Friday, October 31, 2014

Frighteningly Good Halloween Wine Ideas

Halloween isn't just for the kids!  Halloween is the 3rd largest party holiday in the US, behind New Year's Even and Super Bowl Sunday.  This spooky holiday is almost as much about stuffing your face with candy and having a drink with friends as it is dressing up in costumes and carving pumpkins. Seven Springs Winery is here to help you get a little creative with your wine this Halloween.  Stop by your favorite winery at the Lake of the Ozarks to pick up some wine and try one of these delicious drinks or pairings!

Halloween Inspired Drinks


Candy Corn Cocktail

1/2 oz. Muscato Sparkling
3/4 oz. Grenadine
1 1/2 oz. Kettle Corn infused Bombay Sapphire Gin - to make add a cup of kettle corn to a 750ml bottle and infuse in an airtight container for at least 24 hours

Blood Letter Trinidad Sour

1 oz. Syrah 
1 oz. Bourbon
1/2 oz. Maple Syrup 
12 dashes Angostura Bitters
Juice of 1/2 a Lemon
Burnt Lemon Peel for Garnish

Ghostly White Wine Spritzer

5 oz. Dry Vignoles
Tonic Water Ice Cubes

Infographic from: www.vivino.com
Vampire Blood Punch

2 cups Dry Rougeon 
4 cups Rum 
1 cup Sugar
1 Cup Lemon Juice
4 Cups Water
1 Blood Orange (sliced thinly)
1 Cinnamon Stick
4 Whole Cloves
Freshly Grated Nutmeg 
Peel of 3 Lemons

Candy and Wine Pairings


Pinot Noir
Red Licorice pairs nicely because the Pinot Noir already has some cherry undertones.

Syrah
Hershey's Dark Chocolate's bitterness makes a statement with the powerful Syrah.

Muscato Sparkling
Skittles and Starburst Candy pair well with the tropical fruit flavors found in our Muscato Sparkling.

Chardonel
Butterfinger pairs well with a buttery Chardonel.

Blushing Springs
Nerds and candy corn pair well with sweetness of this sparkling red wine.

Seven Springs Winery has you covered this Halloween and every other holiday.  From dry white wines to sweet reds, our Lake of the Ozark's winery has something for everyone to love!  Consider hosting your holiday party with us this year.  Seven Springs Winery and Vineyards is conveniently located in the Missouri foothills between Camdenton and Osage Beach making it the perfect celebration 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!

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


Thursday, October 23, 2014

7 Interesting Wine Facts You May Not Know

Although wine originated long ago, it keeps gaining popularity all around the world.  Today we have thousands of wines that can be found all over the world including right here in Missouri.  As you're drinking your favorite Lake of the Ozarks wine, do you ever think about how wine became so widely loved or how certain traditions were started?  Here are some interesting facts about wine you may not know!

1. Cheers!


The custom bumping your glasses together and saying cheers came from old Rome where they used this method to ensure one one was trying to poison the others.  Bumping the glasses together made the drink spill from one cup to another.

2. No Wine for Women


In ancient Rome, it was forbidden for the women to drink wine.  If a husband found his wife dirnking wine, the law allowed for him to kill her.

3. Not for Egypt 


Egypt was an ancient civilization that did not like wine.  The old kings avoided wine because they believed that the red alcoholic beverage was actually the blood of men who tried to fight the gods and failed. According to the Egyptians, this is what makes people act irrationally while drinking alchol.

4. Grape Juice Warning


During the prohibition period, grape juice concentrate manufacturers put a warning on their product due to the drinking lust Americans had.  The sticker read, "After you mix the concentrate with water, please do not keep the mix in a barrel for 20 days - as it will turn into wine."

5. Wine Sniffing Champion


In 2003, Richard Juhlin, a sport ed from Sweden, was crowned as the world champion of recognizing wine by smell.  He was able to recognize 43 wines out of 50.  In comparison, the second place winner was only able to recognize 4 of the wines.

6. Oops, We Made Wine


The earliest remnants of wine were discovered in Iran and the oldest evidence of cultivated vines were found in Georgia as early as 7000 B.C.  Supposedly, the drink orginally fermented by mistake when native yeasts accidentally came in contact with grapes stored in containers.  This turned the sugars in the grapes to alcohol.

7. Wine in Moderation


The ancient Greeks designed a wine glass that would ensure moderation when drinking wine.  If wine was poured above a certain level, the cup spilled its entire contents out of the bottom of the glass.

Seven Springs Winery is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine!  Don't worry, we don't have glasses that will spill your wine and women are allowed to drink here.  So grab your spouse or your friends and head on over to the best winery at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Located in the rolling Missouri foothills, Seven Springs Winery is an ideal place for relazing with a glass of your favorite wine and admiring the beautiful views!

Sources:
https://www.wiine.me/10-amazing-facts-about-wine/
http://interestingthings.info/food-and-beverages/10-interesting-facts-wine-know.html
http://kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-interesting-facts-about-wine/

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

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail

The area has seen a renaissance in craft wineries at the Lake of the Ozarks over the last decade. Scenic beauty paired with fine wine and gourmet food make for a memorable experience regardless of the season. Seven Springs Winery invites you to check out this newly formed Missouri wine trail.  What a fun way to spend an afternoon, day or even an entire weekend!

Missouri Wine History


Missouri is known for it’s rich heritage as a wine producing state. The area became known as “Missouri Rhineland” referring to it’s similarities to that region in Germany and the influence of the German immigrants on the industry in the 1800s.  In the mid-1880s, more wine was produced by volume in Missouri than in any other state. Due to prohibition and the growth of the California wine industry, Missouri wineries today tend to be small and more focused on crafting their wine in the old world traditions.

Charity Fundraising Event


The newly formed Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail will be holding a charity fund raising event November 1st at The Landing on Main Street from 1-5 PM.  All of your favorite local wineries, including Seven Springs Winery will be providing samples of wine paired with your favorite holiday foods.  The cost of the event is $10 which includes a souvenir wine glass plus food and wine samplings from each winery.  A portion of the proceeds will go to Central Missouri Food Bank.  Bring some canned goods and come enjoy live music by Samaria Grace!

The wine throughout the state is among the best in the world and because scarcity, it’s also one of the best kept secrets. Missouri’s wine industry has grown into an attraction in it’s own right and complements an already thriving tourism industry.  Next time you're in the Lake area, be sure to check out Seven Springs Winery and the rest of the Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail!

For more information on the Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail, please visit: www.lakeoftheozarkswinetrail.com

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

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Wine Terminology: 39 Words Used to Describe Wine Taste

With so many different varieties of Missouri wine, it can be hard to choose one.  How do you choose a bottle of wine anyway?  Some have nice labels, but that's not going to guarantee you're going to like the taste of the wine inside.  Many people rely on wine descriptions to get an idea of the taste. However, if your not familiar with wine terminology, you may have no idea what kind of wine you're actually getting.  The wine terminology below will help you in your search for the perfect wine at the Lake of the Ozarks!

Wine Terms for Taste and Flavor


  • Austere - high acidity and very little fruit flavors
  • Backward - high in alcohol content and tannins
  • Balanced - wine that strikes a balance between acidity, tannic structure and fruit flavors
  • Big - full bodied wines that fill and coat the palate
  • Bright - higher in acidity that makes your mouth water
  • Buttery - aged in oak, rich and flat (less acidity), cream-like texture with a smooth finish
  • Charcoal - gritty, dry and a rustic flavor
  • Cigar Box - hinting toward sweetness and cedar-wood
  • Complex - a positive term describing wine with many different taste and aromatic qualities
  • Creamy - white wines fermented or aged in oak
  • Crisp - refreshing acidity 
  • Dense - bold
  • Dry - not sweet
  • Earthy - flavor and aromatic characteristics reflect that of the terroir in which it was grown
  • Elegant - not big, not fruity, not opulent and not bold, higher acidity
  • Fading - a wine losing its color, body and flavor characteristics
  • Fat - wide, big, massive and opulent
  • Flabby - a negative term describing a lack of acidity
  • Flamboyant - abundance of fruit
  • Fleshy - raw steak sensation 
  • Flinty - wine that denotes flavors aromatic characteristics of metal or steel 
  • Fruity - aromas and flavors suggest fruit; doesn't imply sweetness
  • Heady - high alcohol content and an overwhelmingly alcoholic aroma
  • Jammy - cooked berry sweetness, syrupy 
  • Lean - presenting little or no fruit flavors
  • Masculine - describing big, full-bodied wine
  • Oaky - oak flavors (smoky, toasty) 
  • Opulent - rich, smooth and bold
  • Refined - similar to elegant, not opulent or bold
  • Silky - rich red wines fermented or aged in oak
  • Soft - smooth rather than crisp mouth feel
  • Steely - higher acidity
  • Structured - high tannin and acidity 
  • Supple - a balance of fruit flavors and tannic structure
  • Tannic - firm wine leaving the mouth feeling dry
  • Toasty - wine that's oak-aged, with a slightly burnt caramel finish
  • Unctuous - oily 
  • Unoaked - doesn't have vanilla, cream, butter or baking spices in it, more of a zesty lemon flavor, more tart
  • Velvety - rich in flavors and texture, lush, smooth and silky

Seven Springs Winery offers a wide variety of wine to meet your tastes.  Stop by for one of our daily wine tastings to find your favorite! Our winery at the Lake of the Ozarks sits atop 160 acres of rolling Missouri foothills creating the perfect backdrop for any event or celebration.  The covered porch and patio area are ideal for enjoying a glass of wine and admiring the beautiful views.  Stop by and see us soon! 

Sources: 
http://wine.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Wine_Terminology

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

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Featured Wine: Syrah

Our Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks is home to many great varieties of wine, including Syrah! Syrah is one of the world's most popular and widely planted red wine grape varieties.  It is a dark skinned berry that produces deeply colored and concentrated, rich, red wines with the ability to age and evolve for years or even multiple decades.  Typical scents include blackberries, plumbs, black cherries, flowers, spice, earth, chocolate, licorice, blueberry, pepper and truffles.  While it is planted all over the world, more Syrah is planted in France than in any other country!

History of Syrah


Syrah grapes are the offspring of two ancient varietals that individually never gained mass popularity. It was created when Dureza, a dark skinned berry was crossed with Mondeuse Blance, a white skinned grape.  How long Syrah grapes have been in existence is not known, but today Syrah continues to gain popularity.  Today Syrah is ranked as the world's 6th most planted grape!

Food Pairings


Syrah is one of the most versatile wines when it comes to food pairing.  The natural freshness, spice and rich character, coupled with the wide variety of styles Syrah produces, makes it easy to pair. Some of the best dishes to pair it with include:

  • Any roasted, grilled or smoked meat dishes like: duck, beef, veal, sausage and chicken
  • Game
  • Rich braised dishes and stews 
  • Cassoulet
  • Grilled Steaks
  • American Hamburgers
  • A myraid of different hard and soft cheeses

Fore more information on Syrah, please visit: www.thewinecellarinsider.com

Come on by the best winery at the Lake of the Ozarks and try a rich glass of Syrah!  Sitting atop 160 acres of rolling Missouri foothills, Seven Springs Winery presents the perfect backdrop for sipping your favorite wine.  We offer wine tastings daily, as well as a light menu consisting of soups, sandwiches, cheese trays and bread with various dipping oils.  Stop by and see us today!

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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