Bud Break Update

While I was out in California judging at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition we had bud break here in the vineyard. It was probably around April 24rd or 24th, which is a little late. We have had a very wet and cold spring, which is fine with us considering the warm March we had last year, and then the sad Easter freeze.

We did have a light frost on April 29th this year, and some of our newly planted Catawba grapes got hit, but you can see from the picture on the left, they they are rebounding. You can see the brown, wilted growth that was frost bitten, and then you can see the new pink and green growth, including a new pink bud right where the frost hit. Pretty interesting. Grapes want to grow, they want to survive, and if they can find a way, they will, as this picture clearly indicates.

This is a picture of a tiny Vignoles cluster already formed. You can see this cluster has a shoulder, which is the smaller part of the cluster on the left. You have probably seen shoulders on grapes you buy in the grocery store also. If not, look for it next time.

This is a picture of the Seyval blanc grapes growing over the hill. All the new growth looks so crisp and green. Soon the canes will hang down over the top wire and leaves and tendrils and grapes will be everywhere.

Progressive Dinner

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present

“Progressive Dinner” Weekend on Ste. Genevieve’s Wine Trail
Saturday June 14th & Sunday June 15th, 2008
11am - 5pm

Journey down Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail and treat yourself to fine wine
perfectly paired with a delicious “Progressive Dinner” course at each of our
distinctive wineries within our scenic region!

If your passport is stamped at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for special giveaways!

A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills,
big skies and beautiful views of 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:

Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Twin Oaks Winery Charleville Winery

Cost: $20/person until June 7th; $25/person after June 7th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)

Please call for advance reservations Sainte Genevieve winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery
Appetizer Course: Mini Quiches paired with their Estate Seyval Blanc

Cave Winery
Salad Course: Poppyseed Salad: Spring Greens, Strawberries, Walnuts &
Feta, paired with their Chardonel Off Dry

Chaumette Winery
Entree Course: Slow-Braised Beef Roast with Wild Mushrooms and
Broccoli Gnocchi, paired with their 2005 Anrie

Twin Oaks Winery
Cheese Course: A Selection of Fine Artisan Cheeses: American Cheddar, Italian
Provolone, Gouda, & Italian Fontina Cheeses, Seasonal Fruit, Toasted Nuts & Bread,
with their Chambourcin Dry Re d or their Traminette Dry White

Charleville Winery
Dessert Course: Rootbeer Floats made with Charleville Homemade Rootbeer,
paired with their Chardonel Off-Dry

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
November 22nd & 23rd, 2008: Wine Diva Weekend
February 14th & 15th 2008: Romancing The Grape Weekend

For more info, hours and directions, visit:
www.cavevineyard.com, www.chaumette.com,
www.twinoakswinery.com, www.saintegenevievewinery.com
www.charlevillevineyard.com

More Medals

I am happy to tell you the Blackberry and Cherry won Silvers at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition and the Cranberry and Cherry won silvers at the Tasters Guild International Wine Competition.

Finger Lakes Wine Competition

GOLD MEDAL WINNER NOTIFICATION

It gives me a great deal of pleasure to inform you that our competition held in Rochester, NY on March 29th & 30th has awarded you GOLD MEDALS for the following wines:

Sainte Genevieve Winery American Blackberry


This is the type of email a girl like me likes to see.

Driving Posts

All this rain has got to be good for something. According to the St. Louis news, we had a record amount of rain in March. Right here on our property we had over 10 inches of rain in March. The ground is so saturated that it is easy to get posts into the ground. This is a new vineyard that we planted last year. We planted a few Gewurztraminer and Cabernet Franc on this site to see if we could grow a few vinifera besides Muscat Canelli. We covered them with straw over the winter; that's what you see all over the ground. Now we are putting in the trellis to get them to grow up and onto the wires we will hang later this spring. We cut all our own cedar posts in the winter and drug them out of the woods.

Carboy of Riesling

I teach a Fundamentals of Enology class through Mineral Area Junior College. It meets on Monday nights, and most of the classes are held out here on the farm. We make a little bit of
"kit" wine since there isn't a whole lot fermenting in the spring. This is a picture of the Riesling wine that we racked Monday night into this 6 gallon carboy. It still has a little bit of foam at the top; the fermentation is all but finished. Then it will become clear, and we will bottle in a couple weeks. It's a learning experience for all, because I haven't really made too many kit wines myself either.

Route du Vin in Full Swing!

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present
“Jour de la Terre” Weekend on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin
April 19th & 20th, 2008
11am - 5pm
Celebrate Earth Day this Spring on Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail!

Each winery offers seasonal cuisine prepared with fresh Spring herbs paired with their wines.
Take home a complimentary herb seedling from each winery to start your own herb garden!
Visit 5 wineries on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin, as each winery will offer complimentary wine samples
and special food pairings made with Spring herbs for each ticket holder. If your passport is stamped
at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for “Jour de la Terre” giveaways!
A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills,
big skies and beautiful views of 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:
Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Twin Oaks Winery Charleville Winery

Cost: $20/person until April 4th; $25/person after April 4th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)
Please call for advance reservations Sainte Genevieve winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery (Chives)
Serving Spring Green Salad with Fresh Chives, paired with their Vignoles
Charleville Winery (Cilantro)
Serving Fresh Spicy Cilantro Gazpacho, paired with their Genevieve Rivard
Chaumette Winery (Dill)
Serving Dill-Seeded Spiced Pork Loin with Whipped Dill Brie on Toast Points, paired with their Estate Chardonel
Twin Oaks Winery (Oregano)
Serving Crusty Buttered Garlic Bread Bruschetta with Tomato, Pepper & Oregano, paired with their Traminette Dry
Cave Winery (Basil)
Caprese Salad Skewers with Sweet Italian Basil & Fresh Mozzarella, paired with their Chardonel Off-Dry

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
June 2008: Progressive Wine Dinner
November 2008: Wine Diva Weekend
February 2009: Jour d’Amour Weekend