A Bit of California in Wisconsin

     Here’s a unique adventure for California grapes—transport them to Wisconsin and make wine from them. That’s exactly what Stone’s Throw Winery in Door County, Wisconsin, does, describing its location as “just 2,500 miles northeast of Napa Valley.”

The wine tasting is $5.00 and it includes the logo wine glass as a take-away gift.  During the wine tasting, we could choose any five wines from the winery’s abundant and varied offerings. We liked their Uncle Gino’s Daily Red for, you guessed it, a daily red and the Zinfandel Port for a special sipping treat.

Our favorite, though, was a Riesling.  Neither one of us gravitate toward Rieslings, but this one seemed nicely balanced and not particularly sweet. The aroma was of cut pears and we liked that. Plus, the wine was a little touch of home since the grapes, amazingly enough, came from Monterey County!  We bought a bottle to pair with some Wisconsin cheese and it was perfect.

The cheeses, all from Wisconsin, were from a dynamite cheese shop in Madison called Fromagination.  (www.fromagination.com.)  We selected a goat’s milk chevre, a pretty Mobay (layers of sheep and milk cheese separated by grapevine ash), and a raw milk goat Gouda called Evalon.  Combined with artisanal Potter’s Crackers made in Madison and the wine, we were in California-Wisconsin heaven.

Another cheese idea for the future came from our server at Stone’s Throw.  It’s a cheese spread the winery’s owner apparently likes to make-- gorgonzola blended with dry roasted walnuts with a touch of honey.  Sounds yummy.

If you’re ever in Door County—Wisconsin’s answer to New England and considered a top leaf-peeping area in the fall—stop in to taste the Stone’s Throw wines (www.stonesthrowwinery.com).  The variety of wines is excellent, with more than 30 wines offered; the building is a wonderful architectural combination of sleek and traditional; and for Californians this is a unique way to re-connect with home.

Speaking of home, next week we’ll be back on the Carmel Valley Road winery tour.  See you then.