Pairing Your Food & Wine 101

If you want to host a delicious meal, while also appearing to be an expert wine connoisseur, learning about food and wine pairing is a must. While there’s a bit of a science to it, the best thing about it is that as long as YOU like the pairing, you’re right. Differences in taste buds could mean that ideal pairing could be a little different, however, there are still a few things that can help you make a no-fail choice when it comes to wine and food pairing. Here are a few suggestions to make you look like an expert.

Sparkling Wines

When serving a sparkling wine, there are a few things to keep in mind. You want to try and pair it with light and/or salty menu options. All the while avoiding red meat, spicy dishes, and cream sauces. Some good pairing suggestions would be halibut, eggs, or oysters, and a good cheese suggestion is gruyere.

Try these varieties from Seven Springs:

• Muscato Sparkling
• Blushing Springs

Rich White Wines

These types of wines have a very distinct flavor profile and can be paired with some delicious dishes. They will go great with fatty or creamy dishes, but you’ll want to avoid smoked meats, Asian dishes or tomatoes. A few suggestions for serving would be with a creamy sauce, buttery fish, or a pasta salad. If you are pairing it with a cheese tray, camembert is a great choice!

Try this variety from Seven Springs:

• Chardonel

Dry White Wines

If dry whites are your style, you’re in luck! There are some great menu options that pair well with this type of wine. You’ll want to opt for light and/or tangy choices while staying away from red meat or blue cheese. A few delicious choices would be white meat, salad, or mushrooms. For a cheese pairing, you could enjoy gouda with your dry white!

Try these varieties from Seven Springs:

• Dry Vignoles
• Traminette

Sweet White Wines

If you want to pair sweet white with your next meal, you should consider serving spicy and/or sweet choices! You’ll want to avoid foods that are sweeter than your wine and dark chocolate. A few scrumptious choices would be spicy food, curries, or fruity desserts - and if you’re pairing cheese, brie is a fantastic choice!

Try these varieties from Seven Springs:

• Spring Fling
• Vignoles

Light Red Wines

Light red wines go wonderfully with earthy and/or woody menu choices but don’t pair so well with BBQ sauce, smoked foods or salty foods. Because you’re serving a light red, you can opt for white meat, cured meat, or truffles. When pairing cheese, Swiss goes wonderfully!

Try this variety from Seven Springs:

• Spring Red

Medium Red Wines

Rich and/or savory meals are perfection when you want to serve a medium red wine. However, you’ll want to avoid spicy foods, raw fish, or oysters. Red meat, braised dishes, or potatoes pair incredibly well with this wine, and when serving cheese, choose a flavorful gorgonzola!

Try this variety from Seven Springs:

• Sangria Rojo

Bold Red

There’s nothing better than a bold red to set the tone for your meal. With any bold flavors, though, you’ll want to pair them strategically. Pair it with other bold and or/fatty choices, but avoid seafood, egg dishes, and light salads. It can pair well with stew, lamb or pate, and a nice smoked cheddar is perfection.

Try these varieties from Seven Springs:

• Seven’s Red Heaven
• Syrah
• Norton

The Best Wine Pairings

If you really want to enjoy some wine pairings at the Lake of the Ozarks, come out to Seven Springs Winery! We have a delicious menu with light sides, salads, and finger foods all with the best wine paired with it. You’ll enjoy your evening with us, and we look forward to serving you. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook to stay in touch. We have some great events coming up, like our Valentine’s Day Dinner, Jack Willhite’s Rock & Roll Comedy Dinner Show, a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, and the Wicked Wine Run! You won’t want to miss a thing - so stay tuned!

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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All About Our Wine

When you come to the Lake of the Ozarks, your trip isn't complete without visiting the Lake's original winery. At Seven Springs Winery, we've created a beautiful atmosphere filled with walking trails, places to kick back and relax, a restaurant complete with AC and an amazing menu, and of course, our wine selection. No weekend would be complete without having the best wine at the Lake of the Ozarks! Check out a peek out our amazing selection before you come out for a visit.

Red Wine

If red wine is your style, we have many different varieties to tempt the palate and satisfy your wine cravings. All are chilled and served up in one of our signature Seven Springs Winery glasses ready for you to enjoy.

Blushing Springs

Sparkling red wine, sweet berry aromas with a semi-sweet finish.

Spring Red
Semi-sweet red with a hint of black cherry and a velvet finish.

Syrah
Aromas of currant, blackberry, black pepper with a subtle vanilla oak finish.

Norton
An opaque deep plum color, tobacco, oak. Full-bodied, spicy smooth persistent finish.

Sangria Rojo
A light, refreshing blend of sprite, orange juice, and Dry Rougeon wine

Seven’s Red Heaven
Beautiful deep plum color with refreshing, Crisp fruit flavors & a distinct sweet finish.

White Wine

Do you like your wine to be a little more subdued, not as strong, and filled with fresh flavor? We have many white wines on our menu that are bursting with crisp flavors and refreshing flavors. Do you want to try them for yourself? Come out to the winery!

Dry Vignoles
Aromas of Tangerine and oranges. Crisp vibrant acidity precedes a long and refreshing finish.

Chardonel
Light to medium straw color. Medium body, fruity with toasted oak.

Traminette
Light straw with green hues. Light bodied, with a fruity yet off-dry finish.

Vignoles
Mid straw color with olive green tone. Flavorful bodied, peach, melon & citrus.

Spring Fling
Light straw color with a lime green rim. Light bodied with fruity, citrus & lychee.

Muscato Sparkling
Brilliant, light straw, tropical fruit & flowers. Light bodied, fruit forward sparkling finish.

The Best Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks

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.

Our 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.

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

Like us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Follow us on Google+ 

A Whole Day Dedicated to White Wine!

August 3rd is White Wine Day - and we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by grabbing a whole bottle of your favorite Lake of the Ozarks wine! There's nothing better than kicking back with a chilled glass of white wine and a beautiful view (like ours!) after a delicious dinner - and we personally think this is the best way to celebrate a day dedicated to white wine! Another way to celebrate would be to cook up some easy and delicious dishes with your favorite Missouri wine - so here are a few we've chosen to make your day fantastic!

Photo Credit: RecipeTinEats.com

Creamy Chicken in White Wine Sauce (with BACON!)

This creamy chicken recipe is a perfect comfort food, with a classic French-chic flavor. When you want to incorporate white wine into your main dish, this recipe by Recipe Tin Eats can be a perfect choice!

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp olive oil
2.5lb chicken pieces, bone in thigh & drumsticks are ideal (Note 1)
1 tbsp butter
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 onion (brown, white, yellow), finely chopped (~1 cup)
5oz bacon, diced
2 cups of Seven Springs Traminette (or a dry white wine)
1 cup chicken broth/stock or water
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
¾ cup cream (pouring or heavy cream, but not low fat cream)

Garnish

Finely chopped parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in an ovenproof skillet (with lid) over high heat. Add chicken skin side down and cook until golden brown, then turn and cook the other side for 1 minute. Remove chicken from skillet. Drain excess fat from skillet (do not wipe).
Reduce heat to medium high. Melt butter then add garlic and onion. Cook for 3 minutes until softened, then add bacon. Cook until golden.
Add wine. Bring to simmer, scraping the bottom of the skillet to mix the brown bits into the liquid. Simmer for 2 minutes.
Add chicken broth, thyme and return chicken to the skillet, skin side up. Cover with lid or foil, then transfer to the oven. Bake for 60 minutes, covered, then remove the lid and bake for a further 15 minutes to re-crisp the skin. The chicken should be very tender.
Remove chicken or move to the side. Stir cream into sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Garnish with plenty of parsley. Serve with creamy mashed potatoes.

NOTES
1. I used most of 1 chicken, cut into pieces. Bone in thigh fillets and drumsticks are ideal. Breast isn't the best for this because it's so lean and this is a slow cooked dish. Wings are too small and will overcook.

Photo Credit: BestRecipeBox.com

Sautéed Button Mushrooms In White Wine Sauce

This dish will make the perfect side for your chicken with the warm woody flavors of the mushrooms - and of course, the white wine! Check out this delicious recipe by Best Recipe Box.

INGREDIENTS

16 oz (or 1 pound) small button mushrooms
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
4 cloves garlic, chopped or crushed
1 medium onion, minced
1/2 cup of Seven Spring's Chardonel (or other white wine)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
kosher or sea salt to taste
fresh cracked black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Brush the mushrooms clean. Keep the mushrooms whole, or if they are large, cut them in half.
Heat large skillet over high heat. Add half of the olive oil (2 tablespoons), then mushrooms. Cook and stir mushrooms until they start to brown and caramelize about 3-5 minutes.
Add remaining olive oil and then add onions and garlic, cook until translucent.
Add wine, lemon juice, and chili flakes. Cook for about 2 minutes or until liquid reduces down a bit.
Add butter and chopped parsley, cook for an additional 1 minute.
Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Photo Credit: ThreeOlivesBranch.com

Zucchini and Tomato Medley with White Wine Butter Sauce

Want to add some fresh veggies and flavor to your white wine dinner? Try this zucchini and tomato medley with a white wine butter sauce! This recipe from Three Olives Branch is a perfect choice for leftover veggies from the garden.

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup white onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1/3 cup Seven Spring's Vignoles White Wine
1 large zucchini chopped
2 cups cherry tomatoes (or grape tomatoes, approx 10 oz)
1/2 cup corn
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp fresh basil (or green onions)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat a nonstick skillet over medium high heat.
Add the butter to the skillet. When melted, add the onion and garlic. Cook until translucent, approximately 2 minutes.
Add the white wine if using and reduce by half, approximately 3-4 minutes.
Add the zucchini, tomatoes, corn, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook until the tomatoes are just starting to burst, approximately 8-10 minutes. Keep an eye on the heat, you may need to turn it down to medium but I found that medium high was perfect for my stove.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Toss with the fresh basil or green onion. Serve warm.

Photo Credit: SouthYourMouth.com

White Wine Cake

Every delicious dinner needs a perfect ending with something sweet! Now we introduce the White Wine Cake! Perfectly spicy, perfectly winey by South Your Mouth.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

4 eggs

3/4 cup vegetable oil

3/4 cup Seven Spring's Spring Fling

1/2 cup water

1 box yellow cake mix

1 3.5-oz (4-serving) box instant vanilla pudding mix

Icing

1/4 cup dry white wine

1/2 cup powdered sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Grease a standard-sized bundt pan; set aside.

Combine brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, eggs, vegetable oil, wine, and water in a large bowl or stand mixer and beat until well combined. Mix in cake mix and pudding and mix until smooth and creamy. Pour batter into greased bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Just before cake is done, make the icing. Combine wine and powdered sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil icing for 2 minutes then remove from heat (icing will be thin). When cake is done, remove from oven and pour hot icing over hot cake, leaving the cake in the pan. Cool cake completely in the pan, then invert onto a plate Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Your Favorite Lake of the Ozarks Winery

No matter how you choose to celebrate this day - we hope it involves a LOT of white wine! If you don't feel like fixing dinner, don't forget to come out to Seven Springs Winery for chilled wine, delicious food, and an amazing atmosphere. Our patio is waiting for you!

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

Like us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Follow us on Google+ 

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How To Pair White Wine

Fresh and cool flavors are just part of the reason we love white wine. It can be paired with many different dishes, from appetizers to dessert, and no two white wines are exactly the same. At Seven Springs Winery, we have six white wine varieties that will pair well with your dinner and tempt the taste buds. Here are a few different types of food to consider trying with your next white Missouri wine.

About White Wine

There are hundreds of varieties of white grapes that can be used for wine. They can come from all areas of the world and can have many varied flavors. Unlike red wines, that can have dark, romantic flavors, and sometimes even spicy - you'll find more fruity tones in a white wine. From citrus flavors to apple or papaya, white wine is full of flavor.

Dry Vignoles

Aromas of tangerine and oranges. Crisp vibrant acidity precedes a long and refreshing finish.

Pair With: Our dry Vignoles would taste fantastic when paired with a spicy dish or meals that are "fragrant." Curries and spice (especially a spice with heat) can make the wine seem drier, and then accentuate the citrus notes. You can also try pork loin or tenderloin.

Chardonel

Light to medium straw color. Medium body, fruity with toasted oak.

Pair With: This medium-full bodied wine pair wonderfully with roast chicken or turkey. Because this wine has an "oaky" flavor, it would also pair beautifully with a smoked salmon or trout.

Traminette

Light straw with green hues. Light bodied, with a fruity yet off dry finish.

Pair With: This wine will pair well with medium-bodied dishes, especially those that are spicy or slightly sweet. You can pair it with heavier fish, shellfish, chicken, pork and veal, as well as Pacific rim foods from China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Mexico.

Vignoles

Mid straw color with olive green tone. Flavorful bodied, peach, melon & citrus.

Pair With: The fruity flavors in this wine pair well with spicy or Asian dishes. You can also try Swiss cheese or salmon. A delicious fruit chutney would also pair beautifully with a Vignoles wine.

Muscato Sparkling

Brilliant light straw, tropical fruit & flowers. Light bodied, fruit forward sparkling finish.

Pair With: This variety of wine is easy to pair with many types of foods, but it pairs especially well with sweet desserts. Pastries, puddings, ice cream, cake - you really can't go wrong.

The Best Winery at the Lake of the Ozarks

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.
Our 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. Come for the wine, stay for the atmosphere, and remember the view!

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

Like us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Follow us on Google+ 

Featured Wine: Traminette

Back in March we discussed all the delicious wines available at Seven Springs Winery and started a series of Featured Wine Blogs!  Today we are going to learn all about Traminette.  Be sure to check out this white wine next time you are at our Lake of the Ozarks Winery.  We offer wine tastings daily, so you can try it before you buy it!

About Traminette

Traminette resulted from the cross of Joannes Seyve and Gewuerztraminer in 1965.  Fruit were first observed in 1971 at Cornell University and the original vine was propagated in 1974.  The vine was initially described as a vigorous and productive green grape with moderately loose clusters.  This late-to mid-season white wine grape has character similar to Gewuerztraminer.

Much more winter hardy than Gewuerztraminer, Traminette is suitable for cool climates and matures early to mid-October.  In warmer areas, increased bitterness and a high pH can become a problem. Bearing large clusters, the grape has good yields in the vineyard and delivers excellent fruit quality. It also has good disease resistence to powdery mildew, black rot and Botrytis.

Aging well, wine produced from this grape develops honey and apricot flavors in two to five years. Traminette has an elegant fruity floral aroma with a wonderful spicy flavor making it pair great with Asian, poultry and seafood dishes.

Now that you know a little more about Traminette Wine, stop by the best winery at the Lake of the Ozarks to try some! Enjoy a glass on our covered porch and patio area while admiring the beautiful view.  We hope to see you soon at Seven Springs Winery!

For more information on Traminette please visit: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/reisch/grapegenetics/Traminette.pdf

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

Like us on Facebook 
Follow us on Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Follow us on Google+ 
Follow us on Pinterest