You gotta love a winery that welcomes you with a free sample of wine named Shitshow Rose. Toss in more great wine, a rich history, a playground for the kids, and appealing, dog-friendly grounds and you’ve got all the makings for a memorable afternoon. Ours certainly was. Located on family farmland dating back to 1803, Grovedale Winery specializes in Riesling and Minnesota French hybrid varieties. Since I have a soft spot for Rieslings, I was really looking forward to this tasting and am pleased to report that Grovedale exceeded my expectations.
After imbibing the aforementioned Shitshow Rose (pleasant with berry notes), I decided to hit all three semi-drys. Yup, I loved them all from the bright Wyalusing White to the crisp Riesling to the grapefruit notes of the Vidal Blanc. I decided to end things on a sweeter note with the Pink Moscato and couldn’t have been more pleased by this lovely, fruit-forward semi-sweet.
Normally winter isn’t the best time for visiting wineries but Grovedale doesn’t let a drop in temperature ruin the fun. In fact, they embrace it with igloo rentals, ice skating and a cozy, dog-friendly heated porch. Grovedale Winery hosts a variety of events all year long from food pairings to trivia nights to live music. They also have an on-site Air B&B rental called the Cottage at Grovedale for those who want to maximize their time at this pretty property. Grovedale is more than the average taste and go winery, it is a DESTINATION that invites you to savor all that they have to offer.
