State wine Web site offers info

Two new local wines debut

Business Today

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has unveiled a new Missouri wine Web site -- www.missouriwine.org -- that highlights the state's 36 wineries.

Winemakers have been perfecting the art of growing grapes and making quality wine in Missouri for more than a century, and the new Web site will project that image to a wider audience, said Jim Anderson, coordinator of the department's Grape and Wine Program.

The site features a brief history of Missouri's wine industry, a complete list of the state's 36 wineries and maps to their locations, and a list of regional merchants and wholesale distributors that sell Missouri wines.

Jerry Smith, winemaker at River Ridge Winery near Commerce, has announced two new wines that debuted this month -- River Ridge Winery's 1999 Joie de Riviere, a classic blend in the Heritage wine tradition, and River Ridge Zinfandel.

Joie de Riviere marks a milestone in the history of winemaking in Missouri, said Smith, who released the new wine Nov. 1. The blended, dry red wine will consist of 55 percent Merlot, 37 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8 percent Cabernet Franc grapes.

"It was aged one year in new French oak barrels and subsequently bottle-aged one year prior to release," said Smith.

The release of Joie de Riviere and the Zinfandel is a combined effort with grape growers Dr. Mark and Lois Kasten at SweetBrier Vineyard near Dutchtown. The Kastens specialize in growing vinifera grapes, which River Ridge has an exclusive contract.

The new Zinfandel, also a dry red wine, was also released Nov. 1. Smith said this is the first Zinfandel to be grown, produced and bottled in Missouri.