Rustic River Winery & Vineyard near Lake View has been named the 2025 Vineyard of the Year by the Iowa Wine Growers Association for its commitment to superior viticulture and contributions to Iowa’s wine industry. The vineyard, which is owned and operated by Norm and Marsha Phillips, has flourished through years of dedication, innovation, and hard work. Visitors frequently remark on the vineyard’s scenic beauty, calling it “a little slice of heaven.” Rustic River’s story began in 2009 after their son, Andrew, an Iowa State University agronomy student, sparked the idea. The family planted their first acre of cold-hardy grapes, gradually expanding while restoring a 1920s barn into a winery, which opened in 2017. Today, the Phillips family, including four children and 15 grandchildren, continues to run the vineyard, blending their farming heritage with a passion for winemaking. The Rustic River Winery & Vineyard’s award was announced during the annual Iowa Specialty Producers Conference hosted at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny earlier this week.
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