Wine, Food, & Local Flavor: Discovering Lincoln-Area Vineyards

by Jeff Korbelik

Jumbo sea scallops in a bacon cream sauce paired with a crisp, semi-dry Nebraska White wine from James Arthur Vineyards.

Or bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin medallions with a blackberry sauce paired with Kira, a semi-sweet red wine from JAV.

And this for dessert: a lavender crème brulee accompanied with a white chocolate-covered strawberry paired with Aura, a sweet white port wine bottled at JAV.

All three of these dishes were a part of James Arthur Vineyards’ inaugural White Dinner Tasting Menu, a sold-out event held on JAV’s three-season porch last June.

JAV teamed with its caterer, Dinner & Co., based out of Eagle, Nebraska, on a 12-course tasting menu with several of the courses paired with JAV’s award-winning wines and ciders.

Staff members prepped the porch with tables covered in white tablecloths and napkins, surrounded by white chairs. Many of the guests dressed in white attire to make it a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable evening.

Multi-course dinners aren’t new at JAV. The winery regularly presents food-themed events such as Meet the Winemaker dinners, World Famous Murder Mysteries, and Valentine’s Dinners and Buffets. Still, co-owner Jim Ballard wanted to try to do something new — something that would be memorable for the participants.

“We like to create experiences at the winery,” he said. “That’s what we strive for.”

For the White Dinner, JAV coordinated with Chris Torres and her son, Adam, from Dinner & Co. on a small plate, tasting menu rather than a multi-course dinner. This allowed Dinner & Co. and JAV to showcase more foods, wines, and ciders.

Initially, Ballard, who runs JAV with his wife, Barb, planned to do the event outdoors in the vineyards, but the unpredictable Nebraska weather in June led him to opt for JAV’s covered, three-season porch with the garage doors up to let in the cool evening breeze.

The event began with a wine cocktail, made with JAV’s award-winning semi-sweet Vignoles white wine, and concluded with an assorted cheese plate paired with JAV’s sweet red port, Tropasti. In between were an appetizer, soup, pasta, main courses, and more.

Ballard, also dressed in white, visited tables and helped staff deliver the subsequent courses and clear dishes. After three hours, patrons left sated and happy, with many asking if there would be another.

“We’ll revisit it,” Ballard said. “We’ll also look for more new things to complement our many events.”

JAV is one of several wineries in the Lincoln area open to the public for wine tasting, live music, and much, much more. The following is a little bit more about James Arthur Vineyards and the area’s other wineries:

James Arthur Vineyards, 2001 W. Raymond Road, Raymond. The state’s oldest operating winery is surrounded by nearly 20 acres of vineyards. The winery, named for Barb’s late father, James Arthur Jeffers, also brings in grapes for its award-winning wines from other growers across the state, making their final product truly unique to Nebraska.

In the mid-2010s, the Ballards introduced Curveball, a hard apple cider series, and began canning it in 2019, making it available at retail stores. JAV has a tasting room in Lincoln’s Haymarket at the From Nebraska Gift Shop, which the family took over in 2014. It also features a mercantile, cider house, and year-round Christmas store. Visit online: jamesarthurvineyards.com

Deer Springs Winery, 16255 Adams Street, Lincoln. Jim Partington, a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and strike fighter pilot, aspired to be a “gentleman farmer.” He and his wife, Barbara, started the winery in 2001 and opened the tasting room in 2007.

Partington’s daughter, Jennifer Reeder, is the winemaker and has created a plethora of wonderful tasting, award-winning wines that are distinctively Nebraska. Guests can enjoy Deer Spring’s finest in the quaint farmhouse, renovated to reflect the charm of the original structure, which sits on the land that
was deeded to an ancestor in 1874 by Ulysses S. Grant. The homestead certification is on display at the winery.

The winery is surrounded by pine trees, giving it the peaceful atmosphere of days gone by, while still providing contemporary comforts. Visit online: deerspringswinery.com

Glacial Till Vineyard & Winery, 344 S. Second Road, Palmyra. Owner Mike Murman planted his first acre of grapes in the spring of 2003 and opened the winery in the summer of 2009. The evolution of the vineyard and winery has been a direct reflection of the hard work of Mike’s three sons; John, Tim, and Craig have put in over the years.

Glacial Till not only produces wine but is the state’s leading producer of hard cider, retailing it at stores throughout the state. You’ll find its hard cider, along with distributors bringing in craft beers and food vendors, at the vineyards’ popular summer music series, Fermented Fridays, which began in 2011.

Glacial Till also operates a tasting room on Silver Street in downtown Ashland. A mix of new and old, the tasting room offers a rustic feel with the original brick exposed and the original wood floors refinished. It’s filled with modern, sleek black furniture and a custom-made bar that was constructed with materials from the winery. Visit online: glacialtillvineyard.com

Capitol View Winery & Vineyards, 2361 Wittstruck Road, Roca. Capitol View sits on a 14-acre property with a newly expanded tasting room uniquely shaped like an old Nebraska barn featuring a custom-made tasting bar, new furniture, and wine racks, and, of course, gorgeous views of Lincoln’s skyline.

Capitol View opened in 2009 as WunderRosa Winery, with former Nebraska lobbyists Les and Trish Meyer changing the name when they took it over in 2017. Their professional backgrounds gave personal meaning to the Capitol building found on some of the wine labels.

In August 2023, the Meyers sold Capitol View to Lorenzo and Desarie Ball, who brought a fresh perspective and a passion for new experiences. They love the many ways that opening a bottle of wine can spark conversation, laughter, and connection. Visit online: capitolviewwinery.com

Cellar 426 Winery, 1402 S. Ninth Street, Ashland. Opened May 2012 on a 20-acre site, Cellar 426 is owned by Richard and Amy Hilske, who planted their first grapes on the site in 2006 and broke ground on the winery building in November 2010. The Hilskes combined their love of wine and the outdoors to begin their venture.

Cellar 426 has become known for its “to die for” sangria, a sweet nectar resulting from a secret family recipe passed down by Amy’s grandmother. It’s made with one of the winery’s sweet white wines and is a delicious blend of fresh fruit and other key ingredients. It’s available by the glass, carafe, or 32-ounce sealed to-go containers. Visit online: cellar426.com.