Wine Travel - A Wine Country Experience in Arkansas
November 22nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
And so, a large German-Swiss settlement blossomed in the west/northwest area of Arkansas, “The Natural State”. Now, almost a century and a half later, this European influence is still felt in a unique area of the state, roughly between Little Rock in the state’s center and Fort Smith, at its’ western boundary. Not far off of Interstate I-40, about 50 minutes east of Fort Smith, you’ll find Arkansas Wine Country.
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Traveling west/northwest out of Little Rock (actually, North Little Rock) on Interstate 40, it’s about 140 miles to the heart of Arkansas wine country. As you travel outside of Little Rock, you’ll notice the topography changing … lush valleys and rolling mountains … a perfect subclimate for grape growing and wine making. Approximately two hours outside of Little Rock on Interstate 40, look for exit 41, Arkansas Route 186. Go south about five miles on 186 and you’ll enter the charming and historic town of Altus, heart of Arkansas wine country and home to four area wineries. Let’s take a closer look.
Chateau Aux Arc Vineyards and Winery: Directly on Rt. 186, actually just two miles off I-40 and before you reach the town of Altus,is Chateau Aux Arc, the world’s largest propagator of Cynthiana grapes. Be sure to check out their gorgeous tasting room, situated on top of St. Mary’s mountain. Enjoy the view of the Arkansas River Valley while you taste the fruit of Chateau Aux Arc’s labor.
Mount Bethel Winery: Three generations of the Post family have proudly guided the Mount Bethel Winery. Just 1/4 mile east of the town of Altus, Mount Bethel Winery offers a full selection of reds, whites, and fruit wines. Since Arkansas is a renowned fruit producer, we decided to try the Elderberry and Blackberry wines, both produced from fruit grown and hand picked by the Post family. Both were sweet, tangy, and quite enjoyable. Mount Bethel is also renowned for their port wine, Big Daddy Port, so be sure to ask for it.
Post Familie Vineyards and Winery: On to downtown Altus, where one block north on Rt. 186 stands the Post Familie Vineyards and Winery. They say the scenery in this area is just as beautiful as Napa Valley and we wouldn’t disagree! Post Familie is known for their muscadine wines (a southern specialty), as well as a very nice Pinot Grigio.
Wiederkehr Wine Cellars: A pioneer in the U.S. wine industry (Wiederkehr is Bonded Winery #8), Wiederkehr Wine Cellars is an introduction to the Swiss winemaking heritage. Housed in an Alpine lodge, Wiederkehr offers 45 minute winery and cellar tours for a behind-the-scenes glimpse into winemaking. We enjoyed a German-Swiss lunch in their onsite restaurant, the Weinkeller Restaurant. As for wine, try Wiederkehr’s deliciously dry Johannisberg Riesling or their unique, crisp Verdelet, a white wine made from a French developed grape variety.
Cowie Wine Cellars and Museum: Our last stop takes us to the smallest winery in Arkansas, Cowie Wine Cellars and Museum. Located three miles west of Paris, Arkansas on scenic Rt. 22, Cowie Wine Cellars is a must stop, not just to taste and buy their wines, but also to see their museum, dedicated to the art of Arkansas winemaking and Arkansas wineries.
The Wine Museum traces Arkansas wine history through the last 130 years. Be sure to see the original wine press and other historic winemaking artifacts. Interestingly, this is the only museum in the United States dedicated solely to the wine history of one state. A new branch of the museum was recently opened in Hot Springs, a popular tourist stop further south in the state. - 718
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Wine Tasting - Simple Steps
November 26th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Wine Tasting Simple Steps
The popular concept that most people imagine when thinking about wine tasting is a process of sipping the wine, swilling it about their mouth and spitting it out. In fact the art of wine tasting is much more than this.
Firstly, you need to study the wine. This should be done by picking up the glass in one of two ways. If the wine is chilled, then to avoid heating the wine and altering the temperature, the glass should be held by the stem and not by the bowl.
Wines which do not need to be chilled can be served at room temperature, in this case a glass should be picked up by the bowl and cupped in the palm of the hand with the stem falling between your two middle fingers.
Remember to hold the glass at a bit of an angle and to be able to study the colour properly, there should be something white in the background.
Study The Colour And The Clarity
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Proper Wine Storage
November 26th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Proper Wine Storage and Why It’s Important
Although many people today drink wine on a regular basis, very few of them understand the importance of proper wine storage. It is incredibly important, as it affects the taste of the wine its aromas and flavor when you come to drink it
Storing wine properly is also critical because, it is perishable, just like food, and so if you have very expensive bottles of wine, you are going to want to take especially good care of them and make them last.
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Red Wines
November 26th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Red wines are made from red grapes, although the colour comes from the grapes being fermented with the skins still on. This process increases the amount of tannin and gives red wine their colour. Tannin is the natural ingredient which is in grape skins, it gives wine some of its flavor and helps in the aging process. Wines which contain large amounts of tannin age well.
Types of Red Wine Grapes
The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is used in the making of a large number of the world’s most popular red wines. It is a grape which grows well and produces high yields in many different climates. It is also used to blend with other different grapes. The flavor is medium to full bodied and often is associated with strong flavors which can vary between tastes such as cherry, blackcurrant, tea leaves or tobacco. It has a high tannin content which helps the again process.
Another popular red grape is Merlot. To read the rest of this article click here
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