CUISINE
Before filling the gas tank and hitting the road for this year ’ s spring vineyard fling , consider the options . Missouri has 10 official wine trails scattered across the state . Three of those trails are a tad more than an hour away . Just set the GPS and drive south to the Route Du Vin Wine Trail , or head west to Hermann ’ s Wine Trail by way of Missouri Route 94 - the lifeline that connects the Missouri Weinstrasse ( meaning wine road ). All make for drives to vines that promise great scenery , greening vineyards and plenty of sips to enjoy .
Hermann Wine Trail : Hermann ’ s Germans love their vineyards and wines . No surprise because their roots run deep . Hermann , which is perched along the Missouri River , has enthusiastically shared its wines with visitors since the 1840s . The Hermann Wine Trail celebrates an area that ’ s been called the heart of the Missouri Rhineland . Eight wineries make up Hermann ’ s trail , including Adam Puchta , the oldest family-owned winery in the United States , the historic Stone Hill Winery , and the trail ’ s youngest addition , Dierberg - Star Lane - Three Saints tasting room .
Throughout the year , the Hermann Wine Trail hosts themed food and wine weekends . Its spring kick-off themed event is the Wild Bacon Wine Trail ( May 6 to 7 ) that pairs wine with a featured dish . Bacon and wine - can ’ t think of a better reason to come and roam Hermann ’ s budding vineyards .
Missouri Weinstrasse : Augusta was the first designated American Viticulture Area in the U . S ., a fact Napa Valley wishes it could claim . Actually , Augusta ’ s commercial wine industry outdates Napa Valley ’ s , dating to 1859 , when George Muench , one of Missouri ’ s wine industry founders , established Mount Pleasant Winery .
Mount Pleasant and its adjacent vineyards are located in Augusta ’ s old town , along with the Augusta Winery , a Weinstrasse member whose sister operation , Montelle Winery , is located off Missouri Route 94 . The wine trail also includes Balducci Vineyards and Sugar Creek Winery & Vineyards , the first winery you ’ ll encounter traveling west along the trail , which welcomes wine-loving picnickers to gather along its terraced hillsides and pavilion .
Route Du Vin : French heritage fills the wine glasses surrounding the Ste . Genevieve area ’ s Route Du Vin Wine Trail . A short drive south on Interstate 55 transports foodies and wine lovers to a diverse region where one can sip and savor wine in a cave , or lounge on a French colonial veranda overlooking Ste . Gen ’ s river valley and foothills .
Each of the route ’ s wineries provides a unique experience . Many boast award-winning wines and cuisine , from Chaumette Vineyards & Winery to Charleville Vineyard that balances its wine list with its microbrews . Route Du Vin ’ s spring soiree is Jour de la Terre ( aka Earth Day ), scheduled this year for April 22 . Jour de la Terre provides samples of international foods paired with wine . Expected on this year ’ s tasting menu are Charleville ’ s barrel-fermented Chardonel with Greek spanakopita , and Sand Creek ’ s Moscato with baklava .
Suzanne Corbett is a food historian and author of the award-winning cookbooks , “ The Gilded Table ” and “ Pushcarts & Stalls : The Soulard Market History Cookbooks .” She can be contacted at suzannecorbett @ me . com .
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