We travel at least twice a year to Hot Springs, Arkansas—more about that later. (For last year’s adventure, click here.) We usually take the shortest route there on the way to our destination. But, on the way home, we like to meander through Arkansas wine country. (I know that there are a few of you snickering out there right now.)
Truly, this area of the country is beautiful. Through our travels, we have found a favorite winery and vineyard there, Chateau aux Arc. (I just realized this is pronounced “ozark”—go figure.) We stumbled upon this fairly new winery a couple of years ago. We try to stop at least once a year.
Chef Larry was at the helm the Sunday we arrived and he was very affable and knowledgeable. He led us through a tasting and did not hide his opinion of the other wineries’ wines from the same valley. “Ours are dry. Not the sweet stuff you get down the road.”
Chef Larry (and I made the mistake of just calling him Larry—I was corrected), really made a case for these wines. We bought bottles of the Bishop’s Red, Dragonfly Red, a chardonnay, and the 2007 Zinfandel (which Chef Larry praised).
The winery hosts weddings and I can imagine how beautiful they must be on this spectacular piece of property.
The other wineries are fun to stop by as well:
Post Family Wines: We haven’t visited there in a couple of years. It is truly a family run winery and we probably received the best history and education here regarding Arkansas wines. They really sold us on the Muscadine grape and its health benefits.
Wiederkehre Wine Cellar: Another family run business, but it is a bit commercial—you know, with bus parking and all. I like to buy their grape seed oil. We were very disappointed on a fast trip through one time when we stopped at their “bistro” which was right off I-40. We were served microwave pizza—complete with the metallic cardboard “nuking” pan.
Mount Bethel Winery: We have never visited this one, but as I was doing a bit of research for this post, this place truly intrigues me. It is on our list for the next time we visit.
More about our visit to Hot Springs soon.