DeLaney Vineyard & Winery

Larry DeLaney and his family planted the first grapevines about ten years ago across South Street from his home in the heart of Nevada, Missouri. Despite the property formerly being the site of Pohl’s Brick and digging up a brick in the vineyard on occasion, they haven’t looked back since. Five years later the vineyard was expanded. The DeLaney Vineyard grows nine varieties of grapes, including Concord, Baco, Foch, St. Vincent, Chambourcin, Niagra, Norton, Catawba and Elvira.

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Crown Valley Winery

Located in scenic and historic Ste. Genevieve County, Crown Valley Winery is an architectural masterpiece, overlooking lush vineyards and rolling countryside. From the first time you see it, the dramatic beauty of Crown Valley Winery will capture your heart and imagination just as surely as our impressive array of hand-crafted wines will enchant your palate.

The interior of our winery features unique materials such as hand-carved oak doors with reclaimed stained glass, copper and wrought iron crafted by local artisans, leaf stamped copper bars and church pews from the 1930s.

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Cooper's Oak Winery

The Cooper’s Oak Winery opened in December 2006. It is located in the small town of Higbee, Missouri, in the gently rolling hills of north Missouri. A distinctive feature of the winery is that it is on the premises of A&K Cooperage, manufacturer of fine American oak barrels. Another unique feature is the historic Higbee jail built into the wine cellar.

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Claverach Farm & Vineyards

Claverach specializes in the production of wines bottled with minimal filtration or other intervention. We farm about seven acres of vines planted to Norton, Petite Verdot, Chambourcin, Seyval and Vignier grapes. The name Claverach is Welsh for “Clover Fields”, and in fact, clover is grown in the vineyards to naturally enrich the soil. This is central to our sustainable farming philosophy. We also raise organic produce, which is sold at the markets and restaurants in St. Louis. Currently, our wines are available at many of the fine wine shops and restaurants in the St. Louis area.

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Chaumette Vineyards & Winery

The premier winery destination in the Midwest, award-winning Chaumette Winery offers a unique, memorable and relaxing experience for every guest. Visit Chaumette and experience the Tasting Room, the Grapevine Grill Restaurant, the Villages at Chaumette, their pool and more. Enjoy elegantly appointed villas to rent or own.

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Charleville Vineyard Winery & Craft Brewery

Charleville Vineyard Winery and Craft Brewery is a family owned vineyard that opened its tasting room to the public in early June of 2003. The tasting room has 2 patios that overlook a panoramic view of some of the highest points in Ste. Genevieve County. Come sip our fine wines or award winning craft beers in this lovely rustic setting, or spend the weekend in our charming 1860’s bed & breakfast. You are welcome to bring a picnic and enjoy the entire afternoon at Charleville.

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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

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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