Wine List
Whitetail Valley Apfel Wein
Apfel Wein - Apple wine made with fruit from our Streuobstwiese meadow orchard is our signature product at Whitetail Valley Cellars. We craft wines from blends or single varieties of our sustainably grown apples and other fruit.
Whitetail Valley Apfel Wein - Our Signature Wine
Our apple wine is made from a blend selected from over 60 modern, vintage and antique apple varieties that we grow here at Whitetail Valley Orchard. Each autumn we choose and blend what nature provides to create our apple wine. Each Iowa summer is different and each year you can taste that particular Iowa summer in every glass.™ Apfel Wein is our signature wine here at Whitetail Valley Cellars.
Inaugural Apfel Wein Limited Edition
A limited edition apfel wein that is from the first batch of wine made in our new kelterei. It is the beginning of a long line of wines to come. Only a few bottles are left and when it is gone it is gone!
In the Future:
Golden Apple Wine - Herbstgold Apfel Wein – “Autumn Gold”
Autumn Gold is made exclusively from our gold apple varieties: Grimes Golden, Golden Delicious, Hewes Virginia, Granniwinkle and Harrison. It is lighter and sometimes a bit zestier than our signature Apple Wine. The gold of autumn fades to winter, we capture it in a bottle to enjoy anytime. Available in Summer 2026
Red Apple Wine - Alpenrosen Apelwein- “Alpine Rose”
We are growing 17 varieties of apples in our orchard that are red fleshed. They are red all the way through. When we press these apples the juice is red!Made from a blend of our red fleshed apples Alpenrosen has a beautiful red color. A little on the tangy side it is for those who want a wine with lots of apple flavor with less sweetness. Currently experimental until our trees come to full production and we have enough red fleshed apples to make this special wine.
Whitetail Valley Pippin Wine - Schöntal Apfel Wein – “Beautiful Valley” Apple Wine
The main ingredient in this specialty wine is Whitetail Valley Pippin, our exclusive apple variety grown only at Whitetail Valley. An open cross apple discovered in a local farmer’s fenceline, the original tree lived untended for years. This apple isn't for eating but it is flavorful enough to make a delightful wine and is able to maintain its apple flavor through fermentation. We grafted a number of trees and they are just starting to produce. Taste an exclusive Iowa Summer in Every Glass! ™ As soon as we have enough apples we will make this specialty wine available!
Whitetail Valley Cellars Fruit Wines
A specialty of Whitetail Valley Cellars is our unique fruit wines. Too often people expect fruit wine to be very sweet and heavy. Our Landwein is as fresh, nuanced and complex as any grape wine. We craft a variety of easily enjoyable wines for you to explore.
Plum Wine - Sommer Brise– “Summer Breeze”
A surprise favorite, our plum wine is smooth with just the right touch of sweetness that brings out the flavor of ripe plums. Easy to enjoy on its own, it also makes a great spritz. It pairs well with summer foods. Perfect for a picnic or just relaxing on the porch swing. Chill a bottle, find a cool shady spot to relax and enjoy.
Red Raspberry Wine - Frühlings Brise - Spring Breeze
Frühlings Brise celebrates that time when the winds of winter give way to the warm breezes of spring. When the land comes alive after a long winter the whole world looks brighter. No matter the season, Frühlings Brise makes your world look brighter with a touch of sweet raspberry and rich apple flavor. Spring Meadow raspberry is just meant for chocolate!
Peach Wine - Sonnenstrahlen - "Sunbeams"
A late summer favorite, Sunbeams peach wine captures the bright warm essence of fresh peaches grown in the summer sunshine. We grow the little native Iowa peaches that ripen in late summer. They are small but pack a bright fresh peach taste. With plenty of peach flavor and just the right sweetness. Sunbeams adds a bright spot to your day any time of year.
Blackberry Wine - Sommer Abend - "Summer Evening"
This wine is for the true lover of blackberry flavor. Sommerabend is a rich relaxing wine for the end of an active summer day. Pair it with favorite foods that grace your summer table from sweet corn to bratwurst. Enjoy it cold all on its own or with your favorite spritz. Sit back, sip and watch the stars come out.
Cranberry Wine - Herbst Segen - "Autumn Blessing"
Made from full flavored cranberry juice this is for those who really like that warm tart cranberry taste that chases winter chill. This wine can stand up to any spice or ice that you want to blend it with, or stand on its own with winter comfort foods. In warmer days it is refreshing as a spritz too!
Ideas for the Future:
Rhubarb Wine - Abend Gluhen – “Evening Glow”
Rhubarb wine is an old time German favorite with a bright fresh taste. We grow an array of rhubarb varieties like Canada Red, Victoria, and German Wine. We grow our rhubarb down low in the valley where the soil is rich and the spring temperatures are cooler. The valley is a great place to grow the sweetest rhubarb. We preserve this fresh spring taste in our carefully crafted rhubarb wine. Our rhubarb patch is just coming into full production. Planned limited availability by fall of 2026.
Whitetail Valley Cellars Apfel Wein Combinations
A unique offering from Whitetail Valley Cellars is our combination fruit wines. Fermenting our fresh orchard apples together with an array of other fruit juices produces a truly different taste experience. A bit less fruit forward, these wines are a perfect companion for pairings without overpowering other delicate flavors. It will be hard to choose just one favorite!
Apple Raspberry Wine - Frühlings Wiese – “Spring Meadow”
When the countryside is in bloom a walk in a spring meadow lifts the spirit. No matter the season, Frühlings Wiese lifts the spirit with a touch of sweet raspberry and rich apple flavor. Spring Meadow is chocolate’s best friend!
Apple Strawberry Wine - Frühlings Blüemli - Spring Blossoms
Spring Blossoms combines our zesty apples with sweet spring strawberries for a real country treat. Every farm kid knows the best strawberries are eaten fresh in the patch and never make it to the house. It’s a great way to celebrate the wild and mild days of an Iowa spring at any time of year.
Apple Peach Wine - Herbst Lied - Autumn Song
We created our Song series wines because like a great song, these combinations sing a rich harmony. Autumn Song combines our sweeter early apples with just the right touch of juice from fresh peaches. We grow the little native Iowa peaches that ripen in early autumn. They are small but pack a bright peach taste. Our Autumn Song sings of those last days of summer slipping into fall. It is the taste of the culmination of an Iowa summer captured in a glass to enjoy any season of the year.
Apple Blackberry Wine - Sommer Lied - Sommer Song
We created our Song series wines because like a great song, these combinations sing a rich harmony. Summer Song sings a softer melody than our blackberry wine. Made for those who love blackberry flavor but want something a little less intense. Summer Song sings blue skies, carefree picnics, sparklers, fireflies and warm Iowa nights so still you can the corn growing!
Apple Cranberry Wine - Weinachts Wein - Christmas Holiday Wine -
Made from our apple varieties with a lot of apple flavor and the addition of 10% cranberry juice. Less bold flavored than our Cranberry wine, Wiehnachts Wein is perfect for the Holidays. It pairs well with turkey ham and other holiday foods. If you haven’t been very good, better leave some out for "Samichlaus" and "Schmutzli" on Dec. 6th.
Ideas for the Future:
Apple Strawberry Rhubarb Wine - Freulings Leid – “Spring Song”
We created our Song series wines because like a great song, these combinations sing a rich harmony. Rich apples sing bass and our homegrown tart rhubarb adds the melody. The high notes are provided by sweet strawberries. Love Song orchestrates three of the best spring flavors into a wine that sings the song of love. Available fall of 2026.
Apple Elderberry Wine - Winter Lied – “Winter Song”
We developed our Song series wines because like a great song, these fruit combinations are all about the harmony. Elderberry is an historical fruit taste for landwein and even better paired with apples. Planned to be available by winter of 2026
Apple Aronia Wine - Wintersnacht – “Winter’s Night”
Wintersnacht is made from old fashioned apple varieties that stand up to the warmth and spices of winter Glühwein. (Spiced wine. We have a great recipe!). Whether warm and spiced or chilled the sweet-tart taste of these fruit flavors can warm up even the coldest Iowa winter’s night. Available winter 2026
Apple Kornel Cherry Wine -
Evening Glow blends our zesty apples and kornel cherries a unique fruit for most wine lovers. Cornelian Cherries, called kornels in Europe, are not actually cherries. We grow kornels here at Whitetail Valley. Evening Glow is a unique Iowa wine. Available in Autumn 2026