Method Champenoise – Missouri Style

June 06, 2025

Missouri sparkling wines. Méthode Champenoise. This method, renowned for creating sparkling wines with depth and effervescence, involves a meticulous process. Which is exactly why you need to try them! Wineries use this traditional method to produce a high-quality, complex wine with unique character.

Sparkling wine

First Fermentation- Wineries start by fermenting crushed grapes to produce a still wine, the base for sparkling wines.

Blending- Wineries blend wines from various grape varieties to craft the perfect flavor profile, setting the stage for complexity.

Second Fermentation- A mix of sugar and yeast, or liqueur de tirage, is added to the still wine in bottles, sparking the second fermentation and creating bubbles.

Lees Aging- Bottles are stored horizontally to allow yeast, or lees, to settle, enriching the wine with complex flavors.

Riddling- The bottles are gently turned and held at a 35-degree angle to move the lees to the neck, a precision task often aided by machines.

Disgorgement- The bottles are chilled, inverted, and the lees are removed. A finishing liqueur, or dosage, is added to balance the taste.

Corking- Finally, the bottles are sealed with traditional corks and wire cages, preserving the wine's effervescence.

Sparkling

There are several Missouri Wineries using Method Champenoise:

Belvoir Winery – Liberty

G. Husmann Wine Co. - Hermann

Hermannhof Winery – Hermann

KC Wineworks – Macon

Les Bourgeois Vineyards – Rocheport

Stone Hill Winery – Hermann

Wild Sun Winery and Brewery – Hillsboro

Visit Missouri Wine Country today, to try these fabulous traditional wines with a new appreciation for the handwork that goes into them!

For a deeper dive into the process click here!

Vidal Blanc: Taste Summer in Every Sip

June 02, 2025

Taste Summer in every sip with a glass of Vidal Blanc. If you like a crisp, clean, white wine then you are sure to love a Vidal Blanc. 

Vidal Blanc (vee-dahl-blahnc) is a French American hybrid that is known for its hardiness and ability to tolerate colder climates due to its thicker skin. This varietal was developed by a French grape breeder in the 1930s and is now a staple in Missouri wine country. Bearing 99.8 acres in Missouri.

Vidal Blanc Grape Cluster

 

 

 

Style: dry to semi-dry wine

Tastes: apple, citrus, lemon and grapefruit 

Smell: fresh summer garden

Pairings: mozzarella, grilled chicken, seafood, broccoli & asparagus, pine nuts & melon 

To celebrate Vidal Blanc month, try this Chicken Pasta or try out our other recipes!

 

 

 

 

If you’re in search of a Missouri white wine to complement your meal, enjoy a refreshing sip, or just a Missouri classic, Vidal Blanc is an outstanding choice. With every sip, you’ll experience the essence of summer.  

Photo Collage of Vidal Blanc grapes and a chicken pasta dish

07.19 | Wine Dinner - St. James

Location
St. James Winery and Public House St. James

Description
Public House Taproom | St. James, Missouri
Saturday at 6:30 PM
Join us for a stunning summer evening in the heart of the Meramec Highlands! Settle in at the Taproom for a four-course dining experience showcasing seasonal flavors, local ingredients, and expertly crafted pairings from St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company.
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