Danene Beedle, Marketing Director for the Missouri Wine & Grape Board is a huge fan of social media and an advocate for what it can do to promote Midwest wineries and engage customers. From Twitter and Facebook - where Danene goes by the name of MoWineGirl - she practices what she preaches. Her regular tweets, beaming out to almost 2,500 followers, come from all corners of the state … [Read more...]
Missouri has seen the number of wineries in the state grow from 50 to 118 since 2005. Missouri also has more wine trails than any other state in the Midwest. Teah Hopper, a marketing specialist for the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, believes that Missouri's wine trails have definitely contributed to the growth of the Missouri wine industry which now has an economic impact of over $1.6 … [Read more...]
The 2013 Midwest Grape & Wine Conference & Trade Show is taking place in St. Charles, Missouri, from February 7-9. The conference, hosted by Vineyard & Winery Management, is the third largest event of its kind in the United States and brings together winemakers, winery suppliers and viticulture experts from across the Midwest and the US. Midwest Wine Press spoke with V&W … [Read more...]
During the drive back from a weekend trip in Missouri, Midwest Wine Press dropped in on family owned, Baltimore Bend Vineyard and Winery in Waverly. Still an hour from home near Kansas City, a much needed cheese and sausage snack was taken and, of course, a quick wine tasting. The modern winery building is on Highway 24 set in the middle of farmland with the spacious tasting room and shop … [Read more...]
The Mississippi River Hills Wine Trail, has its first event this weekend. The food and wine pairing celebration, “A Taste of the Holidays,” is taking place from 12 to 5 p.m. today and Sunday. The six wineries hosting the occasion form the state's newest wine trail, located in the south-east corner of the state. One of the wineries, Apple Creek Vineyard & Winery, in Friedheim, North … [Read more...]
In today's Kansas City Star, midwest wine expert Doug Frost admits that it's hard to keep track of all the wineries from Missouri that are winning national awards. Wineries in the western part of Missouri and the Kansas City area are now rivaling their older contemporaries in the eastern part of the state, Frost reports. … [Read more...]
Norton is one of the last grapes to be harvested in the Midwest. Below are pictures from today's Norton grape harvest and crush at Jowler Creek Vineyard, near Platte City in Missouri. Winemaker Jason Gerke said it was a lighter yield than last year - but the fruit looked very good. Up close, the Norton grapes appeared very similar to blueberries and tasted very nice, but full of pips. The hard … [Read more...]
This is the first article of a two part profile on the Norton grape. The first article discusses the characteristics of today's Norton and includes a report on the 2012 Norton Harvest. The next article will focus on Norton winemaking techniques and research into the origins of the grape. Norton, the oldest commercially grown native American grape, is a red variety with a unique flavor, a … [Read more...]
Increasingly, Midwestern winemakers are defying convention by growing popular vinifera grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc. But in recent years, a number of vineyards have planted lesser known European grapes considered offbeat for the Midwest, like Gruner Veltliner and Teroldego. An example of an adventurous viticulturalist is Nick Ferrante, owner of Ferrante Winery in … [Read more...]
A Virginia grape breeder has conducted experiments and historical research that could lead to the unveiling of the genetic origin of one of America’s most renowned and mysterious native grapes: Norton. The UK-based Journal of Wine Research is publishing a paper by Dr. Cliff Ambers, owner of Chateau Z Vineyard in Amherst County, that will reveal the full details of his six year investigation: A … [Read more...]
In many cases, customers form perceptions about a winery based on their experience in the tasting … [Read More...]
I was in Arizona years ago attending a wedding and I sought out some local wineries to satisfy my curiosity. It was fascinating seeing vineyards clinging to arid mountainsides, some bordered by … [Read More...]
The first time I had a glass of wine made from La Crescent, I was completely blown away. Reminiscent of an aromatic white that might come from Germany or Austria, my mind started spinning with all … [Read More...]
