Glacial Till – Ashland Review
Address: 1419 Silver St Ashland,Nebraska 68003.
Phone Number: 402-944-2546
Tasting Hours: Fri-Sat 11:00-4:00, Sun 12:00-6:00 and by appt.
Region: Nebraska
Reviewer: Mark and Sonja
Review Date: 5/18/2014
Reviewer: Mark and Sonja
Rating: 5
The Review
Ashland, Nebraska, is a midway point between Lincoln and Omaha, the largest cities in the state. Ashland is home to the Strategic Air and Space Museum, where, amongst other things, one can stare straight into the cockpit of an SR-71 Blackbird. Its also the home of the tasting room of Glacial Till Vineyard, a considerably more subtle yet no less wonderful place to spend an afternoon. There, one can find a selection of some of the tastiest wines the Midwest has to offer, in addition to a wonderful second-story art gallery displaying fine original works of art, to be enjoyed on the walls or purchased and taken home.
Exposed brick and great wooden ceiling beams greet you as you enter Glacial Tills tasting room. The room is long and slightly narrow, however ample seating is available for those looking for a place to rest. The tasting room also has an upstairs complete with a catwalk to go from the stairs into another seating area. The second story has a more modern feel with black leather couches and white walls. The art is often changing and anything from acrylic painting to photography to metal sculpture can be found. Wine can be enjoyed in the downstairs bar and seating area or upstairs in the art gallery.
The shortcoming of the red wines offered at GT is that there are only a few of them to try. The winery is currently using Frontenac and Chambourcin grapes for its red wines. While Frontenac is ubiquitous to tasting rooms in this part of the world, Chambourcin is considerably less common, and GT’s Chambourcin is simply delightful. The 2011 vintage is something special, and the recently-revealed Chambourcin rose is a nice offering as well. Prairie Fire, their port-style wine, is fortified with brandy and weighs in at a formidable 20%. More importantly, its fantastic. With this limited but impressive lineup, one could argue that the vintners at Glacial Till are producing the best glass of red wine and the best fortified wine in the state of Nebraska.
If the reds are somewhat limited in number, it is a problem limited to them; Glacial Till has a nice variety of white wines. The Seyval Blanc is a dry white, and earlier vintages were aged in oak towards the end of the aging process. Unlike many American Chardonnays however, the oak is very subtle and light. In later vintages, oak was reportedly not used, evidence of creativity on the part of the winemakers and a willingness to try new things. Zephyr, a semi-dry white, is named after the family dog. Both are mutts, mixes of at least a couple breeds/varieties! Zephyr (the wine, not the dog) has a nice pear flavor without being overly sweet. Also among the selection of whites are a couple vintages of both La Crosse and Edelweiss that would appeal to those who enjoy their white with a little more sweetness. Top to bottom, the wines produced by Glacial Till represent the best in wine making from the state of Nebraska.
Glacial Tills tasting room in Ashland, Nebraska, has long been a favorite stop for tourists and locals alike. The fantastic wine, classic ambiance, and unique art gallery combine to offer patrons something that is truly special. If youre in Eastern Nebraska, be it for business or pleasure, be sure not to miss this gem of a wine experience!