We were visiting Lincoln and decided to run up to this vineyard because we knew the owner from childhood years. Unfortunately he wasn't there that day, but we still enjoyed our time at the winery. We had a Groupon that gave us a wine tasting of six choices and a meat/cheese/bread basket. Our tastings could be chosen from a wide variety of beverages that they make right there. Whites, reds, dry, sweet, meads, ciders, etc. It was impressive. We enjoyed talking with the young man taking care of us. He was friendly and knowledgeable. The ambiance was relaxed and comfortable, with seating inside and outside. I believe they have various events at the vineyard for the community to enjoy. They also have a nice little gift shop. read more

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We had a nice dry white wine, and a simple charcuterie basket. They had live music on a nice Sunday afternoon. The service was good and they allow well behaved dogs. It was a busy place, but with plenty of outdoor space. Definitely worth a visit read more

James Arthur Vineyards - 2 pups wine - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

Great ambiance, relaxing with the fireplace, cheese and sausage basket yummy, and wine was so good! Muled hot wine made me feel nice and cozy :). Service is great, they are helpful to figure out your likes with wine! read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Bonus cute kitty - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

Was on a tour for wineries in the area. This place seemed a tad outdated and although the tasting room employees were knowledgable, they were awkward. Tastings were just ok and not the best on the tour. read more

I can't believe Nebraskans drink this stuff or that it is considered wine at all. ewww is all I can say. read more

What a nice little place for relaxing with friends! I love their white wines! They have scheduled events listed on the back of their menu. The inside tasting room is very comfortable and big enough to sit. read more

Gorgeous vineyard but poor wine. This vineyard has a great location that is both convenient to Lincoln, but far enough away to escape the sounds of traffic. The views of the vines from the back patio are lovely and there are several small water features around the patio that make the environment more tranquil. For wine, we split a bottle of their sangria and their Edyn's Blush. Neither wine was so bad that we couldn't finish the bottle, but I wouldn't recommend either wine. James Arthur Vineyards is such a lovely setting that I would be happy to return, but I would try different wines. read more

The wines were delicious, the meads and dessert wines were my favorite. The tasting room was clean and quaint. A few of the wines on display were not listed on the tasting sheet, but hey, who doesn't like the adventure of trying new wines? The internet was down, but they were adapting and taking down numbers, old school style. The folks behind the counter were attentive and helpful. read more

My boyfriend and I recently (about a month ago) made a trip out to JAV's and had a fantastic time. It was our first time there and we tried all the wines we could on the tasting menu. It was a really busy place. Very "homie" and country style décor. The bottles of wine are very expensive but the samples were not over priced. The edelweisse and the sparkling version of the edelweisse were our favorites. They were also serving a hot mulled wine on that particular day which was also really tasty. Just before we left we bought a few bottles of wine. **Money Saving Tip: While we were in Lincoln, we stopped at a HyVee and found that he same bottles for sale at the vineyard were a couple dollars cheaper there. read more

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This place is a great example of how important atmosphere and context are in enjoying eating and drinking out. We loved it here, even if their wine is....I mean, they're doing the best they can! The atmosphere is the specialty here, not the wine. This is Nebraska, not Tuscany. It's pretty dry here in the summer and our winters are brutal. It's a tough place to make wine that isn't all bone dry. I think they try to balance that out with sugar and oak aging...to mixed results. Unfortunately, it just kinda tastes like they dropped a sugar bomb on a lot of the wine. We tried to 2011 St. Croix, which was one that wasn't overly sweet, and it tasted and smelled of pickles. I've never had a wine that tasted like it. We thought it was a bad bottle turned to vinegar, but were assured that the flavor was normal. That said....who cares about that when you can chill in their beautiful garden at dusk and listen to live music by a mini waterfall out in the country? My suggestion would be to get the Sangria and enjoy the atmosphere. read more

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We did a quick Nebraska wine tour during our recent stay in the Lincoln area and we knew we had to visit the oldest winery in the state! James Arthur is the real deal - a well built up tasting room that is cozy and comfortable - feels sort of like you're visiting your grandmother's house. They have a selection of cheeses/meats and small bites that you can share, and some random cats that wander through the tasting room. Apparently, they have a lot of events coming up in the summer with a music series, an ice cream sundae series, and some random events like comedy nights, chef nights, wine appreciation classes and more. I did a tasting of 6 wines - they make dry reds and semi-dry whites as well as a couple port styles and some hard cider. I'm more of a white wine fan, but the woman at the counter informed me that most of their whites are on the sweet side, so instead I went with the dry reds. I tried the St. Vincent which really had a strong raspberry flavor, the Hope which was sort of a grenache style, the Marquette which was chalky and earthy, the High Road which was an interesting blend, and the St. Croix which seemed a little young. The one white I tried was the Nebraska White which would make a good summer porch wine. Overall, the wines were okay but nothing really wowed me. If I lived in the area, with all the events they have going on I'd probably stop back in and relax more. A lot of folks that came in after me had a Groupon for a cheese plate and a bottle of wine - so if you live locally, look for that before you go for what looks like a great deal! read more

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I personally don't drink but recently I took my Wife, Daughter & Son in Law for a great afternoon. They have great food & the entertainment was very good. It is a beautiful property & they host a nice car show every year. read more

The ambience is awesome. The wine is ok. Was able to find something drinkable in the "dry" sector with the Nebraska Red. The whites weren't too shabby. If you are a 'sweet' drinker...you are all set.The Mead is tasty. Live entertainment was fantastic. (The Wildwoods...kudos to you for making the trip sooooo worth it!) Plenty of outdoor/indoor seating.Cats roam the property, so be prepare to be greeted. Nice cheese/meat plates available. Wine tastings 6/$5....nice pours....Bottles from &15 to $20. All in all a nice peaceful afternoon....and would do it again! read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

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The winery now sells - thanks to a new state law - port wine! and it certainly has a high alcohol content! Also, I got notification that they started making Seyval again - and not the sweet kind. I fell in love with the 2007 Seyval and its pineapple, buttery finish. Fast forward three years, and now there is a 2009 Seyval out with an almond finish. I was at the winery twice this year before this came out, and it is not offered yet in the online store....so I called! JAV does not ship to Nevada, so I ordered 5 bottles and had it shipped to my dad in Texas. Laura was able to get on the phone and catch up with me for a few minutes, but I could hear how busy they were on a Saturday evening. She promises I will love the wine for Thanksgiving. I look forward to getting to Texas to enjoy a bottle and bring some back to Nevada!!! read more

Wine is great and so is the scenery. Wish they would cut the cheese and bread for you. I've never been to a vineyard where they just give you the package. read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Wish they would open the cheese and cut for you. - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

I've been here a couple of times and the nice thing about this place is that they frequently have events that they keep updated on their website. The first time I went was for a free wine tasting Saturday. It was incredibly enjoyable to sit by the roaring fire for a few hours and select from the tasting list. They also have trivia nights, tapas Saturday's, and other events. The grounds are beautiful and I've only seen them in winter. 20 acres with 12,000 grape vines there is plenty of room for aimless walking while you sober up for more wine. Lots of lovely walking trails I can only imagine are better in spring or summer. The tasting room is beautiful with very comfy chairs, lots of little nooks to sit in, and cute gifts. Best part yet! They have adorable adopted cats that roam around on the porch. They are very fluffy, fat, and sassy.. Everything a cat should be! So put together wine + cats and I'm pretty much occupied the rest of the day. Only downside, the handful of wines I tasted in the one tasting I attended I wasn't really crazy about any of them.. But there are still many to try! Also, pretty much nothing on the food menu or tapas night is gf.. So if allergic to da gluten don't come hungry.. But do come prepared for roaring fires and kitty snuggles. read more

Some GREAT wines here with a great ambiance and places to sit both inside and outside, even next to a little fireplace inside in big chairs. The staff was super friendly and gabbed with us for quite some time which is always a good sign for a winery. We brought home a few bottles from here, most notably Horizon and White something-or-other but most of the wines were very good. read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

Love coming here with friends especially during the renaissance festival. The honey mead they make here is amazing. And they run out so get it if they have it because many other places don't even make it!! Staff is friendly and atmosphere is super cozy. Love sitting by the fireplace sipping wine with friends. Wine is a little pricy and sometimes their consistency is lacking because they also stock local stores. But overall it's very good wine and great atmosphere. Love their wine and cheese baskets with local meat and cheeses!!! read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Girls night at JAV!!! - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

I've been here twice and have had two great wine tastings! First, it's such a great value. Six wines for $5, and a souvenir glass? Yes please! They also have really great Groupon deals for things like meats and cheeses. As for the wine itself, the selection is great. Reds, whites, roses, cider, and even chocolate wine. It's fun to try new things as well as stick with favorites. Finally, the staff is super friendly and helpful! read more

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An exceptional taste experience for the palette . One of Nebraska's best kept secrets . My personal favorite ( Two Brothers ) a sweet white wine and my Second the Nebraska Red ! If you haven't experienced , JAV ... your in for a real surprise . Amazing wine , Great Appetizer selection . Check out James Arthur Vineyard, you'll be happy you did . Don't forget to check Groupon for discounts . read more

I didn't think this winery had much to offer. The tasting portions were small for what you paid, the wines were all sweeter than described, the employees weren't very professional and the atmosphere and view was lacking. There are many wineries in the area and this one just doesn't cut it in my opinion read more

Possibly the most over rated winery I've been to. You'll probably disagree if you only drink sweet wines but I, however, am mainly a dry red drinker. I tried 6 of their 7 in a tasting and didn't leave with a bottle of any. The Nebraska Red was the most decent. I also tasted both the Strawberry and Orange Meads and... not good Mead. My husband remarked that the Strawberry Mead tasted like chapstick lol. The Orange was a bit better flavor-wise. Definitely the worst meat, cheese, and bread basket I've had. It's DIY, which I'm not a fan of, but some wineries have decent offerings and that's not the case here. The bread was flavorless and very dry and they don't have any spreads or oils to help it out. The Havarti and summer sausage were standard. Service was lackluster. It was obvious the kids (by "kids" I mean early 20's) behind the bar would've rather been drinking at a buddies to watch the game than serve wine tastings. The building and grounds are absolutely beautiful but unfortunately the distant staff, subpar food offerings, and lack of good dry wines won't be warranting a second visit. read more

Their claim to fame is that they are Nebraska's largest and one of its oldest wineries. It was a little cold outside to sit in their expanse wood patio/deck area when we visited. The tasting room is chock full of wine themed things to buy. Plenty of tables and little round fireplace which was real nice to sit near today. Tried 4 reds for $4 but nothing excited us. We also bought a sausage and cheese plate to go with wine tasting. Everything came in the original packaging. Probably the least personable of the wineries we tasted on this trip. read more

One of the best parts of my trip to Nebraska. Food: I'm not what you'd call a wine connoisseur. In fact, most wines I've had were a chore to imbibe. Not so at James Arthur Vineyards. For a mere $5 you'll get to taste 6 wines. Thanks to my sweet tooth, I mostly stuck to the dessert wine section. They have a couple that have won prizes in the area, and after trying most of the marked selections (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#-OzAd0EzbEoRDOLkGCeDEg), I have to say it was earned. They also have baked goods on the premises like the wine cupcakes topped with sugary wine grapes (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#vxobzuHlhMdYOuifqtxHdg). They're a bit expensive, but have a perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. Atmosphere: Parking is ample and you'll no doubt be greeted by several ridiculously friendly cats. While the cowboy-themed interior is cute (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#VMIYw04KFqu9a6PzWf8AcA), the best thing about this place is the massive patio overlooking the vineyards (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#OfTLU1rC6rYF7J8Sa-dPOw). There's a relaxing pond by the gazebo (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#36-FGrBt1Jky_mcxSTJyeg) and plenty of seating so you can unwind and watch the sun set (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#sw2Q9Ul1sSLNEV6wF9ZFOg). I'm not sure if you're supposed to do this, but we poked around the grapes (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ZSVSOUNP0_QIOUnJoBO6zQ?select=dpsXjcpKr0_4WfPuUPzWWQ#TxBi4uSVx6PlvOSd8MttUw) for a bit and came across a random covered wagon and fire pit. Not sure what they do with these. Service: Everyone here was so nice and helpful even though we were sort of annoying. Synopsis: It's unlikely that I'll ever go back to Nebraska, but if I do, I'll definitely drop by for some more dessert wine. read more

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This is a beautiful vineyard just northwest of Lincoln. I've been here for a winetasting/social and enjoyed it. It would be a beautiful place to hold a wedding reception. Nice outdoor seating in several gazebos. I also had a chance to take the tour of the winery - sort of like a classy hay-rack ride :) It was fun & I learned a little about wine. I thought their wine was pretty good, but I'm not much of an expert. Check their website for upcoming events. They host a renaissance fair every year, a summer concert series, and many other events. read more

A nice Sunday afternoon in the beautiful season of fall! For $5 one can try 6 different wines. The band is awesome too! Should come back again! read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Outside, scene of fall! - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

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Some of the best wine found here. Stopped in on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. Come to find out, a band was playing. This was my 4th time here. The wind blew our 2 Brothers bottle of wine over and broke it, the Son-in-law of the place seen it, came over right away and gave us a new bottle. Very nice people here, very romantic. read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

We used to love going out on summer evenings to enjoy the bands, sit under the stars in the green surroundings and drink wine. Since they have enclosed the porch the atmosphere is completely different. Guessing the glass was put up to capture more revenue in other seasons but with the bands in the cramped area inside the porch, they can't be seen at all or heard well unless you are seated right in front. All of the other areas are just like the nosebleed seats at a concert and not worth the drive. Deer Springs is much more welcoming and open. JAV is not worth the drive anymore, especially with all of the road construction. read more

Great winery to go spend an afternoon! We had a Groupon that included two wine tastings and a basket with bread, meat, cheese and chocolate. It was a great deal. We tried the wines which are definitely all pretty sweet. The sparkling Brianna was excellent, the port and ales not so much. Definitely their bestsellers and best wines in general are the sweeter ones. Especially the white wines. Afterwards we enjoyed a stroll through the trails and some pretty cool views! What a good trip! read more

James Arthur Vineyards - From the Observation Deck! Look at those grapes! - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

We were looking for something fun to do during our trip to Lincoln and found James Arthur Vineyards. We bought a Groupon for 2 free tastings along with a cheese and meat basket. In terms of wines, they have tons to choose from. I can't remember off the top of my head, but it looked like around 20 wines. They have dry reds, bubblies, sweet whites, dry whites, ports, and a couple of ice wines. We went with most of the award winning wines. Some of them were pretty good, such as the 32 (which was on sale when we visited last weekend) and Edyn's Blush. However, some of them were not good at all. More specifically, we could barely stomach the ports. I know I'm picky about port wine, but it was still rather disappointing. In terms of the tasting, the fee was pretty reasonable. We tasted 6 wines for $5 each. While the fee was reasonable, I was surprised that they didn't waive the fee when we bought a bottle of wine. I'm guessing this is because their bottles are pretty reasonably priced for a winery (ranging from about $14-$20). I also didn't care for the tasting style. You have to keep coming back up to the bar after each tasting, which can get exhausting. In terms of food, the basket (which is normally $10) had fresh bread, meat, and cheese. There were numerous cheeses to choose from. We ordered the basil, which was really delicious. We were also lucky that we visited the winery during one of their Tapas Saturdays. They have really reasonable tapas on Saturdays during the months of March and April. We had mini cheesecakes, chocolate strawberries, spinach artichoke dip, pizza, strawberry paninis, and mushrooms on toasted bread. All of the food was delicious and came to only $16 (3 items for $8). We also found out that they change the items each Saturday, which is nice. In addition to Tapas Saturdays, they also seem to have a lot going on at the winery. They have trivia nights, movie nights, a 5k, and live bands throughout the summer. While the wine was only okay, we really loved the atmosphere and all of the "extras" this place has to offer. Furthermore, it is open pretty late for a winery (I believe 9 PM). Finally, the staff were really friendly and helpful. We most certainly will be back. read more

Very nice wines for Nebraska! Very knowledgeable about their wines. Beautiful tasting room - love sitting outside. Easy to find - short drive from Omaha - we will be back!!! read more

James Arthur Vineyards - Frozen wine drink!! - Wineries Near Me - Raymond, Nebraska

Came to sample wines, 6 total. Nice place however the sample sizes were quite small. Good cheese, they have many to choose from. Sausage was tasty. Bread was served warm, very good! I do not recommend the Italian bread though, it was served not totally cooked, like it had been in the freezer, then thrown in the toaster oven. It was not very good tasting either. If you like sweet wine, James Arthur has many to choose from. I don't think I will go back though, but the Group-on made it affordable. Nice date place for something different. read more

Such a cute place. I love the roaming cats that will come sir by the indoor fire place with you. Great service and the staff seem very knowledgeable. A wonderful place to spend an afternoon by the fire inside or a summer day out in the garden area. Call ahead for hours. read more

This was the first time we went for a wine tasting and it was such a wonderful experience. Megan did an excellent job educating us on the different wines and helping us select one we'd like. She's very knowledgeable and kind and patient that you'd think she'd been there far more than 7 years. read more

I can't believe this place gets so much hype. This place is so overrated. I was so excited to come here well because my mother in law grew up on this farm as a little girl. I think that may have swayed her to to fall in love with this place. My opinion is un biased and I really don't like this place. They have some okay wines and some really bad ones as well. The red wines were collectively horrible tasting. When looking for descriptions what comes to mind is grape flavored cough syrup, There was 1 semi dry white that I did enjoy and a few of the semi-sweet wines as well. My biggest peeve was the service: I went there with group of 6 adults and 5 children that are very well behaved by the way. Upon entering the tasting room we were greeted by a member of the staff, she then started telling us to make sure the kids don't touch certain things and just made a big deal about them being there. We hadn't even taken our seats yet. I just thought that was very rude. Well we ordered some bread and a few cheeses, and 2 bottles(Heartland White and 2010 Vignoles) in addition to our tastings. While doing the tasting she never rinsed out our glasses in between different wines. There is a line that the glass needs to be filled up to in the tasting glass; sometimes she didn't even reach that line. If you didn't like the wine you were given you just had to plug your nose and chug it because there was no where to dump it out. It could have been a really fun experience the staff wasn't so rude. Pro: some okay white wines, beautiful location and scenery Con: Rude staff that made it a nightmare read more

Well, this place got one star from me on ambiance alone. The location is totally adorable, the grounds are neat and very well kept. I am from California and love to go wine tasting all over the world. My best friend and I were excited to stop here when we were driving cross-country (she is from Lincoln) and taste some local Nebraska wine. We had read about the white that had taken first place at the Monterey Wine Competition, so we had pretty high hopes. The short version: The red wines were almost uniformly terrible. Most of the red wines tasted like pickles, except for one bottle which was a dead ringer for soy sauce straight from the bottle. The whites were better - too sweet for my taste, really, but I could see why they had won awards. They had some complexity and nice flavors. My main complaint, however, was with the tasting process itself. First of all, it costs $5 to taste 6 wines, so we thought that was a great deal. Wrong. We were being served by a woman who was very rude. We were told not to stand at the counter (mind you, we were there for a tasting!) and to sit down with our tasting portion in between each pour. They poured the wines red to white - refused to go the other way when we asked, and gave us a nasty look when we politely asked them to rinse our glasses in between their red wine and their award winning white! They had no water available (except for purchase) so no way to cleanse your palate in between tastes, and there was nowhere to dump out unwanted wine. If you are looking for a place to sit and enjoy a glass of wine in a cute place, order a glass of the white. If you are looking to taste what Nebraska wines have to offer, go someplace else. Or as my friend suggested, go to a free tasting at the local Hy-Vee. read more

We met the Owner of Vineyard stopped in from Texas for a tasting..Owner very cordial and friendly..we enjoyed our visit beautiful drive in the countryside with view of snow..wine was good! read more

I'm not sure what's gone wrong with this place. A chocolate wine? An orange wine? Some very dry wines that are too tart to drink. I do like the ciders. The straight mead seemed off. Like most Midwest wineries the reds are not good. Stick to the Edelweiss. Pick a few winners and some 71-B yeast and stick to that. read more

James Arthur is a short drive outside Lincoln. The space itself is really quite nice - pretty grounds, cute tasting room. During the summer, they have live music which can be quite fun. The best thing to say about the wine is that it's not expensive. Nebraska wine tends to be on the sweet side; tasting wine here is sometimes like tasting cough syrup. It's not a good place to take people as an introduction to wine tasting unless their tastes run toward sticky sweet alcohol. One or two of the drier reds are drinkable, but not worth buying a bottle to take home. Go for the atmosphere, but not the wine. read more

My hubby and I always come here anytime we come back to Nebraska. We really enjoy the atmosphere and the family is very welcoming and friendly. I was happy to see some new additions on their tasting this time. The day was a little too hot and windy to enjoy our date outside. We went early afternoon on Saturday and it looks like they bring in a big crowd for their live music Saturday night. We always recommend this place to people. read more