Private wine tasting — an intimate introduction to local wines

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______________ Spring, 2015

Folks from Eudora, Kansas City and Lawrence tasted wines from local wineries while attending a private wine tasting held at Sweet Acres Inn B&B in Eudora.
They discovered wines they loved — that were made nearby.
This as I was Writer in Residence, “residing” at Sweet Acres while exploring Eudora. As a wine lover, it behooved me to welcome locals I knew to join me in a ‘Local Wines’ Tasting.
And I could taste with them fruits of local vintners’ labors.

The attendees
Sweet Acres innkeepers Rob and Sue Howig provided the venue. Dan Fuller, owner of White Tail Run Winery in Edgerton, and Ben Gaeddart tasting host from Davenport Winery in Eudora, presented select wines from their vineyards. I was the emcee, per se, who announced the event and participants. Tasting guests included area business people.
The tasting
Everyone gathered around the open kitchen 6-foot by 8-foot granite counter. The tasting hosts each took a corner. Each presented a selection to represent the diversity of wines their winery offered.

Tasters compared reactions as they sampled white wines, red wines, sweet wines, dry wines, among 14 wines presented.
Among wines to taste from White Tail: Dry Seval citrusy white wine, Blushing Buck sweet red wine, smooth and fruity, and a Dry Oak Chambourcin full bodied red wine with a smoky finish.
Among wines taste from Davenport: Pinot Gris that has hints of apple and honeydew melon, Charlotte’s Red, a fruit forward, sweet red wine, and Mandolin, a semi-sweet red that brings a cherry finish.

Wine charms jingled as guests lifted glasses to taste. Laughter jingled, and light chatter, as they asked the tasting hosts questions, and learned about grape growing methods behind the wines.

They also learned fun facts including White Tail Run was so named because deer caused problems in early grape crops by eating the vines, and that Davenport Charlotte’s Red is named to honor winery co-owner Charlee’s mother, who had offered great encouragement to Charlee and her husband Greg to pursue beginning the winery.
After the tasting presentation, guests were able to mingle with the tasting hosts and to purchase some of their favorite wines.
“The tasting was fun and educational,” says tasting guest Barack Matite, Liaison for City of Eudoria. “I really enjoyed discovering new wines, and learning about the process winemakers go through to make them.”

More information

Davenport Winery
1394 East 1900 Road
Eudora, Kansas 66025
Davenport wines property includes 24 acres of grape vines, 5 acres of apple orchards, and a winery and tasting room on premises. Their wines are made from 100% Kansas grown fruits.
Tasting Room hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
For more information, visit DavenportWinery.com.

White Tail Run Winery
2327 North 400 Road
Edgerton, Kansas
White Tail Run property includes five acres of grape vines, a winery and tasting room. About 99% of their wines are made from Kansas-grown grapes. For rare exceptions, they bring in grapes for select wines.
Tasting Room hours
Friday-Saturday noon-6 p.m.
Sunday noon-5 p.m.
For more information, visit WhiteTailRunWinery.com.

Sweet Acres Inn
103 East 7th Street
Eudora Kansas
This B&B has three second floor guest bedrooms, and a full first floor and outdoor garden available to guests. Sweet Acres also hosts small weddings, private parties and events. Innkeeper Sue Howig is presently composing a Wine Weekends package, details Coming Soon.
For more information visit SweetAcresInn.com.

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