CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY AT BUSINESS IN COMMERCE

COMMERCE, Mo. -- Christmas will come early at the Yule Log Cabin, at River Ridge Christmas Tree Farm this year.

The season opens Saturday at the farm.

This marks the 11th season for the log cabin, which offers a remote rustic setting for a Christmas shop, which offers Christmas trees and gifts.

The trees are grown in the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia and sold at the cabin, located near Commerce.

The business is own by Jerry and Smith and Joanne Smith, also owners of the River Ridge Winery.

The winery has announced the release of the only 1999 Chardonnay wine produced in the state.

The Chardonnay grapes were picked at Sweetbrier Vineyard, owned and tended by Dr. Mark and Louis Kasten. The wine was fermented, and aged in new French Oak barrels at the River Ridge Winery.

Most of the grapes (85 percent) used in production of River Ridge wines area grown at the River Ridge Winery. Sweetbrier Vineyard, Cloister Vineyard, grown by Dr. Gordon and Marge Nunnery near Dutchtown, Mo., and the Hahn Family Vineyard grow the other 15 percent of grapes for River Ridge Winery.