As the Broadway song so aptly describes it, “June is bustin’ out all over!”

Here at Field Stone, June means that seasonal markets are bustin’ out, and that means Alberta’s award-winning fruit wines move even closer to your door.   Do you love outdoor markets?   Most days of the week, we can be found offering free tastings of our great summer wines in some part of the province, maybe even in your neighbourhood.   We are now up and running.

Here’s our weekly line-up for outdoor, summer markets this season:

Callingwood Farmers Market (Edm) – Sundays – 6655 178 St NW – 10 to 3

Cochrane Farmers Market – Saturdays – 800 Griffin Rd E – 9 to 2

Millarville Farmers Market – Saturdays – Millarville Racetrack – 9 to 2

St. Albert Farmers Market – Saturdays – 5 St. Anne Street – 10 to 3

Drumheller Farmers Market – Saturdays – 298 Centre Street (Plaza) – 10 to 3

Okotoks Market – Fridays – 322041 15 Street E – 3:30 to 6:30 (selected dates)

Strathmore Market – Fridays – Kinsmen Park – 3 to 6:30

Airdrie Farmers Market – Wednesdays – 320 Centre Ave E (Plainsmen) – 3:30 to 7

Westside Kings Farmers Market (Calgary) – Tuesdays – 3939 69 St SW – 3 to 7

We hope you make visiting a market a regular part of your summer’s activities this year.  All these excellent markets offer exceptional Alberta products and interesting growers, farmers, makers, bakers, and artists.  There are weekly events too numerous to mention, for every member of the family to enjoy.   You won’t be disappointed if you #ShopLocal!

Of course, June is also bustin’ out with Father’s Day celebrations.   And what is the perfect gift to accompany those celebrations?  Well, in our humble opinion, that would be Field Stone’s Saskatoon Berry Dessert Wine!  Crafted from 100% Alberta saskatoon berries, this liqueur-styled, fortified dessert wine is a perfect after-dinner drink for Dad, with a uniquely rich flavour.  However, if you are serving Daddy-O on the patio, you may want to consider shaking it up into a martini, a wine spritzer, adding it to fresh lemonade, or serving it over ice.  No matter how you present it, Saskatoon Berry Dessert Wine is a sure winner on Father’s Day.

Here’s just one great way to serve it up:

Field Stone Saskatini

1/2 oz. vodka
1 oz. Field Stone Saskatoon Dessert Wine
1 oz. pineapple juice
Squeeze of lime

Pour ingredients into a shaker with cracked ice and shake well.  

Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

We’ll  be offering 10% off each bottle this weekend and next.  A great time to try it!

The winery is bustin’ out this month with the opening of our on-site wine store (by appointment only).  Feeling like a leisurely drive in the country?  Book an appointment and come on out for free tastings on Saturday or Sunday, between 11 and 5.  You’ll want to enter our draw for a half case of wine – to be drawn at the end of the season.

And our biggest-of-all BUSTIN’ OUT NEWS?   We are thrilled to offering our products year-round at Calgary’s oldest indoor market:  Crossroads Farmers Market!

Operating since 1987, this community-minded market has been the favourite of many Calgarians for many years.  A lively and warm shopping experience, Crossroads comprises over 150 diverse and dynamic vendors, offering a unique weekend shopping spot.  Come and check us out!  Hours are Friday to Sunday, 9 to 5, every weekend of the year.  You can find more details at www.crossroadsmarket.ca.

Of course, with the warm weather, you can also find great stock of our products in your favourite liquor stores.  A list of markets and retail stores is available any time at www.fieldstonefruitwines.com/find-us.

And finally, now that it’s officially summer, we think it’s time to bring out the ‘hot-day’ summer drinks. One of our favourites:  the Strawberry-Rhubarb Wine Slushie.  Who doesn’t love a slushie?  Have you seen all those strawberries at the markets already this season?  Add some wine – it doesn’t hurt them one bit!

2 cups strawberries
1 bottle Strawberry-Rhubarb Fruit Wine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Process in blender.  Pour into a shallow pan and freeze for 30 minutes.  Flake with a fork.  Repeat three times.  Divide into glasses.  Let thaw til slushy consistency before serving.  It’s that easy!

Watch our Facebook, Instagram and and Twitter feed all summer long for many more wonderful summer drink recipes.  As we say around here, “With Fruit Wines, the possibilities are endless”!

And that’s all for June!  Whatever you do to bust out this month, we hope it includes the delicious tastes of Field Stone fruit wines.