Missouri Wines Century Club Dinner

We did it! One-Hundred Missouri wineries visited in 2013. We cannot lie, we are very proud of ourselves. It was by far one of the most enjoyable yet challenging goals we have ever accomplished. The Level 4 prize for the Missouri Wines Passport Program was an exclusive dinner for all of the participants who made it to at least 100 wineries. This Century Club Dinner took place May 31st at the Missouri Theatre in Columbia, MO. The event was superb!

The evening started with a cocktail hour in the lobby of the theatre. We had a large selection of familiar Missouri wines to choose from and delightful appetizers to snack on as we mingled with the other Missouri wine lovers. We ran into some familiar faces including  Kraig and Becky Keesaman, owners/winemakers of Windy Winy Company, and Jacob Holman, head winemaker at Les Bourgeois Vineyards. We made the acquaintance of a couple fellow Missouri Wines Passport conquerers, Brandon and Erin Wisemore. They reside on the West side of the state, so it was interesting discussing their thoughts on our local wine trails and vice versa. It was also great being able to chat about wineries with people who have been to as many as you. The level of passion for Missouri wines was extremely high in the room, and we knew the night was off to a great start.

The dinner was served on the stage of the theatre with Missouri winery owners or makers placed at each table. We had the honor of having Tony and Cindy Kooyumjian, owners/winemakers of Montelle and Augusta Wineries at our table. It's always a pleasure getting to converse with some of our favorite winery owners. We were served a stellar three course meal with each dish paired with a Missouri wine. We started with a salad made of baby greens and lollo rosso laced with a Les Bourgeois Vineyard sparkling wine vinaigrette served next to a fried Goats Beard cheese that gave the salad great texture and added tremendous flavor. The first course was served along side Montelle Winery's 2012 Seyval Blanc. Secondly we were poured a Chambourcin from Stonehaus Farms Winery and served a pan-fried Missouri pork tenderloin with stone ground grits and Adam Puchta Signature Port balsamic reduction. The last course was St. James Winery "Norton 42" braised Missouri beef shorts ribs with mashed yukon potatoes paired with the St. James 2012 Norton 42. This was by far the most "Missouri Wines" of a meal you could ever imagine, and it was delicious!

After dinner, the 19 Century Club members were honored with awards, and we heard speeches from influential people in the Missouri Wines industry including Dr. Peter Hofherr and Glenn Bardgett. The dessert course was served on the roof of the theatre and included lavender creme bruleé, Belgium chocolate Chambord tortes, raspberry macaroons, and opera cakes. There was a plethora of Missouri Wines such as the Adam Puchta's Signature Port, OakGlenn Winery's White Port, Montelle Winery's 2012 Vidal Icewine, Stone Hill Winery's Cream Sherry,  and Windy Wine Company's White Chocolate Strawberry and Raspberry wines. The entire evening was perfect and more than we ever expected. It was an amazing journey, and we are somewhat sad that it's over. 

We would like to thank and give a few shout outs to people and wineries who helped make this event possible. Biggest thank you to Danene Beedle and Christa Holtzclaw from Missouri Wines for all their help with the Passport Program and for throwing the Century Club Dinner as well as everyone on the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. Thank you to the wineries who sponsored the event and served their delicious wines: Stone Hill Winery, Augusta Winery, Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Stonehaus Farms Vineyard and Winery, Montelle Winery, St. James Winery, Adam Puchta Winery, Chaumette Vineyard and Winery, Wenwood Winery, Baltimore Bend Vineyard, Noboleis Vineyards, Edg-Clif Farms and Vineyard, Meramec Vineyards, OakGlen Vineyards and Winery, Windy Wine Company, and Bommarito Almond Tree Winery. And of course EVERY winery we visited last year! We couldn't have done it without you, and we hope to visit again soon!

The sweet swag bag we got at the end of the night! 

Our Top 10 of 2013

What a crazy year we ended up with!  We made it to our goal of 100 wineries in 1 year and what a sigh of relief when we finished.  It was the experience of a lifetime to visit the wineries we did, try the wine that we sipped, and speak with the people we spoke with.

Here is the list of our Top 10 wineries that we visited in 2013.

Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery

We weren't sure what to expect when we pulled into the small parking lot hugged by vines, but Bommarito Winery surprised us with its cozy warmth, friendly service, and tasty Norton.  Cathy Bommarito-Manley has done an amazing job with creating wines that please all palates and helped capture our first 'ahhh' moment with her Norton. This boutique winery may be small, but its wines left a big impact.

Apple Creek Winery

One of the more recent wineries to open in the state, Apple Creek Winery has shown that it can compete with the best and most mature wineries around.  Pulling up to the winery you find yourself surrounded by the vines, further back, the tasting room is nestled next to a creek, surrounded by trees.  Though the day we visited was slightly chilly, the fire place was going on inside and the live music was still playing.  Matthew Gamel gave us the rundown of the wines offered and how the place came to be.  Needless to say this will be a regular stop for us from now on, especially to indulge on the Seyval Blanc and a slice of their 'famous' pizza.

Bushwacker Bend Winery

The drive North from Booneville is well worth the beauty of the country-side, but knowing their is a winery in Glasgow makes it all the more enjoyable.  Gene Marksbury, wine maker and owner, took us on a tour not just of his wines, but his facility as well.  Parked in a historical building within the heart of downtown Glasgow, Gene took every precaution to keep the historicity of the building intact.  The cellar was an excellent experience and a site to behold, especially when paired with Bushwacker Bend's Chardonel!  After the tour, Davina and I sipped on the rest of it on the patio overlooking the up close and personal, Missouri River.  Take a drive north as soon as possible!

St. James Winery

It is hard to make a list of the best wineries in Missouri without acknowledging the one that is creating a hype across the country for Missouri wine!  St. James has a strong list of delicious wines and produce not only Missouri varieties, but go beyond that to provide a plethora of others made from numerous fruits and other varietals from around the world.  St. James Winery leads the state in its ability to meet consumer demands with its high quality product, while at the same time offering visitors to the winery in depth knowledge of the wine making process, friendliness, and a look into their facility. We do wish they had a setting more conducive to enjoying the wines at the actual facility, but the availability of their wines is such that you can enjoy them pretty much anywhere!

Ladoga Ridge Winery

Tip-toe away from Kansas City, just to the north, and you find a treasure of a winery.  Ladoga Ridge Winery welcomes you with their custom door to the wonderful world of wine that Galen and Leinda Haddock have created.  Experience their quaint tasting room with views of their wine-making facility.  Make your way out the back to the best sunset you'll see in the state, Ladoga Ridge Winery has the oenophile drooling.  Their taste offers some of the best samples of wine that express each varietals' potential. Galen seems to do it so effortlessly, sharing with us that it is "a non-stop battle, BUT with great rewards."  Well, it is paying off for the Haddock's because their winery is one of our favorites.

Augusta Winery

A particular favorite of ours, Augusta Winery is within the range of our own stomping ground and thus has the opportunity to be graced with our presence at least once a month.  Bragging rights are allowed as well for their "Terroir Award" an award that goes to the winery that displays the best regional character in its wines from the 2013 Riverside International Wine Competition.  Truth be told, Augusta Winery in fact displays a rich assortment of varieties, but our true pleasure comes from sampling their Icewine.  Normally, we are not a huge fan of Icewine, but Augusta aims to please with it and we aren't complaining.  For an old world take on new world varietals, do not miss the opportunity to try wine from Augusta Winery.

Röbller Vineyard and Winery 

Little known fact about Röbller Vineyard and Winery...their tasting room is situated on top of their rustic wine cellar. We just recently got a private tour of this cellar where all of their wine is produced. Robert and Lois Mueller have always shown us great hospitality and enjoy sharing stories of their travels to Germany and their son's Air Force experiences. They are also fabulous winemakers! Our favorites include their Seyval, St. Vincent, and Vignoles. Enjoy their top-notch wines on their deck and take in the stunning view of their vineyards.

Jowler Creek Winery

Last year was our first visit to Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery, and it will not be our last! Located just 30 miles North of downtown Kansas City, you'll come across the green winery and sustainable vineyard of Jowler Creek. Jason and Colleen's philosophy focuses on quality, not quantity. Their tasting room is situated on a lovely piece of countryside where you can see the chicken and sheep handling the weed control in the vineyards. We really loved the theme they went with for their marketing. They have a "critter" to represent each bottle, and Michael even got himself a t-shirt to represent the brand back home. When you visit, be sure to sample the Nort and stock up on a case to get you through the winter.

Blumenhof Winery

We are lucky enough to have Bluemhof Winery less than 40 minutes from our house. We always tell people that this is the winery you want to go to if you're a fan of Missouri Whites. All of their wines are superb, but their whites are all flawless. If we had to narrow it down to our top three, we would have to say Vignoles, La Charrette, and the best, Valvin Muscat. Visiting this winery is like taking a mini vacation to Germany with the German-style wines to the quaint coco-clock styled building. They have a large patio with lots of picnic benches and umbrellas for you to enjoy the snacks you bring or buy a brat from the food stand while you take in the live music. This winery embodies the essence of what a Missouri winery should be... great wine, good atmosphere, welcoming staff.

West Winery

We came across this gem on our way home from Kirksville. We never knew Macon, Missouri would be the home of one of Missouri's best wineries. Downtown you'll find an 1880's building housing this urban winery. You may be in the middle of the state, but this winery could fit in on Washington Ave. in St. Louis or on The Plaza in Kansas City. Modern and sleek with a highly-knowledgeable staff, West Winery is an experience every Missouri wine lover should try.  They produce the wine in the back of their building, and we were lucky enough to meet the owner, Chris West, and do some barrel sampling. We were most impressed with their red wines, but enjoyed everything we sampled. This winery really broke the mold and serves an impressive product.  One word describes the wines we were privileged enough to indulge, Chambourcin!

Stone Cellar Fondue & Wine

Along with Missouri wines, I have a passion for exploring new restaurants and experiencing new foods. I didn't have to go far to find Stone Cellar Fondue & Wine. I had literally walked by it dozens of times on Historic Main Street St. Charles with ever noticing it. It is tucked away in the basement of Garden Cafe Ala Fleur and has a small sign which they only display while they are open (Thursday -Saturday, 5-11pm). This tiny restaurant, bursting with ambiance has been providing the a unique dining option in St. Charles for over a year now. We had the pleasure of being served by the Director of Operations, Lincoln Blaire. Him and his wife, chef Krista Farmer, provide spectator service along with adventurous, delightful fondue! For our first visit we decided to go with "In The Mediterranean" and added steak as an additional dipper. The Mexican Fiesta and At the Ballpark were close runner ups!

Touring Tuscany - Red wine fondue infused with garlic marinara sauce, fresh parsley and ground black pepper: Ziti noodles, broccoli florets, cannellini beans, roasted potatoes, hand rolled meatballs, crusty bread, and cauliflower.

They have about 20 options on their wine list as well as domestic and craft/import beers. They even have one Missouri wine, Augusta Winery's Vidal Blanc, which was a pleasant surprise! A red wine was suggested to pair with our meal choice, so I went with the Cocobon from California. The meal was exquisite. The fondue was prepared on our table, and the smell made our mouths water. The dippers paired well with the cheese. My favorite was the hand rolled meatballs and Ziti noodles which when dipped in the fondue made me feel like I was really in Italy.

This restaurant probably holds no more than 40 people, so make sure you have a reservation. It is perfect for a romantic date night or a late night happy hour destination with friends or colleagues. The cheese is to die for, the service is top-notch, and the cellar environment will make you want to visit again and again!

Wine Tourism Day

                                   

Wine Tourism Day is happening in North America, Saturday May 11 for the first time ever!  Look for wineries, hotels, and restaurants to offer special events and incentives in celebration of wine tourism. Missouri has a lot to celebrate since we have A LOT of wineries (over 100).  The Missouri Wine and Grape Board does an amazing job of promoting the wine and grape industry which provides more than than 14,000 jobs.  Over twenty Missouri wineries will be participating in Wine Tourism Day. You can find them all HERE.  We are going to highlight four that really caught our eyes...

Sip & Dip Saturday

Cave Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve, MO

10AM-6PM, $5 per person

Cave Winery is giving you the chance to discover what Italians have known for ages; biscotti are excellent dunked in wine!

Your $5 Wine Tasting will include 5 samples of wine, a souvenir glass, Cave Vineyard Biscotti, and a taste of la Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life).  Dunking biscotti in wine is a Strussione family tradition, and all biscotti are based on Grandma Stussione's original Almond Biscotti recipe and made in their Winery Loft Bakery.  Feel free to experiment with different combinations of wine and biscotti!  Need another reason to stop by Cave Vineyard?  They really do have a cave on-site and you can drink your wine inside of it!  No joke; and their wine is superb.  We'll be heading down one hot summer day to enjoy some chilled wine in their cool cave. 

Road Trip Missouri - A Wine Tourism Adventure 

Wenwood Farm Winery, Bland, MO
10AM - 6PM, No Charge

Celebrate beautiful Missouri with a beautiful drive.

Wenwood Farm Winery came up with a really fun promotion for Wine Tourism Day, and if we didn't have a wedding to attend that evening, we probably would have ended up there.  Make sure you set your odometer before you head out to Wenwood Farm because they are donating 10 cents per mile to Earth's Classroom, a local non-profit dedicated to celebrating Missouri's history and natural world. The 3 visitors who traveled the farthest will each be mailed a gift certificate ($40, $20, $10).  We think this idea is great because a big part of enjoying Missouri wine tourism is driving. The drive between wineries can be a really special part of your trip.  We love seeing the country side and passing through small and large towns along the way.  Enjoy the drive!


Let's Go Fly A Kite - Wind and Wine 

Serenity Valley Winery, Fulton, Missouri 

10AM - 6PM, $10 Wine Flights ($5 goes to charity)

Let's go fly a kite!

If there are two things Serenity Valley Winery has it's WIND & SPACE.  We were just there last weekend for the Celebrate Spring event, and the land they are located on is just stunning countryside. It seems to go on forever.  They are inviting people to come fly a kite and enjoy their wine.  Pack up your picnic basket and bring the family to relax, sample their wines, and see how long you can keep your kite up.  They will be awarding a prize to the best kite; so get creative!  Wine Flights featuring 3 wines and food paring will be sold for $10, $5 of which goes to charity. 

Vineyard Tour in America's First Wine Region - Augusta Appellation
Augusta Winery, Augusta, MO

11AM - 3PM, $10 per person

Set foot on the ground that was deemed America's First Wine Region!

Vineyard Manager Paul will be taking groups out at 11AM and 1PM from the tasting room location in downtown, historic Augusta to tour one of their vineyards.  This tour will teach you about local varietals, recent growing seasons, and the wine making process.  You will even get to taste the grapes straight from the vine.  These tours will last between 1 to 1.5 hours and drop you off at their Wine and Beer Garden at the conclusion to enjoy live music until 5PM.  This is the event we will be participating in to celebrate Wine Tourism Day.  It worked out well since we have a wedding to attend that evening in Augusta.  We are really looking forward to getting a first-hand look at where the Augusta wine-making process starts.

CHEERS!