Penoach Winery - Adel

We've been trying to visit some new Iowa wineries and had a chance to stop in at the Penoach Winery in Adel. Penoach Winery is a small family-owned winery that is housed in a repurposed 1917 barn. Owners Stan and Joanie Olson really make you feel welcome and love to chat about their wines and Iowa wineries. Penoach Winery is located just off Highway 169 at 26759 N Ave, just north of Adel.

They have a very nice space for tasting, and also a 'Gathering Room' just off this main tasting area if you'd like to pop open a bottle and enjoy it onsite. For the warmer months, they have a covered front porch that looks pretty inviting.

Of course, you'll find the usual wine gifts and tees, plus some items for the home. Love all the brick and exposed beams. It's a beautiful old barn. 

And the wines are beautiful, too - beautiful tasting! They currently have 14 wines to choose from, both varietals and blends. The tasting info gives each wine a number from 1 - 10, dry to sweet, so it makes it super easy to pick out the wines you'd like to taste.

We, of course, each tried several. Grant was particularly impressed with the Fontenac, a dark, soft red wine from grapes grown in their own vineyard. I really liked the Frontenac Rose, a semi-dry wine made from the same grapes, but much more crisp and refreshing. Seriously, I love a good rose. We both agreed that the Picket Fence White was our favorite of their white wines - it is also a semi-dry wine made with LaCrescent grapes. The perfect wine to chill and sip on the patio! 

We liked the Picket Fence White so much we bought a bottle and enjoyed it right there at the winery, while visiting a little more with Stan. It has just a hint of grapefruit, which gives it a great flavor.

One of their most interesting wines is the Dallas County Apple, made from fresh locally grown apples. They spice it with a little cinnamon and it is truly a little apple pie in a bottle. We tried some chilled and as a special treat, warmed with a few more spices. Very tasty.

Penoach Winery hosts several events each year, including music a few times a month - plus, they have a special event coming up on Mother's Day weekend. The 2nd Annual Iowa Wine and Pottery Event - the Iowa Clay Festival - was very popular last year and will no doubt be the same in 2014. Iowa potters will display their craft and sell their products right at the vineyard! The event is Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11 from 10am - 4pm each day. Iowa wine and Iowa pottery - it's a perfect combination!

We did bring home a bottle each of the Frontenac and the Frontenac Rose, so when those are gone, we'll have to head back down to Penoach Winery for more! If you're looking for some excellent Iowa wines not far from the Des Moines metro, head on out to Penoach Winery in Adel. Great people and great wine in a fabulous setting.

Penoach Vineyard & Winery

26759 N Avenue
Adel, IA 50003

515.993.4374

More information at www.penoach.com or check out their facebook page here.