Grapevines hold many lessons for life… and I am overwhelmed daily by the beauty of creation and the wisdom of its rhythms. The Vineyard Journal contains my occasional jottings regarding the growth and care of our humble two-acre vineyard. My comments also venture toward other crops, flowers and fauna, recipes, new wine releases, events, off-site wine experiences, along with a few philosophical side trips Although the names of family and friends are downplayed for their privacy, we treasure every soul who is a part of the vineyard. Come…watch us grow.
So I love cobalt blue glass! I have some in every shape and size…and of course, our Country Moon wine bottles are all cobalt blue. But there has been one bowl that I have struggled to find a use for, that was until I saw this trick recently online. I lost the original link but I will share the concept quickly here. The opening to the bowl curves inward making it difficult for a food serving piece but with this tip the bowl is very happy holding some short stemmed flowers. Simple cellophane tape is used to create a grid that supports 1-3 stems upright. Foam or marbles can also be used but not necessary with the tape. Add a few inches of water first, then the tape, then the flowers. The outside edges of the tape are covered with the petals as they overhang the edge. This extreme palette of orange, crimson and chartreuse in the cobalt bowl is really rich for fall.
Our Girls’ Day Out is designed to be a very hands-on experience for a beautiful fall day! It’s first centered around a fashion show of “CABI” Clothing by stylist Polly Craig where the latest fall and winter fashions will be modeled followed by try-on opportunities. Other activities include a chance to build-your-own-bouquet from the flower bar presented by “Rooting For You” and “Gillespie Florists.” Shop from a display of hand-crafted jewelry by Dawn and Ally or have them plan a custom piece from their design books. Stacy Miceli will offer her paintings and inspire you to create your own in a class scheduled here later this month. The patio will be dotted with seasonal tablescapes featuring decorative items for sale. Additional places to sit outdoors will allow you to visit with friends and enjoy some complimentary snacks and soft drinks. Free wine tastings are available during the event and wine can also be purchased by the glass. And of course, you can always buy a bottle of your favorite to take home!
No admission fee. Accessible parking and restroom is available. Vendors will handle their own financial transactions. Children are welcome!
Everybody’s going to want one of these blue coconut-flavored concoctions, so the recipe starts with a pitcher of wine base. Fudge-covered Oreo cookies are the perfect complement as a reminder of the “black moon” during totality.
WINE BASE in a 2-quart pitcher: 1 15 oz. can of coconut cream (stir vigorously until smooth)
1 bottle (750) Country Moon “Patchwork” blush wine 3 cups blue curacao syrup (non-alcoholic)
In a 20 oz. glass
6 to 8 ice cubes
6 oz. wine base
place orange slice with slit on glass
add straw
fill with Sprite and allow to foam
serve with “moon” cookie
The planning for our Total Eclipse Watch Party began over a year ago. Actually the hope was first there after seeing the total eclipse during a trip to Kentucky in 2017. Could we possibly host such an event and be lucky enough to be in the path of totality for 2024? I procrastinated looking at the upcoming map for YEARS in fear the shadow would miss us but when I finally confirmed the next total US eclipse is OURS – I knew we would have to do something special!
We started the 1-year countdown with a Facebook post saying “SAVE THIS DATE NEXT YEAR.” That day was also a chance to see exactly where the sun would be in the sky during the expected time. The position was optimal for viewing from our lawn area between the winery and the vineyard. The mid-afternoon timing was also favorable to allow guests to arrive and depart at comfortable hours. The only odd element was being on a Monday – but we knew from what we had seen before that people would make an effort and plan a trip determined to witness a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
Our celebration plans took the focus of a family-friendly event. The first vendor we booked was the Penny Lane VW Photo Bus! It’s a photo booth on wheels, specifically an adorable vintage VW bus decked out with all types of 60s vibe. Soon after, The Wine Trough signed on to provide their famous “Charconerie” which is an assortment of meat, cheese and other tasty tidbits all wrapped up in a bamboo cone. Of course, there would be a designated wine called “Totality” and a blue adult beverage named “Solar Eclipse.” With these anchors in place, we could fill the day with other eclipse-themed activities and games. (Here’s a link to the full catalog of photo bus pics taken that day.)
The Hamilton County Tourism organization promptly got busy promoting the virtues of the lodging and restaurants fully in the path of totality but still north of the congestion of Indianapolis. Our winery was third to join the list of venues in the county as hosting an eclipse event. The list quickly drew attention from many people living in the Chicago area.
By February this year, we had sold out our designated 100 tickets. We decided to NOT charge an admission fee but created a ticketed event using the Eventbrite web tool. This would manage the crowd size and more specifically the number of vehicles we can safely park on our property.
As the day approached, the real possibility of bad weather began to loom in our minds. We assumed in a rain-out situation that the crowd would just not come at all. But a cloudy sky could sustain uncertainty until the last minute. I regret that I did not use the ticket service to send a follow-up email to our expected guests but many of them reached out to us with last-minute questions. Most asked if they could arrive earlier than 1:00pm – we said yes – and that helped spread out the check-in process.
Rain had persisted the week prior but the morning of Eclipse Day, April 8th, we had a cloudless blue sky! Our crew of helpers erected 7 canopies across the lawn area, covered tables with blue plastic, arranged chairs and inflated blue and yellow balloons. Every helper then had a station to man for the day while they snuck peeks at the partial and increasing eclipse. There was a Science Zone, Galaxy Donut crafting, and Corn Hole to educate and entertain.The photo bus had parked the previous evening and its owners arrived early to set up all of their extra features including a bubble machine and radio-controlled car for their dog, aptly-named “Sunshine.”
The crowd entered smoothly, eager to purchase some beverages from the bar that still didn’t open until 1:00pm. From that moment on, the day sped by and was a blur to me although I had no alcohol myself! Only after photographs taken by many different people were collected, was I able to see what elements of the plan came together and some that did not.
All-in-all, the visitors were extremely courteous and seemed to be pleased with how things went. Clear skies prevailed though the afternoon with a few plane trails. Lots of picnics, a family reunion, and even a small wedding took place under the shadow of the moon. Several serious photographers came to document the phases of the eclipse. Visit the Instagram page of Sastry Karra to see shots we are proud to say were taken from our vineyard!
The experience of totality took many by surprise. Being such a unique sensation of so many dimensions, it is difficult to explain to someone else just how special it is. Experiencing it with others has a bonding, unifying effect. For those few minutes, we are cohabitants in a creation too awesome for words. What a privilege it was to welcome people from at least 9 other states who came to share this eclipse with us. Huge thanks are due to our vendors, helpers and guests who all worked together to make it a day we will ALWAYS remember!
Our tasting room is full of items to help you prepare for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse, including a new label release, Totality. This Concord wine is a classic Midwest favorite with its lip-smacking and grapey charm! Pick up a bottle to celebrate with and save the empty to remember the special day!
Other merchandising includes tablecloths, napkins, dishware, and utensils to set a festive party theme. Thermal mugs and stickers from GreatAmericanEclipse.com are irresistible with their “starry night” artwork.
Roosters are a natural symbol of the sun so we had to add a few to the display. Shoulder-sling bottle totes are handy for wine picnics and we’re certainly hoping for a picnic-worthy day on April 8th! Check out the eclipse map to see who else you know living in the path of totality.
Finally, use the wall-size eclipse as a photo background for your group as you visit before or after the big day. This feature will remain through the summer along with Totality wine and our specialty wine beverage, Solar Eclipse.
Toast a batch of marshmallows ahead of time using liners in a muffin pan. Place a handful of mini-marshmallows in each liner. Broil for a few seconds – the toasting happens fast so watch carefully! The toasted marshmallows will keep for several days when covered.
In a 20 ounce glass:
7 oz. Country Moon “Sunbonnet” sweet white wine
7 oz. apple cider
6-8 slices of apples
add ice to fill
top with a bundle of toasted marshmallows
drizzle heavily with caramel sauce
Use a sweet wine for a base and your Sangria will be a sweet success!This recipe will make a 24 ounce beverage. Choose a tall transparent glass so you can enjoy the colors.
Red Sangria
7 oz. Country Moon “Concord Mist” red wine
7 oz. 7-up soda
chopped fruit assortment
1 tbsp. grenadine
ice to fill
White Sangria
7 oz. Country Moon “Sunbonnet” white wine
7 oz. 7-up soda
chopped fruit assortment
1 tbsp. lime juice
ice to fill
The city of Noblesville is marked by many signs signifying its beginnings in 1823. As time has a way of passing by, it doesn’t seem long that we have arrived at 200 years from the date we have grown accustomed to seeing on those familiar signs. But 200 years is a long time and especially the last 200 years has contained the most dramatic changes known to mankind.
As the anniversary year approached, the Hamilton County Bicentennial Commission was formed with members from each city and town. Through the year, 45 events were planned allowing each community to celebrate in their own way. A traveling exhibit was created and scheduled to be displayed in over 25 different locations. We volunteered the winery to host the exhibit from May 27th through June 2nd. This inspired us to extend our normal Saturday hours and be open everyday through that week. It also inspired us to gather up some of our own nostalgic items and turn the tasting room into a small museum for those few days. We enjoyed many visitors during that time but in case you missed it, we have captured much of it here in photos and videos.
1) The traveling exhibit 2) The Noble-opoly game 3) Logo corner
The Traveling Exhibit is a 16-foot by 8-foot mural which fit nicely along our west wall. Filled with lots of interesting facts, the reader could enjoy a glass of wine while they took in the information. We created a perpetual game of Noble-opoly using a game board designed in the 1970s featuring prominent Noblesville businesses from that time. Adjacent to the game table was a display of our own collection of logo-bearing items from Hamilton County businesses and churches.
Other displays feature themes relative to the winery such as changes in agriculture and trends in food and beverages. Did you know in 1930 that farmers were 21% of the population and 1 farmer could feed 10 people? Those 10 people could easily be the farmer’s household. Today the modern farmers in Indiana are 2% of the state’s population and each one can feed 128 people. This reflects how improvements in technology have increased crop production and efficiency. It also demonstrates how workers moved from the farms to the factories (like Firestone) to create a wide variety of goods in a growing economy. We created 4 sets of work clothes to illustrate this story, the first accompanied by a photo of Brian’s great-grandparents. The last outfit represents us here in the vineyard as Hamilton County struggles to hang on to public green space.
1) Great-Grandpa’s scythe and saw 2) Milk can, milk bottle crates, butter churn and Starbucks 3) Work clothes through the years
“Tooling Through Time” was a theme which explored the progression of materials used in creating common tools. For example, sugar was sold in a fabric bag and then stored in a wooden bucket, but later in a metal canister and most currently a plastic Tupperware container.
Similarly, fuel types progressed through time from man-power to oil, gas, electricity and battery-power to accomplish the same task. This applied to tools used inside and outside the home. Even fabric types reflect moves in technology as we went from linen (flax) and cotton to micro-knits, permanent-press, and sun-guard UPFs.
Exploring “Food and Beverage Trends” seemed appropriate so we started with a look at the first processed beverage – milk, and discovered that milk sales per capita have continued to fall since 1970 in spite of aggressive marketing by the American Dairy Association. (Got Milk?) Even the coffee shop latte surge wasn’t enough to increase the over consumption of fresh milk. Today Americans consume 3 times the milk equivalent in the form of cheese, yogurt and butter compared to cooking use and beverages. The frequency of milk use is beat out by bottled water, coffee, tea, soda, and even alcohol in that order.
It was fun to research the origins of some beloved brands, discovering Dr. Pepper to have preceded Coca-Cola by 1 year. The pretzel is arguably the oldest concocted snack food for eating between meals, dating back to Middle Age Europe. The first pretzel factory opened in America in 1861. Automated food processing made snacks a large part of our culture. Soft drinks started as pharmaceutical products or, what we would now call, “energy drinks.”
1885 Dr. Pepper 1886 Coca-Cola 1917 Moon Pie 1924 Nehi Orange 1932 Fritos 1937 Big Red Soda 1942 Charles Chips 1985 Fritos BBQ
In the list above, I differentiated “Fritos” from “Fritos BBQ” because we were fortunate to meet the man who developed the BBQ version. During our Bicentennial week, a visitor entered the tasting room and almost immediately asked, “Are those BBQ Fritos?” I said, “Yes, but that is all I have,” since I bought only a small bag and didn’t find regular at the store the day I shopped. He said, “I made those!” and proceeded to tell us about his job in Plano, Texas where he developed new products for Frito-Lay. “Fritos BBQ” was his first project in 1985. He’ll never forget it and neither will we! Thanks, Mark, for sharing your story with us!
To continue the discussion of fabric evolution, these ladies’ garments feature elements of animal origin such as suede leather, wool, and horse-hair hems. A new chintz fabric was glazed with egg white for a shiny stiff appearance. Fibers include straw, silk and cotton. The art for our “Sunbonnet” wine label took a position near its namesake. Tea sandwiches were on the menu that week for a Victorian experience. I could not resist the opportunity to display a few quilts but kept it to a minimum.
The cobalt blue bottles we use for wine always catch comments. Our historical exhibit wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the element, cobalt, that creates the signature blue in compounds used for tinting glass and pottery.
Our bottles found places to be at home within the nostalgia. “Wapahani White” nestled near the photo of Potter’s Bridge and “Squirrel Stampede,” of course, has its place as a featured theme of the Bicentennial. If you haven’t heard the story of the Great Squirrel Stampede of 1822, come visit for a guided tasting and get your commemorative bottle!
Thanks for taking this little trip with me down memory lane.
There was some excitement in our neighborhood recently! On the evening of April 21st at 8:48pm (EDT) a loud noise shook windows for several counties wide. Unfortunately, I personally missed it, mostly because I was baking cupcakes in the winery kitchen and had the exhaust hood running. Most people we talked with suspected an earthquake, but news outlets quickly attributed it to the sonic boom of a meteor. Due to a minimal number of eyewitnesses, no official report has been issued. Being up to my eyeballs in procedures for a big party, it was several days before I caught up with the frenzy caused by the mysterious shaking. Interestingly, it seems those who saw it did not hear anything and those who heard it did not see anything. And that would be the case for a meteor arriving at a steep angle where those at a distance see the trail in the sky but do not hear the sonic boom. Conversely, those near the entry point might only see a flash directly overhead but be subject to strong shock waves in its wake.
The story fell quickly out of the news and for lack of satisfaction I decided to contact NASA to see if they would comment. And to my amazement they did! The map above was generated by NASA official, Dr. Cooke, after my inquiry. The black arrows indicate eyewitness reports and the blue arrow estimates the location of the entry. Using the start/finish coordinates provided, I was able to generate a more detailed map (below) which indicates the burn path dropping from 49 to 29 miles high over towns and people we know.
With his permission, I have also posted here a copy of the email response I received from Dr. Cooke. I had asked him several questions actually, some regarding the fireball camera program. You will notice in his comment that the fireball was “pretty slow” for a meteor and more indicative of a “small fragment of an asteroid.” I’m not sure what the difference is except that everything moving in space gets its initial speed from somewhere and continues at that speed until acted on again.
If you are one of the lucky ones to have SEEN something of this event on April 21st, it is not too late to report it. You can find the file already open by the American Meteorological Society at this link https://fireball.amsmeteors.org/members/imo_view/event/2023/2268 and click the “Report a Fireball” button, referencing the event 2268-2023. Too bad the AMS doesn’t care much about what people heard or felt.
I know that thousands of such fireballs are generated around the world every year. Please forgive me for getting a little excited about this one that came close to falling in our front yard! A big shout out to NASA for all of the research they do in an effort to keep us safe.
