James Arthur Vineyards

North of Lincoln, Nebraska, near the quiet town of Raymond sits James Arthur Vineyards, a legend among Nebraska wineries, and one of the few names that those outside the state may recognize. Founded in 1996, the 8,000 square foot facility is done in a rural, agricultural motif. The inside of the tasting room is nice, quaint, with a small bar just inside the door, high-backed chairs around a stone hearth for the winter months, and a loft with posted rules that include, but are not limited to, “When you enter the loft, you must introduce yourself to everyone else.” This isn’t a fancy tasting room, but it’s a functional one. However, a late-spring visit such as ours turns the tasting room into a superfluous feature. If you visit JAV in good weather, you want to be outside. A series of gazebo-like structures are connected by a boardwalk, each boasting its own seating and its own scenic view of the lush green hillsides upon which James Arthur Jeffers planted a few of his many acres of grapes. The ambiance is almost Tuscan, and if you acquired one of their locally-made, artisan meat and cheese baskets, the winery tabby will likely do what he can to sequester a snack as well. This is a truly charming place.