Create your own fun mini wine bottle string lights that will light up any occasion!
Here’s what you will need!
• Plastic mini wine bottles with screw caps (available at most liquor and grocery stores in singles and 4-packs)
• String lights with attachable/detachable bulbs (here’s an example! bit.ly/2JUbG6P) **bulbs should be no larger than 0.7” or they won’t fit inside of bottle neck
• Hand drill with 16/34” drill bit
Step 1. Go get some tacos, drink the wine, feel real fine.
Step 2. Remove the wine bottle labels. Soaking them in warm soapy water usually does the trick!
Step 3. Make sure there is no liquid left in the bottles!
Step 4. Safely drill a hole (I used a 13/64″ bit) in the screw cap of the bottles.
Step 5. String each individual light into each screw top hole, then secure the bulb onto the light.
Step 6. Screw each cap back onto each wine bottle and voila! You have a fun string of lights any wine lover would be proud to own!
💻📱Be sure to follow me for all of my online shenanigans!
Cedar Lake Cellars, a year-round winery and event venue, recently added four new wines to its existing inventory of 50.
3 Swans Chardonnay, Napa Valley Reserve (2016) – Buttered citrus, marmalade, and hints of brioche and white flower nuances are apparent in this full-bodied wine. The name and label refer to the winery’s three swans that grace the property’s three-acre lake.
Pomegranate Sparkling Wine – A semi-dry wine with aromas of cherry, blackberry, and strawberry.
Cedar Lake Cellars Moscato (2018) – This wine features sweet aromas of peaches, fresh grapes, orange blossoms, and crisp lemons.
Cedar Lake Cellars Rosé (2018) – The newest Rosé is a versatile crisp, dry wine with bright acidity and structure.
The winery currently sells craft and domestic beer, as well as 16 Cedar Lake Cellars California or Paso Robles wines, 3 Swans handcrafted wines from the West Coast, 25 wines of the world, and signature wine slushies. A mixed drink menu features a wide assortment of liquors and mixes to choose from.
Cedar Lake Cellars is open year-round Fri. and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for those 21 and older with live music scheduled throughout the weekend.
Ever have the hankering for something sweet and sugary, but with the delicious flavors of some of your favorite wines? Chocolate Storybook has got you officially covered with their selection of wine flavored cotton candy!
Chocolate Storybook has all of your favorite boozy flavors in cotton candy form! From Champagne, Rosé, and Merlot–to Mimosa, and even Pina Colada, you will have a hard time picking out your favorite flavors to try!
If you’re looking for something other than wino flavors, you have to check out all of the other crazy flavors the company offers!
One of my main goals on my wine journey is to take the “snobbery” out of wine, and have fun with it! I’ve always loved everything vintage, and have a love for the pin-up style! That is where the idea to host a pin-up contest at a winery came from!
Whimsical Wine Woman-Photo by Megyme Productions
When Hidden Lake Winery owner Angela Gorazd contacted me saying she wanted to make some sort of “pin-up” event happen at their winery, we sat down for a brainstorming and wine session. I wanted to host a fun event mashing wine and pin-ups together that everyone could enjoy…that’s when “Miss Hidden Lake Winery” was born! After months of planning and tons of excited interest and support from the community, we soon realized wine and pin-ups go PERFECTLY together, and make for a fantastic time!
Hidden Lake Winery owner Angela Gorazd(Miss Ruby Rosé for the evening) and ME! ready to take on the event!
At 8pm on the dot fifteen beautiful ladies graced the stage competing for the following titles:
“Miss Off Duty” – one of the wineries own wines (3rd place)
“Miss Old Hippie” – also another one of the wineries own wines (2nd place)
“Miss Hidden Lake Winery 2019” (1st place)
Pictured in order: Miss Margo, Miss Swannie, Miss J Marie, Miss Cha Cha Ooh La-La, Miss Loosie Lovegood, Miss Millie Manhattan, Miss Roxie Heart, Winery Owner; Miss Ruby Rosé, Miss Stella Noir, Miss Ruby Steele, Miss Lady Haha Hotwheels, Miss Maria Divine, Miss LuLu Le Papillon, Miss Aurora Borealis, and Miss Kiki Rose
The competition was fierce as all of the ladies brought their best outfits, poses, and unique stage presence to engage the audience! In the end the judges had a hard time narrowing down the winners! After plenty of math checking followed by more math checking just in case…the final scores had been tallied up and the winners were finally selected!
3rd Place- Miss Stella Noir 2nd place- Miss Millie Manhattan and 1st place- Miss Cha Cha Ooh La-La
Our three beautiful winners graced the stage! Miss Stella Noir took home the 3rd place Off Duty title. Miss Millie Manhattan took home the 2nd place Old Hippie title.
Photo by Andrew Dobson
Miss Cha Cha Ooh La-La was crowned Miss Hidden Lake Winery 2019! She graced the stage and won over the judges hearts for the evening! Winning comes with some extra perks too! Miss Cha Cha will get an overnight stay at one of the Hidden Lake Winery Cabins to relax and kick back after all of her pin-up shenanigans! Congratulations Miss Cha Cha Ooh La-La!
All fifteen of the beautiful contestants and the host of the night!
All of these beautiful ladies brought their best and it showed all night long!
After the pin-up competition, the crowd was kept up and on their feet dancing all night long thanks to CHAMPAGNE FIXX who’s musical talents kept us going well past 11pm!
Champagne Fixx rocking out with the crowd!
If you needed a break in between dancing, you could also head back to the Barrel Room for some pin-up style shopping with our hand picked vendors for the night!
The winery was packed and it will always be a night remember! We can’t not wait until the next one AND hopefully eventually work this into a Miss Illinois Wine Event at the Illinois State Fair!
On October 6, 2018 the annual Missouri Wine Wobble took over Cedar Lake Cellars ! “Will run for wine” is a common phrase in the wine world and with the Missouri Wine Wobble, you really can run(or wobble) and be rewarded with wine! 🙌🍷👟
The Missouri Wine Wobble has a little something for everyone! (Even people like me who can’t stand running🤣) Not up to running an entire 5K? Then sign up for the 1K Taster’s Trot! Feeling like you have some energy to burn? Sign up for both the 5K AND 1K races and get extra wobbly! It really is a blast for everyone!
Once you’ve picked which race is right for you, prepare to “wobble” thru the vineyards stopping every so often for a wine break!
Photography by John KellyPhotography by John Kelly
Once you’ve finished your race, there is more wine and whiskey (and water) waiting for you to enjoy! Races over? Now it’s time to party! The after party will sure to keep that wobble wobbly!
You don’t want to miss the next Missouri Wine Wobble! You can keep up with their social media and stay up to date with ticket sales, deals, dates, and more!
Grapes, wine, vendors, live music, great times; that is Villa Marie Winery’s Annual Harvest Festival in seven words!
Located about 18 miles from St. Louis, this beautiful winery is the perfect escape from the daily hustle and bustle! Be sure to keep up with their events here! You can also follow along on their Facebook and Instagram pages!
Ducks enjoying the shade by the water
One of the winery’s biggest events is their annual Harvest Festival and Grape Stomping Competition! The winery packs their banquet hall full of fun vendors, and when you venture outdoors you can listen to live music from local bands. You can do all this while enjoying wines from Villa Marie Winery, and Piasa Winery!
The Zydeco Crawdaddy Band had everyone up and dancing!Beautiful henna art by Natalie’s Body Artistry!
One of my favorite parts of the event is the grape stomping competition! I got the chance to get my Lucy on and stomp some grapes! What a great way to exfoliate your feet and put on a show for everyone watching! 🤣 It was a blast!
Yes I did hold a glass of wine the entire time, without spilling a drop!😅
One of the sweetest people I was able to meet at this event was actually there celebrating a HUGE accomplishment!! Vickie Rose, a local to the area, unfortunately lost the use of both of her legs due to blood clots. Seven months ago she told her doctor she HAD to walk again so she could stomp some grapes at the harvest festival. SHE DID IT. After many surgeries and months of learning to use her legs again, she was able to reach her goal of being able to walk again in time for grape stomping season!
Vickie Rose and friends celebrating being able to walk (and stomp grapes!) again!
Here’s a video of me stomping grapes if anyone cares too!
Be sure to check out all of the Villa Marie Winery social media pages and never miss an event announcement!
🍊Orange Wine…wine made from oranges right?!? 🚫WRONG!🚫
Orange Wine is made from white wine grapes with skin contact during fermentation! This process gives the wine a beautiful amber color…or ORANGE WINE!! In honor of celebrating such a fun and beautiful wine, Amanda Goodwin: The Real Housewine officially established National Orange Wine Day to be held on October 6th! (Perfect for getting in the the Halloween spirit too!😉🎃)
I was thrilled to be a small part in helping grow this trend…I was even more ecstatic to discover one of the many Illinois Wineries I love makes their own orange wines too!
I couldn’t be more excited to find that Mackinaw Valley Vineyard has been making their orange wine from Vignoles Grapes for years! Try some for yourself the next time you stop by!
To learn more and follow along with the orange wine shenanigans, be sure to follow the official Orange Wine Day Instagram here or check out the links below!
