19 wineries in 2.5 days- Day 1 Winery #4

Our final stop of the night after Meramec Winery was Belmont. Of course, by this point, it's about 7:45 p.m. and we were getting hungry. We debated stopping to sit down and eat but we were worried about time. We knew Belmont served food so we headed that direction. They were located right off historic Route 66 and as it turns out, the place to be on a Friday night. The savory aroma of oven baked pizza wafted in the air as we sat in the outdoor pavilion. Our hostess was still new, and we became her 5th tasting since she started working.

They were out of their Bella Rosso (red) and Blackberry (fruit) wines and we skipped their Norton (red), Chardonel (white) and Vidal Blanc (white).

We started off with Frontenac (red) dry and barrel aged in Missouri oak for almost 2 years. It had a complex taste but it was ok. Dry Rose' (rose') had a floral taste muted with Cranberry and Strawberry flavors. It was also a bit tart which Aaron enjoyed. Brave Heart (red) was delicious. A light red with Blackberry, just enough sweetness without making it bitter. Catawba (white) a

sweet white with hints of grapefruit. Not too much citrus which I enjoyed. Aaron wanted more grapefruit so he thought it was ok. White Wall (white) was amazing. With just the right mix of tropical flavor and an apple/pear smell to it. Pink Dogwood (rose'), a very pleasant sweet but smooth rose'. It smelled and tasted like you had just picked fresh grapes off the vine!

We remembered in the midst of this that we were, in fact, still hungry. After perusing their menu, we settled on a pound of their Ranch-rub chicken wings. You guys.... they were magnificent! The wings were juicy and tender with just the perfect amount of meat and. The crust of the wing was all you could hear through the finger-licking. It was *chef's kiss* perfection in basket!

Being outdoors to enjoy the wine and wings also gave us the perfect spot to watch the evening sunset over I-44 highway.

They offer live music on Saturdays. If you would like to check out more, their website is belmontvineyards.com.