Danenberger & a Fashion Show!

Who doesn’t love a winery? Who doesn’t love a fashion show? When you get to combine them both then magic happens! April 27, my daughter Carrie and I went to get our fashion sense updated and sip some wine at Danenberger Family Vineyards

I had been to this cool venue before to sample the wine and to listen to music. But this was the first time I had attended an event like a fashion show.

Danenberger Winery

Danenberger Family Vineyards, also known as DFV is located outside of New Berlin Illinois.  New Berlin is where the Sangamon County Fair takes place. Danenberger Family Vineyards is part of a Centennial farm. The farm was first established in the mid-1800’s by James Sullivan who came to the states from Ireland.

Susan Sullivan Danenberger, the winemaker attributes the legacy of her wines to her father Bill Sullivan. Her father is where she found her love of the land. The winery is located in a former farmstead. The gazebo is in the grain silo, where the crops were once stored.

Susan Sullivan Danenberger

“This was my uncle’s house. Before that my grandfather’s brother. Later it was my dad’s house,” Susan Sullivan Danenberger explained. Her father had encouraged her to buy the farm house that now is the winery. She added, “Now I’m so glad I did.”

Susan Danenberger took her hobby of making wines and expanded it into a business. In 2013, she opened Danenberger winery. Starting out with 40 vines she now has 800 onsite. She also owns property in Washington State with classmates from University California Davis where she took classes to learn more about her craft.

Colors of Cancer: Fashion For a Cause Fundraiser.

In 2014 Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She walked a fashion show in New York to raise cancer awareness. After that she decided to have her own show at the winery to raise money for cancer. 

Besserat Betsy Habtes hosted the fashion show with original designers. Designers included: AK Boutique, Blag Belle Botique, Bombshell Dollz, Catou, and Curvy closet 217, Girlz Dezign, Habesha Kida, Kids Zone Consignment, Tsehai Design and Tutus By Tia.  Carrie and I loved seeing them all!

At the fashion show, we armed ourselves with a delicious wine slushie. Next we found ourselves a seat next to a young man who said he was modeling for the first time.

Trontae Collie, a recent graduate from Lincoln Land College’s HVAC program said that his God-sister Besti Habtes, “Got me into this. She has been trying to get me to do this for a while,” he added.

The fashion show highlighted models of various races, sizes, ages and genders. This event offers something unique and original for all. 

Original Designs in a fashion show!

Carrie and I were thrilled to see original designs and jewelry and fashion right here in the heart of the Land of Lincoln. There is nothing like seeing designs made by talented individuals. For me a huge fan of Project Runway it was like New York Fashion Week in my own back yard. Only this was better because it was for a very important cause, eliminating cancer!

The fashion show brought a new aspect to the winery. Susan herself was one of the models. Funds from this event benefitted the American Cancer Society. Susan hopes to make this an annual event.

With a new Open Concept kitchen on the way, Danenberger Family Winery has something new coming all the time. Keeping the needs of the community at the forefront, DFW is both a fun place, but also one with meaning.

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