Wide River Winery, Davenport IA

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My wife and I traveled to Davenport IA to check out an art exhibit, and decided to spend the weekend to see other sites in the Quad Cities area. Of course, if there are wineries around, I’ll find and give them a try. Wide River Winery has a location in Davenport, but they also have locations in Clinton and Le Claire.

At the Clinton location, you can not only taste wines, but tour the winery and vineyard. I hope to visit that location sometime in the future to experience the great location along the river, take in an event, and take the tour. All of the locations have regular events, mostly live music. The Clinton and Le Claire locations have lodging available at the River Lodge and Wide River Winery Inn respectively.

The tasting room in Davenport is fairly small, but it’s a lively place. You could tell some of the customers were regulars, while some, like us, were from out of town.

Image Source: Martha O’Brien, Wide River Winery
Image Source: Martha O’Brien, Wide River Winery

Jackson was our server and was a pleasure. The following are the wines I tried along with the varietals used in the blends. All varietals with an * are grown in their own Wide River Vineyard. The full wine list can be found on the website.

  • Ms. D’Meanor White – Blend of Vidal, Seyval, Itasca*, St. Peepin*, and Frontenac Blanc*
  • White Collar Crime – Chardonnay, Frontenac Blanc*
  • Cody Road Felony – Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Verona*
  • Felony Red – Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Temperanillo
  • Caught Red Handed – Crimson Pearl*, Petite Pearl*

You might be wondering why the wine names are crime or law related. Well, the owner, Dorothy O’Brien, started the winery in 2005, but has been a practicing attorney for 38 years. In addition, her husband, Charlie Pelton, is also involved in the winery and is a retired Clinton County judge.

Wide River Winery Felony Red and Ms. D’Meanor White wines

I prefer dry wines, so my tasting focused on those choices. However, they have many sweet whites and reds, and even have home slushie mixes and a few canned wines.

Image Source: Martha O’Brien, Wide River Winery

If you get a chance to stop by any of the tasting locations, I’m sure you’ll find a wine that you will like, but be sure to take time to engage with the staff and other patrons. That is a big part of the experience.

Wide River Winery, 1128 Mound St, Davenport, IA 52803

Scott Morris