Grapes, Hops and Stops
RSSTwitterFacebook
  • Home
  • About
  • Wine Reviews
  • Beer Reviews
  • Spirit Reviews
  • Bed and Breakfast Reviews
  • Advertise

Camping with Midwest wine

By Becca On September 10, 2013 · Add Comment
This past weekend we had the pleasure of camping with friends at Lake Carlyle. We spent the days going for a run, swimming, kayaking and the nights I introduced my friends to Midwest wine. Friday we started with a new outdoor-friendly pouch of Friendship school white from St. James Winery. We loved that the pouch [...]
Read Full Article →

St. James Winery new pouch wine: Friendship School White

By Becca On September 5, 2013 · Add Comment
St. James Winery’s Friendship School White, a mix of Cayuga and Vidal grapes, is one of our favorite wines to bring as a gift to friends houses. It’s crisp light flavor makes it a wine perfect to accompany a wide range of food. Plus, it’s what my husband and I call [...]
Read Full Article →

Alto Vineyards Reserve Chambourcin

By Becca On August 21, 2013 · Add Comment
This Chambourcin is a dry red that is bursting with cherry and plum flavors with a really long smooth finish. Earlier this year we had the chance to visit Alto Vineyards, in Alto Pass, Illinois. It’s on the wonderful Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in Southern Illinois. We bought a case of wine and have slowly [...]
Read Full Article →

A trip to Alto Vineyards on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

On August 19, 2013 By Becca
We took a trip in May to Alto Vineyards on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. I just read that they recently finished their new 5,000 square-foot addition and thought I would post photos of the building in progress. Alto Vineyards, located in Alto Pass, Illinois, opened its doors in 1988 and [...]
Read Full Article →

Spring Visit to Grafton Winery

On August 4, 2013 By Becca
We had a chance to visit Grafton Winery & Brewhaus earlier this year in April. Grafton Winery is only 45 minutes from St. Louis, making it one of the closest wineries to STL. The Great River Road was closed due to flooding, but we still enjoyed [...]
Read Full Article →

Thousand Oaks Winery: An enchanted dinner

On July 15, 2013 By Becca
One of our winery friends and clients, Thousand Oaks Winery, near Perryville, Missouri is having a special dinner on Friday, July 19. We are already booked that weekend, but have been to several of their dinners and they are awesome! Great wine, food cooked in their awesome pizza oven and we loved getting to know [...]
Read Full Article →

How far Missouri wine has grown in the last 10 years

On June 20, 2013 By Becca
This past week as I was getting ready for a weekend camping trip, I came across a Missouri wine brochure from 2003. How far has Missouri come? Here are some stats to consider. In 2003: • 47 wineries • 3,625,000 bottles of wine sold • over 1,100 acres of grapes • [...]
Read Full Article →

Cedar Ridge wine label design

On June 13, 2013 By Becca
If you know me, you know I love wine plus I love design. Recently I wrote an article discussing the awesomely designed labels of Cedar Ridge Vineyards: Cedar Ridge Vineyards, a family-owned winery and distillery located between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, Iowa, is no stranger to the lime light. Cedar [...]
Read Full Article →

STL celebrates 7th annual Heritage Beer Festival

On June 11, 2013 By Becca
Hey, you local St. Louis beer lover. This weekend head on over to Forest Park to toast St. Louis’ rich brewing tradition: the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival – presented by the St. Louis Brewers Guild. This year it will return to Forest Park June 14 & 15, plus include cuisine from [...]
Read Full Article →

Wet spring = good Augusta, Missouri wine

On May 31, 2013 By Becca
Tony Kooyumjian is the owner of Augusta Winery & Montelle Winery. He stopped by and talked with Randi Naughton at Fox 2 News about the affect of the weather on this year’s grape crop and future wine production.
Read Full Article →

Missouri wineries: Chaumette Vineyards & Winery video

On May 10, 2013 By Becca
Great wine? Spa? Delicious food that is 90% locally grown? Awesome views? Yes, Chaumette Vineyards & Winery has all of those.  Check out this great video produced by VisitMo.com that really gives you the relaxing feeling of Chaumette:
Read Full Article →

History of Missouri wine

On April 28, 2013 By Becca
There was a great story in Feast magazine this past week about the History of Missouri wine: “If there are people with prejudices against Missouri wine, I would encourage them to give it another try. Local products pair so perfectly with local grapes from farm to table to glass,” says [...]
Read Full Article →

Chandler Hill Vineyards Spring photos

On April 22, 2013 By Becca
Last weekend we had the chance to visit Chandler Hill Vineyards in Defiance, Missouri. This is one of the newer wineries near St. Louis and is technically the closest. It’s a short drive from Chesterfield and even though it’s a huge venue, it was packed when we [...]
Read Full Article →

Noboleis Vineyard Spring Photos

On April 16, 2013 By Becca
We visited Noboleis Vineyards in Augusta, Missouri this past weekend and tasted their wine. We loved the rolling hills of Augusta, Missouri that surround Noboleis. Below is a photo recap. It started with a wine tasting with Vickie, who loved to tease our friend Kevin. The four of [...]
Read Full Article →

Fling by Harkness Edwards Vineyards

On April 10, 2013 By Becca
Fling is a crisp, dry & light wine similar to a Pinot Grigio that would be perfect on your first spring picnic. I recently came across the winery Harkness Edwards Vineyards, while writing an article for Midwest Wine Press about how Women [...]
Read Full Article →

Montelle Winery receives Missouri’s best Norton wine award

On April 8, 2013 By Becca
Congratulations to Montelle Winery as they receive Missouri’s second annual C.V. Riley Award for the state’s best Norton! On April 5th, Tony and Cindy Kooyumjian, owners of Montelle Winery, accepted the award from Director Hagler and Missouri Wine and Grape Board Executive Director Jim Anderson. Montelle Winery’s Norton was selected to receive [...]
Read Full Article →

Illinois Wine tax proposed

On April 4, 2013 By Becca
I read earlier this week in the Alton Daily News, that Illinois State Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) is sponsoring a bill which would tax Illinois wine sales at two cents per gallon, with the money going to support the Illinois wine industry that has quickly grown to 100 wineries. The funds [...]
Read Full Article →

Chaumette Winery focuses on perfecting dry wines

On April 2, 2013 By Becca
On a trip last fall I had the pleasure of interviewing Hank Johnson from Chaumette Winery in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, for the below story that was featured in Midwest Wine Press. The fascinating thing about Chaumette is how their focus is primarily on dry wines (which is the opposite of many [...]
Read Full Article →

Cave Vineyard’s Cave Rock Off Dry Traminette

On March 27, 2013 By Becca
Cave Vineyard’s “Cave Rock Off Dry” is 100% Traminette & 100% delicious! Traminette grapes can either be made sweeter or semi-dry, which is the case of this one. Cave Rock Off Dry has beautiful floral notes and an ending note of orange blossom. Cave Rock Off Dry has won several awards [...]
Read Full Article →

Submit Grapes, Hops & Stops in the Wine Blog Awards!

On March 25, 2013 By Becca
We love Midwest wine and we love you, our fans. Now its time to ask you a favor. Submit Grapes, Hops and Stops as the “Best New Wine Blog” in the Wine Blog Awards! The Wine Blog Awards were started in 2007 and ever since have been extremely popular in the wine [...]
Read Full Article →

Eco-friendly 100% organic wine chiller

On March 25, 2013 By Becca
The good thing about getting 12″ of snow here in the Midwest? We know have an eco-friendly 100% organic bottle chiller.  
Read Full Article →

New moonshine distillery in Southern Illinois opens

On March 24, 2013 By Becca
A new moonshine distillery in Southern Illinois is open! The owners were looking to compliment the thriving business on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail: Moonshine has come a long way since Charlie Birger and his gang bootlegged in Southern Illinois. Grand River Spirits is bringing grain alcohol out of the shadows and backwoods and onto [...]
Read Full Article →

Midwest wine featured in new Jancis Robinson book

On March 19, 2013 By Becca
Missouri’s state grape, Norton, and one of our favorite Midwest white wines, Traminette, made NPR! I just listened to the recording of NPR’s Weekend Edition host Scott Simon interviewing Jancis Robinson, the co-author of American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States. Robinson says two of her most surprising [...]
Read Full Article →

New: Wine Book Club

On March 16, 2013 By Becca
I have a confession: I love wine. And I love books. As my Mom used to say, this girl eats books. Here is my idea (drumroll please) to start a wine book club. The only requirement is it be about wine. I want to start us out with The Dark Vineyard: [...]
Read Full Article →

James Beard dinner featuring Annie Gunn’s and gold-medal Missouri wines

On March 14, 2013 By Becca
Annie Gunn’s in Chesterfield, Missouri recently re-created the wine dinner served last October at the James Beard Foundation in New York City. Wine director Glenn Bardgett paired all gold-medal Missouri wines with chef Lou Rock III’s fabulous menu. Annie Gunn’s serves over 25 Missouri wines on their wine list. This restaurant [...]
Read Full Article →

Eckert’s Food and Wine Festival 2013

On March 8, 2013 By Becca
On March 3 & 4, 2013 Eckert’s Country Store and Restaurant in Belleville, Illinois hosted a Wine and Food Festival with cooking demos, wine tastings, and samples. The crowd enjoyed a wide variety of samples, including wines from St. James Winery, Montelle Winery, Grafton Winery and beer from Crown Valley Brewery. [...]
Read Full Article →

Bottle Shock movie

On March 7, 2013 By Becca
Last night we had date night at our house and watched the movie Bottle Shock, based on the 1976 wine competition when California wine defeated French wine in a blind taste test. Bottle Shock trailer: I couldn’t help but think how the Midwest region is similarly looked upon as having wine [...]
Read Full Article →

Greg Hall, formerly of Goose Island, switches to cider

On February 24, 2013 By Becca
Read how Greg Hall, formerly the brewmaster with Goose Island, is switching to Apple Cider: Everyone wanted the brewmaster to stay. Greg Hall was 45 and savvy enough to help Goose Island Brewery through the transition after Anheuser Busch purchased the brewery for $38.8 million in 2011. Plus, Goose Island was [...]
Read Full Article →

Top phone apps for Midwest Wine

On February 20, 2013 By Becca
Recently I read an article about wine apps and that got me thinking – are there wine apps for the Midwest? Or do the big brand wine apps even mention Midwest wines like Norton and Chardonel? First off, let me preface this by saying I have an Android phone, so as [...]
Read Full Article →

Indiana Uplands designated as new AVA

On February 17, 2013 By Becca
The state of Indiana has recently been approved by the TTB as a new American Viticultural Area (AVA). They join 206 other viticultural areas across the United States. An AVA specifies a geographical location from which at least 85% of the grapes used to make a wine must have been grown. From [...]
Read Full Article →

Stone Hill Winery’s 2009 Norton

On February 7, 2013 By Becca
This 2009 Estate Bottled Norton is definitely our favorite of the 4 Norton’s we tasted for January’s Norton month. We aren’t alone in our preference, as this Norton won the Gold Medal C.V. Riley Award-Best Norton 2011 Missouri Wine Competition and a Gold medal at the 2012 Mid-American Wine Competition, Iowa. About: [...]
Read Full Article →

Women Prefer wine with a story to tell

On February 6, 2013 By Becca
From Midwest Wine Press: More Midwest wineries are realizing that women like to be marketed to differently. According to The Beverage Information Group, women accounted for 58.1 percent of wine buyers in 2011. While many men look to ratings to give them advice, women are much more influenced by the stories [...]
Read Full Article →

Augusta Winery’s 2010 Estate Bottled Norton

On January 25, 2013 By Becca
As we continue to celebrate Norton in the month of January, we are reviewing Augusta Winery’s 2010 Estate Bottle Norton. This Norton is a dry full-bodied wine that starts slow and ends with a giant burst of berry and spice. Delicious! About: Augusta Winery is located in Augusta, Missouri and was [...]
Read Full Article →

Adam Puchta Norton Vintner’s Reserve

On January 14, 2013 By Becca
As we continue to celebrate Norton in the month of January, we are reviewing Adam Puchta & Son Wine Company’s 2008 Norton Vintner’s Reserve. This Norton is a dry full-bodied wine that starts with a big burst of flavor and slowly fades away. About: Located 2 miles south of Hermann, Missouri, Adam [...]
Read Full Article →

St. James Winery’s Norton Reserve kicks off Norton Month

On January 9, 2013 By Becca
Did you know that January is Norton Month? Norton is Missouri’s state grape, so we are focusing on 4 of Missouri’s Nortons this month. To start, we are reviewing St. James Winery’s 2008 Norton Reserve, which is dry, full-bodied and spicy. About: St. James is Missouri’s largest winery, producing over 200,000 [...]
Read Full Article →

Stone Hill Winery’s Spumante Blush Sparkling Wine is Bold & Bubbly

On January 3, 2013 By Becca
We rang in the New Year with Stone Hill Winery’s Spumante Blush sparkling wine and were pleasantly surprised by the bold & bubbly semi-sweet flavors. We don’t typically reach for sparkling wine at the wine store, but we are glad we chose this to toast the New Year. Spumante Blush also [...]
Read Full Article →

Top local Midwest Champagne to ring in the New Year

On December 31, 2012 By Becca
If there is one time of year that people think of of Champagne, it’s toasting the New Year. As you make your Bucket List for 2013, don’t forget to put drinking local wine, beer and spirits on your list. Scoot on over to the local section of your local Missouri, Illinois, [...]
Read Full Article →

Mastermind Vodka Tour & Tasting: 100% American made

On December 22, 2012 By Becca
Last week we had a chance to visit Mastermind Vodka for a Tour and Tasting in Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Mastermind is 100% American-made, has sold over 12,000 bottles and is in over 600 bars and restaurants in the St. Louis and Chicago area. All within a year of being released in [...]
Read Full Article →

Growing the Midwest Wine Industry

On December 19, 2012 By Becca
The St. Louis Post Dispatch wrote a story called “Is Missouri Wine Industry Tapped Out?” this week. Love that they are covering Midwest wine, but I really don’t agree with the headline’s sentiment. Since 2000, Missouri wine has grown from 31 wineries to 118. [...]
Read Full Article →

Wineries, wine production see growth in Missouri and nationwide

On December 18, 2012 By Becca
The number of Missouri wineries has increased from 42 to 118 in 10 years, according to Danene Beedle of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board. The number of U.S. wineries in 2012 was about 7,000. The increase has created 14,051 full-time jobs and $42.4 million dollars in revenue. The Missouri Wine and Grape [...]
Read Full Article →

What makes a craft beer?

On December 16, 2012 By Becca
This week has been a busy news week when it comes to St. Louis craft beer. The St. Louis Post Dispatch had a great article on craft beer this past week, Craft or Crafty? Consumers deserve to know the truth. It was written [...]
Read Full Article →

Top Missouri Wines for your Thanksgiving Feast

On November 20, 2012 By Becca
Eat local. Now, drink local. While many of us are striving to eat locally grown ingredients this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to also support the local grape growers of the Midwest and drink local. Along with Thanksgiving comes colder nights, warm fires and for me dry wines. Missouri wine can often be wrongly assumed as only [...]
Read Full Article →

Boonville, Missouri’s Hotel Frederick review

On November 16, 2012 By Becca
bed and breakfast on Katy Trail
Three things that are necessary on any trip with me – good food, good wine and a good running route. This girl loves her food and wine, but also loves her running. Hotel Frederick in Boonsville, Missouri offers all three. Hotel Frederck, is a beautifully restored hotel. It was built [...]
Read Full Article →

Smith-Berry Winery’s Brother John wine is dry, red and smooth

On November 6, 2012 By Becca
This Kentucky dry red wine combines two of my favorite red grapes – Syrah and Chambourcin. Both my husband and I really loved how this dry red was smooth with a fruity ending. If a dry red could possibly taste like a type of dry jam, this is it. About: We first had [...]
Read Full Article →

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

On October 31, 2012 By Becca
It’s Halloween and time for my favorite types of beer – Pumpkin! Schlafly’s Pumpkin Ale packs in flavors of pumpkin, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Rich, with sweet malt balanced with spices. Time magazine rated it one of “8 Great Pumpkin Beers for Halloween.” A little [...]
Read Full Article →

Mount Pleasant Winery receives top ratings from Wine Enthusiast

On October 24, 2012 By Becca
While, Grapes, Hops and Stops doesn’t normally give our wine reviews numbers, I think its important to note when a Midwest Winery from Missouri even touches the radar of Wine Enthusiast, a national print and online publication for wine lovers.  It recently rated and reviewed ten Mount Pleasant Estates wines. The complete list [...]
Read Full Article →

Mount Pleasant Estates Dinner on the Deck

On October 13, 2012 By Becca
Mount Pleasant Estates, the oldest winery in the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Augusta, Missouri, was home to a recent Dinner on the Deck last Saturday, October 6. Mount Pleasant Estates is a pioneer in sustainable viticulture for the Missouri wine industry, and grows 12 grape varieties on 64 acres [...]
Read Full Article →

Best of Missouri Market 2012

On October 8, 2012 By Becca
The Best of Missouri Market was held October 5-7, 2012 at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri.  The event draws 25,000 people annually to one of the best botanical gardens in the U.S. The event featured over 120 Missouri crafters and food producers, including five  Missouri wineries who offered samples and [...]
Read Full Article →

Illinois River Winery’s Hallowine is the perfect fall wine

On September 29, 2012 By Becca
Apple mulled wine
Want a warm fall drink that is perfect around the bonfire? Illinois River Winery’s Hallowine is a spiced apple wine that is best served warm. I loved the spiciness to this wine. It reminded me of my favorite black chai tea. I first got to sample their very similar Harvet wine when I [...]
Read Full Article →

Midwest wine & food pairing ideas

On September 21, 2012 By Becca
While more and more of us are trying to eat local fresh ingredients, why not pair them up with local Midwest wine? This helps your local community and the Midwest has a huge variety of cold-climate grapes. As you think of your feasts for this fall, here are a few Missouri and Illinois [...]
Read Full Article →
  • ← Previous Entries
  • Get Our updates, Free
    Never miss a blog post again!
  • Advertisement

    Error, no group ID set! Check your syntax!
  • In-Cabinet Wine Rack
  • Advertise on Grapes, Hops and Stops
  • Wine Book Club This month's wine book club pick is:

    Click here to purchase
  • Recent Posts

    • Camping with Midwest wine
    • St. James Winery new pouch wine: Friendship School White
    • Alto Vineyards Reserve Chambourcin
  • Latest Pins on Pinterest

    • We love this quote! #StJamesWinery #Wine #MissouriWiinery #MissouriWines

    • How to Make a #DIY #Wine Cork Keychain

    • Wine and cheese pairings. Need to add in Chardonel, Norton, Chambourcin and Traminette

    • Follow Me on Pinterest
  • Categories

Grapes, Hops and Stops

Pages

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy

The Latest

  • Camping with Midwest wine
    This past weekend we had the pleasure of camping with friends at […]

More

© 2012 Grapes, Hops and Stops