to try the |
| Traveling The Sioux Falls Wine Trail | | | | citrusy Cascade Falls, a semi dry white made from a |
| This small, likeable city, population 141,000, continually | | | | blend of Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc grapes. |
| wins liveability awards from various national | | | | Venturing over to fruit wines, we ended up buying |
| publications. Sioux Falls boasts ample lodging options, | | | | several bottles of Gold Digger, made with local |
| a charming historic downtown area, and three | | | | handpicked pears. Pleasant and mildly sweet, it is |
| wineries just a stones throw from one another. In | | | | perfect for happy hour or with grilled fish. If it's |
| short, a perfect place to spend a day or two. | | | | available, try the very popular Brianna, a fruity white |
| Before settling in and exploring dinner options, we | | | | wine made with South Dakota grapes. We had a lot |
| made a stop at Wilde Prairie Winery in Brandon, a | | | | of fun reading testimonials from wine lovers who |
| suburb of Sioux Falls. This is a family farm winery at | | | | favorably compared the wines to California offerings, |
| its finest. Wilde Prairie is located just west of a creek | | | | and lauded the friendly, relaxed service. Just a short |
| surrounded by rolling hills, perfect for growing grapes. | | | | drive west from Rapid City on Interstate 90 is the |
| We were delighted with the wide variety of | | | | town of Spearfish, near the Wyoming border. |
| interesting fruit wines, including a fun Apple Rasberry | | | | Spearfish is the home of Black Hills Winery, which |
| offering, made with 95% local apples and 5% | | | | offers a full range of fruit wines and an appealing |
| rasberries. We bought a few bottles of this, along | | | | Gewurztraminer. |
| with their American Frontenac, a semi dry red that | | | | This was truly an enjoyable journey. South Dakota is |
| works well with cheese. | | | | a beautiful, clean state with numerous natural |
| Our first stop the next day was Hahn Creek Winery | | | | attractions and friendly small cities. And as we |
| in the small town of Crooks, SD (suburban Sioux | | | | continue to learn, good wine is everywhere, and quite |
| Falls). Their vineyards were planted earlier this decade | | | | a lot of fun to find! |