Missouri's wineries make more than award winning wines; many also make award winning brandies and ports, which by the way, make great holiday gifts as well as excellent before or after meal libations.

 

PORT: Missouri's wineries make a variety of Port-style wines, wines that are typically rich, sweet and full-bodied with a high alcohol content. Port-style wine is made by fortifing wine with a distilled grape spirit which stops fermentation. The resulting wine is left with higher residual sugar as well as a higher alcohol content. The fortified wine is then stored and aged  before bottling. (Tawny Port is fortified wine made from red grapes stored in wooden barrels.)

Port is usually served after meals as a dessert wine, and like other wines, should be stored in a cool but not cold, dark location away from direct light and on its side if the bottle has a cork. Port-style wines should be served at between 60 to 68 degrees F, basically a cool room temperature, while White port (made from white grapes) and Tawny port can be served chilled.

 

BRANDY or EAU DE VIE: Eau de vie is a French expression that means "water of life" and is a clear, colorless fruit brandy produced by fermentation and double distillation. The ripe fruits, like pears or apples, are fermented, then distilled before being quickly bottled to capture and preserve their freshness and aroma.  Eau de Vie is usually served chilled as a digestif (an alcoholic drink that aids digestion.) Typically the serving size is 1-2 ounces, due to the high alcohol content of the spirit.
Eau de  Vie typically comes in a smaller, stylish bottle shape making it a unique gift.

 

November 21 & 22 - Journey down Ste. Genevieve's Route du Vin wine trail for Wine Diva Weekend. Along the trail you'll be treated to fine wine perfectly paired with a delicious "Diva Treat." Visit www.rdvwinetrail.com for ticket info.