Robert Mondavi once said, “Wine to me is passion. It’s family and friends. It’s warmth of the heart and generosity of spirit. Wine is art. It’s culture. It’s the essence of civilization and the art of living.” At Jenny Dawn Cellars, we have mastered the art of living through our award-winning wines.
It is hard to believe that we are entering our 2nd year as a full production winery in downtown Wichita located in the historic Union Station building. Our winery is still new but our business, our brand and our winemaking is not.
This year, we are honoring our past but leaning into the future of our winery. To do this, we are putting all of our amazing wines into collections to help our guests and clients discern which wines are right for them.
We are excited to have 2 collections available for purchase now: The California Collection and The Union Station Collection.
On August 5th of this year, we will be launching a new collection called, The Black Sunflower, as we are a woman-owned, black-owned business located in the sunflower state.
We’ve bottled the art of timing.
From California to Kansas. In 2017, we started our brand by crafting wines from the finest growers in California. In 2019 and beyond, we are sourcing and growing our grapes locally in Kansas to make our wines at an urban winery.
From a rural vineyard to an urban winery. We are bringing the winemaking experience from a rural setting into the urban core of downtown Wichita. Jenny Dawn Cellars at Union Station is a place where your moments are minutes away. It is your reprieve from the business of busy-ness, and your time to bloom.
Jenny Dawn Cellars is inspired by the significance of rail transportation that Union Station provided to the Wichita community. The terminal building had its magnificent grand opening in 1914 and the elegance of the art nouveau architecture is timeless. Over a hundred years of moments were created within this space. We invite you to our winery at Union Station to be a part of future moments with us.
Jenny Dawn Cellars – Let your moment begin
Check out the collections below:
The Jenny Dawn Cellars California Collection features 5 outstanding premium wines where the grapes where grown in California. Founder and CEO, Jennifer McDonald got her start as a commercial winemaker in Napa so we decided to keep on offering California wines at our Kansas winery. Each wine is vintage, single vineyard sourced and absolutely delicious. The wines can be purchased at our winery as well as online at https://www.jennydawncellars.com/shop
Here is the line-up:
Chardonnay
Appellation: Sonoma Valley
Composition: Chardonnay
ABV: 15.12%
Production Notes:
Our 2018 Chardonnay is bright, fresh and acidic with a straw yellow color. It’s dominated by green apple, pear and zesty citrus notes. The palate is smooth, nicely textured with a lively finish. In the vineyard, this Chardonnay was handpicked as it reached the peak of ripeness and brought to the winery for gentle pressing. The juice was fermented on 100% neutral French oak. After primary fermentation was complete, we allowed the young wine to continue to age in contact with the yeast lees stirring every few weeks. During aging, a quarter of the wine then underwent a secondary malolactic fermentation to soften the natural acidity and add complexity.
Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Composition: Pinot Noir
ABV: 15.1%
Production Notes:
Our 2017 Pinot Noir is expressive on the palate with flavors of cranberry, cherry and raspberries with a lush red color. It’s plush with fruit but also has an earthy undertone that brings exceptional balance to the wine. The palate shows deeply layered fruit and fine tannins. In the vineyard, this Pinot Noir was handpicked and in the winery whole cluster pressed. The juice, skins, must and seeds went through native fermentation in stainless steel, undergoing three delicate punch-downs a day. After primary fermentation was complete, it was transferred to neutral French oak for aging.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Paso Robles
Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV: 13.81%
Production Notes:
Our 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromatics and flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, currant, black pepper, plum and blackberry. The wine is also complemented by dark chocolate and tobacco leaf with a deep ruby red color. Rounding out the nose are aromas of black olives and dried thyme. Bold and assertive this wine has complexity and depth with a purity of fruit and subtle layers of flavors and texture that harmonize and enhance. In the vineyard, these cab grapes were machine harvested, then in the winery all of the juice was fermented in stainless steel. Then, 85% of the wine was aged in neutral French oak while 15% of the wine was aged in new French oak.
Sweet Red Wine
Appellation: Paso Robles
Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah
ABV: 15.1%
Production Notes:
Our 2017 Sweet Red Wine displays aromatics and flavors of sweet oak, espresso, black cherry, pomegranate, currant, and black pepper. The wine has a finesse of dried plum and savory sage with an opaque deep purple color. Luxuriously soft tannins linger with caramel, fudge and vanilla to the finish. In the vineyard, these cab grapes were machine harvested, then in the winery all of the juice was fermented in stainless steel. Then, 85% of the wine was aged in neutral French oak while 15% of the wine was aged in new French oak.
Riesling
Appellation: North Coast Lake
Composition: Riesling
ABV: 13.28%
Production Notes:
The Jenny Dawn Cellars 2015 Riesling has pronounced flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, nectarine and spiced pears with acidity in perfect balance. The wine is golden yellow in color with a light to medium body with fair amounts of sweetness but not overpowering. The cool climate of Lake County, North Coast was perfect for the grapes to have a long ripening on the vine necessary to produce a botrytis rot. In the vineyard, the Riesling grapes dimpled and became high in sugar. In the winery, the grapes were basket pressed with a lot of pressure and fermented in stainless steel.
The Jenny Dawn Cellars Union Station Collection includes 6 wines that feature grapes and fruit from Kansas. We work with the finest grapes growers across our state. We named the wines after symbols within transportation, Union Station and our community that are important to us. Our wines can be purchased at our winery as well as online. Our wines are also distributed all across Kansas and building momentum in Nebraska. Check out our interactive map that shows where these wines can be purchased:
https://www.jennydawncellars.com/wheretobuy
Here is the line-up:
Union Station
Appellation: Kansas
Composition: Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
Production Notes:
The Jenny Dawn Cellars Union Station wine is made from Kansas Chardonnay grapes. It is dry, crisp, light bodied, straw or pale yellow in color, with aromas and flavors of lime peel, Asian pear, citrus blossom, and limestone. The Union Station wine will pair well with light cheeses and white fish.
Black Locomotive
Appellation: Kansas
Composition: Crimson Cabernet
ABV: 14%
Production Notes:
The Jenny Dawn Cellars Black Locomotive wine is made from Kansas Crimson Cabernet grapes. Crimson Cabernet is a hybrid. It combines the grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton. This wine is ruby red almost purple in color, dry, medium bodied, robust, has lush fruits of black cherry, elderberry with delicate fig, basil, and cedar spices. Our Black Locomotive pairs well with any lean pork, steak, and veggies as well as hamburgers.
Wichita Moments
Appellation: Kansas
Composition: Apple
ABV: 13%
Production Notes:
Our Wichita Moments wine is made from Kansas apple cider. The apples were pressed offsite and the juice was brought to our winery for fermentation in totes. After active fermentation was complete the wine was transferred into a stainless-steel tank for cold stabilization and refining. After some time had passed, the wine was lightly sweetened, filtered and bottled at the winery.
Wichita Passion
Appellation: Kansas
Composition: Blackberry
ABV: 13%
Production Notes:
Our Wichita Passion wine is made from Kansas blackberries. The berries were hand-picked, froze, and then delivered to the winery. We let the berries defrost for a couple days before we started pressing them. The juice was then pumped into a stainless-steel tank for fermentation. After active fermentation was complete the wine was transferred into a stainless-steel tank for cold stabilization and refining. After some time had passed, the wine was lightly sweetened, filtered and bottled at the winery.
Red Caboose
Appellation: Kansas
Composition: Crimson Cabernet Rosé
ABV: 10.5%
Production Notes:
The Jenny Dawn Cellars Red Caboose is made by using the saignée method from Kansas Crimson Cabernet grapes. This wine is light red in color, it is dry, delicate, slightly fruity, and savory. It has aromas and flavors of cranberry, banana, roses, and lilies. Our Rosé Wine can be enjoyed on its own and it is perfect for patio sipping. This wine also pairs well with appetizers, dried fruit, cured meats, and artisanal cheeses.
Rosé Wine
Appellation: Kansas
Composition: Watermelon
ABV: 13%
Production Notes:
The Jenny Dawn Cellars Rosé Wine is made from watermelons grown in Kansas. This wine is a
beautiful pink color, it is sweet, fruity, and slightly tart. It has aromas and flavors of honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, dandelion, and green grass. Our Rosé Wine is sweet goodness in a glass. This wine pairs well with any dessert such as cheesecake and chocolate truffles.
The Jenny Dawn Cellars Black Sunflower Collection is a new semi-sweet line of wines that will be released later this year on August 5th.
These wines will highlight grapes from our native Kansas. Our new wines will be velvety smooth, easy to drink and are made to enhance the enjoyment of life.
We don’t add any harsh chemicals or additives to our wines so they are a positive choice for any day of the week. As a brand, we focus on helping our guests and clients take care of your mind, body and soul.
Jenny Dawn Cellars – the art of living through wine
Founded in 2016 by Jennifer McDonald, Jenny Dawn Cellars has grown from the dream of an at-home winemaker into Wichita’s first urban winery.
In 2017, Jenny Dawn Cellars established a working partnership with a wine facilitator in Napa, California. In 2019, Jenny Dawn Cellars opened a winery and tasting room in the heart of downtown Wichita located at Union Station. Jennifer now crafts and bottles her wines on-site, with grapes and juice sourced from the finest growers in California and Kansas.
As of June 2020, Jenny Dawn Cellars has 11 handcrafted wines.
Union Station Chardonnay, Black Locomotive Crimson Cabernet, Red Caboose Dry Rosé, 2019 Rosé Wine (Watermelon), 2018 Chardonnay, 2017 Pinot Noir, 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 Sweet Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Blend), Wichita Passion (Blackberry Wine) and Wichita Moments (Apple Wine).
Jenny Dawn Cellars winery and tasting room at Union Station offers charcuterie and small bites, venue rentals, private wine tastings, wine locker memberships, and Winuecation – a monthly educational class.