Breezy Hills: Touring the Vineyard

Tucked away in Minden, Iowa, you will find the Breezy Hills Vineyard with its own orchard. Breezy Hills winery is owned and operated by Darrell and Roberta Morse.

Vineyards are so interesting to visit, especially if you get the chance to walk through the rows of beautiful grapes with lovely meandering vines.

The intricately twisted vines are captivating with their delicate grace.

Many think of California as the only wine area in the United States, but there are literally wineries scattered everywhere across the nation. I highly recommend finding the local vineyards nearest you and plan to tour them.

In late July Breezy Hills Vineyard realized my relative close proximity to their location and invited me out to sample their wine. The drive from Omaha to Breezy Hills Vineyard is nothing much but open highway. But once the highway makes way to the back roads, the drive is scenic all the way.

Traveling to taste wine is all about the experience. The little town of Neola greets the traveler with this beautiful church steeple that is difficult to miss even from the Interstate. Rustic old railroad tracks without the usual rail guard warning to notify drivers when a train is coming reminds of an era long gone, yet still thrives in Middle America. There were young boys and fathers out washing cars in driveways and people eating ice cream in their cars; something slower paced and nostalgic about the feel of the town and the day. A little farther up the road and around several bends is where Breezy Hills Vineyard and its beautifully lush landscape met the eye. 

The women at the Breezy Hills Vineyard front counter gave permission to tour the grounds and photograph the vineyard. Photographing the greenery, flowers, grapes and twisting vines could have taken days to get my fill. Each grape is unique, each vine curls a bit differently. There are rows and rows with several varietals. The grapes were not full grown at the time of my visit, so my hopes are another trip out when they are plump, juicy, hanging full and lush on the vine with full color.

Every region of the country will produce wines of differing nature. They won’t be California wines or those hailing from Argentina or France. They will be unique to the particular area of the country they are nurtured in. This is a good thing. For each bottle of wine, row of grapes and individual vineyard speaks to a distinct experience one will only find with that particular winery. Tasting is an experience in as much as it is a drop of liquid on one’s tongue.

If it is possible find a few local wineries near you, take a drive to tour them for yourself. Taste and feel where the liquid inside the bottle originated. See the splendor of the area and savor the flavor of the experience. 

Breezy Hills Vineyard – 31735 Tamarack Road – Minden, Iowa 51553 – 712.485.2083 – www.breezyhills.com

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