Nebraska is well known for its agriculture, supplying an abundance of food crops from the bountiful farms dotting the landscape. As a bonus for wine lovers, grapes are among the crops thriving here, particularly in the eastern portion of the state. The confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers creates lush valleys and an ideal environment for a burgeoning number of Nebraska wineries just Omaha Nebraska news
Nebraska Wine
Nebraska, much like other midwestern states, has a long tradition of grape growing and wine making. Just before Prohibition, over 5000 acres of grapes proliferated the Nebraska countryside. Since the mid 80’s, Nebraska’s wine industry has taken flight and now wineries are springing up in all regions of the state.
And while most people associate Nebraska’s terrain with miles of flat cornfields, that image is misleading at best. It’s interesting to note that Nebraska actually has several different microclimates. This is especially true in the state’s eastern portion, home to Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska’s two largest cities.
Nebraska now boasts over 25 wineries, and almost all rely on Nebraska grown fruit and grapes to create wines that are rapidly becoming known and respected by wine consumers and the wine press alike. We discussed the Nebraska wine industry with Carey Potter, Executive Director of the Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association, who shared some promising news about the industry. Plans are taking shape to officially designate one or more Nebraska wine trails, with cooperation and support from the Nebraska Division of Travel and Tourism.
People often ask us, “How can wine from one midwestern state be much different than another?”. The answer is simple — the soil. Different climatic and geophysical conditions yield different flavors to the grape, and it’s a fascinating discovery to experience the end result.
All told, we visited five wineries in the Metro Region of Nebraska, encompassing Omaha, nestled along the Missouri River, and Lincoln, Nebraska’s capital city less than an hour away.
Come along with us as we learn more about Omaha, Lincoln, and Nebraska wine.
Discovering Omaha
It’s about as convenient as it gets to reach Omaha. Located directly in the middle of the country, you’ll find Omaha off Interstate 80 driving east/west, or Interstate 29 north/south.
And once you’re here, you’ll realize why so many people speak fondly of Omaha. The downtown is compact and easy to navigate, with numerous choices for dining and entertainment. History is celebrated here, even as the city evolves and goes high tech. Most of all, smiles are genuine and the midwestern hospitality is alive and well.
We arrived mid morning, eager to take in some Omaha sights before an afternoon of wine tasting.
Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s primary botanical gardens, is a 100 acre oasis of tranquility, ideal for a little exercise on foot. Wander amongst the rose gardens, Victorian garden, arboretum, or the floral display hall. After lunch at Johnny’s Cafe and Steakhouse, a wonderful history laden Omaha tradition since 1922, it was time to explore Omaha’s ongoing relationship with the Missouri River on the River City Star.
On The Missouri River
On this one hour Missouri River cruise, you’ll glide along Omaha’s riverfront parks, including the Lewis and Clark Landing. This 23 acre park site is one of Omaha’s gathering spots, featuring a boardwalk on top of the river wall, marina, and nightly live music in season. You’ll also pass the Heartland of America Park and Fountain, the Omaha skyline, and downtown Council Bluffs Iowa just across the river.
Omaha Area Wineries
With the better part of an afternoon ahead of us, we hit the road to explore two Omaha area wineries.
Driving south from Omaha, the metro area evolves into a rich river valley, with expansive farms beckoning along the way. It’s easy to see why agriculture prospers here, as the Missouri River and fertile soil combine to provide a bountiful harvest.
Just 15 minutes south of Omaha in the midst of this lush valley, you’ll find Soaring Wings Vineyards. Since 2003, the Shaw family has been operating this 11 acre winery and vineyard on land that was a former Native American settlement. Numerous artifacts have been found on site, and farming has been the primary pursuit since the 1800's.
Stepping up to the tasting bar, we were delighted to see so many varied styles to sample. Soaring Wings wines have won almost 150 medals in international competitions, so chances are anything you select will please your palate. Our favorite was a slightly dry red, the Special Reserve St. Croix. Made with grapes that thrive in eastern Nebraska’s river valley, this wine is rich and satisfying, with a dark fruit bouquet.
Set on 90 acres of fertile Missouri River valley farmland, Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard is dedicated to agricultural education, agritourism, and historic preservation. Their on site research facility hosts programs and classes from the University of Nebraska, and there are numerous events for the general public throughout the year. Kimmel is also a primary partner for the Arbor Day Foundation.
On our visit, we toured the vineyard and learned which grapes thrive in this corner of Nebraska. You’ll find vines of LaCrosse, Concord, Chambourcin, and Vignoles. Elsewhere along a special two mile trail that meanders through the site, you’ll encounter cider pressing demonstrations, as well as fruit and vegetable harvesting. Stop and enjoy the view at one of the many benches or picnic tables.
Saving the best for last, we shifted into red wine mode with Kimmel Orchard’s DeChaunac. This French hybrid grape produces a dry red wine that’s bold, rich, and full bodied. Equally satisfying was the Chambourcin, one of our personal favorites. This wine offers a fine balance of dark fruit flavors with a lively spicy kick.
Omaha At Night
With happy hour and dinner in our sights, we headed back to downtown Omaha, destination Old Market District.
As the very heart of Omaha, The Old Market offers unique shops, local restaurants to suit any taste and budget, plus enough arts and entertainment to keep you busy for hours. The four block area features renovated warehouses, old fashioned lighting, and authentic brick streets. Rich in history yet modern and contemporary, The Old Market is Omaha at its best.
Omaha has long been known as a haven for great steaks, and with that in mind, we stopped at the Upstream Brewing Company for drinks and dinner. Housed in a renovated firehouse, Upstream’s name is derived from the original Native American meaning of the word “Omaha”, meaning upstream or against the current.
On To Lincoln
After a morning filled with more Omaha area sightseeing, we hopped on Interstate 80 westbound for the short drive to Lincoln. Back in the late 1990’s, we paid our first visit to Lincoln, Nebraska’s capitol city that’s less than an hour from Omaha. You won’t need a mileage marker or your GPS to let you know you’re close to Lincoln … just watch the horizon and you’ll see the Nebraska State Capitol building rise into view.
Lincoln is a hardy, spirited town, home of not only state government but also the University of Nebraska. Football rules here, and there’s a lively ambiance on campus and downtown. With an overnight stay planned, we had ample time to explore the community.
Surrounding the Lincoln area are three of Nebraska’s most well known wineries. We were able to visit one on our first afternoon, and the remaining two the next day. But first, a little sightseeing was in order. Let’s explore Lincoln …
Omaha Nebraska news
A View From Above And The Haymarket
It’s delightfully easy to get around in Lincoln, and a very short drive brought us to Prime Country Winery, a few miles southwest of Lincoln in the town of Denton.
Prime Country is a true taste of Nebraska, as every wine is made with grapes grown on site. The vineyard features DeChaunac, LaCrosse, Concord, Edelweiss, and St. Vincent grapes, among others, with the end product being used in stand alone wines or blended varietals.
We felt the blush wines starred here, particularly the Denton Blush, a medium dry wine made with an equal mix of red and white grapes. Thinking of a wine to pair with steak, we tasted and bought Nebraska Red, an assertive off dry red made from Dechaunac grapes.
Prime Country offers upward of a dozen wines, ranging from white to red and dry to sweet. They’ll welcome your visit, year around.
The first winery of the next day, Deer Springs Winery, is located in a quiet country setting northeast of Lincoln. We were looking forward to visiting here because much like Prime Country Winery, most of the wines at Deer Springs are made from grapes grown on site.
Our favorite Deer Springs red wine was a toss up between Prairie Sunset and Autumn Woods (love those names!). Prairie Sunset is a blend of St. Vincent and St. Croix grapes, deep violet in color, with flavors of dark ripe plums. Autumn Woods checks in a tad drier, with smoky and spicy characteristics that had us thinking of a pairing with steaks or barbecue. Several bottles were added to our blossoming Nebraska wine collection!
Our final winery on this trip was Nebraska’s largest and one of the most well known, James Arthur Vineyards, open since 1997 in the town of Raymond and only 15 minutes from Lincoln.
Situated in the hilly countryside adjacent to a 20 acre vineyard, James Arthur Vineyards offers plenty of seating on their large convered porch or under the shade of three gazebos. Enjoy a bottle of wine outside, paired with one of several snacking baskets filled with specialty foods direct from local Nebraska purveyors.
We enjoyed one of the most interesting wines we tasted on our Nebraska trip this particular afternoon. It’s Snowy Egret, a white wine made from a grape called Geisenheim. Slightly sweet, with an unmistakeable grapefruit aroma and tang, it’s a highly unique style and very drinkable. Best of all, proceeds for every bottle sold are donated to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
James Arthur Vineyards will ship their wines (depending where you live), so jump in, order some, and try a real taste of Nebraska.
Reflections on Nebraska
Discovering wine is a lot of fun, and Nebraska wine was a great discovery for us. Before this trip, we’d never tasted a Nebraska wine. Winemakers here are proud of their craft, and we were particularly impressed with their desire to use local grapes in their winemaking process. And with shipping regulations gradually easing, it’s more convenient than ever to try Nebraska wine.
At some point, we plan to come back and explore the rest of Nebraska’s wineries. There are several in western Nebraska, and a few more in the planning stages. The Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association is moving ahead with promotional ideas to help market and support the state’s wine industry, which will undoubtedly heighten the profile of Nebraska wines waiting for your visit.
If your travel plans take you through the midwest on Interstate 80, be sure to stop over in both Omaha and Lincoln. We truly enjoyed the great food, local attractions, and most of all the genuine Midwestern hospitality.
