Purgatory Cellars
White Owl Winery

Stop the Press!
A Former Journalist Turned Winery Owner
Tells of Sticky Incident
in National Magazine

After owning a winery for ten years, you’d think Joy Neighbors would know that some times, “what happens in the winery should stay in the winery.” But apparently not. Her article, “The Power of the Press - When Persimmon Push Back,” is featured in the June/July 2010 issue of WineMakers Magazine.

http://www.winemakermag.com/component/resource/
article/926-the-power-of-the-press-dry-finish

In it Neighbors tells of a wine escapade that had the crew sticking around after hours, literally.

Click Here to read the Article

Neighbors Busy Speaking This Year

Joy Neighbors has several speaking engagements planned for the summer and fall. Joy is available for speaking engagements throughout the U.S. She also does consulting for small businesses, entrepreneurs and tourism organizations. For more information, visit JoyNeighbors.com.

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ILLINOIS WINERY FOUNDER TO SPEAK AT INTERNATIONAL WINE CONFERENCE IN SPAIN

A founder of Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, of Birds, Illinois is one of four plenary speakers for the 2nd Annual Wine Pleasures Conference, February 1, 2 and 3rd near Barcelona, Spain.

Neighbors will discuss how to add impact to wine marketing at little or no cost. With twenty years experience in the media industry, Neighbors will share ideas on how to ratchet up a small company’s media exposure by utilizing press releases, blogs, social media, e-mails and special media events.

The Wine Pleasures International Wine and Tourism Conference is packed with over 40 talks, workshops, symposia and posters, the event offers a state of the art exhibition of wine tourism related products, as well as a n “After Conference” social program which includes live blogging of the wine tastings.

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WHITE OWL WINERY WRAPS UP 2009 WITH ANOTHER MEDAL FOR PERSIMMON SOLERA

Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, of Birds, Illinois is wrapping up the year with news that its Persimmon Solera received a silver medal in the 6th Annual AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge held in Vienna, Austria

This is the second year in a row that the Persimmon Solera has scored a silver medal in this competition. This sherry-style wine is crafted from wild harvested Midwestern persimmons and is the only commercially produced persimmon sherry in the world.

The AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge is the largest international wine contest in Austria.  Three hundred wine experts and enologists judged nearly 8,000 wines from throughout the world. The presentation of results and the award ceremonies was held in the Vienna City Hall Ballroom earlier this month.  Wines which won a silver or gold medal in this competition are listed in the Whitebook of Wine 2009, the most comprehensive wine guide in the German language.

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WHITE OWL WINERY FOUNDER
TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL WINE CONFERENCE
IN FLORIDA.

One of the founders of Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, (whiteowlwinery.com) of Birds, Illinois will present a 75-minute seminar Saturday, November 7th during the 42nd Annual Conference of the American Wine Society in Destin, Florida

Neighbors spoke at the AWS wine conference two years ago about the history of her winery. She was the first speaker from the state of Illinois. Over 5,000 attendees are expected to attend the conference, set for November 5, 6 and 7.

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Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, is featured in an article in this month’s edition of Convenience Store Petroleum Magazine.

The four page article, entitled “Drink to That,” focuses on the partnership between two Midwestern companies, Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery and Huck’s Convenience Stores, owned by Martin and Bayley, Inc. of Carmi, Illinois.  Purgatory Cellars created and crafts Huck’s signature wine, Five Buck Huck, which is sold in most of their stores throughout the Midwest.
The idea of a signature wine occurred when Huck’s CEO, Todd Jenney, asked winery owners, Brian and Joy Neighbors, if they could create a quality, inexpensive wine for his company.  Brian Neighbors, Purgatory Cellar’s wine maker, said he could craft a semi-dry red wine that Huck’s could sell for under ten dollars.  Marketing director, Joy Neighbors then raised the bar by suggesting it sell for five dollars and be called “Five Buck Huck.”

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Winery Update: New Radio Ad

$5 Buck Huck Awards

PURGATORY CELLARS/WHITE OWL WINERY
WINS THREE MEDALS IN INDY
INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

(July 1, 2009 - For Immediate Release from Birds, IL)
Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, of Birds,
Illinois has just been informed that three of their wines received medals at the 18th Annual Indy International Wine Competition held June 16 - 18, 2009
at Indianapolis, Indiana. This is one of the largest competitions in the U.S. and holds the distinction of the being the largest fruit wine competition in the counry.

The latest wines to take medals for Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery were:

Persimmon Solera Silver
Five Buck Huck Bronze
Sensuous White Bronze

Over 3,000 wines from 10 countries were evaluated by 72 judges during this three-day competition. Each wine was judged on it¹s individual merit based on characteristics such as fruit variety, proprietary style, aroma, color and taste.

WHITE OWL WINERY / PURGATORY CELLARS WINS TWO MEDALS IN
INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

(June 24, 2009 - For Immediate Release from Birds, IL)
Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, of Birds, Illinois has just been informed that  two of their wines received medals in the 16th Annual Amenti del Vino International Wine Competition held May 23 and 24, 2009 at Cromwell, Connecticut.

The latest wines to take medals for Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery were:

Persimmon Solera                Silver
Five Buck Huck                    Bronze

The Persimmon Solera is a sherry-type wine, crafted from wild harvested Midwestern persimmons.  It is the only commercially produced persimmon sherry in the world. It is available for sale throughout the Midwest.

The Five Buck Huck wine is a private label wine that Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery created, crafts and bottles for Martin and Bayley Inc., owners of Huck’s Convenience Stores and Save a Lot Grocery stores, located throughout the Midwest.

All Five White Owl Winery/ Purgatory Cellars Wines Win in Wine Competition!

Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery has just been informed that all five of their wines entered in the Illinois State Fair Wine Competition have won awards. The competition was held June 8 – 10, 2009 in Urbana, Illinois.

The wines to take medals for Purgatory Cellars/White
Owl Winery were:

Persimmon Solera        Silver
Purgatory Red             Silver
Purgatory White          Silver
Sensuous White          Bronze
Five Buck Huck            Bronze

Purgatory Cellars wins GOLD in international wine competition for Persimmon Solera

Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery, (whiteowlwinery.com) of Birds, Illinois has just been informed that their Persimmon Solera received a gold medal in the 6th Annual Critics Challenge International Wine Competition held May 23 and 24, 2009 at San Diego, California.

This sherry-type wine is crafted from wild harvested Midwestern persimmons and is the only commercially produced persimmon sherry in the world. The Persimmon Solera has a lush, ripe persimmon flavor, with hints of caramel and butterscotch, finishing on a chest-warming nutty note. It is available for sale throughout the Midwest

Simon Sister's Update

The Simon Sisters - Gwen Collects Wine

PURGATORY CELLARS/WHITE OWL WINERY
WINS FOUR AWARDS IN
INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION

White Owl has just been informed that four of their wines received medals in the 9th Annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition held March 28 & 29 at Rochester, New York.

The wines to take medals for Purgatory Cellars/
White Owl Winery were:

$5 Buck Huck Silver
Persimmon Solera Bronze
Sensuous White Bronze
Cherry Pie Bronze

"We were thrilled that the 5-Buck Huck won a silver, "
said winery founder, Joy Neighbors. "This is the first contest it has been entered in and these results are exceptional for a new wine."

Simon Sister's Update

The Simon Sister's Talk about Spring

ILLINOIS WINERY
FEATURED IN
NATIONAL EDITION
OF BEVERAGE WORLD MAGAZINE.

(Birds, IL,  February 18, 2009)

Purgatory Cellars/White Owl Winery is featured in the January 15th, 2009 issue of Beverage World Magazine. Beverage World Magazine profiles top companies and newsmakers from around the world in the beverage business.
The article, entitled “Best Face Forward,” offers five suggestions for and two examples of beverage labels. The label for Purgatory Cellar’s Persimmon Solera is featured as ‘a label that works.’ 

White Owl Winery announces a new high-end line of wines under the name of Purgatory Cellars.

Purgatory Cellars is the brand that released Persimmon Solera in 2007. Persimmon Solera, the only persimmon sherry in the world, has won many prestigious awards, including a silver medal in the AWC Wine Challenge in Vienna, Austria in 2008, the 2007 Governor’s Cup for Best Dessert Wine in Illinois, a P.E.A.K. Award of Excellence in 2008 and numerous gold and silver medals in wine competitions last summer. In December, Sultry Red, Sensuous White, Purgatory Red and Purgatory White wines were released under the Purgatory Cellars name. Purgatory Red has already won a silver and a bronze medal. All five wines will be entered in national and international wine competitions this year.

*Persimmon Solera - (Sweet) - The only commercial persimmon dessert wine available!  This rich dessert wine fills your mouth with the full lush flavors of persimmon, butterscotch and caramel, ending with a slightly nutty finish.
Solera refers to the method used in crafting this wine.  

$39.95 - $431.46
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR'S CUP 2007
Award of Excellence from the PEAK Competition, 2008.
90 Point Wine Rating!!
2 Gold, 5 Silver & 4 Bronze Medals!                         

WHITE OWL WINERY
WINS TWO SILVER MEDALS
IN INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN WINE COMPETITION

(November 5, 2008,  Birds, IL)
The results of the final wine competition of the year for White Owl Winery are something to celebrate!  White Owl has won two silver medals in the AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge, held in Vienna, Austria.

The two wines to win medals were:
Persimmon Solera, a sherry crafted completely from wild harvested Midwestern persimmons. White Owl is the only commercial winery in the world to produce this type of wine.  The Persimmon Solera has won over a dozen awards this season, including a gold, 5 silvers and 6 bronzes medals this season.

Grapefruit Spumante', a sparking wine made from pink grapefruit.
Earlier this year, the Grapefruit Spumante' received a wine rating of 90 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute, along with a gold, a silver and
4 bronze medals.

Grapefruit Sparkle ( Sparkling Semi-Sweet) - Enjoy the full juicy taste of grapefruit with bubbles.

$17.95 - $193.86
Serve this for Sunday Morning Brunch with scrambled eggs, salsa, smoked salmon and cream cheese. 
90 point wine rating.  Gold and Silver medals.          

*Persimmon Solera - (Sweet) - The only commercial persimmon dessert wine available!  This rich dessert wine fills your mouth with the full lush flavors of persimmon, butterscotch and caramel, ending with a slightly nutty finish.
Solera refers to the method used in crafting this wine.  

$39.95 - $431.46
ILLINOIS GOVERNOR'S CUP 2007
Award of Excellence from the PEAK Competition, 2008.
90 Point Wine Rating!!
2 Gold, 5 Silver & 4 Bronze Medals!                         

WHITE OWL WINERY WINES
SCORES RATINGS
AND ONE IS VOTED
BEST US SWEET FRUIT WINE

(October 30, 2008, Birds, Illinois)

White Owl Winery, Birds, Illinois, has just been notified that four of their wines have received wine ratings and medals in the 2008 World Value Wine Challenge held by the Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago. One of their wines was also voted "Best US Sweet Fruit Wine."

The wine to be honored with the distinction of  "Best US Sweet Fruit Wine" was their Cherry Pie.  This wine also received a 90 point rating, classified as "truly excellent in style and distinction" and a gold medal.

*Cherry Pie (Semi-Sweet) - Our bestselling wine has the pleasing bouquet of fresh cherries. It tastes just like a tangy cherry pie with a hint of citrus and honey.

$10.95 - $118.26
Serve with ham, Brie or Cheesecake.
82 point wine rating. 
Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.                                

WHITE OWL WINERY
WINS MEDALS IN
OLDEST U.S. INTERNATIONAL
WINE COMPETITION

(Birds, IL, October 15, 2008)
White Owl Winery, Birds, Illinois, has just been notified that three of their wines have taken medals in the 27th VinoChallenge International held two weeks ago in Atlanta, Georgia.

Those wines that took medals for White Owl Winery were:

Sweet Liberty                Silver
Snowy White                 Bronze
Spiced Pear                   Bronze

The VinoChallenge is the oldest international wine competition in the United States and one of the largest held outside of Europe.

White Owl Winery is located 10 miles north of Vincennes, Indiana on the Illinois side of the Wabash River.  White Owl  offers complimentary tastings of their award winning wines on the weekends. The winery is open Tuesday
through Sunday from Noon till 5 p.m. (Central time.)   Look for White Owl Wines at retail outlets throughout Illinois and Indiana.