February Shines at Covered Bridges Winery

Don’t let the winter blues get you down. Come celebrate Valentine’s Day and more in February at Covered Bridges Winery in Winterset.

Named Des Moines People’s Choice Best Winery in 2023 and 2024 and a finalist for Best Winery in Cityview’s Best of Des Moines voting for six straight years, Covered Bridges Winery brings you some of the best Iowa wine, craft beer, live music and entertainment in Greater Des Moines (DSM). Only 30 minutes from much of the metro, you can skip the traffic and parking woes and enjoy a relaxing drive with a view. With more than 100 competition medals including five best of show awards, our wines are locally, regionally and nationally recognized as some of the top wines in the state. Dry to sweet, reds, whites and specialty, we will change your minds about Iowa wines.

We are open Saturdays from Noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m. during the winter months, later during special events. From April to October, we are open Wednesday to Sunday. Come sample our wines, enjoy live music, take a cooking or art class or just hang out with friends. Whether you’re new to Iowa wine or have an experienced palate, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy.

Our calendar in February is full of special events you don’t want to miss!

Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025: Valentine’s Dinner & Live Music

• 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
• $65 per person includes a delicious dinner, dessert and music by the Matt Terronez Quartet
• Social hour 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
• Music from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
• Wine not included in dinner ticket purchase but may be purchased the evening of the event by the glass or bottle
• Purchase tickets by Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025

Kick that cabin fever to the curb and join us for a great evening! Dinner includes choice of Chicken Picatta or Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Demi, served with garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, salad, dinner roll and dessert.

Dinner will be followed by the sounds of the Matt Terronez Quartet. Terronez performs in and fronts several acts, including the jazz-tinged Matt Terronez Quartet, the soul-blues-fusion band The RhythMatics, and the classic rock and soul band Boomerang. With countless gigs played across the central U.S. and Rockies, Terronez parlays his unique ability to “read the room” into energetic, crowd-pleasing events. Matt’s relaxed rapport engages audiences and brings them along for a fun and uplifting musical journey every single time he plays.

Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025: Brian Congdon / Sunday Wine Down

• Music from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• No Cover Charge. If you like what you hear, please tip the musician.

Brian Congdon is a singer/guitar player from Des Moines, and has been playing professionally since 1999. He has performed regularly at pubs, breweries, weddings, farmers markets, Adventureland Amusement Park and many more in DSM and its surrounding communities.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025: Blues & BBQ BluesME Fundraiser

• 5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
• $40 per person
• Social hour 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
• Dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
• Music from 7 – 8:30 p.m.
• Purchase tickets by Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025

Covered Bridges Winery and the Central Iowa Blues Society are hosting the Blues & BBQ Smokehouse Dinner benefiting the CIBS Blues Music Education (BluesME) programs. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.

You’re not going to want to miss this dinner prepared by the Hy-Vee Corporate Executive Chef Colt Porter and pies by The Pie Man, CIBS Education Director Steve Vasquez. Dinner includes smoked meats, bunkhouse baked beans, coleslaw, potato casserole, corn bread, sweet potato pie and pecan pie. An American Oak bourbon barrel used to age Covered Bridges Winery reserve red wine is the smoking wood for this special dinner. The bourbon and red wine infused wood adds a mild, unique flavor with hints of vanilla, clove, anise and fruitiness. This unique dinner is sure to please!

Live music provided by Heath Alan! Heath is an Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Des Moines. Heath was nurtured and mentored by some of Iowa's greatest talents including Patrick Hazell, Joe Price, Roger Miller and Jonathan Schwabe. He was awarded the prestigious Liberace Music Grant (Yes, that Liberace!) and inducted into the Yamaha Musicians Hall of Fame before he was 18 years old. Heath has been an active musician in the Midwest for the past 20 years, getting his start with The Blue Band, has led his own band for the past 20 years and is an active sideman and studio musician.

Sponsored by Covered Bridges Winery, Central Iowa Blues Society and Hy-Vee.

     

Friday, Feb. 28, 2025: Release Party for Bourbon Barrel Aged Wines

• 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
• $55 per person
• This event will sell out so purchase tickets early

Join us Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. as we release our next batch of Bourbon Barrel Reserve Red Wines. Your ticket includes a flight of our four Bourbon Barrel Aged red wines, charcuterie and heavy appetizers.

You will be the first to taste and have the opportunity to purchase these fantastic wines at special prices available only at the event. Aged for 18 months in Kentucky bourbon barrels, these wines meld the unique characteristics of our Iowa-grown dry red wines with the distinctive flavors of Kentucky bourbon. Each wine is unique and unlike any other Iowa wine you’ve tasted.

• 2022 Marquette Reserve aged in 6-year-old Basil Hayden barrels.
• 2021 St Croix Reserve aged in 9-year-old Knob Creek barrels.
• 2022 Petite Pearl Reserve aged in 6-year-old Kentucky Owl barrels.
• Winemaker’s Reserve Blend, a blend of 2019 Norton aged in 6-year-old Kentucky Owl barrels and our 2022 Marquette Reserve.

Live music by Willie Mac playing Americana style music with blues overtones.

We work hard to present the very best that Iowa has to offer, and are honored that others recognize this effort.

Covered Bridges Winery is the passion of owners Kevin and Rose Boyle and Kevin and Jean Fifo. Founded in 2004 with the first vintage in 2008, our award-winning wines are produced from 100% Iowa-grown grapes. Our wines can be found at 30+ grocery and specialty stores in Iowa, at the 40+ events that we host annually and at our tasting room. Check out our website for a complete list of upcoming events and to purchase tickets.

Covered Bridges Winery
2207 170th Trail
Winterset, IA 50273
(515) 729-WINE (9463)
CoveredBridgesWinery.com
facebook.com/CoveredBridgesWinery
instagram.com/coveredbridgeswinery

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the “Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.