Exploring Missouri Wine Country, 3rd Updated & Revised Edition (Show Me)
A "must" for visitors to the Show Me State's wineries"And the wine is bottled poetry", a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson is the greeting on the title page of this book which is one of the most complete guides to the Missouri wine industry that has been published.Dufur, whose Pebble Publishing is headquartered in Columbia, MO, home of the state university, brings not only a vast knowledge to his latest effort, but a reflection of his deep affection for his home state that translates into the poetry of one of the nation's oldest and reemerging wine territories.His knowledge of the state is enhanced by his previous works, including The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook (the Katy Trail is a scenic and highly popular bike trail from the St. Louis region to Kansas City which traverses much of the state's most popular wine regions). He is also the author of The Best of Missouri Hands, and co-author of The river Valley Companion -A Nature Guide, and Forgotten Missourians Who Made History. With titles like these and his knowledge of and love for Missouri, he makes what could have become nothing more than a simple listing or guidebook, an interesting insight into Missouri's wine heritage.He discusses the rich heritage of the state's wineries, and some of the facts might be of surprise to readers who will discover that Missouri was once the country's leading wine producer, or that picturesque Stone Hill Winery, located in Hermann was the nation's third-largest winery before prohibition.The diversity of the state's wineries is described by interesting introductions to the regions of the state, accompanied by descriptions of each winery and a listing and, where available, review of the offerings at each site. The wineries, some of which trace their origins to more than a century ago, range from traditional Midwestern farm-homes to more elaborate sites with restaurants, large tasting rooms and even their own web sites for direct sales to www surfers.The guidebook is, as it claims, the perfect companion to help in wine lovers' exploration of Missouri wine country. It includes service information for every winery in the state with maps, photographs, wine lists, bed & breakfasts and listing of other nearby attractions.Dufur's book offers verification of the state's slogan about its wines and wineries, "Look how far we've come." He makes a strong case that with its unique varieties of grapes and wines, plus is diverse settings, the popularity of Missouri wines can be expected to continue to grow. It truly is time for wine aficionados to learn more about Missouri wines. Exploring Missouri Wine Country can be a valuable assist. --Dan Hines, Americas Wines, February 1998--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.