Summer Kicks Off with the Great Wine and Chocolate Trail
Memorial Day Weekend kicked off our busy summer season. On May 26 and 27, Whispering Bluffs joined other Wisconsin wineries for The Great Wine and Chocolate Trail. This annual event is sponsored by the Southwest Wisconsin Wine Trail.
“This pairings of our fine wines with exquisite chocolates offered a decadent treat for all those who visited on Saturday and Sunday,” said Winemaker Wes Helmick.
Attendees sampled wines and chocolates at five southwest Wisconsin wineries in the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area). At Whispering Bluffs, we served up five delectable pairings to tempt savory and sweet palates.
Rose Breasted Grosbeak Wine and Chocolate-Covered Bacon
We paired our Rose Breasted Grosbeak wine with chocolate-covered bacon prepared by Mary Beth, our winery manager.
The luscious chocolate and smoky, salty bacon brought out soft tannin notes in this blend of Cabernet and Marquette grapes.
Red Tail Hawk Wine and Rum Meltaways
A blend of Cabernet, Marechal Foch and Marquette grapes, our Red Tail Hawk wine paired wonderfully with a Rum Meltaway chocolate from Cocoa Cabana in West Dundee, Illinois.
Marechal Foch Wine with Shiitake Mushroom Truffles
Shiitake Mushroom Truffles from Gail Ambrosius in Madison, Wisconsin accompanied our Marechal Foch wine.
To make these amazing truffles, the chocolatier steeped freeze-dried shiitake mushrooms in cream, strained the cream and incorporated it into the ganache filling. The earthy, woodsy wine and truffle complemented each other perfectly.
Indigo Bunting Blueberry Wine with Lemon Bark
Sweet palates loved the bright pairing of our Indigo Bunting blueberry wine with a lemon bark from Lagomarcino’s in Moline, Illinois. The slight tartness of the lemon paired with blueberry was cool and refreshing!
Meadowlark Wine with White Chocolate Amaretto Truffles
Finally, we showcased our newest white wine, Meadowlark, with a White Chocolate Amaretto Truffle from Guths Candy Shop in Waupun, Wisconsin.
White wines and white chocolate typically pair well. The almond flavor from the Amaretto complemented the wonderful grape flavor of the wine.
Don’t Miss the Cheesy Weekend Trail!
Stay tuned for details on The Cheesy Weekend Trail on June 23 and 24. This is the next big event on the Southwest Wisconsin Wine Trail.
In the meantime, our tasting room is open daily. We look forward to serving you some of Wisconsin’s finest red, white, dessert and fruit wines.