Nebraska is well known for its agriculture, providing an abundance of food crops from abundant farms dotting the landscape. As a bonus for wine lovers, grapes are among the crops that flourish here, especially in the eastern part of the state. The confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers creates lush valleys and an ideal environment for the growing number of vineyards in Nebraska awaiting your visit.
Let's take a closer look at the Nebraska wine industry and explore Omaha and beyond.
Nebraska Wine
Nebraska, like other countries in the Midwest, has a long tradition of growing grapes and winemaking. Shortly before the ban, over 5,000 acres of grapes spread to the countryside of Nebraska. Since the mid-1980s, the Nebraska wine industry has taken flight, and now wineries appear in all regions of the state.
And although most people associate the territory of Nebraska with miles of flat corn fields, this image is misleading at best. It is interesting to note that there are several different microclimates in the state of Nebraska. This is especially true in the eastern part of the state, where the two largest cities of Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, live.
Currently, more than 25 wineries are operating in Nebraska, and almost all rely on Nebraska, growing fruit and grapes to create wines that quickly become famous and respected wine consumers and winemaking. We discussed the Nebraska wine industry with Carey Potter, Executive Director of the Nebraska Wine Factory and the Association of Winegrowers, who shared some encouraging news about this industry. Plans are being formed to officially design one or more wine trails in Nebraska, with the support and support of the Nebraska Travel and Tourism Division.
People often ask us: “How does a wine from one Midwestern state differ from another?” The answer is simple - the soil. Different climatic and geophysical conditions bring different tastes to grapes, and this is an exciting discovery to experience the end result.
All told, we visited five wineries in the Nebraska metro area, covering Omaha, settled down along the Missouri River and the capital of Lincoln, Nebraska, in less than an hour.
Come with us when we learn more about Omaha, Lincoln and Nebraska.
Omaha Detection
This is about as convenient as getting to Omaha. Located right in the center of the country, you will find Omaha from Interstate 80, leading east / west, or Interstate 29 north / south.
And as soon as you are here, you will understand why so many people gently talk about Omaha. The city center is compact and easy to navigate, with many options for dining and entertainment. Here history is celebrated, even when the city develops and goes high-tech. Most smiles are genuine, and hospitality in the Midwest is lively and healthy.
We arrived in the middle of the morning, wanting to take some of the sights of Omaha before the wine tasting dinner.
The focus of the center of Omaha is the Old Market district, a revered historic district with original brick streets filled with shops and restaurants. We were planning lunch at the Old Market, so we went to Lauritzen Gardens, south of Omaha, next to the Henry Doury Zoo and the Rosenblatt Stadium, home to the World Series of baseball college.
The Lauritzen Gardens, the main botanical gardens of Omaha, are a 100-acre oasis of peace, perfect for a little exercise on foot. Stroll through the rose gardens, the Victorian garden, the arboretum or the flower showroom. After lunch at the Johnny Cafe and the Steakhouse, a wonderful story featured in Omaha since 1922, it’s time to explore Omaha’s ongoing relationship with the Missouri River on the city star.
On the Missouri River
At this hour of the Missouri River Cruise, you will glide through the parks on the banks of the Omaha River, including Lewis and Clark Lang. This 23-acre park is one of Omaha’s gathering grounds, with a boardwalk atop the river wall, a marina and lively nightlife in the season. You will also drive through the Park and the Heartland of America fountain, the outlines of Omaha and the downtown Bluffs Iowa across the river.
Omaha Wineries
With the best part of the day ahead of us, we hit the road to explore two wineries in Omaha.
Moving south from Omaha, the metro area turns into a rich river valley, and small farms are on the way. It is easy to see why agriculture is flourishing here, as the Missouri River and fertile soil combine to provide a bountiful harvest.
Just 15 minutes south of Omaha in the middle of this lush valley you will find the Hanging Virgin Mountains. Since 2003, the Shaw family has operated this 11-acre winery and vineyard on land, which was a former Native American settlement. Numerous artifacts were found on the site, and agriculture was the main persecution since the 1800s.
The tasting room and the outer veranda here is the perfect way to drive a few hours on a sunny day. From inside or outside you can enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding valley. You can buy grape wine Swaring Wings, associated with Nebraska cheese, sausage and other delicacies. Local art adorns the walls, and Waring Wings hosts live music concerts on Friday evening and Sunday afternoons.
After rising to the tasting bar, we were thrown to see so many different styles to try. Wings of Wings have won almost 150 medals at international competitions, so the chances that you choose, like your taste. Our favorite was a slowly dry red, special reserve St .. Croix. This wine is rich and satisfactory, with a dark fruity bouquet made from grapes that thrives in the eastern valley of the Nebraska River.
For all of you Riesling lovers, go to Winter White, Swing Wings & # 39; the most popular wine. This wine offers a touch of sweetness, balanced with the crisp characteristics of good Riesling. For a slightly sweeter red, eat Mystic Red, completely torn with fruit.
Further south, about 50 minutes from Omaha in the city of Nebraska, is Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard. This popular destination has a long history dating back to 1925.
Located on 90 acres of fertile settlements in the Missouri River Valley, Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard is dedicated to agricultural education, agritourism and historical conservation. Their field research center runs programs and classes from the University of Nebraska, and there are many events for the general public throughout the year. Kimmel is also the main partner of the Arbor Day Foundation.
In our visit, we visited a vineyard and found out what grapes are flourishing in this corner of Nebraska. You will find LaCrosse, Concord, Chambourcin and Vignoles vines. In another place along a special two-mile trail that wanders around the site, you will encounter demonstrations of cider, as well as cleaning fruits and vegetables. Stop and enjoy the view on one of the many benches or picnic tables.
You can easily spend most of your day at Kimmel Orchard, topping off at Apple Barn for a wine tasting. For lovers of white wine, try LaCrosse, a semi-sweet pearl with melon and pear flavors. Or have some fun with Apple Wine made from cider grown right here.
Keeping the best for the latter, we switched to red wine with Kimmel Orchard DeChaunac. This French hybrid grape produces a dry red wine that is bold, rich and full-bodied. Equally satisfying was Chambourcin, one of our personal favorites. This wine offers a fine balance of dark fruit flavors with a bright sharp punch.
Omaha at night
With a happy hour and dinner at our sights, we headed back to the center of Omaha, the Old Market district.
In the heart of Omaha, The Old Market offers unique shops, local restaurants for every taste and budget, as well as a sufficient number of arts and entertainment to keep you busy for hours. In the four block zone there are renovated worn-out rooms, antique lighting and authentic brick streets. Rich in history, but modern and modern, “Old Market” is Omaha at its best.
While at the Old Market, stop shopping at The Everything Them, a colorful gallery with prints, jewelery and historical memorabilia. Or, head over to the cold in the Barry-O-Tavern of the Old Market. For a world-class wine list, here is the pub M, the oldest market for more than 30 years.
Omaha has long been known as a haven for great steaks, and with that in mind, we stopped at the Upstream brewery for drinks and dinners. Placed in an updated fire house, the name “Upstream” is derived from the original Native American meaning of the word Omaha, meaning upstream or against the current.
The beer here is exceptional. We started with a range of tasters, 4 oz. sample of everything. Lightweight blonde is Gold Coast, while American wheat is top-notch hefeweizen, and Firehouse ESB is malty delight. For something sharper, try India’s fresh and hop-shaped Pale Ale, or my favorite, thick and creamy Blackstone Stout, named after the iconic Omaha Hotel.
After dinner, you can explore other nightlife options at the Old Market or take a tour of the surroundings. Away from the city center, there are plenty of nightlife, entertainment and food on Dodge Street, Omaha, the main passage to the east / west.
On to lincoln
After a morning filled with Omaha sightseeing, we jumped on Interstate 80 west to get to Lincoln. Back in the late 1990s, we first visited the capital of Lincoln, Nebraska, which is less than an hour from Omaha. You don't need a run marker or your GPS so you know that you are close to Lincoln ... just watch the horizon and you will see that the building of the Nebraska State Capitol becomes visible.
Lincoln is a hardy, energetic city, home to not only the state government, but also the University of Nebraska. Football is here and there is a lively atmosphere on the campus and downtown. With the planned overnight stay, we had enough time to explore the community.
In the vicinity of Lincoln are located three of the most famous wineries in Nebraska. We were able to visit one on our first day, and the other two the next day. But first, there was a bit of sightseeing. Let me explore Lincoln ...
Top view and hay
Our first stop in Lincoln was the Art Deco Capitol building, one of the most unique and stylish in the USA. Constructed from 1922 to 1932 at a cost of $ 10 million, the majestic four-hundred-domed tower of the building and the low distribution base contain external and internal art, representing the natural, social and political development of Nebraska. Be sure to visit the observation deck of the 14th floor, offering a beautiful view of Lincoln and the surrounding area.
It is less than a mile from the city center to one of the main attractions of Lincoln, the historic Haymarket zone. Named after the original market square created in the late 1800s, this center of Lincoln is a shopping and dining magnet. One of our favorite stores here is Nebraska, a gift shop where all types of locally produced products are represented, including Nebraska wines. In fact, there is a tasting bar here, so you can do what we did and try wines from wineries throughout the state.
Classical and premier country of Lincoln
The afternoon plans prompted a wine visit outside the city, so a quick lunch was fine. We learned about a small local fast food chain called Runza Restaurants from the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau Congress and were able to find a Runza affiliate on the way to the winery.
There is a reason why Runza restaurants have been covered with "Lincoln classics for over 50 years." You need to try the original Runza sandwich. It's a fresh dough stuffed with seasoned beef, rolled up and baked ... it's something like a cross between a wrapper and a burrito. And absolutely do not miss the Runza Moon rings - they are double beaten, perfectly crispy, and so delicious!
Lincoln is very nice to get along with, and a very short trip led us to Prime Country Winery, a few miles south of Lincoln in the city of Denton.
Prime Country is a true taste of Nebraska, as each wine is made from local grapes. Vineyards include DeChaunac, LaCrosse, Concord, Edelweiss and St. Vincent, among other things, is the final product used in selected wines or mixed varieties.
We felt that there were rosy wines, especially Denton Blush, a medium-dry wine made with an equal combination of red and white grapes. Thinking about wine to sleep with a steak, we tried and bought a Nebraska-red, up-and-coming dry red made from Dehaunaka grapes.
Prime Country offers over a dozen wines, from white to red and dry to sweet. They welcome your visit, year around.
The first winery of the next day, Deer Springs Winery, is located in the quiet countryside northeast of Lincoln. We have been looking forward to visiting here, as, like Prime Country Winery, most wines in Deer Springs are made from locally grown grapes. In the family office, the Deer Creek Tasting Room is located in a beautifully restored house in the late 1800s. There is an open landscape area where you can sit and enjoy a bottle of wine or a picnic, and various activities are held in the spring and summer months.
Deer Springs offers a full line of reds and whites, so there are many options. But we especially recommend two white wines, Brianna and Firefly. Both wines are semi-dry with a hint of sweetness, but the most impressive characteristic of both are the aromas of tropical fruits. Prairie Sunrise was another winner, a bit dry, almost chardonnay-style.
Our favorite red wine, Deer Springs, was cast between Prairie Sunset and Autumn Forest (love these names!). Prairie Sunset is a blend of St. Petersburg. Vincent and St. Vincent Croix, deep purple color, with aromas of dark ripe plums. Autumn forests are tested in a dry, dry place, with smoky and spicy characteristics that made us think of mating with steaks or barbecues. Several bottles have been added to our blooming Nebraska wine collection!
Our last winery on this trip was the oldest and one of the most famous vineyards of James Arthur, which was opened in 1997 in Raymond and only 15 minutes from Lincoln.
Located in the hilly countryside adjacent to a 20-acre vineyard, the James Arthur Vineyards offer many places on a large vaulted porch or in the shade of three arbors. Enjoy a bottle of wine outside, paired with one of several snack baskets filled with special dishes, directly from local Nebraska suppliers.
We enjoyed one of the most interesting wines we tried on our trip to Nebraska that day. This is a snowy egret, a white wine made from grapes named Heisenheim. Slightly sweet, with the unique aroma and aroma of grapefruit, it is a very unique style and very drinking. Best of all for each bottle sold was donated to Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
It was also interesting San Realto, a red wine almost in the style of Sangria. Winery personnel call San Realto red wine for people who don’t like dry red ones. It is made with DeChaunac grapes with a small amount of Concord grapes added for sweetness. And so there is the Gamebird White, slightly axial and complex, made with St. Louis. Pepin grapes grown in the vineyard of James Arthur.
James Arthur Vineyards will send their wines (depending on where you live), so jump, order some and try the real taste of Nebraska.
Reflections on Nebraska
Finding wine is a lot of fun, and Nebraska wine was a great discovery for us. Before this trip, we never tasted Nebraska wine. Winemakers here are proud of their craft, and we were particularly impressed by the desire to use local grapes in the process of their winemaking. And with the norms of shipping, as a rule, weakening, it is more convenient than ever to try the wine of Nebraska.
At some point, we plan to go back and explore the rest of the Nebraska wineries. There are several in the western part of Nebraska, and a few more in the planning stages. The Nebraska Winemakers and Winegrowing Association is moving ahead with advertising ideas to help the market and support the state's wine industry, which will undoubtedly enhance the profile of wines in Nebraska.
Если ваши планы поездок проведут вас по Среднему Западу на Межгосударственном шоссе 80, обязательно остановитесь как в Омахе, так и в Линкольне. Мы действительно наслаждались прекрасной едой, местными достопримечательностями и, прежде всего, гостеприимством Midu Western.
