A Walk Through The Woods

This Morning's Sunrise

the dead of winter

A Light Dusting

One of the first snows of the season, it barely flurried this morning, just enough to take a much anticipated picture or two (or three.) The first two pictures are indivual snowflakes on our old Concord vines, and the third picture is of the floor mat right outside the door.

Hope your holidays are going well, and you can delight in the season and the "icing" that winter can put on the familiar.

Open Daily

This picture was taken this fall and emailed to me, and for whatever reason I thought it was a fresh take on a building I've seen a zillion times. I like the angle, and the shadows, and the way the flag is blowing. Come by this winter for some authentic radiator heat, and of course, oodles of great wines to taste. We're open until the end of the year from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed early at 3 p.m. New Year's Eve, closed all day New Year's Day and then start with our new hours of being open from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays from January through March.

Get Your Motor Running

As promised we are mechanically pruning this year. These pictures are very similar to pictures taken this time last year. Dad is driving the tractor all around the vineyard, back and forth, reaching both sides of every row of grapes, pruning, pruning, pruning. It is a gorgeous day here. Spring is fast approaching and there is much to do. After he finishes pruning, there is compost to scatter, and dormant spray to apply.

Check back again soon for more spring time vineyard happenings.

Rolling Hills of Missouri

Here's a picture of our long rows of "new" Concord. The "old" Concord was planted sometime in the early 1980's, and this "new" Concord was planted sometime in the early 1990's. So, they really aren't "new" hence the quotations. Today Dad is taking our tractor to a neighboring winery so they can fit it with one of their mechanical pruners, and all these vines will get a hair cut real soon. It seems odd that so much of the vineyard is unpruned right now, being that we are heading into late February, but one swipe with the "new" trimmer and we will be good to go. Pictures of that coming soon.

Winter Work

In the winter we cut down and sharpen cedar posts for the vineyard from our woods. Then, in the spring we use them in the vineyard for trellis. It's all part of our sustainable farming motto here.

winter sunrise

I'm Really Getting Into Winter

Katie and Clyde own Peaceful Bend Winery in Steelville, Missouri. If you haven't been there yet, you are really missing out. Their winery is back in the woods, but not hard to find. It is beautiful there, and the wine is outstanding. Katie and I are friends in real life, but we are also blog friends. She has two blogs, just like me, a personal one and a winery one. Last week they did some sledding, and it looks like so much fun, and makes me laugh. If these videos don't make you like winter, or even the idea of winter, then your heart might just be an icicle. The video I like the best is on Katie's personal blog PeacefulkT's Pursuits, but there are lots of great video on the Peaceful Bend blog too.

Need Some Winter Encouragement?

"There's a point where you can give up on winter--when temptation can enter your soul, prying its way in like cold air through the cracks in your cabin--around January sixteenth or so, and this can make you realize that February's coming, and beyond February, March.

See, I don't yet realize that March will be the hardest month. Early February's the coldest, and often the snowiest, but March, strange, silent March, will be the hardest.

The danger in yielding to thoughts of spring--green grass, hikes, bare feet, lakes, fly-fishing, rivers, and sun, hot sun--is that once these thoughts enter your mind, you cant get them out.

Love the winter. Don't betray it. Be loyal.

When the spring gets here, love it too--and then the summer.

But be loyal to the winter, all the way through--all the way, and with sincerity--or you'll find yourself high and dry, longing for a spring that's a long way off, and winter will have abandoned you, and in her place you'll have cabin fever, the worst.

The colder it gets, the more you've got to love it."

~Rick Bass fr. Winter -Notes from Montana

Snow, finally

I'm one of those few people who actually like winter. I like the calm. I love the winter sunrises and sunsets on my way to and from work. I love snow- love how it puts a sheen and glimmer over everything. I hate when people complain about winter, I hate complainers in general. I try to change things I don't like, not dwell on the fact that poor little me is unhappy. I'm actually also in love with Maine; have my pink house all picked out near the ocean in York. One day, one winter I'm going to spend it in Maine, all holed up, all comfy with my flannel pajamas, slippers, wood fire, bread baking, and a gazillion books, and movies.

Isn't winter beautiful? If you're looking for a romantic vineyard- this is it. It isn't in the fall when we harvest- there's too many bees, and so much work. It's here, in these pictures, in the snow. The vines patiently wait to be pruned, resting their poor little tendrils and shoulders, slump over and put their weight on the wire for a month or two before we ask them to bear fruit again. They deserve this break.

I'm pretty sure this is our Norton bunch.
tendril
old Concord vines

STE GENEVIEVE'S FOURTH FRIDAY ART WALK SKATES ON THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS

Ste Genevieve's Art Community Presents the Monthly Fourth Friday Art Walk on the Evening of January 23.

The artists and their supporters will put on their coats and hats and go out in chilly weather, once again, to enjoy the Fourth Friday Art Walk in Ste Genevieve, Missouri. This is the seventh month in a row that this event is being held.

Long known for it's historical buildings, and the artist colony which populated it in the 1930's, Ste Genevieve and it's art community is witnessing a resurgence lately. In 2008, four spaces were opened in the historic downtown district by artists to display art. In 2009, there are plans for four more to open. These eight new spaces are joining four others which have kept art visible in Ste Genevieve for years.

In addition, it has been announced that young people's art will be on display for the Fourth Friday event in a display called "Art at Sara's Antiques" from 6-9 pm. Iris Vincent, an art teacher and one of the organizers of the children and youth art exhibit, says that this display is planned for Fourth Fridays only, at this time. The other studios and galleries are looking forward to this new exhibit being a part of the Fourth Friday Art Walk.

The venues reporting to be open this Fourth Friday are Studio 221, The Center for the Arts, Galleria Ste Genevieve, Studio de Michel, Mo'sArt Studio, Art at Sara's Antiques and Only Child Originals. Other businesses, such as Ivy & Twigs and Miss Patty's Place, have been open to art walkers' delight on Fourth Fridays. "The Ste Genevieve community and local businesses have been very generous and supportive of the artists on Fourth Fridays," says one organizer of the event.

The studios and galleries try to have new work on display, featured and regular artists to visit with, and refreshments for visitors to enjoy. There is no charge for this event and it is open to the public. Maps for the Art Walk may be picked up at any art studio or gallery open during the Fourth Friday Art Walk.

For more information on the art studios and galleries in Ste Genevieve, on the web, visit http://stegenartwalk.blogspot.com



For more information or an interview, contact:
Mike Devaney
573-883-3783 or 573-915-1470

Clip Clop

Here's another picture of Shadow, my horse. Click here or here for previous pictures of my "stud."

Our Biggest Tank

This 4,000 gallon tank has only ever held Concord or Christmas Plum. Today we racked the Concord 2008 that was inside. We are still trying to figure out how to get the lees out, since there is only a small drain at the bottom. It used to be a milk truck, so I guess they didn't have "lees" in the milk. Thank God.

So, I climbed inside to try to coerce the lees out of the drain. I won't linger too long on the fact that I fell down and landed on my behind into the lees. It wasn't pretty, but it was cold. My little wet butt was cold all the way up to the farmhouse to take a shower. Did I mention it is 40 degrees today? Still didn't get the lees out; they'll wait for Plan B (whatever that is.)

The first picture is showing the tartrate crystals caked on the side. This is good because now they aren't in my wine anymore. This is also kind of bad, because since we emptied the tank today, they are still kind of wet, so they are easy (easier) to get off the side of the tank, but since the lees will be in there at least all of today, the tartrates will dry, therefore solidifying them forever more (sometimes it seems like) onto the inside of the tank.


In the second picture you can see #1 Just how big this tank is; #2 the lees that are the consistancy of applesauce on the bottom of the tank; and #3 the tartrates clinging to the side of the tank.

The last picture is the hole I climb in and out of the tank. Did I mention that I am 6 months pregnant? Good times. If I was any further along my belly nor my bottom would fit through this hole (at least that's what I plan to tell my assisstant tomorrow.)

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!

3 Things That Should Be On Everyone's Christmas List

Close up of Vignoles from a distance, plus a few Norton right in front

Motivational Weather

This is the type of weather Missourians live for; 70 degrees in March. Especially after such a harsh winter. I have bet with my assisstant that it will snow again before Easter. She says it will, I say it won't.

This is my Dad today on a John Deere with his "shirt sleeves" on. We are borrowing this tractor and hedger from another Missouri winery to see if we want to buy it, or one like it. It goes through the vineyard and trims off the tops and sides of the canes, then we go through and hand prune off dead wood, or left over racchi, or buds we don't want to keep. The more we can mechanize, the less we spend on labor, the better our bottom line.

More Snow

We seem to be covered in snow over here. Most of February has been wet. These pictures were taken Wednesday. There were big, slow falling flakes coming down, and the sun trying to peak through the heavy cloud cover.

Everything is muddy today, and so starts spring, or mud season over here. It's 50 degrees here today, and we're basking in the warmth.