The patio at Iron Horse Hotel
There’s a lot of shiny metal and engine revving all week and into the weekend for Harley-Davidson’s 110th anniversary party. Whether you’re a Harley rider or simply lust after the hogs, here are a few spots where you can pull up and admire the bikes – and soon have a glass of wine in hand. Each of these eateries boasts a wine list and has pledged to roll out the proverbial red carpet for Harley enthusiasts.
The Eatery on Farwell (East Side): Not only is there a commemorative sandwich (“The Hog,” with pork belly, smoked ham and bacon topped with cheddar/pepper-jack cheeses and Dijon coleslaw) but the wine list features 17 selections by the glass, from a zippy Overstone Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) to an intense Salvatore Principe Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina).
Jackson Pub (Jackson): With a corn roast and brat fry on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., this bar – with a huge patio, just one mile off of Highway 45 – also pours wines and offers late-night dining (such as chili-cheese dogs and pizza). For the 110th party, drinks are slashed to $1.10. Another perk: With the purchase of Miller High Life, you get a commemorative keychain.
Iron Horse Hotel (Walker’s Point): With a new chef at the helm, The Yard – an expansive outdoor patio with skyline views – is the place to be on a sunny afternoon or warm night. To pair with fun eats like foie-gras popcorn balls and “Russian Roulette” (where one of three pigs in a blanket is stuffed with habanero), look to the wine list, which features 100 selections and 18 by-the-glass options, including a Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s newest wine region (Happy Canyon).
WINE DEAL OF THE WEEK
Discount Liquor – with two locations: one in downtown Waukesha and another at 50th Street and Oklahoma Avenue – has a sale on one of my favorite California value wines. For $9.99 a bottle, you can pick up any of Chateau St. Jean’s (Sonoma Valley, California) seven varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Red Blend, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Fume Blanc
WINE EVENT OF THE WEEK
On Sept. 7, Watertown hosts a wine festival in Riverside Park called Rock River Wine Fest & Art Show. What makes this event unique is that only Wisconsin wineries are pouring: 15 wineries, to be exact, with between five and eight selections from each. The cost to get a wristband, which allows you to taste, is just $15. Starting at 10 a.m., the wine festival lasts until 4 p.m. Crafts from local vendors, along with food from local chefs (such as desserts from Latte Donutee), are also part of the event.
WINE OF THE WEEK
At Thief Wine Shop & Bar’s Milwaukee Public Market location last week, I settled into a happy hour with a bottle of 2012 Hubert Veneau Sauvignon Blanc (Coteaux du Giennois, France), enjoying its mineralities, freshness and white-peach notes. At $19 for a carafe (half bottle), or $8.25 a glass, it’s a steal.
