Seven Springs Winery: July 2014

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Testimonials on a GREAT Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks!

From a simple place to relax and enjoy the view to the wedding hall of your dreams, Seven Springs Winery has it all! Our winery at the Lake of the Ozarks serves wine and a light menu, while doubling as a wonderful event venue, perfect for weddings at the Lake of the Ozarks, receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, parties and more! But don't just take our word for it, check out these client testimonials:

People are Raving about Seven Springs Winery

We had to change the location of our wedding a week before it was supposed to happen. Seven Springs Winery had a cancelled wedding for that night so we were so lucky that they were available. Mike, the owner, was so accommodating and worked with us so well that everything turned out perfect! The food was amazing, and the staff was just so nice and they made everything go so smoothly. They even let us light our sky lanterns that we had planned on doing. I would definitely recommend this place for weddings or any event. Their wines are tasty and the staff is so friendly. It really feels like home here. We now have such a unique place to celebrate our anniversary.

~ Jenny R. Kansas City, MO

We visited Seven Springs Winery in May 2011. We had lunch on the patio and listened to music by Sax on the Beach. We bought some wine but saved the Sparkling Muscato for a special occasion. We opened it recently and everyone loved it! We will definitely be visiting your winery again this May to purchase more. The winery and grounds are very nice and we really enjoyed our visit. We have told many of our friends about it. Thanks for a great afternoon and nice memories.

~ Mike and Marla Rumler, Ipava, IL

We just want to say a BIG thank you for helping us have the PERFECT wedding! The grounds were beautiful and the service fantastic. You helped us plan everything- and as the bride, I was totally relaxed- what a great feeling on your wedding day!! Mike did a wonderful job giving us the exact ceremony we dreamed of! Patty, There are no words to describe how thankful we are for ALL of your help. From pinning on flowers to the beautiful decorations and shuffling everybody to where they need to go..you did a fantastic job! The reception was perfect as well! We had MANY guests say it was the most beautiful and best wedding they had ever been to! I think that may have been due to the great appitizers and atmosphere!! Oh, and last but not least, the fireworks at the end of the night were FABULOUS! One of the best shows we had ever seen! Thank you so much for everything! We will be visiting many times in the coming years to enjoy and remember!

~ Misty & Brandon Adams

Hi Mike!
I just wanted to thank you for showing my friends and I such an amazing time on Saturday. This winery is amazing! I have been to Napa Valley to many wineries and this one tops them all!!! We visited the winery on a Bachelorette Party. There were 9 girls total. The shuttle service picked us up at the condo we had rented and dropped us off when we were done...we did not have to worry about driving at all! I would highly recommend this winery to all of my friends...in fact, my own Bachelorette Party is coming up and I've decided I want to have mine there as well! I also can't forget to mention the wine...it is delicious and priced very reasonably...I wish I could have bought a bottle of each one! Thank you for accommodating us and showing us such a wonderful time! See ya on August 23rd:)!!

~ Melissa Schulte, Hartford Life

Mike, Nancy and the Seven Springs Winery staff,
There are no words to express how thankful we are to all of you for your help in making our wedding day absolutely perfect! We have had so many compliments on the service, venue and especially the sangria! Mike, the first time I was at your winery I thought it would be the most incredible place for a wedding, never imagining I would get married there. You were our savior when the DJ's soundboard blew up. We still cannot thank you enough for saving our party! Staff, the service and food was wonderful! The bar staff we had was so great. Some friends said they had a drink waiting for them when they walked up to the bar. Thank you for your amazing service and kind words. Nancy, from the day we decided on Seven Springs Winery, you were by my side answering all of my endless questions. You are the easiest and friendliest person to work with, which contributed to making our wedding so incredible. Without you, this wedding would not have been near as much fun or beautiful.

~ Trevor and Kim Ewert, Married June 2011

Seven Springs Winery and Vineyards sits atop 160 acres of rolling Missouri foothills between Camdenton and Osage Beach. The winery is less than a 10 minute drive from either location. The covered porch and patio area are ideal for enjoying a glass of wine and admiring the beautiful views. If you're planning a wedding or any other special occasion soon, be sure to keep our Lake of the Ozarks winery in mind. As you can see, we are one of the best event venues at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Come for the wine...Stay for the atmosphere...Remember the view!

Seven Springs is the finest Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks with a full service facility perfect for outdoor weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and parties. Call us today to make reservations for your special event!

Seven Springs Winery
573.317.0100
846 Winery Hills Estates
Linn Creek, MO 65052

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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Cooking with Wine - Our Favorite Recipes

Wine isn't just for drinking, use it while you're cooking too! By this we don't mean drink it while you're cooking (well, you can if you want to), we mean use wine as an ingredient in your recipes. Different types of wine can add great flavor to some of your favorite dishes. Or try a whole new recipe using your favorite wine from our winery at the Lake of the Ozarks! Here are a few of our favorite recipes for you to try using Seven Springs Winery wines.

Recipe & Photo From: JasonandShawnda.com

Appetizer: Cranberry Red Wine Meatballs

Ingredients:

2 cups whole berry cranberry sauce
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup of Seven Springs' Seven's Red Heaven wine
2 tsp hot Chinese mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire
1 batch of meatballs, cooked

Directions:
1. Add cranberry sauce, brown sugar, red wine, mustard, and Worcestershire to a sauce pan. Heat and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 2. Add the meatballs to the pan, stirring to coat and heat thoroughly. 3. Serve warm. (Alternately, you can pour the sauce over the meatballs in a crockpot set to warm for serving.)

Photo From: FoodandWine.com

Entree: Syrah-Braised Short Ribs

Ingredients:

8 flanken-style beef short ribs, cut 1 inch thick (5 pounds)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 tablespoon each of chopped parsley, oregano and rosemary
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound sliced bacon, chopped
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups Seven Springs' Syrah wine
1 cup beef broth

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°. Season the ribs with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the herbs.

2. In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil. Add the bacon and cook over moderate heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a medium nonreactive roasting pan. Working in two batches, add the ribs to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat, turning a few times, until richly browned, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer the ribs to the roasting pan.

3. Add the onion, carrot and celery to the skillet and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and beef broth and boil, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Pour the liquid and vegetables over the ribs. Cover and braise in the oven for about 4 hours, turning the ribs once, until the meat is very tender.

4. Transfer the ribs to a deep platter. Strain the braising liquid into a medium saucepan. Skim off the fat and boil the sauce over high heat until reduced to 2 cups, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, pour the sauce over the ribs and serve.

Recipe & Photo From: MyRecipes.com

Side Dish: Fusilli with Carmelized Spring Onions and White Wine

Ingredients:

1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
2 cups thinly sliced spring onions (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup Seven Springs' Traminette wine
1/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
8 ounces uncooked fusilli (short twisted spaghetti)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Combine panko, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon garlic, and a dash of salt in a small bowl. Spread panko mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 6 minutes or until golden brown, stirring after 3 minutes. Cool.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to pan, swirling to coat. Add onions to pan; cook 20 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add remaining 1 teaspoon garlic and wine. Increase heat to medium-high; cook 1 minute. Add broth; cook until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup (about 4 minutes).

4. Cook pasta in boiling water with 1 tablespoon kosher salt according to package directions, omitting additional fat. Drain. Add pasta, remaining salt, and pepper to onion mixture; toss gently. Place about 1 cup pasta in each of 4 shallow bowls; sprinkle each serving with 2 tablespoons panko mixture.

Dessert: Vignoles Cake

Recipe & Photo From: MtNittanyWinery.com

Ingredients:

1 white, yellow or coconut cake mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 1/3 cup Seven Springs' Vignoles wine

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease round (or bundt) cake very well and lightly flour. Blend cake mix, oil, eggs and wine in a large mixing bowl until moistened (about 30 seconds). Beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake immediately. Bake for approximately 40 minutes, testing for doneness with a toothpick. Let pan cool on rack for 15 minutes, loosen around edges with knife or spatula, and knock pan on bottom and sides to loosen. Remove cake from pan and let cool completely before dusting with powdered sugar.

For more great cooking with wine recipes, check out our Pinterest Board: http://www.pinterest.com/7springswinery/cooking-with-wine/

Stop by Seven Springs Winery today to pick up your wine and get to cooking! Our Lake of the Ozarks Winery and Vineyards sits atop 160 acres of rolling Missouri foothills between Camdenton and Osage Beach. The winery is less than a 10 minute drive from either location.

Come for the wine...Stay for the atmosphere...Remember the view!

Seven Springs is the finest Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks with a full service facility perfect for outdoor weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and parties. Call us today to make reservations for your special event!

Friday, July 18, 2014

Grapes 101: Growing Grapes for Wine

There's a lot more to Missouri wine making than just picking up some grapes, squishing them and letting the juice sit for awhile. You need to pick a grape variety that is good for wine making, plant those grapes, tend to the grapevines and harvest them to eventually begin actually making your wine at Lake of the Ozarks. MotherEarthNews.com has some great information and tips on growing grapes for wine!

Selecting Grape Varieties

Wine quality is dictated mainly by the grapevines, not by the person actually making the wine. The better the grapes you have, the better your wine will be. The grape varieties you choose to plant should depend on the type of wine you want to end up with, as well as the climate and location in which you will be growing them. Red wine is much easier to make than white wine, but the choice boils down to whichever you prefer. For white wine, Seyval Blanc is among the best. For red, Chancellor and Chambourcin are excellent choices. The best grapes come from the classic European wine grape, Vitis vinifera which can only grow in regions with warm, dry summers. This is why California is such a paradise for wine making. Although the Southeast is warm enough to grow these grapes, the dampness can cause mildew, rot and Pierce's disease.

How to Grow Grapes

If your grapevine roots stand in water they will die or at the very least won't produce good grapes, so be sure to choose a sloped site for your vineyard. Site your vines on a southeast or southwest facing slope so their leaves can soak up the sun. Sunlight powers the photosynthesis, driving the process that fills the grapes with sugars, which after fermentation become alcohol. Since the grape skin contains all the flavor and color, you actually want tiny grapes with almost all skin and no juice. This translates into concentrated, rich color and flavor in the juice, and ultimately in the wine. Planting grapes in nutrient-poor and even try soil, will stress the vines, keeping the vine vigor down and producing small grape berries, which is exactly what you want!

Planting Grapevines

You want to plant your vineyard toward the top of a slope and run the rows north and south so that the grapes get even sun as the light shifts from the east to west during the day. Vines are best spaced 6 feet apart in rows 8 feet wide. You should plan on roughly a gallon of wine per vine that you plant, so be sure to plant extra to account for a small crop or the loss of grapes due to birds, insects, hail or rot. For a detailed example of a possible vineyard layout, visit: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/growing-grapes-and-making-homemade-wine-zmaz03amzgoe.aspx?PageId=2#axzz37qFAA1BI

Tending to Grapevines

You will have the most work in the first year. You will need to select the strongest shoot and tie it straight up, attaching it to each wire it reaches with a loose piece of string. Don't use wire to tie it because it can damage the tender shoot. You'll then remove shoots that arise from the roots or the vine, leaving only those that arise from your selected strong shoot. In the dormant season, prune the strong selected shoot back to the middle wire, keeping it tied there and prune off any side shoots that arose the previous summer. When the vine's buds begin to grow in the spring, select one on each side of the strong upright shoot and loosely tie them horizontally to the lowest wire as they grow. These will become your vine's arms, from which all the fruiting canes will grow in future years.

Harvesting Grapes

While tasting the grapes may seem like a great way to tell if they're ready for harvesting, you may want to invest in a hydrometer, which measures the specific gravity of liquids. This will tell you the sugar content of the berries; a specific gravity between 1.095 and 1.105 is ideal. By sampling the grapes after measuring, you will know what the grapes taste like at their optimum harvest state. You also want to examine the seeds. You are looking for dark seeds, but if they are green, you'll want to let them hang. However, don't let them hang any longer if the specific gravity reaches 1.105 because your wine will then be overly alcoholic and unbalanced.

Source: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/growing-grapes-and-making-homemade-wine-zmaz03amzgoe.aspx?PageId=1#axzz37qFAA1BI

If you would rather leave the grape growing to the professionals, come by Seven Springs Winery where you can relax with one of our delicious glasses of wine. Choose your preference of white or red, dry or sweet, at our Lake of the Ozarks winery! Our vineyards at the Lake of the Ozarks sit atop 160 acres of rolling Missouri foothills between Camdenton and Osage Beach. The covered porch and patio area are ideal for enjoying a glass of Missouri wine and admiring the beautiful views.

Come for the wine...Stay for the atmosphere...Remember the view!

Seven Springs is the finest Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks with a full service facility perfect for outdoor weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and parties. Call us today to make reservations for your special event!

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Featured Wine: Dry Rougeon

Seven Springs Winery has a wide variety of wines to fit everyone's differing palettes. The next Lake of the Ozarks wine in our Featured Wine series is the Dry Rougeon. Be sure to check out this delicious red wine next time you visit our Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks!

The Rougeon Grape

Rougeon is a dark-skinned French-American hybrid grape, known for its ability to make simple, tasty wine. The vine produces medium-sized compact clusters of fruit with a brilliant red hue, making it an ideal blending ingredient. Although the grape vines are hardy, production can be erratic causing as little as twice a year or once every two years.

Like all grapes, Rougeon is susceptible to disease, particularly downy mildew and powdery mildew. These diseases have the potential to reduce vine growth, yield, quality and winter hardiness. Black rot and botrytis, as well as sensitivity to sulfur can also be seen with the Rougeon grapes.

Rougeon Wine

Since this grape is great for blending, it is often used to make port wines. Rougeon grapes are often blended with grapes such as Chambourcin and Baco Noir. However, many enjoy it all by itself! Varietal Rougeon wines are typically dry, like the version available at our Winery Lake of the Ozarks, but some sweet versions do exist. Our light bodied Dry Rougeon contains no tannins and has a berry finish.

Food Pairings

With its dry taste, the Rougeon pairs best with the following foods:

Aged Cheese
Red Meat
Pasta Dishes

Next time you're in the area, be sure to stop by Seven Springs Winery for one of our daily wine tastings! Try to Dry Rougeon you just learned about or if sweet wine is more your style, try one of our many other options for wine at the Lake of the Ozarks. As you are sipping your wine, admire the breathtaking views of the rolling Missouri foothills that our Lake of the Ozarks Winery has to offer!

Source: http://www.marylandwine.com/grape-profile/28/Rougeon

Come for the wine...Stay for the atmosphere...Remember the view!

Seven Springs is the finest Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks with a full service facility perfect for outdoor weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, corporate events and parties. Call us today to make reservations for your special event!

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Fireworks at Seven Springs Winery!

If you can't make it to the Lake of the Ozarks for 4th of July weekend, no worries! We have a BIG Fireworks display scheduled at our Lake of the Ozarks winery for July 12! Let the celebration continue all throughout the month of July! Come enjoy a glass of wine, live music and a spectacular show at Seven Springs Winery!

It's Time for Fireworks!

Live Entertainment by Sax on the Beach from 2 PM to 8 PM
Tickets: $10 per person for reserved patio seating
Seating starts at 7 PM and is limited.
Seating on the lawn will be free!
Call 573-317-0100 to reserve your spot today!

Seven Springs Winery and Vineyards sits atop 160 acres of rolling Missouri foothills between Camdenton and Osage Beach. Our winery at Lake of the Ozarks is less than a 10 minute drive from either location. The covered porch and patio area are ideal for enjoying a glass of wine and admiring the beautiful views. Our Lake of the Ozarks winery serves Missouri wines, sangrias, and a few micro-brews for those with an alternative pallet. We offer wine tastings and a light menu consisting of soups, sandwiches, cheese trays, and bread with various dipping oils. Stop by and see us today!