French feel

Driving toward Park Farm Winery south of Bankston, the scenery is typical Eastern Iowa, until you drive up the country lane through the vineyard. At the top of the hill, you round the final bend and find a wonderful surprise: a towering stucco chateau that looks as though it belongs in France.

It's the realized dream of Liz Cushman, who for years clipped pictures of homes that she liked and then chose the best parts of each one for the design of her family's winery.

The small gift shop presents many of Liz's handmade creations.

Park Farm Winery is a family operation, from construction of the winery (carried out by brothers Dave, Jim and Tom) to the winemaking (overseen by Dave) to the care and research in the vineyards (overseen by Jim). Three more siblings who live far afield help whenever they come home.

60,000

Bottles of wine sold by Park Farm Winery in 2007; the family is looking at similar production numbers this year. That's equal to 12,000 gallons or 5,000 cases of wine.

30

Percentage of sales represented by customers' favorite wine, Picket Fence, a semisweet white made with Vidal Blanc grapes. Park Farm's winemaker, Dave Cushman, says his favorite is the Vintner's Reserve Chambourcin 2006.

$6-$19

Prices for bottles of Park Farm wine ($6 is for a split of the dessert wine Ma Cherie, made from sour cherries). A $3 corking fee is charged for bottles to be consumed on the premises.

TASTINGS

Open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Free wine tasting. Tours available on request.

While there

Bring a bike and take a ride on a portion of the nearby Heritage Trail, or pack a fishing pole and try for some trout in the stream in Bankston Park.

Breitbach's, a landmark restaurant in Balltown, is being rebuilt after a Christmas Eve fire destroyed it in 2007, and the Field of Dreams in Dyersville isn't far away. Dave Cushman, wine maker at Park Farm Winery in Bankston