Things to do / Travel Guide
Missouri and Arkansas means the Ozarks, St. Louis, and Kansas City. It may come as a surprise that the region is also home to a number of excellent wineries, set in two flourishing wine areas. Wine, in many cases high-quality wine, has been cultivated in these parts for over 100 years. Europeans hailing from Germany and Switzerland were the first to make wine here, along the Missouri River and near the city of Altus on the Arkansas River.
The wineries come in very region-specific varieties - the average wine drinker will find his or her Chardonnay and perhaps a Zinfandel, but absent are the Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinots. Rather, acquaint yourself with Cynthiana, Norton, Vignoles, Seyval, and Chambourcin. These are indeed not your standard fare, but they can be brought to a high level of perfection. You're not surprised, are you?
Missouri's Stone Hill Winery
The flagship of Missouri wineries, and the first to pick up momentum after the repeal of Prohibition, is Stone Hill Winery in Hermann. It's the real thing, founded way back in 1847, and the grounds are awash in Old World (German) sensibilities. Stop in at the restaurant and take a tour of the vineyard or the mansion. There's even more beneath the surface: The winery boasts the largest series of underground wine cellars in the U.S.
Indulge yourself in Stone Hill's Blanc de Blancs, crafted with Vidal grapes in the French tradition, by fermenting the juice in the bottle itself; or the prized Norton, aged in small oak barrels. And you can't go wrong with the vintage-style port.
Arkansas' Wiederkehr Wine Cellars
A bit of background: The Germans and Swiss immigrating to Arkansas settled mainly around Altus, on the Arkansas. The Wiederkehr family was no exception, and they promptly set up shop on St. Mary's Mountain, for its microclimates well-suited for the growing of grapes. They've been going strong (save for the Prohibition years) since 1880. The place is loaded with historical interest - and also with good wines, like Seyval Blanc, Chardonnay, Cynthiana, Red Muscadine, and many more.
The Seyval Blanc is a medium-dry offering, delicate and aromatic; it goes well with seafood and white meats. The Cynthiana is often considered America's best grape for red wines, producing a wine both fragrant and heavy-bodied.
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