Welcome to Dosaage vineyard+Winery
Discover Dosaage Winery
With a passion grounded in the power and nuance of nature and a winemaking approach that seeks to minimize interference with the character and substance of the grape, every Dosaage wine is a bit self-determined. They are unique, variably complex, sometimes filled with grit or drama or intrigue, while other times showing that comfortable, unassuming and unobtrusive character of a good friend. Every decision in our journey--from the selection of the land and grape varieties to the vineyard row orientation and vineyard and canopy management practices--was and are purposefully chosen with our "house style" in mind: approachable, authentic, uplifting, and paying tribute to the land that sustains us.
As our name reflects, at Dosaage, we have a Bubble Crush™! There’s no doubt about the passion that drives our commitment to the wines that traditionally mark celebration and the recognition of special events and lives full of success and color. But make no mistake, these bubbly wines can represent the celebration of every moment and transition from aperitif to dessert and everything in between like a chameleon walking over a painter’s pallet set to bring a dramatic sunrise to life on the canvas. Versatile, inspirational, reflective and always engaging, traditional method, bottle-fermented and disgorged/dosaged sparkling wine is the heart of who we are. These living wines take extra time, extra patience, additional steps in the process, more decision points, and specialized equipment. We’ll be working to bring these wines through the final steps of this traditional process--to cork and wire hood once the weather gets cold--and we will continue our overwatch of their aging in our 65 degree “cave” in the meantime. At Dosaage, we want to recognize every moment with that pop of cork and mist of bubbles that triggers anticipation, excitement and celebration in us all. We Have a Bubble Crush™, and we think you should too!
With that being said, although we admittedly love bubbles, we also know that there are times when taking a moment to quietly contemplate the amazingness of the universe is better suited to just being still. Whether it be for deep contemplation, quiet conversation, or animated engagement with friends over dinner, our still (no bubbles) wine can engage in the moment. There is a time for everything, and sometimes, we admit it, it is the time to just Be Still™.
Whether you're looking for bubbles or something more quiet, come and experience the unique journey of Dosaage Vineyard+Winery. Our vineyard still claims views of an island of rolling Iowa ag-land, nestled in next to our commercial horse boarding facilities, and just minutes from downtown Des Moines -- the perfect backdrop for a relaxing and unique wine-tasting experience. Join us in our tasting room and sample a variety of our individually handcrafted wines, each one a true reflection of the terroir located just a few feet from the production area. Track the journey of your wine’s grape to glass, and then taste and feel the reflection of those particularized, incremental land, weather, vineyard management, harvest, crush and processing experiences over time.
At Dosaage, we most certainly have a Bubble Crush™, and we know there are certainly times to just Be Still™, but at our heart, we are driven by a respect for the land we care for, amazed by its resilience and the beauty and perfection of the fruit it produces, and grateful to be in this particular place at this unique moment in time. We hope you'll join us soon.
Our story
Dosaage Vineyard+Winery: Meet the Owners
Suzie Berregaard graduated from Iowa State University with an undergraduate degree in Forestry and worked in that field for the Student Conservation Association in New Mexico, the US Forest Service in Colorado, and the US Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake. She graduated with Honors from the Drake University Law School and spent eight years working as a litigation attorney for the Iowa Attorney General’s office after graduation--followed by several years as corporate counsel in the private sector specializing in healthcare compliance, non-profit governance, healthcare ethics, risk management and personnel law. She completed professional graduate studies at the George Washington University in Washington DC in Healthcare Corporate Compliance. She is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator, has been certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and in Healthcare Corporate Compliance, and is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. She currently works for the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Director of the Veterans Health Administration Office of Medical-Legal Risk Management. Suzie was born and raised in Iowa. She owned and operated a flower shop and a dance studio in Grimes 1995 through 2002. She is a Certified Iowa Master Florist. She also holds a full certification in Enology (the science of wine making), sits as a member of the Sensory Panel for the Iowa Quality Wine Consortium, Midwest Grape and Wine Institute, is a former Board Member on the Iowa Wine Growers Association, is certified as an introductory level sommelier, and judges commercial and regional wine competitions throughout the Midwest. She is currently a member of the Polk County Conservation Board Advisory Committee. Suzie has two children, Shianne Thomas, a finance attorney in Kansas City, and Chase (Sam) Thomas, who is married, owns his own construction business and is a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.
John Nuhn was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. He holds an undergraduate degree with Honors in Sociology/Social Work from Siena College in Loudonville, NY and a master's degree with Honors in Social Work from Arizona State University. He is a licensed social worker and was also a Certified Brain Injury Specialist and Certified Case Manager. John worked in child protective services early in his career and has specialized experience as a youth substance abuse counselor and working with children and adults with intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. He has been in Iowa for 30 years and is recently retired from Unity Point, Methodist West Hospital. John has three children, Jake who achieved his Doctorate in Biochemical Engineering at Iowa State University, Charlie, who graduated from the University of Iowa with a communications degree and works in the insurance industry in West Des Moines, and Rachel who graduated from Iowa State University and is currently working in elementary education.
Suzie and John completed the building of the new estate winery production facility in time for harvest 2023, continuing the journey started with the establishment of their 2-acre commercial vineyard in 2014/2015. They have been married since 2010 and live on an acreage adjacent to the vineyard and winery.
Our wines
Our Wines
Dosaage Winery is a family-owned vineyard and winery located in the heart of Central Iowa. We are dedicated to producing high-quality wines from estate grown, cold-hardy grape varieties that are specifically designed to survive the frigid Iowa winters. Check out the BubbleTrax and GrapeTrax tabs for specific information on the wines we have available.