Jordan Rasmussen
Published: April 1, 2009
GALENA - This past weekend was wine lovers weekend in Galena, Illinois. The celebration began Friday night, March 27th and ended with a brunch on Sunday morning. The events were held at Eagle Ridge Inn and Spa and after a weekend of drinking, it concludes with hitting golf balls on the course.
The celebration has spread the love to the entire town of Galena, Illinois. Don Pleau is in charge of food and beverage at the Inn and most of the events start out early, and for Pleau there’s nothing wrong with starting early.
“We are going to drink wine at 9:00 in the morning. Its 5:00 somewhere, so we have to start sometime in the day,” said Pleau.
He helps provide luncheons, entertainment, and wine testing from wine makers from all over the world. Pleau just made sure everyone was entertained and enjoyed there weekend.
There was a class that was taking place to discuss wineries and Greg Gauthier is a winemaker from Napa, California who came to Galena for one reason.
“It’s because people in Galena love good wine and I make good wine,” explains Gauthier.
Over the weekend you can relax, feel loved, and enjoy great wine. But remember it is all about your taste. Gauthier came to present his wine and discuss the winery business and what makes a good wine?
“My taste buds tell me. It’s very simple. If I like it it’s a good wine, if I hate it, it’s a bad wine,” said Gauthier. There were many locals who attended Wine lovers weekend and some from as far as Italy.
For Galena locals Jane and Mark, they live in Galena because of their love for the Inn. This was also their third year attending the wine lovers weekend.
“We learned a lot, and we enjoy wine even more than we thought,” said Jane. One of the biggest bottles of wine that was out for tasting was Pleau’s favorite and it is a ruffaford ranch cabernet, from Napa valley.
“I like it the most because it’s in a big bottle so there’s more to drink,” said Pleau.
You do not have to be a wine expert to enjoy a weekend with the Wine Lovers, it also offers lectures from professionals on how they make a wine taste so well and they also share their vineyard experience. The Inn has a great location that feels secluded and brings that piece of mind to the atmosphere. If you had to take one thing away from the weekend it was that it doesn’t matter if it’s the size of the bottle or 9 am. Wine lovers weekend is a time to enjoy great wine with the one you love.
Next year come on out to Eagle Ridge, take in the sights, relax, try the food, and taste and enjoy a good wine and you will know if it’s good if your taste buds tell you.
Jordan Rasmussen can be reached at Jordan.Rasmussen@loras.edu
