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Oliver Winery’s Beanblossom Strawberry Hard Cider

On September 6, 2012 By Becca
Midwest hard cider with strawberry flavor
If you’ve never had a hard cider, they are made up of 100% apples and are becoming the rage across the Midwest. Oliver Winery’s Beanblossom Strawberry Hard Cider is a great alternative to wine or beer and is sold in many local Missouri & Illinois wine shops. About: Oliver Winery is located in [...]
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American Patriot Beer vs. Budweiser

On August 31, 2012 By Becca
“Taking back American . . . One beer at a time” is the slogan for American Patriot Beer, the first beer produced by the St. Louis based All-American Beer Company. A month ago, they released 25,000 cases of their American Patriot lager beer and light beer. The beer has flown off the shelves [...]
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Indiana’s Winzerwald Winery’s Mai Wein is semi-sweet

On August 10, 2012 By Becca
Winzerwald Winery’s Mai Wein (May Wine) is a traditional German semi-sweet wine with a delicious smokey ending with a hint of strawberry. This wine is named after the German tradition of creating a special white wine flavored with Sweet Woodruff on the first of May to welcome the spring season. Last week my [...]
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Montelle and Augusta wine & appetizer pairing at Eckert’s

On July 24, 2012 By Becca
Belleville, IL store holding Missouri wine tasting and appetizer pairing
Eckert’s Country Store in Belleville, Illinois held a wine and appetizer pairing earlier this month with Missouri based Montelle and Augusta Wineries. If you live in the St. Louis area you know Eckert’s is the place to go to pick-your-own peaches, strawberries, apples [...]
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Make a Midwest Beer and a Wine Lover Happy? Check out Charleville

On July 18, 2012 By Maria
It’s a familiar debate, at least for me.  You finally agree on a date (no easy task) but then where to go?  Winery or Brewery?  Charleville Vineyard and Microbrewery may be the perfect compromise.  It’s located in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri along the Route du Vin Wine Trail, only an hour and a half from downtown St. Louis. [...]
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Perennial Artisan Ales, Peace Offering . . . It’s not your Dad’s beer

On July 12, 2012 By Melissa
St. Louis craft beer Peace Offering
I had the chance to drink the beer “Peace Offering” by Perennial Artisan Ales this past week and loved the smell of maple syrup and squash, plus its woodsy finish. St. Louis acquired another gem in its craft brewing crown when Perennial Artisan Ales opened its doors in October 2011.  Located in St. [...]
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Looking for a local Midwest dry white wine? Try Illinois Cellars Chardonel

On July 9, 2012 By Becca
Unoaked Chardonnel, similar to Chardonnay
The Illinois Cellars Unoaked Chardonel is very similar in taste and look to America’s favorite white wine, Chardonnay. In fact, they are related. Chardonel is a hybrid grape that is a cross between French American Seyval and the European based Chardonnay. About: Mary Michelle, who grows and produces Illinois Cellars wine, is located [...]
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St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival Review

On July 3, 2012 By Maria
St. Louis Heritage Beer Festival
Read about our favorite beers at the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Beer Festival and learn more about why the St. Louis beer scene is hopping! We chose to do the Friday night session of the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival, after learning from our trip to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver that the [...]
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Blind Tasting: Missouri and Kansas wines vs. California, France & Washington wines

On June 26, 2012 By Becca
Blind tasting of Midwestern wine vs. National and International wine
In the below video, Colleen Gerke, owner of Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery, and Danny Wood, author of the Regional Wine Taster blog discuss on Kansas City’s The Local Show why many local Kansas City restaurants support locally grown food, but not local wine. Plus, the second half [...]
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Oliver Winery’s Soft White wine is smooth & light

On June 15, 2012 By Becca
Review of Oliver Winery's Soft White Wine
Vintage: 2009 Wine Varietal: Niagara grape Producer: Oliver Winery Price: $7.50 Produced and Bottled: Bloomington, Indiana Alcohol: 11% Unique bottle features: screw cap Website: Oliver Winery Glass used: Vinum XL Riedel Montrachet glass Oliver Winery is located in Bloomington, Indiana and is one of the largest wineries in the [...]
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How to Survive, no Conquer, a Beer Festival

On June 8, 2012 By Christina
New Albania Brewing Co, clever use of an old TV at St. Louis Microfest
Beer tents, food trucks, portable toilets, music, and of course throngs of beer lovers. This was the scene on a very warm Cinco de Mayo in St. Louis Forest Park. This year’s St. Louis Microfest was the largest in its 17 year history, with 110 breweries. 38 International, 24 from Missouri and the [...]
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Augusta Winery 2009 Chambourcin

On June 6, 2012 By Becca
Augusta Winery 2009 Chambourcin review
Our goal with wine reviews: To introduce you to local wines in the Midwest. We are strong believers in eating local and want to encourage everyone to also drink local. We are not wine experts, but rather women in our mid thirties who enjoy wine and want to translate our passion for Midwest Wine to [...]
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Silent Forest Cabins at Hidden Lake Winery

On June 3, 2012 By Becca
Cabin at Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston, IL
At a Silent Auction/Trivia night, My husband and I won a one night stay to the Silent Forest Cabins at Hidden Lake Winery.  We had been to the winery several years ago, but I was again surprised how close it was  – 30 minutes from our house in Fairview Heights, IL [...]
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The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine

On May 31, 2012 By Becca
As often happens with books and myself, I hear about a book from multiple sources simultaneously. The book The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine, was no different. Mark from Midwest Wine Press sang its praises, and I [...]
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