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Fence Stile's dessert wine Ishq (pronounced Ishk) is made from late harvest Vidal Blanc grapes. The primary harvest of Fence Stile's French-American hybrid grapes are completed late August through late September. Owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton decided to leave six rows of Vidal Blanc grapes on the vines for a late 2018 harvest. These grapes were picked, crushed, and pressed in mid-November. Harvest involved methods that included "birdnetting" the rows of vines. Vineyard manager Shawna Mull also fashioned some "hammocks" to catch fallen grapes trapped in the folds of the netting. The juice from these grapes will become Ishq and another limited-release dessert wine that will be available in late winter. These late harvest dessert wines are not considered ice wines. Ice wine is a dessert wine produced from grapes that are frozen while still on the vine. This low-yield method concentrates the sugar in the grape juice and produces an extremely sweet wine. Unpredictable winter weather and temperatures make it challenging, time-consuming, and expensive to ensure grapes on the vine are frozen for a sufficient period to yield the desired sugary juice. Watch the video above to learn more about the process of harvesting, crushing, and pressing these late harvest grapes. The gallery below has additional behind-the-scenes photos not included in the video.
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11/14/2018 0 Comments Smoke Signals: Farm and Market Dinner You cannot touch smoke. Smoke touches you. The scent of smoke from wild plum, oak, grapevine, and lavender clings to my skin, my hair, and my clothes. Smoke hangs on with persistence, a wild spirit that lingers, an intangible presence that is most certainly there. As the chef and brand/event manager at Fence Stile Vineyard and Winery, I spent the afternoon preparing ingredients for a farm and market-themed wine and small plates dinner. The dinner takes place in the Tasting Room on Sunday, November 18th (Call 816-500-6465 to RSVP). Farmers will attend the dinner and bring goods for a pop-up market so guests may meet them and buy items for the holiday. The Tasting Room will remain open to the public during the dinner so everyone is encouraged to visit, sip on wine, and shop. Near a pond with a slushy iced surface, I built a small fire to grill radishes and smoke leeks sourced from farmers Tom Ruggieri and Rebecca Graff at Fair Share Farm, based in Kearney, Missouri. I used wild plum wood obtained from farmer Linda Hezel at Prairie Birthday Farm, also based in Kearney, and oak and grapevine from the winery estate. A single piece of oak formed the foundation of the fire. Smaller pieces of wood tilted at angles on both sides of the oak like church rafters. Brisk November wind blew across the pond and fanned the flame. Kindling shriveled into glowing orange threads and ash. Soon the fire roared as wood crackled and hissed.
The wine and food dinner highlights ingredients and products from Fair Share Farm and Prairie Birthday Farm. Also, Dr. Janet Smith of Borgman's Dairy Farm, based in Holden, Missouri, supplied milk, cheese, yogurt and other products made from goat milk. Several varieties of French-American hybrid grapes grow along ten hilly acres that surround the tasting room at Fence Stile. Owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton launched the winery and vineyards nearly ten years ago. The winery is known for its dry and semi-dry wines, but has a wide range for those with sweeter palates. The upcoming dinner offers a showcase for how three wines produced onsite – Vignoles, Backpack Red, and Vidal Blanc – pair with seasonal farm ingredients prepared to their utmost flavor. Vineyard manager Shawna Mull tends to the vines year-round. Sometimes, a section of vine runs its course. Cut into small segments, this particular piece of dry, dead grapevine that smolders in the heart of the fire had no more life to give as a lifeline for grape clusters. Smoke from burning vine and wood enveloped the bulbs of radishes with leafy greens still attached and a cluster of leeks thick as metal pipes. You cannot touch smoke. Smoke touches you. The wind shifted and smoke blew past my face, prompting my eyes to water. The smoke sent a signal, a reminder. Smoke and fire heeds its own whims and acts as its own master. I coaxed the smoke to lend its scent to vegetables on the grill. I tried to tame orange licks of flame to do by bidding. I poked and prodded and fed the fire's appetite. Flames subsided into coals and smoke wafted at a steady pace, dancing around the radishes and leeks. Slowly, the bright magenta skin of the radishes dulled and charred with black flakes. Most of the greens had burned away. Removed from the grill, the radishes more closely resembled baby red potatoes cooked directly in a fire. Grilling the radishes mellows its sharp peppery bite and introduces a soft sweetness. The subtle taste and aroma of smoke will interplay with the sweetness, a tart dash of lemon juice, creamy butter, and a dash of salt to unite the flavors. The leeks grilled until they softened and charred at the edges. Once the coals were ready, I added stalks of dried lavender from Fence Stile's flower bed to further perfume the smoke dancing around the leeks. After sufficient smoking, I plucked the leeks from the grill, doused the coals, and headed to the kitchen.  The leeks and radishes are only some of the produce received from Fair Share Farm. They also provided pristine small salad turnips with ivory skin and lush plumes of green leaves. I trimmed the greens and set them aside. They will be sauteed in a pan with Chinese broccoli and served with spelt, a rustic grain similar to farro. Salted and buttered grilled radishes will accompany the greens and spelt. I roasted the trimmed turnips with garlic cloves in the oven until they were tender sweet gems.
After paring the charred tough outer skin of the leeks, I cut them into long strips and then chopped them into smaller pieces. The scent and taste of smoke on the leeks seemed too aggressive. Not only would it compete with the other flavors in the dish, it would also overwhelm the wine pairing with Backpack Red. This light-bodied, dry red blend of Chambourcin and Norton offered a hint of pepper and earthiness on the finish. Bold smoke would wrestle and dominate the wine, altering the balance of sweet, salty, earthy and smoky flavors. I packed chopped leek into a food processor and pureed the contents. A light cloud of steam and smoke arose. Perhaps the leeks could become a sauce for oven-roasted turnips? Ransacking the refrigerator, I selected a jar of creamy goat milk yogurt from Borgman's Dairy. Slowly, I spooned dollops of yogurt and sprinkled a bit of salt into the leeks and whipped them further. The leeks transformed into a thick creamy sauce that still bore a hint of smoke. The savory, smoky sauce provide a counterbalance to sweet, earthy turnips. Slowly, the various components of this dish, one of three, were coming together for the dinner. Once assembled, plated and served, this melange of smoked, roasted and sauteed vegetables and grain will work in harmony. The goal is to stimulate the senses, appease the appetite, and illustrate how Backpack Red tastes with a variety of flavors while holding its own. Other small plate dishes for the Farm and Market meal include a sweet potato, ginger, and turmeric samosa with curry goat’s milk yogurt sauce (paired with Vignoles). Dessert will be honey and apple sweet grits, cooked in goat milk, topped with Fence Stile blackberry compote and goat’s milk caramel sauce (paired with Vidal Blanc). Smoking is one technique used to impart flavor and aroma to food. Its scent and taste connect with the primal parts of our brain and ancient appetites. Our ancestors learned how smoke added character and depth to food and drink. Now, when curls of smoke dissipate, the aroma of smoke is an ephemeral remnant of wood and vine that grew over years, served its purpose, and continued on its journey. Smoke is ethereal yet real like the memory of a remarkable meal or bottle of wine that makes a lasting impression long after the last bite and sip. You cannot touch smoke. Smoke touches you. Smoke sends a signal from past to present before gliding onward. Through food, wine and experiences, we may receive that signal of seasons passing and life progressing and remember how vital it is to share in the moment before it drifts away. 11/7/2018 0 Comments Chef's Special: November 9-11 Pumpkin pear soup with cardamom and pepitas (pumpkin seeds): Slightly sweet with a touch of cardamom for a pop of flavor. Roasted pepitas add crunch to this silky soup – perfect for the fall season. Enjoy with a glass of Reserve Vidal Blanc, Becca Blend, or Loft Red. Parmesan-rosemary vegetable risotto: This rich creamy risotto is packed with the flavor of Parmesan and rosemary. Kale, carrot, red bell pepper, and yellow squash add fresh flavor and a rainbow of color to this warm dish. Try the risotto with Seyval, Becca Blend, KAIscape, or even a crisp rosé. Watch our Facebook page for weekly postings of upcoming Chef Specials.    Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery is highlighting the farmers featured in our upcoming Farm + Market Local Food and Wine Experience. Tickets are still available for this exciting new wine and food event on Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM. $35 per person. RSVP at events@fencestile.com or call 816-500-6465. Limited seating available. Reserve a seat today! This week, meet Rebecca Graff and Tom Ruggieri of Fair Share Farm. "In 2003, we began growing organic fruits and vegetables on Rebecca’s family farm in rural, northeastern Clay County, Missouri,' Ruggieri says. "She is the fourth generation to farm this land. We focus on building the soil through biological farming methods, including extensive cover cropping, animal rotations, mineral additions, mulching and composting." The farm is home to two farmers, three cats, 160 laying hens, two roosters and countless frogs, butterflies, birds and insects. The remaining 200-plus acres of family farm is planted in native grasses, good habitat for deer, turkey, quail, coyotes, and many other species of wildlife. "At the heart of Fair Share Farm are the 100 families that join us in our efforts through Community Supported Agriculture," Graff says. "Each family contributes between 4 to 16 hours per year to the CSA. They either help at the farm during the weekly harvests or on the Core Group which guides decision-making, holds member events, conducts the annual survey, coordinates the distribution sites and keeps the CSA running smoothly." In 2016, Ruggieri and Graff completed the construction of an on-farm commercial kitchen and began producing fermented vegetables. Ruggieri says, "At Fair Share Farm, we are the ones that harvest the vegetables that go into our ferments. This short distance of travel from field to jar has the inherent benefits of freshness and product control. As farmers and fermenters we are a part of a continuum from seed to jar. We are thus able to maintain product quality and control through our growing and handling practices. Just as a vineyard raises grapes and ferments them on-site to produce a product reflecting the terroir of the soil, our soil building and on-farm processing brings out the health, nutrition and umami of our land." Ferments are made by hand in small batches. Graff notes, "Over 95 percent of what we put in each jar is raised on the farm. Our on-farm kitchen is a Clay County Health Department Food Establishment. We are permitted to ferment vegetables, in accordance with our HACCP plan." The farm produces more than 20 different vegetables, fruits and herbs that are grown for the CSA. In addition, they grow more than 95 percent of the ingredients that go into the ferments. Fair Share Farm sells fresh vegetables exclusively to its CSA during the growing season and at the Brookside Farmers Market during the winter. Ruggieri says, "Our ferments are sold to our CSA, at the summer Brookside Farmers Market, and at these retail locations http://fairsharefarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ferments-stocklist-for-website1.pdf "Our fundamental farming practice is to focus on feeding the soil to constantly improve its fertility," Graff says. "We plan our work each day with the goal of providing for the health and biological diversity of the farm, as well as reducing the effects of climate change." For example, Graff and Ruggieri implement environmentally-focused practices, such as sequestering carbon at Fair Share Farm. "It is the job of a biological farmer to feed the soil. Just like us, the soil has an appetite and the ability to grow," Ruggieri explains. "The soil is in effect the stomach of the plant. In order to add soil and organic matter to a farm it is necessary to provide a diverse diet, and a substantial amount of organic matter each year. At our farm we do this through a combination of cover cropping, mulching, compost application, chicken rotations, mineral additions, and water management. Since 2008 we have raised over 25,000 pounds per year of organic matter. "The source of the organic matter added to our soil is the carbon in the air. Carbon dioxide is turned into plant matter by photosynthesis. When we grow and turn under a cover crop this carbon is then incorporated into the soil. This removing of carbon from the atmosphere and putting it into the soil is known as sequestering. Since 2008 we have sequestered an average of over 75,000 pounds per year of carbon dioxide." In effect, farmers act as stewards of the land that they farm, ranch, and/or manage. Graff and Ruggieri take an active role in this responsibility. "You are what you eat, so you are what your plants eat," Graff says. "This fact of physics is an important fundamental issue that defines our farming principles. We feed our soil, plants and animals solid food in the form of cover crops, mulches, minerals and organic feed. Our 16 years of soil building provides nutrition to our produce, eggs and ferments that you can taste." "So-called conventional agriculture feeds plants soluble, synthetically-produced compounds," Ruggieri says. "This bypassing of the soil biology is analogous to feeding a person a strictly liquid diet, treating the plant as infirmed. This synthetic diet is reduced in complexity from a natural system and represents a diminishment of nutrition. When we eat conventional produce we are incorporating these synthetically produced chemicals into our body, making us less that all-natural. We reject this method of agriculture as it damages the both environment and the health of people. We feel it is important to have a livelihood that provides for the farm, farmers and community while tying together the biology of the land, our ferments and our bodies." To attend the Farm + Market event, RSVP to secure a seat today. Meet your local farmers, taste local dairy prepared in several dishes by chef Pete Dulin, learn how Fence Stile owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton paired dishes with wine, and take some some wine and fresh dairy products. Farm + Market: A Fence Stile and Local Farm Food and Wine Experience Featuring Fair Share Farm, Prairie Birthday Farm and Borgman’s Dairy Farm Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM Welcome Glass - Enjoy a glass of apple sangria or mulled wine. First Course Sweet potato, ginger, and turmeric samosa with curry goat’s milk yogurt. Paired with Vignoles. Second Course Leek smoked with wild plum wood and lavender, grilled radish, oven-roasted turnips, and Chinese broccoli with spelt, topped with escabeche and goat’s milk cheese. Paired with Backpack Red. Third Course Honey and apple sweet grits topped with Fence Stile blackberry compote and goat’s milk caramel sauce. Paired with Vidal Blanc.  10/25/2018 0 Comments Sip N Shop Vendor Lineup  Below is a list of vendors lined up for the Sip N Shop on Saturday, October 27, 2-5 pm. Make plans to visit, shop, and enjoy wine in our Tasting Room. Bring friends and family and start the holiday shopping season in style.
SAVE THE DATE: Our next Sip N Shop before the holidays is Saturday, November 17, 1-4 pm. Shellie Jennings will offer card readings during the event. Color Street Scentsy Paparazzi Norwex Sensible Lips with Annie (SeneGence) Pampered Chef Uniquely Leather Chloe and Isabel Young Living Ruby Ribbon Thirty-One Mary Kay Rodan & Fields The Onyx Feather Pure Romance Trades of Hope The Cocoa Exchange DoTerra LuLaRoe The Onyx Feather Pure Romance Magnabilities Lola & Jade Nowlin Yarn Creations Green Utopia 10/24/2018 0 Comments Chef Specials Return for Fall/Winter Visit Fence Stile's Tasting Room for a light meal to accompany your glass or bottle of wine. Starting this weekend, our chef will prepare a seasonal soup, panini or other food special available Friday through Sunday (while supplies last).
Friday, October 26 - Sunday, October 28 Soup: Creamy roast vegetable bisque with sweet-and-spicy green tomato relish, salsa verde and toasted acorn squash seeds "I roast hearty root vegetables, puree them with herbs, cream and a splash of dry Reserve Vidal Blanc to produce a creamy bisque," says chef Pete Dulin. "For a garnish, I've pickled diced green tomatoes and Thai bird chilies harvested from my mom's garden. Rather than abandon unripe late summer tomatoes, I created a sweet and spicy pickled relish. It's fall comfort food with a reminder of summer's bounty." Watch our Facebook page for weekly postings of upcoming Chef Specials.   Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery is highlighting the farmers featured in our upcoming Farm + Market Local Food and Wine Experience. Tickets are still available for this exciting new wine and food event on Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM. $35 per person. RSVP at events@fencestile.com or call 816-500-6465. Limited seating available. Reserve a seat today! This week, meet Linda Hezel of Prairie Birthday Farm. "The mission of Prairie Birthday Farm is to inspire and empower others to enjoy, consume, and produce nutritious food and the native ecosystems upon which its production depends," Hezel says. "Efforts to achieve that mission are encompassed in a multifaceted food literacy enterprise involving: 1. Production/demonstration, 2. Education/sharing, 3. Evaluation/research, and 4. Creativity/innovation." Based in Kearney, Missouri, Hezel established Prairie Birthday Farm in 1993 at first to feed her family and then the broader community. "The farmscape and gardens have been designed to mimic nature in food production and reconstruct native ecosystems necessary for the balance and synergy among plants and animals," Hezel says. "Using native plants in food production offers many benefits including adaptability to local soil and climate conditions, maintaining healthy and diverse ecosystem services, the conservation and propagation of local flora types, and creation of aesthetic wealth." The farm's bounty is "produced without synthetic chemicals and sold to dozens of area residents by arrangement and as many as 25 area chefs," says Hezel. Hundreds of pounds of herbs, edible flowers, vegetables, and fruit (including wild and Slow Food Ark of Taste varieties) are available from February through November without the use of season extension structures. Hezel adds, "As a small-scale producer, I focus on the most flavorful and unique herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables." Farm products and experiences include flowers (36+), fruit (25+), herbs (40+), and vegetables (15+); native plants: 140+ (forbs, grasses, bushes, vines, and trees). Together, they yield fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, eggs, honey, and art in the form of photographs and tablescapes, research, classes, aesthetic wealth, and nature immersion experiences. Prairie Birthday Farm has played host to guests from the culinary community, including chef Pete Dulin of Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery. Hezel says, "Hundreds of volunteers and learners as well as chefs and their culinary teams interested in the concepts operationalized by the farm have taken tours, participated in 1-3-day immersion experiences, and taken part in the seasonal and daily rhythms of activities required to steward the complex systems of food production." For the upcoming Farm + Market local food and wine event, chef Dulin will use wild plum wood to smoke leeks, fresh turmeric leaves (pictured below) that will be combined with sweet potato and ginger in samosas, and dried dahlia petals as a garnish for dessert.  At this point in the harvest season, the first killing frost has occurred but some production still continues at the farm. "Many hardy plants remain, some improved greatly with the rain and cold," Hezel says. "Available now: Organic, baby ginger and turmeric tubers and leaves as well as a mix of foraged herbs and greens that require as long as an hour per pound to harvest, and foraged from gardens, fields, and orchard. Foraged herbs and greens may include, but is not limited to Italian parsley, clover, cutting celery, horseradish leaf, hyssop, lemon balm, wild arugula, sorrel (French, wood), dandelion, dead nettle, bronze fennel, chive, bergamot, fava bean leaf, wild chicory, radish leaf, borage, chickweed, thyme and mint." To attend the Farm + Market event, RSVP to secure a seat today. Meet your local farmer, taste local dairy prepared in several dishes by chef Pete Dulin, learn how Fence Stile owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton paired dishes with wine, and take some some wine and fresh dairy products. Farm + Market: A Fence Stile and Local Farm Food and Wine Experience Featuring Fair Share Farm, Prairie Birthday Farm and Borgman’s Dairy Farm Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM Welcome Glass - Enjoy a glass of apple sangria or mulled wine. First Course Sweet potato, ginger, and turmeric samosa with curry goat’s milk yogurt. Paired with Vignoles. Second Course Leek smoked with wild plum wood and lavender, grilled radish, oven-roasted turnips, and Chinese broccoli with spelt, topped with escabeche and goat’s milk cheese. Paired with Backpack Red. Third Course Honey and apple sweet grits topped with Fence Stile blackberry compote and goat’s milk caramel sauce. Paired with Vidal Blanc.    Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery is highlighting the farmers featured in our upcoming Farm + Market Local Food and Wine Experience. Tickets are still available for this exciting new wine and food event on Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM. $35 per person. RSVP at events@fencestile.com or call 816-500-6465. Limited seating available. Reserve a seat today! This week, meet Dr. Janet Smith of Borgman's Dairy Farm. Borgman's Dairy is a Grade A farmstead goat milk dairy located in Johnson County, Missouri. It was established in 1935 by the current owner's grandmother. Current owner Dr. Janet Smith took over operations in 2006. Borgman's Dairy primarily produces goat milk products, but is expanding to include goat meat in 2019. Dr. Smith says, "Our goat milk caramel sauce and goat cheese cheesecakes are customer favorites. We deliver to farmer's markets, grocery stores and restaurants. We have recently started to sell our products at the Black Sheep market by KU Med." Dr. Smith shares her approach to operating a dairy farm and caring for her herd of goats. "We believe that the best way to make great cheese is to start with great milk," Dr. Smith says. "We control the entire process from breeding to delivery of our product. This is the only way we can guarantee what the animals eat and drink and the quality of the finished product." Looking ahead to 2019, Borgman's Dairy Farm will begin selling goat milk cheddar cheese, gouda, while increasing sales of chevre and feta. Dr. Smith will bring goat's milk dairy products for sale at the Farm + Market wine and food event. RSVP to secure a seat today. Meet your local farmer, taste local dairy prepared in several dishes by chef Pete Dulin, learn how Fence Stile owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton paired dishes with wine, and take some some wine and fresh dairy products. Farm + Market: A Fence Stile and Local Farm Food and Wine Experience Featuring Fair Share Farm, Prairie Birthday Farm and Borgman’s Dairy Farm Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM Welcome Glass - Enjoy a glass of apple sangria or mulled wine. First Course Sweet potato, ginger, and turmeric samosa with curry goat’s milk yogurt. Paired with Vignoles. Second Course Leek smoked with wild plum wood and lavender, grilled radish, oven-roasted turnips, and Chinese broccoli with spelt, topped with escabeche and goat’s milk cheese. Paired with Backpack Red. Third Course Honey and apple sweet grits topped with Fence Stile blackberry compote and goat’s milk caramel sauce. Paired with Vidal Blanc.    Farm + Market: A Fence Stile and Local Farm Food and Wine Experience Featuring Fair Share Farm, Prairie Birthday Farm and Borgman’s Dairy Farm Sunday, November 18th, 3:30-5:30 PM Join us for a special event that highlights local Missouri wine and Missouri farmers! Farm + Market is a new food and wine experience from Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery that celebrates the 2018 harvest, the craft of winemaking, and the rich diversity of locally-grown and produced foods. Begin with a glass of apple sangria or mulled wine. Savor three dishes, served small plates-style, prepared using ingredients from Fair Share Farm based in Kearney, Prairie Birthday Farm based in Kearney, and Borgman's Dairy Farm based in Holden. Each dish is paired with a Fence Stile wine. Each farmer will share details about their farm and offer market goods for sale. Fence Stile owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton and chef Pete Dulin will discuss wine and food pairings. $35 per person. RSVP at events@fencestile.com or call 816-500-6465. Limited seating available. Reserve a seat today! Welcome Glass - Enjoy a glass of apple sangria or mulled wine. First Course Sweet potato, ginger, and turmeric samosa with curry goat’s milk yogurt. Paired with Vignoles. Second Course Leek smoked with wild plum wood and lavender, grilled radish, oven-roasted turnips, and Chinese broccoli with spelt, topped with escabeche and goat’s milk cheese. Paired with Backpack Red. Third Course Honey and apple sweet grits topped with Fence Stile blackberry compote and goat’s milk caramel sauce. Paired with Vidal Blanc.  Top row: Tom Ruggieri and Rebecca Graff of Fair Share Farm. Bottom row: Linda Hezel of Prairie Birthday Farm and Dr. Janet Smith of Borgman's Dairy Farm. Below: Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery owner-winemaker Shriti Plimpton.   Fence Stile welcomed a parade of guests to the winery and crush pad for an old-fashioned grape stomping. The annual event is our way of closing out the grape harvest season. We picked Vidal Blanc, Vignoles, Seyval, Chambourcin, and Concord grapes with the help of many harvest volunteers from six acres of vineyards. The juice from this 2018 grape harvest will become future wine vintages. Grape stomping is squishy fun for all ages. Guests rolled up their pant legs and pulled up their skirts, stepped inside a tub filled with Concord grapes, and stomped away, "I Love Lucy" style. Check out the gallery of photos below and some video of grape stompers in action. Thanks to the many guests that came out, participated, and relaxed on the patio and Tasting Room on a balmy Sunday. As always, thanks to our many harvest volunteers that helped us throughout the season. In the background, Shriti's wonder-dog Kai found a playmate, Murphy, as they ran, ran, and ran more all afternoon.  Harvest is a sensory experience much like wine tasting. The wine experience begins in the vineyard and the actual harvest itself is an immersive experience. Harvest days begin early when the pre-dawn sky is still blue-black. The Fence Stile team rises before daybreak, heads to the vineyard, and prepares supplies and equipment for the day's work. Most harvest volunteers are also up and on the way to the vineyard just as the sun rises. Sight is perhaps the first of the senses engaged. The sun emerges over the horizon and pearls of morning dew glisten off the vines. A range of vibrant green hues signal the energy and vitality stored in the vines, canopy of leaves and grapes. The culmination of the season from winter dormancy to bud break in April to summer's lush growth leads to harvest day, when the grapes are finally ready to pick. Volunteers for the harvest party bring their own energy to jump start the day with camaraderie, greetings, and introductions. Participants gather for a glass of juice and instructions on where to pick, how to pick and the harvest plan for the day. Smiling faces of fellow volunteers and the Fence Stile team are evident as we prepare to embark on this communal experience. After all, beautiful clusters of plump, juicy and luscious grapes await on the vines, full, ripe and ready for picking. Specific sounds are part of the experience as harvest commences. Each person takes a pair of clippers and buckets and walks to the end of a row of grapevines. Random bird noises screech and caw in the distance. These recorded predatory bird calls are played on a loop in the weeks leading to and during harvest in order to scare away birds that would feast on ripe grapes. Friendly conversations and banter begins as folks partner up to pick grapes on each side of a row. Everyone is partnered to help each other locate and pick grapes hidden behind leaves. Periodically, the Fence Stile team offer reminders to stay hydrated and work as a group throughout the early morning. Located 2.6 miles from Downtown Excelsior Springs and 40 minutes from Kansas City, the vineyards lack the harsh, abrasive noises of the city. Perhaps a truck from a neighbor might rumble along the gravel road past the winery. For the most part, laughter and stories and perhaps the rustle of leaves in a breeze form the soundtrack to the morning. Conversation includes favorite memories of past harvests, sports scores, updates on kids and work and sometimes tips and tricks on picking are shared. Once in a while, the tractor growls as it rumbles along the row to move a macro bin filled with grapes. Harvesters ask questions about the grape, the kind of wine we plan to make, the season and if this year is better than previous years. We welcome all of the conversation and interest in sharing our passion – the transformation of grapes from the vine into wine in a glass. In fact, picking with our guests is one of our favorite thing to do. We get to know each harvest participant in a more meaningful way and relish the time spent with everyone. We could not complete harvest without each person that helps. Scents of fresh-cut grass and sweet grapes fill the morning air mixed in with sunscreen and perhaps bug spray. As macro bins are filled, the aroma of ripe grapes builds. We can't help but try a few grapes. We taste these grapes throughout the season to see how the flavors are maturing. On the morning of harvest, the flavors explode with the promise of what will be in the glass. We encourage our harvesters to taste the grapes, taste the free-run juice on the crush pad and also taste wine from these same varietals so they can experience the transformation from grape to glass. By late morning, everyone has some grape juice on them mixed in with a little sweat. We have a saying - if you don't want it in your glass, don't put it in your bucket! Everyone is very careful not to put MOG - material other than grape - into their bins. The vineyard team does a quick sort as buckets are emptied into the macro bins and then again when the bins are emptied into the crusher/de-stemmer. Harvesting is a hands-on activity! By late morning, the shared communal experience from the vineyard moves into the tasting room for lunch, wine and more stories. The chef-prepared harvest lunch not only offers well-deserved sustenance after the morning's work, but also another sensory display of color, aroma, taste and texture. We often see phone numbers, pictures and stories exchanged over lunch and overhear plans of the next get together. The morning ends with "thank you" and hugs. No one seems to care that we are all sticky from the morning's labor. Sharing this experience with guests and harvest participants energizes the team during the afternoon. Within hours of picking grapes, the team on the crush pad starts the process of crushing, de-stemming and pressing grapes that will become the next vintage of wines to be shared over more stories. Every vintage has a story. Each harvest is a part of that story reflected in the weather conditions before and during harvest, and the decisions made on harvest day to best preserve the inherent qualities in the juice of freshly-harvested grapes. Anyone who helps harvest has a deeper understanding of the wine when they visit the tasting room again and experience that particular vintage. We cherish having our guests become part of the story and look forward to the shared experience. Shriti Owner-winemaker Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery  The team at Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery has been busy this summer not only tending to the grapevines, but also picking blackberries! We harvested 200 pounds of plump, juicy blackberries from our patch located next to the Concord grapevines. What did we do with the fruit of our labors? Last weekend, we introduced a limited-edition line of Vineyard Lifestile Blackberry Chambourcin Jam, Blackberry Basil Jam, and Blackberry Ginger Chili Chutney. Blackberry Chambourcin Jam is made from our blackberries and Chambourcin grape juice. It's perfect to spread on toast, a bagel or muffin. Try it with some savory goat cheese and slices of baguette. The Blackberry Basil Jam is sweet and savory. Enjoy it with some brie, a topping for ice cream, on granola cereal for breakfast, or pair it with roast lamb or beef tenderloin and a glass of Chambourcin. For the sweet, mildly spicy and savory combination of Blackberry Ginger Chili Chutney, pair it with rich gorgonzola cheese served on a cracker or crostini and some grapes or figs. Enjoy the essence of fresh summer berries through these jams and chutney available exclusively at our Tasting Room. Stop in, try a sample and take some home! They won't last long!  . Join us and help with the harvest! RSVP to reserve a spot today. Our harvest is quickly approaching. Harvest begins on Sunday, August 26th. Participating in the grape harvest is a fun, immersive way to extend your wine experience and education. Our winery team will explain the harvest process and show you how to harvest grapes from the vines. Afterward, join us for a harvest lunch made in-house by our chef and toast the harvest with wine! Space is limited and reservations are required. Email us to get on the harvest list. Please include a phone number, preferred date, and how many spots you would like. Harvest dates: Sunday, August 26th Sunday, September 2nd Sunday, September 9th Sunday, September 16th Sunday, September 23rd Tentative date for our Annual Grape Stomp (I Love Lucy style) - Sunday, September 30th. Details to come. About our Harvest Parties We begin harvest in the cool mornings, starting at 8 am, after a light breakfast. We finish when the grapes are picked but strive to be done by lunchtime. As volunteers harvest, our team brings the macro bins – full of grapes that you helped to pick – to the crush pad. The grapes will be loaded into the crusher/destemmer and prepared for crush. After the harvest, enjoy a hearty lunch with the group. Also, watch the crush process and even taste some of the free run juice! This communal experience of working together to bring in the annual harvest is best shared with family and friends. Sign up with a group or make new friends when you join us. Email us to get details or sign up in the Tasting Room at the winery. Once we're ready to harvest, we'll email you in advance with instructions on what to wear and how to prepare. Hint: It's simple and basic. Preparing for Harvest Below, Shriti holds a refractometer that is used to measure the sugar level in a grape's juices. It's one way that we determine when grapes are ready to harvest. Veraison, a French term that describes the change in grape color, is another visual clue. As red grapes ripen, they begin to develop color as sugar levels develop. The skin of green grapes grow more translucent as they ripen. Below, compare photos of grapes from mid-July to early August. Soon, our grapes will be ready to harvest, full of sweetness and heady aroma. We'll see you in the vineyard and Tasting Room soon! Sign up today to RSVP for our Harvest Party!     For Dinner and a Movie on Friday, August 3, we're offering a delicious spin on our popular WineIn Movies, a Friday night movie-watching party on the patio. Dinner and a Movie guests may reserve dinner from 6 to 8:30 PM. Menu by Chef Pete Dulin. $20/person (not including tax and gratuity). Wine sold separately. You can make a reservation by emailing events@fencestile.com. Please specify the event, the number of people in your party and a phone number where you can be reached to finalize your reservation. Dinner and a Movie Friday, August 3 6-8:30 PM - Dinner 8 PMish - Guests are welcome to stay for a screening of the featured movie, Chef, at dusk. Suggested wines: Kaiscape, Vidal Blanc, Rosé, Loft Red, or our newest wine, Backpack Red. MENU Zucchini mushroom goat cheese galette with heirloom tomato corn salsa (Pictured above.) Chilled lentil salad with radish, mint and lemon Peaches and blackberries marinated in Ishq dessert wine  7/18/2018 0 Comments Backpack Red - New Wine Release Backpack Red, Fence Stile's newest semi-dry red wine, is made for adventure. It's perfect for a picnic, an outdoor excursion to the lake or a hike, or indoor indulgence. We've created a Chambourcin-Norton blend that's easy-drinking. The addition of Norton adds body and structure to enhance the fruit-forward flavor of Chambourcin. Visit the Tasting Room for the debut of Backpack Red from August 3rd-5th and try this newly-released wine.
Fence Stile's owner and winemaker Shriti Plimpton named the wine Backpack Red. Its light body and versatility makes the wine suitable to pair with picnic foods that wouldn't hold up to heavy, full-bodied, more tannic reds. Enjoy Backpack Red on a picnic or camping trip with fresh summer fruit and vegetables with hummus, artisan cheese, whole grain bread and local charcuterie. "Picnics are generally daytime adventures," Plimpton says. "Having a heavy, full-bodied red in the middle of the day isn't always pleasant. Backpack Red offers a lighter, more adventurous option for red wine drinkers. White wine drinkers who want to explore the red side will appreciate the fruit-forward style of this wine. Also, there's no need to chill this wine when you are hitting the trails and lakes." To celebrate the release of Backpack Red, Fence Stile will have a la carte food specials on the wine release weekend, August 3rd-5th. In addition to our regular Nibbles menu, guests may order these French summer picnic-inspired foods. Goat cheese pearls, olives, and grape tomatoes marinated in olive oil and herbs Baguette with olive and spicy chickpea tapenade Chilled lentil salad with radish, mint and lemon Fancy cheese board with mixed nuts, house-made crackers and mustard, olives, and grapes  This year's Fourth of July falls in the middle of the week. Extend your holiday weekend with a visit to Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery. Here are five reasons to visit us this weekend in Excelsior Springs. 1) Freedom tastes great with wine. So does apple pie and barbecue! Bring a picnic and celebrate Independence Day this weekend with a glass of red, white or rosé wine made from French-American hybrid grapes. While at Fence Stile, raise a toast to Missourians that helped save the European wine industry in 1846. You see, phylloxera, an American plant louse, infested European vineyards in the late 18th century. Missouri's first entomologist Charles V. Riley inspected France's ailing grape crop in 1871 at the invitation of the French government. Riley determined that phylloxera was the issue. He also found that some Native American rootstocks were immune to the louse. Missouri grape nurserymen grafted French vines onto native American grapevine rootstocks in order to grow healthy grapes. As a result of the successful trial, millions of cuttings of Missouri rootstock were shipped to save the French wine industry from disaster. Vive Missouri! Today, French-American hybrid grapes are grown and harvested throughout Missouri and Kansas because they grow well in Missouri's soil and climate. Try Fence Stile's Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles and Seyval to experience their taste and aroma.  2) Winery & Wine Cave Tour with Candlelit Tasting on Saturday. Enjoy a tour of the property, the vineyards and the winery. Finish with a candlelit tasting in the CELLAR57 club room and the wine caves. Keep the tasting glass and enjoy 10-percent off the wines purchased on the tour! $35/person. Reservations required. Upcoming tour dates include July 7th - 12:30 pm, July 14th - 12:30 pm, July 21st - 12:30 pm, and July 28th - 12:30 pm. Contact events@fencestile.com to reserve a spot.  3) Wine-In Friday. July 6th - In Eat, Pray, Love, a married woman (Julia Roberts) realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself." Arrive early and settle in with a bottle of wine. Bring food or order light bites from our Nibbles menu, such as bread, house-made crackers, pretzel bread, cheese, olives, and savory gourmet nuts from Savory Addiction. The movie starts at sunset. Gather at a table under the white canopy on the patio. Enjoy the sunset. When the sky grows dark enough, we'll start the movie on our screen above the stage. Please dress for the weather. 4) Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery is dog-friendly. Bring the puppers with you to the countryside. Escape the fireworks and relax. Enjoy our scenic vineyards, patio, cellar garden, shaded picnic tables, and air-conditioned Tasting Room. While Fence Stile's Becca and Kai (pictured above) won't be at the winery to greet you, your dogs are welcome to make new friends as you enjoy wine. We also have a pond for any water-loving pals.  5) Find out why Fence Stile is one of the region's top-rated wineries. Fence Stile vineyards and winery regularly receives top ratings on Trip Advisor, Facebook, and Yelp.
Join us this weekend and make plans to visit us this summer as we get closer to harvest in late August. See you soon.  Fence Stile offers food and wine events in July that use plentiful summer vegetables, fruits and herbs. You can make a reservation by emailing events@fencestile.com. Please specify the event, the number of people in your party and a phone number where you can be reached to finalize your reservation. Dinner and a Movie Friday, July 13 6 PM Dinner. 8 PM (dusk) - Guests are welcome to stay for a screening of the featured movie, The Hundred-Foot Journey, at dusk. $20/person (not including tax and gratuity). Wine sold separate. Suggested wines: Kaiscape, Reserve Vidal, Rosé, Becca Blend. Menu Peruvian causa (chilled savory potato cake) topped with avocado, aji amarillo pepper sauce, and tomato and garnished with hard-boiled egg and Peruvian botija olive. Tower of zucchini, rosemary, and tomato with cheddar polenta served Napoleon-style Watermelon with lavender blossoms, purple basil and Thai basil from Fence Stile’s herb garden, smoked salt, charred scallions, and basil-infused olive oil SAVE THE DATE - Dinner and a Movie Friday, August 3 6 PM - Dinner (Menu to be announced) 8 PM (dusk) - Guests are welcome to stay for a screening of the featured movie, Chef, at dusk.   Small Bites
Sunday, July 22. Two seatings: 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM $35/person (not including tax and gratuity) This wine and food event features four small bites (heavy appetizers) paired with four wines. The food is plated and served as one course with matching wines. We'll discuss sensory notes of the food and wine. You can make a reservation by emailing events@fencestile.com. Please specify the event, the number of people in your party, the desired seating time and phone number you can be reached at. Salad of jicama, cucumber, and mandarin orange with citrus dressing paired with Kaiscape. Strawberry lemon balm tomato jam on bruschetta served with rosé. Mushroom fried olive onion tart served with Chambourcin. Caramelized peach with honey and spiced granola crumble served with Vidal Blanc.  A small team of researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia arrived at Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery in early June to conduct a field test. Fence Stile welcomed the team and volunteered several rows of its grapes for a test that involved evaluating the growth and reproductive effects of broad-spectrum herbicide Dicamba on Missouri grapes. Sarah Dixon, a graduate research assistant and master’s candidate in the Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, led the field team on behalf of the project's principal investigator Dr. Reid J. Smeda; Professor, Weed Science. About Dicamba Soybean farmers that use Dicamba on their crops have been able to combat increasing populations of glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant weeds. According to a summary of the research project, adoption of Dicamba is expected to be widespread on more than five million acres of Missouri soybean. Labeled use of Dicamba can occur between early spring through initial soybean flowering. Dicamba regulates growth and causes significant damage to broadleaf plants, including grapes, at concentrations measured in parts per million. The risk for damage to vineyards from Dicamba can occur through both particle and vapor drift with impacts possible for up to several years. The goal of the research is to conduct field-based experiments to determine the initial and long-term (two years) impact of Dicamba on grape growth and reproduction. Research at Fence Stile Research is being conducted on established grapes at two Missouri vineyards, including Fence Stile, with effects of Dicamba followed for two years at each location. Current available research on the impact of Dicamba in wine grapes is based off of greenhouse studies with rooted grape cuttings. Much less is known about the response of field-grown grapes to accidental exposure of Dicamba. During the test at Fence Stile, grapevines were exposed to Dicamba during initial growth and flowering, which coincide with early and mid-season application timings on soybean. Selected rows of grapes were covered by plastic field tunnels to isolate them from other rows in the vineyard. The effect of particle and vapor drift will be determined independently and results can serve as a baseline to understand expected losses from off-target movement of Dicamba. The treated rows of grapes will be compared to an untreated control group to evaluate any level of plant injury, grapevine development, BRIX sugar content during veraison, and berry development. Grapes will be hand-harvested and grape yield per plant will be recorded. 50 random grape berries placed in sealed containers and frozen for laboratory analysis of important berry characteristics. The research team received funding for the second year from the Grape and Wine Institute to continue this research. Photographs courtesy of Sarah Dixon.  Summer officially begins on June 21 but we're already celebrating the season with rosé, the perfect summer sipper for hot, humid days. Celebrate Rosé Day on Saturday, June 9 Visit Fence Stile and celebrate Rosé Day! Try a flight of all three of our estate rosé wines. Purchase the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages by the bottle as a three-pack and receive 10-percent off your purchase. This is a rare opportunity to sample and purchase the limited-release 2016 rosé vintage at the Tasting Room today only. Bottles of the 2016 rosé are also available at Whole Foods Market (more details below). Drop in, sample the rosés, and compare the flavors and aromas between these vintages. For your listening pleasure, crowd favorite Laura Lisbeth will perform live music on Saturday from 2-5 PM on the patio. Pre-Weekend, Two-for-One Deal Get an early start to the weekend with a visit on Thursday to our Tasting Room. We offer a two-for-one tasting each Thursday. Bring a friend and receive two tastings for the price of one (a $5 value). A tasting includes a sample of five wines of your choosing. We have red, white and rosé wines, ranging from dry to semi-dry to sweet. After you find a wine that speaks to your spirit animal, settle in with a glass or bottle and relax in the Tasting Room, outdoor patio, or Cellar Garden. Fence Stile Wines Now at Whole Foods Market - Kansas City Can't make it to the Tasting Room on Thursday? Visit the new Whole Foods Market (51st St. and Brookside Blvd, just south of the Plaza) on Thursday, June 7, where we will offer wine samples from 4-7 PM. Whole Foods Market now carries seven Fence Stile wines for purchase! Sample, sip and pick up a bottle for the weekend. Fence Stile's Friday Night WineIn™ Our WineIn™(movies on the patio) season continues with a Friday, June 8, screening of Mrs. Doubtfire that features this unforgettable scene involving wine. Watch Robin Williams, Sally Field, and a dashing Pierce Brosnan perform in this classic role. Bring food or purchase items from our Nibbles menu to enjoy with wine. Once the sun sets at dusk, the movie begins on our patio. Watch the film under the stars in the countryside while surrounded by vineyards. Trivia Time on Sunday, June 10 Make Sunday a fun day with afternoon trivia and wine. Bring a team or we will pair you with other wine pals for a few rounds of trivia from 1-3 PM.  Summer is here and Fence Stile's WineIn™ (movies on the patio) season returns. Join us to watch classic and contemporary feature films on Friday evenings. Arrive early and settle in with a bottle of wine. Bring food or order light bites from our Nibbles menu, such as bread, pretzel bread, cheese, olives, and savory gourmet nuts from Savory Addiction. New from our kitchen – have you tried our homemade mustard and crackers?! Fence Stile owner Shriti whips up savory mustard from scratch using mustard seed, wine, turmeric powder, and a little sass. Try some on your next visit. The movie starts at sunset. Gather at a table under the white canopy on the patio. Enjoy the sunset. When the sky grows dark enough, we'll start the movie on our screen above the stage. Please dress for the weather, but keep in mind that we do have blankets for any chilly evening. Here's the schedule for our July films. July 6th - Eat, Pray, Love. A married woman (Julia Roberts) realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself." July 13th - The Hundred-Foot Journey Dinner and a Movie For Dinner and a Movie, we're offering a delicious spin on our popular WineIn Movies, a Friday night movie-watching party on the patio. Dinner and a Movie guests may reserve dinner at 6 PM (limited seating available). Menu below by Chef Pete Dulin. $20/person (not including tax and gratuity). Wine sold separately. Suggested wines: Kaiscape, Reserve Vidal, Rosé, Becca Blend. You can make a reservation by emailing events@fencestile.com. Please specify the event, the number of people in your party and a phone number where you can be reached to finalize your reservation. After dinner, guests are welcome to stay for a screening of the featured movie, The Hundred-Foot Journey, at dusk (around 8:30 PM). Menu Peruvian causa (chilled savory potato cake) stuffed with avocado, topped with creamy bell pepper sauce, and garnished with hard-boiled egg, tomato, and kalamata olive. Tower of zucchini, rosemary, and tomato with cheddar polenta, served Napoleon-style. Watermelon with lavender blossoms, purple basil and Thai basil from Fence Stile’s herb garden, smoked salt, charred scallions, and strawberry-basil infused olive oil. July 20th - Breakfast at Tiffany's Watch the classic film starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard. July 27th - The Other Woman Watch "The Other Woman," a classic film starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Kate Upton. Synopsis: "After discovering her boyfriend is married, Carly soon meets the wife he's been betraying. And when yet another love affair is discovered, all three women team up to plot revenge on the three-timing S.O.B." 4/22/2018 0 Comments Mother's Day Brunch Menu UPDATE - OUR MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. Bring mom to Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery for brunch and wine on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13, from 11:30 am to 2 pm. Carey Weir of Off the Vine Catering will prepare a fabulous spread of food to complement our selection of white, red, rosé, and sparkling wine. Mother's Day Brunch Menu Breakfast sliders with cheddar and herb biscuits filled with smoked ham, cheddar, and Dijon-roasted garlic aioli Breakfast sliders with cheddar and herb biscuits filled with egg and cheddar Frittata with potato, bacon, and smoked gouda Frittata with wild mushroom and herbed goat cheese Fruit and imported cheese platter with homemade Asiago, sea salt crackers, herb and sun-dried tomato grissini Roasted fingerling potatoes flavored with caramelized Vidalia onions, garlic, and fresh thyme topped with chive crème fraiche Bacon with a brown sugar, cracked black pepper, and rosemary glaze Brioche French toast bread pudding with blueberry and lemon-infused syrup Cost (gratuity and tax included) is $38/person, children are $25. Mothers will receive a craft cocktail courtesy of Shriti and Fence Stile. Please make reservations by emailing events@fencestile.com.  Happy Spring! We have a few announcements, reminders, and events planned just around the corner, including a spring bonfire, Mother's Day buffet, and live music. Sip N Shop - Saturday, April 21 Pop out to the Tasting Room for wine and fun shopping from local vendors, featuring a wide array of jewelry, apparel, arts and crafts, specialty foods, home furnishings and more. It's a perfect opportunity to shop and find a get for Mother's Day or to treat yourself. Spring Bonfire - Sunday, April 22 Fence Stile will host a spring bonfire on Sunday, April 22nd, behind the Tasting Room building in the area behind the crush pad. Join us on Sunday for the bonfire and wine. We'll have hotdogs and s'mores, plus sweet-and-savory bags of popcorn and our usual Nibbles menu of cheese, sausage, bread, and more. We've accumulated a mighty pile of deadwood and brush from our service road upgrade last year. Also, vineyard manager Shawna Mull has been busy over the winter pruning the vineyards and adding the clippings to the woodpile. Burning the woodpile is a final goodbye to wintery weather and salute to spring while taking responsibility to properly and safely manage the resources of our land. Wine Club Pickup Party - Saturday, May 12 Wine Club members, save the date for the quarterly Wine Club pickup party, wine and tasty bites. Not a Wine Club member yet? Contact Shriti at info@fencestile.com to learn more details. Mother's Day - Sunday, May 13 Save the date and make reservations for a Mother's Day buffet on Sunday, May 13, 11:30 am to 2 pm, at Fence Stile. We're finalizing the menu and will announce it early next week, but you (and moms) won't want to miss it. Cost (gratuity and tax included) is $38/person, children are $25. Mothers will receive a craft cocktail courtesy of Shriti and Fence Stile. Spring Music Now that the weather is turning warmer (Right? Right!!), it's a great time to venture out of the house, spend an afternoon at Fence Stile, and enjoy live music on Saturdays. Unless otherwise noted, performances are from 2 to 4 pm. April 21st - The Good Sam Club Band (1 pm) April 28th - Brad Allen May 5th - Steve Sterner and Sundown May 12th - Rick Lally May 19th - 3 Bricks Shy May 26th - Brad Allen June 2nd - The Good Sam Club Band June 9th - Laura Lisbeth June 16th - David Knopf Below: (Top row, left to right) - Brad Allen, Good Sam Club Band, Laura Lisbeth. (Bottom Row, left to right) - David Knopf, Rick Lally, Steve Sterner and Sundown.  Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery celebrated its 9th Anniversary on Saturday, April 7, and Sunday, April 8, with many activities including a display of fire-spinning by vineyard manager Shawna Mull. She performed a 20-minute set on the front flagstone patio as dusk fell. A crowd of onlookers took a break from celebrating, storytelling, and visiting over wine in the Tasting Room to watch in awe as Shawna wielded various instruments lit with fire and performed carefully choreographed routines. Check out the gallery at the bottom of the post for more photos of her in action. The weekend's celebratory activities included live music on Saturday from 2 to 4 pm by David Knopf (above, right). This month, join us in the Tasting Room for a wine tasting, a bottle of wine, and music from other talented musicians. Enjoy live performances on the following dates: Jim Thomas at 2 pm on April 14th, The Good Sam Club Band at 1 pm on April 21st Brad Allen (above, left) at 2 pm on April 28th. While at Fence Stile, tour our winery and wine cave. Enjoy a tour of the property, the vineyards and the winery and then conclude with a candlelit tasting in the CELLAR57 club room and the wine caves. Guests keep the tasting glass & enjoy 10-percent off the wines purchased on the tour! $35/person. To reserve a spot, email events@fencestile.com. Upcoming winery and wine cave tour dates April 13th - 6:30 pm April 14th 12:30 pm & 4:00 pm April 21st - 12:30 pm April 27th - 6:30 pm Wine Xenos at Fence Stile Check out our new Wine Xenos Photo Stand in the Tasting Room. Take a photo with your friends or a loved one. Post the photo on social media and don't forget to tag #FenceStileWinery! We also have Wine Xenos logo wine glassware and T-shirts available. Spring Wine Savings Get ready for spring patio downtime. Stock up on our estate white wines and receive 10% off when you purchase a 10-pack (mix-and-match) of wine. Take home a pair of our new Wine Xenos wine glasses as a thank-you gift (while supplies last) with a purchase of 10 bottles or more of estate white wine. Offer runs through April. Save the Date April 20 - Spring Bonfire and Wine Party. Check our Facebook page for details. April 21 - 4 pm, Sip N Shop. Enjoy a glass of wine and shop. Local vendors have jewelry, apparel, home furnishings, specialty food and more. April 21 - 2 to 4 pm. Fence Stile Wine Tasting at Grain to Glass (1611 Swift, North Kansas City). Can't make it to our Tasting Room? Drop by Grain to Glass and taste our wines. Grain to Glass sells Fence Stile wines by the glass and bottle. 4/3/2018 0 Comments 9th Anniversary Celebration: Stories From Fence Stile Ambassador Kevin Snedden, Fire-spinning and More Fence Stile's winery ambassador Kevin Snedden has been involved with the winery since its 2009 debut. Kevin will share stories of the origins of Fence Stile and treasured memories during the winery's 9th Anniversary Celebration this weekend on Saturday evening, April 7, after 6:30 pm. Winery guests and friends are invited to share stories by the fireplace, play winery trivia, enjoy a bottle of wine, and join in the fun. After dusk, vineyard manager Shawna Mull will perform a fire-spinning demonstration (weather permitting). The anniversary celebration continues on Sunday, April 8. See bottom of the post for the full listing of anniversary events. Kevin and his wife Christine first discovered the winery's original tasting room in the old building (next to the current Tasting Room building) before the winery was officially open. Wine and conversation led to friendship and opportunity. Kevin's relationship with the winery and friendship with owner Shriti Plimpton developed into a role where he became Fence Stile's ambassador, unofficial historian, and storyteller. "The anniversary party will be celebrations of monumental moments from the winery's past and present," Kevin said. "I remember an event where a permit was pulled for a small fireworks display at a previous anniversary celebration. We set up the display at the far end of the parking lot, where there was no danger to the crowd on the patio of the Tasting Room." Well, the fireworks display fell over with exciting results. Kevin said, "The display shot balls of fire across the parking lot as some people were getting ready to leave." No one was harmed, but the fireworks display became a legendary memory. Another memory involves an early performance of Pyrosapiens, a fire-spinning troupe consisting of Kevin, vineyard manager Shawna Mull, and Tony McInturff. The trio performed their fire-spinning act at dusk. "Pyrosapiens performed for the first time at Fence Stile," Kevin said. "It was a hobby of our performing arts crew. It was fun for us as performers and the audience." This weekend's events will be a chance to share and capture stories from Kevin and our guests. Fence Stile will have a Wine Xenos photo booth on display, where guests can create a photo to share on social media (tag #FenceStile) and others. See the event listings below for the full schedule.  9th Anniversary Celebration Events Saturday, April 7 Kevin Snedden will lead winery and wine cave tours with a candlelit wine tasting on April 7th at 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm. Tour the property and the winery. Finish with a candlelit tasting in the CELLAR57 club room and the wine caves. Keep the tasting glass and enjoy 10% off the wines purchased on the tour! $35/person. To reserve space, email events@fencestile.com. Take a souvenir photo in our new Wine Xenos photo display. You have to see it in our Tasting Room! Tag #FenceStile when sharing photos on social media. Listen to live music by David Knopf on Saturday, April 7, from 2 to 4 pm. Guest chef Pete Dulin will be in the kitchen preparing savory and sweet small plates, while supplies last. The menu includes: • Lentil, chickpea, mint, and radish salad with lemon-mint dressing • Blueberry and blue cheese spread with crostini • Mushroom leek soup with sauteed asparagus and Parmesan cheese After 6:30 pm on Saturday, April 7, Kevin will share stories of the winery's history. Guests are also invited to share stories and favorite memories during a fireside gathering. Play winery trivia and board games. Enjoy a bottle of wine for a cozy evening. Shawna Mull will perform her fire-spinning display on Saturday, April 7, after dusk (weather permitting). The winery's gates will close at 6:30 pm. Guests are encouraged to arrive early. purchase a bottle of wine, and stay for the performance. Fence Stile has new T-shirts with a Wine Xenos logo on the front and the Fence Stile logo on the back. Available for purchase, the shirts come in men's and women's sizes, a variety of styles and colors. Pick up the latest in Fence Stile's Vineyard LifeStiles spring fashion this weekend. Fence Stile also has new glassware that displays the Wine Xenos and Fence Stile logos for our anniversary. To get ready for spring, stock up on our estate white wines and receive 10% off when you purchase a 10-pack (mix-and-match) of wine. Take home a pair of our new Wine Xenos wine glasses as a thank-you gift (while supplies last) with a purchase of 10 bottles or more of estate white wine. Sunday, April 8 Kevin Snedden will lead winery and wine cave tours with a candlelit wine tasting on April 8th at 1:00 pm. Tour the property and the winery. Finish with a candlelit tasting in the CELLAR57 club room and the wine caves. Keep the tasting glass and enjoy 10% off the wines purchased on the tour! $35/person. To reserve space, email events@fencestile.com. Meet winery owner Shriti Plimpton and say hello. Winery dogs Becca and Kai will also make a rare joint appearance at the Tasting Room. Drop by, say hi, and snap a photo of our four-legged friends. Take a souvenir photo in our new Wine Xenos photo display. You have to see it in our Tasting Room! Tag #FenceStile when sharing photos on social media. Enjoy savory and sweet small plates, while supplies last. The menu includes: • Lentil, chickpea, mint, and radish salad with lemon-mint dressing • Blueberry and blue cheese spread with crostini • Mushroom leek soup with sauteed asparagus and Parmesan cheese Pick up a cool new Fence Stile T-shirts with the Wine Xenos logo. Stock up on white wine for spring and receive a pair of Wine Xenos logo glasses. Receive 10% off when you purchase a 10-pack (mix-and-match) of Fence Stile white wine. Take home a pair of our new Wine Xenos wine glasses as a thank-you gift (while supplies last) with a purchase of 10 bottles or more of estate white wine.  Promoting his latest album release, Rick Lally performs a solo show on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery's Tasting Room. Lally will also perform with the band 3 Bricks Shy on Saturday, May 19, and another act, R2 Alchemy, on July 12. Lally's new album, It's High Time, is a reference to the span of time it took to write, record, and release his work. The album is a retrospective of songs he wrote from 1989 to 2017. "I've been writing and playing music since I was a teen," Lally said. "I've always done it as a way to make sense of my thoughts or feelings." "Falcon Hill," a song Lally wrote as a 13-year-old teenager, was inspired by his childhood upbringing. "I grew up in Illinois. From 10 to 16 years of age, I lived in a suburban neighborhood," Lally said. "My backyard merged into underdeveloped park that was very much a small forest. In one section there was a clearing with a hill. I spent most of my time playing in nature and every inch of the park. I always saw all kinds of birds from that hill and would frequently see a falcon. My friends and I always called that area Falcon Hill. As I was learning the four chords in my song 'Falcon Hill,' I wrote the lyrics to express how I felt when I was out there in nature." Lally wrote the album's title song "It's High Time" to himself. "I have written a lot of songs. I've probably forgotten as many as I remember," Lally said. "'It's High Time' was intended to remind me and push myself to get my unrecorded songs recorded. It was also intended to urge me to pull the songs out of me that I either need to finish or start. In essence, the song was me being a cheerleader for myself!" True to his muse, Lally writes music at his own pace and his songwriting has developed over time. "Many of my earliest songs were just a stream of chords. Many lacked a bridge or a reprise. I have progressively improved in that area," Lally said. "I never have forced writing a song. It either happens or it doesn't. Sometimes it can take a song a long time to stew and simmer before it's ready. I have one song I wrote in a half-hour and it never changed. Others that have taken years to complete. I'm definitely a better guitar player now so that helps a lot." The songs on the new album vary in genre. "'No Jive' has a bluesy southern rock feel, while 'I Can't Breathe' has the feel of smooth jazz," Lally said. "'Slippin' Away' is currently playing on a Tropical Rock radio station. 'It's High Time' and 'Paralyzed' were both born to rock. Everything else is either folkie or folk rock." Lally is also an artist. One of his paintings, "Sun Glass," is displayed in the Tasting Room. "I have always been somewhat artistic, but never put much time into it. When I started painting, I dove in head first and began painting a lot," Lally said. "During that time, my band 3 Bricks Shy had a song called 'Screw The Cracker' with a line in the song, 'Polly wants wine.' Somehow, that song got us started with playing at wineries." Lally's inspiration for "Sun Glass" traced back to performing at Fence Stile during the summer when it was sunny. "I really appreciated that we continued to get chances to play at Fence Stile," Lally said. "I decided that Fence Stile would be a good home for a painting it mostly likely inspired." It's High Time is available at iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify. Visit ricklally.com for more information on his music, art, and performance dates. Check Fence Stile's calendar for upcoming music performance dates from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Below: Rick Lally as a young musician. Right: "Sun Glass" is a painting inspired by Rick Lally's performances at Fence Stile.  |
Pete DulinBrand and events manager, chef and cellar rat Pete Dulin documents wine, food and operations at Fence Stile Vineyards and Winery through writing and photography. Archives
May 2020
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