Ten Spoon Vineyard and Winery (pictured above) has been growing wine grapes in the Rattlesnake Valley since 1998 and making wine since 2003. By using solar power as well as locally grown fruit and grapes, they have shown a commitment to making unique wine styles in a sustainable manner. All of their wines are certified organic with no added sulfites and “Made in Montana.” Their tasting room, located at 4175 Rattlesnake Drive, is open November-March on Saturdays from 4-9pm and April-October: on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 4-9 pm. Call 406-549-8703.
The Missoula Winery, located at 5646 W Harrier in Missoula, features two signature wines: their Soul Red (a lovely blend of Grenache and Tempranillo, a well rounded wine for all occasions) and their Missoula White (a wonderfully fruity white wine on the drier side, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc). They host unforgettable events and even have a wine club. Call 406-830-3296.
Wanting to eat in a soothing wine bar atmosphere? Some local Missoula restaurants can recommend the perfect meal to match the perfect bottle of wine:
At Red Bird, located at 11 N. Higgins Avenue Suite #100, you can either partake in the full dining experience with their fine dining section, or you can stick to something light at their wine bar. If you choose the bar, don’t miss out on the delicious fondue – cheese or chocolate. Their restaurant hours are Tues-Sat from 5:00-9 ish and wine bar hours are Mon-Sat from 5:00-10 ish. Contact: 406-549-2906.
New to Missoula, Plonk Wine, located at 322 N. Higgins Avenue, offers a great selection of fine wines as well as a full bar menu. For a lighter portion of food, try the chef’s cheese board with your drinks. It comes with a variety of cheeses and fresh bread. Their restaurant hours are Sun-Mon. from 4 pm to close and Tues.-Sat. 11:30 am to close. Every night they serve food until midnight. Contact: 406-926-1791.
If you just want to buy some local wines and you want to know where the best selections are, try some of these local Missoula spots:
Looking for a relaxing stay in Missoula? Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast offers scenic views of majestic mountains and the gorgeous Bitterroot River. Guests enjoy a gourmet breakfast each morning. Hosts Elaine and Brady welcome you to stay at their lovely bed and breakfast inn.
Missoula music lovers often visit four popular local performance venues. The Missoula, Montana music scene is thriving! The Wilma has anchored the Missoula cultural and entertainment aspect for almost 100 years. Constructed in 1921 as a vaudeville house, The Wilma has been utilized as a movie house for the majority of its history. In the 1980s, The Wilma began to once again host live entertainment.
In March of 2015, The Wilma was acquired by new ownership. The new owners, Nick and Robin Chehota, immediately commenced work on a major renovation and restoration of the historic theater, investing in entirely new infrastructure, renovated stage, modern catering operation, first class entertainer accommodations and one of the best sound systems in the Western United States. As a result of the remodel, The Wilma has become a state of the art facility within a spectacular historic building.
Where possible, Checota left some of the key elements original to the Wilma, including the massive Art Deco chandeliers hanging above the balcony. An artist also touched up the ornate French murals lining the walls, and many of the trimmings have been repainted in a gold-gray color palette that’s characteristic of early 20th century theaters, Checota says.
The Wilma theater’s main room has been redone with a gray-gold color scheme, wooden tiered flooring and a raised stage.
The vintage Art Deco-style light fixtures are some of the remaining elements original to the 94-year-old theater. Both photos courtesy the Missoula Independent.
The new owner is particularly proud of the improvements that most visitors to the Wilma might not be able to see but will certainly hear, including a new sound system and acoustic enhancements. Sound-absorption panels are hidden in the walls to help reduce echoes, which were a relic of the pre-amplified days when theaters were designed to throw actors’ voices as far as possible.
“It’s going to be cool, it’s going to attract bands,” Checota says in an interview with Kattie Whittle from Missoula Independent. “There’s a buzz already. I hear from agents, people are talking about what we’re doing.”
The Wilma hosts a free sneak peak event with music from Lil’ Smokies and The Whizpops! on Friday, Oct. 2, followed by its sold-out grand reopening with My Morning Jacket on Oct. 5.
The owners of the Wilma also own the Top Hat Lounge, a 550 capacity room, one block from The Wilma. This longtime watering hole turned Missoula concert mecca is a great place to find awesome music. With state of the art sound and stage equipment, patrons can find food, drinks, and even a dance floor to help them enjoy a variety of shows. It is a downtown hot spot where many local bands often play.
Big Sky Brewing has long been considered a perfect combination of beer and music. This outdoor ampitheater hosts everyone from Michael Franti to The Decemberists. They often give the proceeds of concert beer sales to local Missoula charities. Their 2015 Summertime Concert series was a big success.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Adams Center located on the University of Montana‘s campus right here in Missoula. Famous performers like Miranda Lambert and Paul McCartney have performed here. This is the perfect place to enjoy big names with thousands of your closest friends! Friday Oct. 9, the Adams Center hosts the Newsboys starting at 7 pm.Hosts Elaine and Brady Anderson-West welcome you to Missoula and their B&B guests experience scenic mountain views at their Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast. Their peaceful property borders the Bitterroot River and is next to the Lewis and Clark walking trail. Music lovers have a variety of performance venues when they visit Missoula.
Adventure Cycling Association has over 48,000 members worldwide. Their Headquarters is located at 150 E. Pine St., in Missoula, Montana. Their office hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time, and during the summer months, they open on select weekends.
Missoula is located at the northern end of the Bitterroot Valley, which offers lots of great bicycling opportunities, including a 50-mile bike path paralleling the Bitterroot Mountains.
Adventure Cycling Association is located in a character-filled, historic downtown area, surrounded by a variety of restaurants, seasonal markets, coffee shops, retail stores, and the University of Montana. The city also has an extensive parks, trails, and open space system.
Missoula is on a number of Adventure Cycling’s mapped routes and is visited by hundreds of bicycle travelers each year. Some are riding coast to coast across America, others are on shorter trips to destinations such as Glacier National Park or the mountains of British Columbia.
Still others are on camper-van family vacations or trekking to Missoula for work, and take the opportunity to visit the place many people consider the bicycle-travel mecca.
Visitors to Adventure Cycling receive a hearty welcome, a cold beverage, an ice cream treat, and a Polaroid photo taken of them that goes up on our seasonal wall of fame. They can also enjoy kicking back in their Cyclists’ Lounge, which is full of bicycle-related reading material, including information on local rides, and offers free internet access.
Occasionally, they share a barbecue with group rides, such as their own TransAm tour, and Push America, a group of college students who ride cross country each year to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.
The Adventure Cycling Association inspires and empowers people to travel by bicycle:
Provide the premier tools and inspiration for people to travel by bicycle
Expand and integrate bike-travel networks for North America
Create the best possible conditions for bicycle travel
Sustain and improve Adventure Cycling Association
The Adventure Cycling Association publications:
Adventure Cyclist (the top United States bicycle magazine)
Cyclosource (bicycle touring gear)
Tours Book
Bike Bits (free email newsletter with more than 50,000 subscribers)
The Adventure Cycling Association Tours:
Self-contained
Inn to inn
Fully supported
Van supported
Educational bicycle tours
As a nonprofit tour operator, all proceeds go back into program support
Current Projects of The Adventure Cycling Association:
Coordinating the emerging U.S. Bicycle Route System
Advocating nationally for better bike-travel conditions
Adventure Cycling was founded as Bikecentennial, a 4,250-mile TransAmerican bicycle ride in the summer of 1976, with over 4,100 participants.
Their 40th anniversary will include The Montana Bicycle Celebration, July 15 – 17, 2016 in Missoula, Montana and will bring together bike travelers from all over the world.
On the same weekend, Tour of Montana will host professional bike races, an expo, and a Gran Fondo.
Adventure Cycling’s Bikecentennial Projects:
Archival project with Story Corps to preserve the fulfilling and transformative memories of Bikecentennial cyclists and other bike adventurers
Bikecentennial reunions and parties
Book about TransAmerican Trail co-authored by Greg Siple (co-founder of Adventure Cycling) and Mac McCoy (longtime Adventure Cycling staff member)
Commemorative beer
Family-friendly events
Online project that will recognize forty bicyclists who have made significant contributions to the bike travel community
Organized bike rides to showcase Missoula’s trail system (including the completed fifty-mile Bitterroot Trail south of Missoula)
Retro-themed jerseys and merchandise available in the Cyclosource store throughout 2016
Special bike giveaways
Special tours
Two new annual events, set to kick off in 2016, will inspire a bike travel movement throughout North America. National Bike Travel Weekend, June 3 – 5, 2016, will motivate bike travelers from all over North America to go on bike overnights through a festive online community.
Adventure Cycling will provide do-it-yourself resources and an interactive map that will connect bike travelers during what will be the most prolific weekend of bike travel in North America.
Bike to Your National Park Day on September 24, 2016 will celebrate the National Park Service’s centennial, National Public Lands Day and Adventure Cycling’s 40th anniversary by promoting bike travel to and within national parks, state parks, and other recreational areas.
In honor of the 40th anniversary, in 2016, Adventure Cycling will offer extra TransAmerica Trail tours and other special epic tours, including on Bicycle Route 66, the Underground Railroad and the Great Divide. Sign-ups will be available on the Adventure Cycling website in the summer of 2015.
For those who cannot attend Adventure Cycling’s events or tours and want to plan their own reunion or ride, Adventure Cycling will provide online tools and resources to help plan Do-It-Yourself Reunions and Celebrations throughout 2016.
Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfastwelcomes cyclists. The benefits of biking include better health (increased physical activity) as well as a better environment (no use of fuel).
Let hosts Brady and Elaine start each morning right with a delicious hearty breakfast. Bicyclists can return each evening for a restful night’s sleep in one of our luxurious guest rooms.
The owners of the Wilma also own the 
