One in particular, the St. Ambrose Cellars 2011 Cabernet Franc, is a delicious, varietal-correct wine, made from grapes grown in the Lake Michigan Shore Appellation.

Earthy and rich, the medium-bodied palate offers plenty to like for the franc lover. On first swirl, spicy aromas of dark plum, cedar and oak. Later in the evening, the wine showed more fruit, considerably less oak and a hint of old leather. On the palate, layers of dark fruit, especially black cherry and blackberry.

I enjoyed this on its own, but believe it’s an even better wine with food. At $24 retail, I recommend you pick up a few bottles before it’s gone.

An advocate of drink local and 100% Georgia Grown, Three Sisters only produces wine from their twenty-plus acre mountainside vineyard. Their plantings include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Touriga, and three distinctive clones of Chardonnay-as well as the French-American hybrid, Vidal Blanc and the East Coast’s popular Native American varietal Cynthiana-Norton.

The Three Sisters Vineyards 2008 Cynthiana is a lovely deep, rich color in glass, with a nose of blueberry and black fruit. On the palate, medium-bodied with plum, black cherry and a touch of oak. The wine screams for food (perhaps a hearty beef stew or grilled venison?). A part of me thinks this wine could go another two to three years, but drinking so well now, why wait any longer. Well done.

The back label of the Millbrook Cabernet Franc is one of the most thorough I’ve seen. I like to compare it the 5 W’s – Who, What, Where, When, and Why. Wine is so such much more than just a drink to me. It’s an opportunity to learn, to understand the story behind the wine or the vintage. It’s an opportunity to connect. And in this social world we live in today, why not take advantage. Cheers!

A recent pour, the Cody Kresta Vineyard & Winery 2012 Vignoles is proving the versatile variety has a home in Michigan.

Clean, floral notes and especially grapefruit greet the nose. Secondary aromas of melon, peach and mango also make an appearance. Complex flavors of nectarine, jasmine, and a crisp minerality that I had not previously experienced in this variety. Medium-bodied, off-dry and plenty of acidity.

A very good wine from a winery with a bright future.

In its simplest form, mead is a fermentation of honey and water. An incredibly diverse beverage with a history dating back at least 9,000 years, meads can vary wildly in style and flavor.

The “star” of the show is the Star Thistle Ambrosia, a dry mead produced in the traditional style. Rich honey aromas and elegant floral notes greet the nose. Ripe tropical fruit and smooth honey play together, complementing each other in total harmony. A light-bodied mead that is surprisingly food friendly, or delicious on its own.

The Dancing Bare Ambrosia is a blend of 34% grapes and 66% honey. The pyment (a wine made with grapes and honey) is a semi-sweet, crisp autumnal delight, fermented with Star Thistle Honey.

The team at St. Ambrose Cellars has created a lineup of meads that are unmatched in quality and taste. A job well done!

Among the many stops along the way, be sure to salute the Sunshine State and all that makes it great as you choose from a selection of local foods and beverages. After its successful debut last year, the Florida Local kiosk returns. Also making a return appearance is Florida Orange Groves Winery, the third generation family owned and operated tropical fruit winery in St. Petersburg, Florida.

I opted for the Florida grass-fed beef slider with white cheddar and sweet & hot pickles paired with the Florida Orange Groves Hurricane Class 5 White Sangria. The wineries best seller, the Sangria is a blend of 5 of the other wineries fruit wines. A delicious and refreshing wine that paired perfectly with the slider. Also, be sure to try the Florida shrimp ceviche and excellent offerings from Orlando Brewing and Cigar City Brewing. Cheers!

Renowned for their Riesling, the Finger Lakes growing land lies within a distinct geographic region just south of Lake Ontario in central New York. The deep Finger Lakes run north-south, providing prime grape-growing sites on their eastern and western slopes. Lying at various elevations and distances from the water, the vineyard landscape provides for distinct sites and terroirs, all of which contribute to the range and complexity of their wines.

We started the evening with the Knapp Winery 2012 Dry Riesling. Crisp and lively, the dry wine paired nicely with our starter, pan-seared scallops. Located close to Seneca Falls, Knapp Winery & Vineyard has grown Riesling since its first vintage in 1983.

The second wine poured was the Lakewood Vineyards 2012 Dry Riesling. The family owned and operated Lakewood Vineyards was established in 1988. The 80 acres of vineyards includes some vines dating back to 1952, and currently consists of 14 varieties. Paired with pork, the nose featured floral and lemony citrus. On the palate, crisp minerality and acidity. At $13 retail, a solid value.

Last, but certainly not least, was the Lucas Vineyards 2012 Semi-Dry Riesling. A personal favorite of mine, no matter the vintage. Ripe peach and nectarine on the fruit-forward nose. Pear, apple and a twist of lime on the palate. Delicious and refreshing. A nicely balanced wine that proved popular amongst the group.

In summary, Riesling Hour offers participants an opportunity to get an up close view of the current vintage, in addition to insight from the winemakers and winery themselves. And of course, let’s not forget the Finger Lakes, North America’s premier cool-climate wine growing region.

Today, Les Bourgeois is the third largest winery in Missouri making nearly 135,000 gallons per year. The vineyards at Les Bourgeois produce native varieties such as Norton and Catawba, along with various French hybrid grapes including Chardonel.

Designated as the official state grape in 2003, Norton is the cornerstone of the Missouri wine industry. So it’s only fitting that the first Missouri wine featured on the site is the Les Bourgeois Vineyards 2010 Norton.

Oak aged for 18 months, the 100% Norton retails for $25. A deep, dark purple in glass, the smoky bouquet shows plum, violet and plenty of warm spices. On the palate, the full-bodied wine displayed similar characteristics as the nose with the added touch of sage and black cherry. Robust and delicious, the wine is a great example of the state’s signature variety. A poultry dish or a savory stew would have made this wine perfect.

Missouri can also lay claim to the first AVA in the United States, the Augusta AVA, accorded on June 20, 1980. Seven California districts and one in Oregon had filed applications with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; however, the honor went to the 15 square mile area surrounding Augusta. The bureau cited the unique soil, climate and wines, as well as Augusta’s long history as one of America’s oldest and foremost grape and wine districts. In the mid‐1800’s German immigrants found the Missouri River area just west of St. Louis to be well suited for growing grapes. Napa Valley was the second AVA named after Augusta on February 27, 1981.

The Missouri wine industry now boasts more than 100 wineries, 4 AVAs and 1,600 acres planted in grapes. The state’s signature variety, Norton/Cynthiana, was announced as the state’s official grape in 2003. Other varieties grown include native American grapes, Concord and Catawba, as well as French-American hybrids such as Vignoles, Seyval, and Chambourcin.

Stay tuned as I feature one of the premier wineries in the state, Les Bourgeois Vineyards and Winery. And next time you’re in the area, be sure to enjoy a glass of Norton and toast the state that helped put the American wine industry on the map.

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“Missouri Wine History.” Missouri Wines. Missouri Wine and Grape Board. Retrieved August 10 2013, from http://www.missouriwine.org.

Made from a cellar blend of estate grown fruit (predominantly Chambourcin), the Alba Vineyards Old Mill Red retails for a very reasonable $9.99. Aged in French oak, the wine offers up a generous bouquet of red fruit on the nose and soft hints of oak and vanilla. Medium-bodied, the palate displays dark cherry, red currant, plum and spice. A very drinkable, enjoyable glass of red wine.