FAMILY AFFAIR — The winter family of rural Janesville has operated Indian Island Winery since last year. From left: Angie Winter (wine master), Tom Winter, Angela Winter with son Riley, Lisa Winter and Ray Winter. (Star Eagle photo by Mike Harnish)
By MIKE HARNISH
Staff Writer
Historically, there is no way of knowing for sure when the first grapes were crushed for their juice. Likewise, there is no indication of when some daring soul first looked into a cask of supposedly spoiled (fermented) juice and said, “What the heck, I’ll drink it anyway.”
But we do know that sealed wine jugs have been found in the Middle East, dating back to around 7000 BC. Evidence of wine making can be traced prominently to ancient Greece and throughout the Mediterranean region.
If quizzed about wine making, a lot of people probably still picture a large tub filled with grapes, which were enthusiastically crushed under the bare feet of local peasantry. It could make for a good tourist attraction, or an episode of “I Love Lucy,” but the truth is that winemaking has advanced considerably, not only through technology, but geographically. The University of Minnesota has been researching and developing different varieties of grapes since the 1990s.
Enter the Winter family of rural Janesville, Minnesota. Around the year 2000, Ray and Lisa’s daughter, Angie, while in college, developed an interest in wine. She started studying wine making, and when she came home, she put her studies to use. One thing led to another and before you knew it, Indian Island Winery was born on 13 acres of the family farm.
The area where the winery sets was once an actual island used by local Indian tribes as a favorite hunting and fishing camp. The water is gone, but their spirit is still there. No pun intended.
Opening formally in 2010, Indian Island Winery offers more than just wine sales. Their gift shop offers just about any accessory you could need for wine storage or serving. From corkscrews to wine racks to decanters, it’s all there.
The Wilsons offer wine tastings daily. For $5, you can select up to seven wines to sample. Ray will walk you through the wine list from dry to sweet, describing the flavors and characteristics, as you sip your way through your selections. Whether you prefer your wine dry, sweet, red, white, blush or alcohol free, you will find something of www.indianislandwinery.com. Or better yet, from Highway 14 at Smiths Mill, head South on Cty 37 for about 5 miles. It will be off to the right. Watch the signs.
