Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/118258
Photo courtesy of Wollersheim Winery play Around Town Delicious Drives Tasty food-and-wine tours only a day trip away With winter's chill retreating, spring is time to hit the road and discover the many tours and tastings within hours of town. To point you in the right direction, we've assembled three mouth-watering itineraries that give a whole new meaning to "drivethrough" dining. To satisfy both your appetite and curiosity, head northwest an hour and a half to La Valle's Carr Valley Cheese Factory and explore cheese-making first-hand. After sampling award-winning cheeses, point the car west an hour to the Skip the Trip Ocooch Mountain Acres Maple Madison Food Explorers offers walking tours of two of Syrup Factory in Westby for the city's most appetizing a chance to tap some sap and areas: Monroe Street and downsample maple syrup. As you town. With tasting stops at unique- head home on Highway 14, to-Madison restaurants and specialty steer your way to Wollershops, the three-hour hikes will sheim Winery in Prairie du keep your feet moving and your Sac to tour the historic vinestomach happy. Visit madisonyard and cellars and savor their foodexplorers.com. famous wines. When you fancy a delectably sweet journey, venture an hour northeast to Honey Acres Museum in Ashippun, where you'll learn about all things honey through exhibits and tastings. Enjoy a nature walk and shop the myriad of honey flavors, fruit spreads and mustards. Just 20 minutes away in Watertown, devour lunch at Mullen's Dairy and Eatery, a destination for homemade ice cream since 1932. Then make a final stop as you head southwest 30 minutes to Lewis Station Winery in Lake Mills, where deluxe chocolates, cigars and local wines await you on the picturesque patio. For traditional Wisconsin fare, time a trek southwest to Monroe to arrive at the Emmi Roth Kase chalet-style cheese factory by late morning and catch the production in action. Then stop in Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern nearby for a quintessentially Wisconsin lunch of local beer, cheese and sausage. On your way back to Madison, make a little detour northwest to Barneveld's Botham Vineyards to sample acclaimed wines on an idyllic terrace— the perfect way to welcome the return of a warmer season. –Cathy Martin April 2013 bravamagazine.com 65