We took the back roads to arrive at this winery. From Tonganoxie (just northeast of Lawrence), we followed County Road Five as it curved through the farmland. I was surprised at the amount of development. Large sections of land had been subdivided into five to ten acre lots, ideal for someone who just wanted a "bit of property". The comute into Kansas City or Leavenworth or Lawrence would not be difficult with less than 10 miles drive to one of the major metropolitan highways. It was an enjoyable drive on that Sunday afternoon in September. Call 913.351.3468 for detailed directions.

Three large dogs lumbered over to the car as we pulled into the small parking lot. These labs (or some mix of labs) acted friendly, so I got out of the car. I successfully distracted them so my wife could exit our vehicle. She’s not overly fond of large dogs, especially strange ones. The dogs ignored her while she walked from the car to the gift shop.

We started with the red and blush wines before tasting the white wines. The High Prairie Red reminded me of burgundy-style wines and I did purchase a bottle of this vintage. I enjoyed the Festive Blush with the cherry flavor, but my wife thought the cherry aroma was too overwhelming. We both liked the American Rhine, a white wine, not too sweet and not too dry. Starting in October, mulled wine spices can be purchased from the gift shop. Several vintages of wine from this winery are ideal for heating in a crock pot with the spices as a perfect beverage for cooler weather.

In addition to wine-tasting, Heimhof sponsors a free monthly concert out on the lawn. On selected Friday nights, weather permitting, jazz bands perform on the pavilion while guests relax and listen on the lawn. Without all the city lights, stars are visible in the nighttime sky, adding to the calm atmosphere and the opportunity to learn from the astronomy sessions that are given. The pavilion can also be rented for picnics, parties, weddings, or just a business off-site meeting.

Overall, I was not impressed with the wines. That’s even comparing them to other Kansas produced wines. They were okay, not exceptional. We bought several bottles just for the novelty of the name and to support the local farming community. Maybe the wine would taste better mulled with the spices. I would enjoy another drive out to the vineyard, so might stop in for the mulling spices.