Chandler Hill Vineyards

Chandler Hill Winery overlooks our vineyards, hidden lake, and the inspiring Osage valley teeming with wildlife. It is the closest full-service winery to the St. Louis area, just 30 miles from downtown. Guests will enjoy our exquisite Award-Winning Missouri, California, Oregon and Washington State vintages, delicious food, live entertainment and special events. Chandler Hill is becoming recognized as Missouri’s most exquisite winery for our location, outstanding vintages and rich legacy.

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Wine Barrels: Function and Flavor

November 20, 2015

Read more about Wine Barrels: Function and Flavor

Oak barrels and wine go together like mac and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. You can have one without the other, but together they make magic. Barrels have been around for very, very long time, and over centuries of use winemakers have discovered how they are a lot more than just a storage medium.

Aging wines in oak barrels makes them softer and smoother; they go through subtle chemical changes throughout their time in the barrel. Allowing a very slow introduction of oxygen into the wine, a barrel helps soften harsh, young tannins as the wine ages. The wood also imparts some of its characteristics into the wine. Scents of clove, cinnamon, allspice, tobacco and vanilla can be found in wines after oak aging, as well as flavors of caramel, vanilla and butter.

There are several components that affect the types and intensity of scents and flavors contributed by an oak barrel: origin of the wood, level of char or toast, and age. The most commonly used oaks are French and American. American oak (a large percentage of which comes from Missouri) is known for producing bolder flavors, and French is touted for contributing more subtle aromas. The level of char or toast can also impact the wood characteristics that come through in the wine and the intensity. Each level of increase in the char of a barrel results in a more assertive flavor in the finished wines.

The age of a barrel also makes a difference in the level of flavor imparted in the wine. A brand new barrel will have the most noticeable impact on the wine, the intensity decreasing with each additional use. Most wineries have their barrels on an “oak aging program” that rotates which wines are aged in particular barrels based on the age of the barrels. Once barrels have run out of flavor, they often find new uses around the wineries as planters, furniture, etc. They’re just too cool to get rid of!

Here in the Show-Me state red wines such as Chambourcin and Norton are often aged in oak, but some winemakers will also age white wines such as Chardonel and Vidal Blanc on oak, usually for a shorter time than red wines.

Technological advances such as refrigeration and stainless steel tanks have certainly modernized many parts of the winemaking industry, but there is something about barrel-aged wines that cannot be replaced. Find your favorite oak aged Missouri wine at one of the more than 125 wineries, and enjoy sipping on a little history!

Cedar Lake Cellars

Cedar Lake Cellars is a first-class winery set on 140 picturesque acres just 40 minutes west of St. Louis off I-70. Founded in 2010 the winery features an elaborate tasting room with a 40 foot tasting bar, a full-service restaurant, a 3-acre lake, indoor and outdoor seating, along with wedding and banquet facilities. We’re proud to offer a nice selection of Missouri wines and wines from other regions.

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Cave Hollow West Winery

Cave Hollow West Winery, inside Mark Twain Cave Complex, features select small-batch wines crafted at West Winery – Macon, plus exclusive Mark Twain wines. Enjoy Historic Mark Twain Cave/Cameron Cave tours, cave-aged cheese, full-service campground, gift shop (candles/fudge made on-site), café, indoor/outdoor seating and event center. Picnics welcome, but state law prohibits outside alcohol. Riverboat, museums and shopping are a short trolley ride away (www.visithannibal.com).

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Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant

Canterbury Hill sits on top of a rock bluff with stunning view of the Missouri State Capitol and the rolling hills of Callaway County. Our goal is for you to feel like you are royalty with us. From the moment you pull in our massive metal gates, enter into our all brick and rock building, dine in our barrel rood, have a bottle of wine from our 18th century wine cellar, or celebrate in our elegant wood trimmed; all hard floored Capitol view room, you will feel like you are the King of Queen of the hill.

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Buffalo Creek Winery

The winery is located in a renovated circa 1900s barn and is situated high on a bluff overlooking Lake Ozark at the 70 MM. It is also accessible by boat. The winery offers hand-crafted, minimally-processed wines. There are two decks to enjoy the stunning lake views in a park-like, natural setting. The winery is also used as an event space for weddings and special events.

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Blumenhof Vineyards & Winery

Blumenhof Winery is located in the charming village of Dutzow, Missouri, the oldest permanent German settlement west of the Mississippi River, nestled in the rolling foothills of the Ozark Mountains. Blumenhof is open every day year-round, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. They invite you enjoy the spacious patio in the warmer months, and the enclosed heated deck when it is colder, or come inside the Tasting Room to sit by the fireplace.

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Belvoir Winery

Belvoir Winery is a family-owned winery located in the historic Odd Fellows Home in Liberty, Missouri. We offer space for weddings, events and conventions along with tours exploring the 110 year history of the property. We also have paranormal events exploring the other-worldly events that occur regularly on the property. Come see us and enjoy a winery experience unlike any other in Missouri.

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Baltimore Bend Vineyard

Experience the difference at Baltimore Bend Vineyard! Come learn about Missouri wines and find your favorite without intimidation or pretense. A welcoming, fun atmosphere surrounds you the moment you enter the tasting room. Whether you're a novice or connoisseur, we have a wine for you.

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Balducci Vineyards

Proprietors Rick and Carol Balducci invite you to visit Augusta, Missouri's newest winery, featuring world class wine and food, paired and beautiful scenic vistas. Live music, April through October on Saturday and Sunday.

Our location is perfect for a day trip, a weekend destination, your special event, wedding celebration or corporate outing. We offer full service and a family atmosphere, and all the amenities of our state-of-the-art facility.

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