On behalf of all of us at Grape Expectations and Vegas Valley Winery, we want to say thank you and give a special shout-out to Joan Peck for spearheading this article and placing it in such a wonderful magazine as Chic Compass. The article (in part) reads as follows:
When my friend Richard told me that he belonged to a wine group, I smiled indulgently and thought, How nice! He continued, saying they would soon be pressing the grapes and might I be interested in seeing this? I thought, sure, why not? I joined him and the others in his friendly, fun-loving wine group, not knowing what to expect. I was so glad that I did. I can’t begin to express what it was like to step into a massive vaulted room and see all the different barrels of wine in various stages of fermenting lined up against the wall. And the smell—earthy and intoxicating!
That experience opened a whole new world for me—winemaking. And, let’s be honest, who hasn’t thought about making their own wine at some point in their lives—especially after seeing some of the most romantic movies filmed in Italy?
Grape Expectations – Nevada School of Winemaking – is located in Henderson, Nevada. It opened its doors to the public in 2007 and is a nine-month experience. People can come and make a barrel of wine themselves or with friends/family or join groups making wine. Grape Expectations’ winemaking business is based on two harvest seasons: fall and spring.
“If a great winemaker were a cocktail, the recipe might look something like this: three parts meticulous, two parts expressive, one part maniacal. Combine all ingredients, strain into a busy cellar, and garnish with a good pair of boots.” Few industries depend so heavily on a single stretch of the year, just a handful of weeks in length,” Patty (Peters) says.
I can’t begin to express how delightful it is to visit Grape Expectations, sip their outstanding wine, and be in an atmosphere that takes you far, far, away into the “old world” comfort of simple living and tasting. Patty Peters, Mike Schoenbaechler, KJ Howe, and Chad Evans make up an unusually copasetic group with their upbeat, easy-going energy on display.
Grape Expectations and all it offers is truly one of Nevada’s most incredible hidden gems. Come and experience for yourself that some of the best wines do indeed come from the desert!