Jour de la Terre

We had our annual Earth Day event last weekend, and my good friend, Sara, took some photos for me so I could share them with you. See what you missed out on? =)

Route du Vin glass and herb at Sand Creek

Pregnant me pouring our Ste. Gemme and passing out goat cheese stuffed mushrooms

Jeremy at Twin Oaks


Amy and Sara, avid Route du Vin customers, and valued friends. =)

Press

Click here for a great article on our Earth Day event last weekend in the online version of the Wall Street Journal. Check back here soon for information on our next Route du Vin Event, the Progressive Dinner, or go to our website, Route du Vin Wine Trail to purchase tickets online, or call 1-800-398-1298 to order your tickets over the phone.

Happy Earth Day Weekend!

I'll be busy today prepping 300 goat cheese stuffed mushrooms using this recipe from Martha Stewart. Hope you have your tickets for the Jour de la Terre!

Jour de la Terre

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present
“Jour de la Terre (Earth Day)” on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin
April 18 & 19, 2009
11am-5pm
Celebrate Earth Day this Spring on Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail! Each winery offers seasonal cuisine prepared with fresh spring herbs paired with their wines. Take home a complimentary herb seedling from each winery to start your own herb garden! Visit 6 wineries on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin, as each winery will offer complimentary wine samples and special food pairings made with spring herbs for each ticket holder. If your passport is stamped at all 6 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for “Jour de la Terre” giveaways! A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills, big skies, and beautiful views of the 6 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:

Sainte Genevieve Winery

Cave Winery

Chaumette Winery
Twin Oaks Winery

Charleville Winery

Sand Creek Winery

Cost: $20/person until April 10, 2009; $25/person after April 10
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)
Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Sainte Genevieve Winery:
800-398-1298, through our website RDVWine Trail , or in the tasting room of participating wineries. Tickets are non refundable after April 10, 2009.

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery:
Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms with Parsley Paired with Ste. Gemme
Charleville Winery:
Italian Pasta Salad with Oregano Dressing Paired with Chambourcin
Chaumette Winery:
Basil Pesto Marinated Chicken Skewers with Spring Carrot Salad Paired with 2007 Estate Chardonel
Twin Oaks Winery:
Homemade Salsa with Fresh Veggies & Cilantro Paired with Traminette
Cave Winery:
Grandma Strussione's Anise Biscotti & Pizzelles paired with Chardonel Off Dry
Sand Creek Winery:
Smoked Salmon Tar Tare' Dill Spread on Bagel Crisps Paired with Sweet Chardonel

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
3rd Weekend in April 2009: Jour de la Terre (Earth Day)
3rd Weekend in May 2009: Progressive Dinner
3rd Weekend in November 2009: Wine Diva Weekend
2nd Weekend in February 2010: Romancing the Grape
For additional info, hours, and directions visit: RDV Wine Trail

Another New Website, and Ideas for Valentine's Day

We now have a Route du Vin website up and running. It has a list of all our events, a place to buy tickets to an event online, and a place to sign up for our newsletter. Exciting! Now if I could just get my regular website back... one of many work related New Year's resolutions. And if you are wondering about our next Route du Vin Event, here's some info.

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present
“Romancing the Grape” on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin
February 14 & 15, 2009
11am-5pm

Roses are red, violets are blue, the Route Du Vin has something special for you! This Valentine’s Weekend, romance the one you love on the Route du Vin! An afternoon, or an entire weekend, in Ste. Genevieve enjoying fine wines and decadent foods is sure to help you find your Valentine passion.
If your ticket is stamped at all 5 wineries, your name will be entered for special Route du Vin giveaways!

A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills, big skies, and beautiful views of the 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:

Sainte Genevieve Winery
Cave Winery
Chaumette Winery
Twin Oaks Winery
Charleville Winery

Cost: $20/person until January 30, 2009; $25/person after January 30th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)
Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Sainte Genevieve Winery:
800-398-1298, through our website www.RDVWineTrail.com , or in the tasting room of participating wineries. Tickets are non refundable after January 30, 2009.

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery:
Elegant Fig Appetizers with Goat Cheese and Almonds Served with our Seyval Blanc.

Charleville Winery:
Olive Spread on Italian Toasts with Smoked Oysters paired with
Sparkling Chardonel with a Strawberry.

Chaumette Winery:
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Butter-Poached Grapes paired with
2007 Estate Chardonel

Twin Oaks Winery:
Delicious Profiterole Pastry Served Cold with a Sweet Cream Filling and Topped with a Light Dusting of Powdered Sugar. Paired with Our Crisp, Light and Fruity Traminette.

Cave Winery:
Through the ages, almonds have been thought to induce passion. We invite you to indulge in an assortment of Almond Biscotti dipped in Dark Chocolate, Macaroons, and Marzipan Cookies Paired Perfectly with our Crisp Chardonel Off Dry.

Sand Creek Winery:
Buttery Phyllo Cups Filled with Gourmet Almond, Cranberry Chicken Salad and Smooth Velvety Chocolate Truffles Paired with our Plank Road Red.

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
3rd Weekend in April 2009: Jour de la Terre (Earth Day)
3rd Weekend in May 2009: Progressive Dinner
3rd Weekend in November 2009: Wine Diva Weekend

Also, if you are looking for something to do in St. Louis for Valentine's Weekend, you can always find us at Westport for the Missouri Winefest.

Chocolate Cranberry Wine Cupcakes

Last weekend was our Wine Diva weekend with the other wineries in the area and we served these cupcakes along with our Cranberry Wine. What a treat for a diva!

Progressive Dinner

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present

“Progressive Dinner” Weekend on Ste. Genevieve’s Wine Trail
Saturday June 14th & Sunday June 15th, 2008
11am - 5pm

Journey down Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail and treat yourself to fine wine
perfectly paired with a delicious “Progressive Dinner” course at each of our
distinctive wineries within our scenic region!

If your passport is stamped at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for special giveaways!

A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills,
big skies and beautiful views of 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:

Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Twin Oaks Winery Charleville Winery

Cost: $20/person until June 7th; $25/person after June 7th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)

Please call for advance reservations Sainte Genevieve winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery
Appetizer Course: Mini Quiches paired with their Estate Seyval Blanc

Cave Winery
Salad Course: Poppyseed Salad: Spring Greens, Strawberries, Walnuts &
Feta, paired with their Chardonel Off Dry

Chaumette Winery
Entree Course: Slow-Braised Beef Roast with Wild Mushrooms and
Broccoli Gnocchi, paired with their 2005 Anrie

Twin Oaks Winery
Cheese Course: A Selection of Fine Artisan Cheeses: American Cheddar, Italian
Provolone, Gouda, & Italian Fontina Cheeses, Seasonal Fruit, Toasted Nuts & Bread,
with their Chambourcin Dry Re d or their Traminette Dry White

Charleville Winery
Dessert Course: Rootbeer Floats made with Charleville Homemade Rootbeer,
paired with their Chardonel Off-Dry

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
November 22nd & 23rd, 2008: Wine Diva Weekend
February 14th & 15th 2008: Romancing The Grape Weekend

For more info, hours and directions, visit:
www.cavevineyard.com, www.chaumette.com,
www.twinoakswinery.com, www.saintegenevievewinery.com
www.charlevillevineyard.com

Route du Vin in Full Swing!

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present
“Jour de la Terre” Weekend on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin
April 19th & 20th, 2008
11am - 5pm
Celebrate Earth Day this Spring on Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail!

Each winery offers seasonal cuisine prepared with fresh Spring herbs paired with their wines.
Take home a complimentary herb seedling from each winery to start your own herb garden!
Visit 5 wineries on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin, as each winery will offer complimentary wine samples
and special food pairings made with Spring herbs for each ticket holder. If your passport is stamped
at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for “Jour de la Terre” giveaways!
A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills,
big skies and beautiful views of 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:
Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Twin Oaks Winery Charleville Winery

Cost: $20/person until April 4th; $25/person after April 4th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)
Please call for advance reservations Sainte Genevieve winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery (Chives)
Serving Spring Green Salad with Fresh Chives, paired with their Vignoles
Charleville Winery (Cilantro)
Serving Fresh Spicy Cilantro Gazpacho, paired with their Genevieve Rivard
Chaumette Winery (Dill)
Serving Dill-Seeded Spiced Pork Loin with Whipped Dill Brie on Toast Points, paired with their Estate Chardonel
Twin Oaks Winery (Oregano)
Serving Crusty Buttered Garlic Bread Bruschetta with Tomato, Pepper & Oregano, paired with their Traminette Dry
Cave Winery (Basil)
Caprese Salad Skewers with Sweet Italian Basil & Fresh Mozzarella, paired with their Chardonel Off-Dry

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
June 2008: Progressive Wine Dinner
November 2008: Wine Diva Weekend
February 2009: Jour d’Amour Weekend

Progressive Dinner

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve
Present
“Progressive Dinner” Weekend on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin
June 2nd & 3rd, 2007
11am - 5pm
Journey down Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail, the Route du Vin for a unique Progressive Dinner!
Along the way, you’ll be treated to fine wine perfectly paired with a delicious
“Progressive Dinner” course at each of our distinctive wineries within our scenic region.
If your ticket is stamped at all 5 wineries, your name will be entered for special Route du Vin giveaways!
A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills,
big skies and beautiful views of the 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:
Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Crown Valley Winery Charleville Winery
Cost: $15/person until May 25th; $20/person after May 25th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchased that day)
Please call for advance reservations: Sainte Genevieve Winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:
Sainte Genevieve Winery
Appetizer Course: serving Mini Quiches paired with their Estate Seyval Blanc

Cave Winery
Salad Course: serving Poppyseed Salad: Spring Greens, Strawberries, Walnuts & Feta, paired with their Chardonel Off-Dry

Crown Valley Winery
Entree Course: serving Norton Braised Crown Farm’s Bison Shoulder with Seasonal Vegetables, paired with their Norton
Proprietor’s Select

Chaumette Winery
Cheese Course: serving Assorted Imported & Local Cheeses, Berries & Homemade Breads, paired with their Estate Chardonel

Charleville Winery
Dessert Course: serving Fruit Dip & Pastries paired with their Genevieve Rivard, Sweet Chardonel

Giveaways:
Sainte Genevieve Winery: $50 Gift Certificate Cave Winery: Wine Tasting & Food Pairing for 10
Charleville Winery: $20 Gift Certificate Crown Valley Winery: Crown Country Gift Basket
Chaumette Winery: Signature Chocolates Gift Basket

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
November 17th & 18th, 2007: Wine Diva Weekend
February 9th & 10th, 2008: Aphrodisiac Weekend
April 19th & 20th, 2008: “Jour de la Terre” Weekend

For more info, hours and directions, visit:
www.cavevineyard.com, www.chaumette.com,
www.crownvalleywinery.com, www.saintegenevievewinery.com
www.charlevillevineyard.com

This is a picture of my friend, Julie, passing out the chives on the front porch at the last Route du Vin Passport Weekend, the Jour de la Terre. Stay tuned for our next Passport Weekend Event coming up very soon!

Baby chives waiting for a new home; maybe yours?

Chives

I have been thinking about chives a lot lately, since we have that Route du Vin Jour de la Terre event coming up and we are featuring chives. I will post a picture of the cute little seedlings soon. You don't want to miss your chance to go home with one of these! One of my favorite blogs is Farmgirl Fare. If you click on the link you can read a beautiful commentary on chives. I have always liked chives, even grown a few in my kitchen herb garden, but after reading her post, I am more excited, and fascinated than ever. My favorite quote is, "once you discover the hundreds of uses for chives, you will wonder how you ever survived without them. Their mild onion flavor perks up everything from chicken salad to quesadillas. They even make food look better, too. Like a beautiful strand of pearls, a sprinkle of freshly-snipped chives will add instant sophistication to almost anything: a serving of mashed potatoes, a platter of stir-fried vegetables, even plain old scrambled eggs. Your meals will begin to look as if they came out of a fashionably chic cafe. For a truly elegant touch, toss some of the edible, peppery blossoms into your salad, or float a few atop bowls of spinach soup." Farmgirl is very eloquent, and has such passion for gardening and the ways of the rural life. Well said.

Hope to see you on April 21 and 22 where we can talk about chives all the live long day.

Jour de la Terre

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve

Present

“Jour de la Terre” Weekend on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin
April 21st & 22nd, 2007
11am - 5pm
Celebrate Earth Day this Spring on Ste. Genevieve’s wine trail!
Each winery offers seasonal cuisine prepared with fresh Spring herbs paired with their wines.
Take home a complimentary herb seedling from each winery to start your own herb garden!
Visit all 5 wineries on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin, as each winery will offer complimentary wine samples
and special food pairings made with Spring herbs for each ticket holder. If your passport is stamped
at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for a “Jour de la Terre” gift basket!
A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills,
big skies and beautiful views of the 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:

Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Crown Valley Winery Charleville Winery

Cost: $15/person until April 13th; $20/person after April 13th
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)
Please call for advance reservations Sainte Genevieve winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:

Sainte Genevieve Winery (Chives)
Serving Spring Green Salad with Fresh Chives, paired with their Vignoles

Charleville Winery (Cilantro)
Serving Fresh Cilantro Salsa with an Assortment of Chips, paired with their Genevieve Rivard

Chaumette Winery (Dill)
Serving Dill Havarti Cheese on Lavash with Tomato Dill Chutney, paired with their Estate Chardonel

Crown Valley Winery (Parsley)
Serving Black Pepper Seared Beef Loin on Toast with Parsley Gremolata, paired with their Zinfandel

Cave Winery (Basil)
Caprese Salad Skewers with Sweet Italian Basil & Fresh Mozzarella, paired with their Chardonel Off-Dry

Join us on the Route du Vin year round for these seasonal events!
June 2nd & 3rd, 2007: Progressive Wine Dinner
November 17th & 18th, 2007: Wine Diva Weekend
February 9th & 10th 2008: Aphrodisiac Weekend

In the News!

Here is a link to a nice article in the Wines and Vines magazine about Ste. Genevieve being the new wine region in Missouri.

My favorite quote from the article states, "The biggest draw is Ste. Genevieve, a town founded by French settlers in 1699. The historic town contains homes and other buildings dating to the French colonial period as well as Spanish and early American times after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. With numerous inns, restaurants, historical sites and the inevitable antique stores, Ste. Genevieve is a popular weekend getaway, and its wineries take advantage of that mood." Ste. Genevieve is (in my humble opinion) one of the cutest towns around, and it's nice to hear someone else recognize that too. A have a feeling a few people visit the wineries in the countryside and miss the beautiful, historic, one of a kind town, and I think that is a shame.

I have heard my "mug" accompanies the article in the magazine, but since I only have this link, I haven't seen the picture.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

The Wineries of Ste. Genevieve Present
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” Weekend on Ste Genevieve’s Route du Vin
February 10th & 11th, 2007
11am - 5pm

Spend a chilly Valentine's weekend keeping warm with the one you love on the Route du Vin!
Visit all 5 wineries on Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin, as each winery will offer complimentary wine samples and special “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” treats for each ticket holder. If your passport is stamped at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for a “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” giveaway! A little more than an hour’s drive from St. Louis and Cape Girardeau, journey through the rolling hills, big skies and beautiful views of the 5 unique wineries on the Route du Vin:

Sainte Genevieve Winery Cave Winery Chaumette Winery
Crown Valley Winery Charleville Winery
Cost: $15/person until February 3rd ; $20/person after February 3rd
(includes complimentary wine glass, and 10% off wine purchases made that day)
Please call for advance reservations Sainte Genevieve winery (800) 398-1298

Wine & Food Pairing Menu:

Sainte Genevieve Winery
Serving Beef & Barley Soup with fresh baked bread, paired with their Genevieve Red

Cave Winery
Serving wine brownies with a warm chocolate wine sauce, paired with their Chambourcin

Chaumette Winery
Serving Norton Wine & Cheddar Gratin with Artisan Breads, paired with their Assemblage

Crown Valley Winery
Bittersweet Chocolate Pot de Crème Tartlets w/ Port Soaked Cherries, paired with their Port

Charleville Winery
Serving Hot Chili paired with the Genevieve Rivard--Sweet Chardonel

Giveaways
Sainte Genevieve Winery - $50 gift certificate,
Cave Winery - private group tasting for 10 to include select food& wine pairings,
Crown Winery - tour and tasting for four at Crown’s Champagne House opening February 18th, 2007
Chaumette Winery - mixed case of white wine, Charleville Winery - a snack basket with cheeses and sausage

For more info, hours and directions, visit:
www.cavevineyard.com, www.chaumette.com,
www.crownvalleywinery.com, www.saintegenevievewinery.com
www.charlevillevineyard.com

Congratulations!

to Jodi Brown, of Ste. Genevieve, for winning our Wine Diva Survival Pack. Jodi attended our Wine Diva Passport Weekend and went to all 5 wineries, and got entered into our drawing. Each of the 5 wineries chose a different winner for their prize. Jodi won from us a bottle of Christmas Plum wine, a gift certificate to our local spa, a rhinestone Wine Diva t-shirt, and a two bottle wine carrier. It's a perfect little indulgence right before the Holidays.

Crazy thing is that I know Jodi. No, the drawing was not rigged, but I did go to gradeschool and high school with Jodi, and her older sister, Niki, was one of my best friends throughout my adolescence. You'd think that by growing up in a small town like Ste. Genevieve, I'd realize by now just how small and coincidental this world really is, but sometimes I am still amazed. Anyway, congratulations Jodi.

Entertaining You and Entertaining Me

Entertaining You:

This weekend is the first ever Wine Diva Passport Weekend along the Route du Vin. This is it! The excuse you’ve been waiting for! Get your sisters, girlfriends, coworkers - even your mother in law and come explore your Inner Wine Diva with us on the Ste. Genevieve Route du Vin! Heck, if your significant other isn’t hunting, bring him along! One and all are invited to come learn a little about our wines (and each other) and share a few laughs. This is a passport weekend giving you the opportunity to visit all 5 wineries on the Route du Vin Wine Trail. Each winery will offer complimentary samples of their wines as well as a special diva treat for each ticket holder. If your passport is stamped at all 5 wineries your name will be entered in a drawing for a Wine Diva Giveaway! Reservations can be made in advance by calling the Sainte Genevieve Winery at 800-398-1298. Tickets are $20 per person. Ticket price includes a complimentary Route du Vin wine glass and 10% discount off of purchases made that day. Here at the Sainte Genevieve Winery we are featuring Pastry Wrapped Brie with Cranberry filling, paired with our Cranberry wine. Come meet me in person, serving you delectables on Saturday.

Entertaining Me

I was introduced today to Gary Vaynerchuk's blog/website where he tastes wine and rates them on video. I am very entertained. I'm not sure if I'm laughing at him or with him, but nonetheless, I'm laughing. He takes wine tasting very seriously, but has fun with it too. You have to watch this episode and see if you aren't amused too.

This is a map of our Route du Vin. I'm not sure how it's going to show up on this page, but maybe you could select it and print it, or click on it to make it bigger, if it isn't readable....

AAA Article

There is a nice, informative article written in the recent AAA Midwest Traveler Magazine on the 5 wineries in Ste. Genevieve County; the Route du Vin. Click here to read it.

Here is a picture of our chicken wings for the Passport Weekend.