wine & food Archives - St. James Winery

Wine and Barbecue Food Pairings

Be a backyard hero this BBQ season with four expertly paired St. James Winery wine and barbecue food pairings!

It’s time to fire up the BBQ grill, folks! Spring is here to stay. Feel it in the air, in the sweet smells of new plant life, and in the sounds of peepers in the evenings. Spring in the midwest means warm afternoons, cool evenings, and delicious food off the grill. Whether you’re barbecuing for one, or hosting a neighborhood block party, you’ll need a delightful beverage to accompany all of that mouth-watering barbecued goodness. We’re here to help you stock the cooler with the wines that are sure to make you a backyard hero this season.

Velvet Red + Pork Steak

First up is a classic Midwestern pairing of Velvet Red wine and BBQ Pork Steak. The smooth, sweet, fruity flavors in Velvet Red are the perfect match to the full-flavored, smokey regional favorite pork steak. Preparing a tender, juicy, fall-off-the-bone pork steak is an art. Likewise, here at St. James Winery, we believe there is art in the way we sustainably grow grapes and craft wine. Velvet Red has been crafted by our family-owned winery for 50 years, and the quality and love shine in each sip. You don’t even have to be a sweet wine lover to appreciate the depth of this pairing, especially when the sauce is on the spicy side. In our circles, no barbecue is complete without a glass or two of chilled Velvet Red wine.

Friendship School White + Burgers and Dogs

Next up on the grill is the all-time favorite of hamburgers and hotdogs. We’re pairing this backyard, crowd-pleasing duo with Friendship School White wine. We love the way the crisp, clean finish of this semi-dry white wine complements the smoky meats and the array of toppings we add to hamburgers and hotdogs that make each unique. Topping your burger or dog with grilled onions and cheese – Friendship School White! Plan on piling up your burger or dog with ketchup, mustard, and pickles – Friendship School White! It’s so delicious and so versatile that it just might be our overall favorite pairing.

Sparkling Mango + Chicken

Now it’s time to come in hot with a savory, flavorful beer-can chicken – except we’re switching it up! Instead of beer, we love our whole chickens on the grill cooked atop a can of Sparkling Mango fruit wine. The chicken, seasoned on the spicy side with cumin, chili powder, garlic, salt, black pepper, and paprika, takes on just the right amount of that all-natural mango flavor from the wine as it cooks. We serve the chicken de-boned, topped with fresh cilantro, and alongside a cold can of Sparkling Mango fruit wine. This is the pairing that’ll surprise you and keep you coming back for more!

Norton + Rib-Eyes

As the last pairing on the list, we thought it appropriate to treat ourselves. For this special dinner, we paired Moondance Farm Rib-Eyes with Winemaker Series Norton 42. This award-winning bold, dry red wine is full of old-world charm and dark fruit aromas. Its subtle oak and integrated tannin structure are the perfect complements to the marbling and rich beefy flavors of the Rib-Eye steak. Seasoned only with sea salt and coarse ground black pepper, the organically grown beef was simply made for this beautiful wine, which is crafted using the highest quality blocks of Norton grapes in our St. James, Missouri vineyard. The way in which the flavors meld together as you savor each juicy bite and each balanced sip is simply magic.

We’d love to hear from you!

Are you a St. James Winery wine and barbecue food pairing expert? Do you have a barbecue and wine pairing that makes you a backyard hero and don’t see it on our list? Share it with us in a comment! We’d love to experience the flavors!

March 24, 2022/by shanastephenson

Cranberry Wine Recipe Guide

Cocktails, seasonal wine, wine & food

Inspired by our love of the season and Cranberry Wine, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite recipes in one handy guide. We invite you to cook, bake, mix, and shake your way through the holidays with us.

Cr anberry Wine Poached Pears are a beautiful and aromatic addition to your holiday celebration. In addition to being festive and flavorful, we especially love that this dish is prepared in the slow cooker – keeping that all-important stovetop space open. Enjoy alongside vanilla ice cream or whipped mascarpone cheese for an extra decadent experience.

Crantini Cocktail is our unique spin on the classic martini. Crafted with just three ingredients – Cranberry wine, vodka, and fresh lemon or lime, the holiday flavor and color shine brilliantly. Simple and fun to create, the Crantini is a crowd pleaser and a show-stopper at gatherings large and small.

Cranberry Cakes are made from scratch little bundles of pure joy. These cakes are baked in either a mini bundt pan or a muffin tin, the individual-sized cakes are moist, delicious, and pretty enough to gift.

Cozy Cranberry Mulled Wine is a Saturday afternoon staple around the fireplace during the cold winter months. We recommend enjoying this delicious holiday-inspired mulled wine with your favorite companion and a fuzzy blanket.

Cranberry Holiday Sangria is our newest addition to the collection and was created in collaboration with our friends at Just a Taste in St. James, Missouri. A thoughtful blend of your choice of red wine, Raspberry wine, and Cranberry wine, the Cranberry Holiday Sangria is a flavor experience you won’t want to miss this season.

: Cranberry Wine Poached Pears

: Crantini

: Cranberry Wine Cakes

: Cozy Cranberry Mulled Wine

: Cranberry Holiday Sangria

December 10, 2021/by shanastephenson

Summer is Twice as Nice with Peachy Sangria Wine!

Canned Wine, punch & sangria, seasonal wine, sparkling wine, st. james winery, sweet wine, wine & food

Peachy Sangria wine is a light and fresh blend of award-winning St. James Winery Peach, Raspberry, and Moscato wines, and it has returned just in time for summertime sipping. In each bottle of Peachy Sangria, you’ll enjoy aromas and flavors of freshly sliced peaches and juicy Moscato with a touch of raspberry on the finish. Peachy Sangria fan, Connie from Texas writes, “I love sweet wines and this is a perfect combination of peaches and sangria. I love the taste!”

That’s not all, peach fans, there’s more. Peachy Sangria now has a Sparkling partner! New Sparkling Peachy Sangria begins with the same blend of award-winning St. James Winery Peach, Raspberry, and Moscato wines. Then, our team adds just the right amount of sparkle and packages it in ready-to-drink 12-ounce cans. It’s a winning combination that’s right at home at the lake, poolside, and at your next backyard barbeque.

You’ll appreciate that both versions of Peachy Sangria wines are crafted with all-natural fruit, with never any artificial colors or flavors. The fruit flavors shine in these wines, and the Moscato adds a unique layer of both aroma and flavor. The wines are fruity and light without being overly sweet. Just perfect to quench your thirst on a relaxing summer evening.

Peachy Sangria and Sparkling Peachy Sangria are available today in our St. James, Missouri tasting room. Our tasting room is open seven days a week and conveniently located along I-44 at exit 195. Plan your visit and join us for a guided tasting.

Peachy Sangria and Sparkling Peachy Sangria are coming soon to a retail store near you. Bookmark the handy Store Locator tool for ease in locating retail outlets.

Read more about the original Peachy Sangria wine from Executive Winemaker Andrew Meggitt HERE.

June 23, 2021/by shanastephenson

Country White Fruit Cocktail

Wine Cocktails

This refreshing recipe will leave you and your guests wowed and wanting more.

Ingredients:

1 1/4cup of Country White Wine

1/4 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint (optional)

1/2 cantaloupe cut into bite-sized pieces

1 pint fresh strawberries hulled and cut in half

1 cup blueberries

Instructions:

Place wine with sugar in a saucepan over medium heat to dissolve sugar. Remove saucepan from heat and add mint. Set aside. Combine fruit in a large bowl and toss with wine mixture until all fruit is covered. Cover and chill to store in refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours before serving.

March 7, 2018/by

Celebrate the start of grape harvest in the Meramec Highlands!

events, harvest, innovations, parties, press release, tastings, wine & food

St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company are hosting their inaugural Crush Festival at The Gardens in St. James, Mo. on Saturday, August 26 from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. The Gardens is located between the winery and brewery in St. James, Mo. (551 State Route B, St. James, MO 65559).

We have many FREE fun activities planned for the day:

GRAPE STOMP | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Stomp grapes in a barrel like Lucy! We promise we don’t use this juice in our wine!

BREWERY/WINERY TOURS AND TASTING | 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
All tours start at the brewery Tasting Bar and end at the winery.

COOPERAGE DEMO | 4:30 p.m.
Learn how wine barrels are made. Representatives from Independent Stave Company in Lebanon, Mo. will provide a live demonstration.

LIVE MUSIC
- Greg Oliveras | 11 a.m.
- Steve Kirn | 3 p.m.
- Hey Dave | 7 p.m.

TICKETED THREE-COURSE SHRIMP BOIL AND WINE PAIRINGS
In addition to the events in The Gardens, we are holding an exclusive ticketed three-course Shrimp Boil with select wine pairings starting at 6:30 p.m. at a special location – the St. James Winery Vineyard Cottage (19506 CR 1000, St. James, MO 65559), which is next to the winery’s vineyards.

Tickets are limited to 40 seats. Cost per ticket is $40.

MENU

Reception Course:

Brut Champagne American (effervescent sparkling wine with flavors of bright citrus, peach and honeycomb) paired with Andouille and Havarti Croquets with smoked paprika and garlic aioli.

Shrimp Boil Course:

Pioneer White (dry white wine with smokey oak and pineapple aromas with zesty gooseberry and kiwi on the palate) paired with Shrimp, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes and onions.

Dessert Course:

Summer Berry (with a sweet blend of Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry and Raspberry wines, it has a refreshing and lively fruit punch flavor with tart berry and stone fruits) paired with Angel Food Cake with whipped cream topped with fresh fruit from the local Farmer’s Market.

Purchase Shrimp Boil tickets online now: https://phbc.ticketspice.com/shrimp-boil-the-crush-festival

July 19, 2017/by CurlyHost

Introducing St. James Winery’s Winemaker Series

dry wine, events, tastings, wine & food

We are excited to announce our new line, the Winemaker Series. This collection features select wines that are carefully crafted by our St. James Winery Cellar Crew. The wines are handmade in small batches – typically anywhere from 50 to 500 cases – and feature the best-of-the-best varietals and blocks of grapes.

Fans of St. James Winery may recognize the varietals and blends as having been originally a part of our Podium Series, a line of innovative R&D wines. These selected wines have now been time-tested and have grown in popularity. They’ve been moved into the Winemaker Series to give the wines and our winemaking team recognition for their high quality grapes and winemaking skills.

The special packaging for the Winemaker Series, designed in-part by the winemakers themselves, highlights the high quality nature of the wine inside. The label notes details such as the growing region and even the vineyard blocks where the grapes were harvested. These factors contribute to the distinctive flavors captured in the bottle.

The first four wines released in the Winemaker Series include our 2016 vintages of Chambourcin, Dry Vignoles, Seyval and The Folly. There will be additional wines released into this line in the future.

2016 Chambourcin

Smoky and dark flavors entwined with raspberry and dark chocolate aromas, exposed on the palate as liquorice, tobacco and oak.
Dry Red Wine | Cases bottles: 50 | ABV: 12.5%
More Details

2016 Dry Vignoles

Beautiful floral nose with juicy, bright flavors of melon, peach and pineapple. Crisp, light mouthfeel with excellent acid and a fruity finish.
Dry White Wine | Cases bottles: 117 | ABV: 11.5%
More Details

2016 Seyval

Aromas of melon and grapefruit with bright acid and a crisp palate of lemon, green apple and slate.
Dry White Wine | Cases bottles: 227 | ABV: 11.5%
More Details

2016 The Folly

Medium-bodied white wine with honeyed peach overtones and beautiful tangerine spice flavors.
Dry White Wine | Cases bottles: 140 | ABV: 11.5%
More Details

These four Winemaker Series wines will be released on Friday, May 19, 2017.

Join us for a complimentary wine tasting and food pairing that night from 5 to 8 p.m. held in the St. James Winery Tasting Room (540 State Route B, St. James, MO 65559), as part of our Little Italy of the Ozarks Festival. Each wine will be paired with bites from the Public House Brewing Company: St. James Taproom restaurant:

2016 Chambourcin with Heritage Pasta
2016 Dry Vignoles with Margherita Pizza
2016 Seyval with Spring Salad
2016 The Folly with Pretzel Bites

After the event, our Little Italy of the Ozarks Festival continues in The Gardens with an outdoor movie at 9 p.m.

Try the new Winemaker Series this summer and rediscover unique wines, handcrafted by our St. James Winery Cellar Crew.

April 19, 2017/by CurlyHost

Two Movie Series Under the Stars

events, parties, st. james winery, wine & food

One of the best things about summertime is getting to enjoy the outdoors, and there are few things better than an outdoor movie and cold drinks with friends after the sun goes down.

Back by popular demand, St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company are excited to announce their outdoor movie line-ups for Beer, Pizza & a Movie in The Gardens, as well as Movie Night in the Vineyard for the 2017 season.

BEER, PIZZA & A MOVIE IN THE GARDENS
Beer, Pizza & a Movie in The Gardens is held the last Thursday night of every month from April to October in The Gardens (551 State Route B, St. James, Mo. 65559), the beautifully landscaped outdoor seating area between the Public House Brewing Company St. James Taproom and St. James Winery. Admission is free.

Enjoy popcorn, pretzels, our full restaurant menu and wood-fired pizza menu, along with craft beers, wine, hard cider, wine slushies (when the weather is warm) and spiked hot drinks (when the weather is cool). No outside food or drink is allowed in The Gardens.

The Gardens Movie Schedule
• Guardians of the Galaxy – Thursday, April 27
• The Breakfast Club – Thursday, May 25
• Batman – Thursday, June 29
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Thursday, July 27
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Thursday, August 31
• Happy Gilmore – Thursday, September 28
• Signs – Thursday, October 26

The movie starts at sunset. Please bring appropriate clothing and blankets as needed. Limited seating is available so feel free to bring your own.

MOVIE NIGHT IN THE VINEYARD
Movie Night in the Vineyard is held on select Saturdays from May to September at the St. James Vineyard Cottage (19506 CR 1000, St. James, Mo. 65559), the scenic outdoor area next to the St. James Winery vineyards and farm. Admission is free.

Wine, beer, hard cider, juice, and soda will be available for purchase – no outside alcohol is allowed. Bring your own picnic supplies, purchase our fresh popcorn or packaged candy, or try one of our new food trucks this year.

Vineyard Movie Schedule
• Mother’s Day – Saturday, May 13
• Star Wars: Rogue One – Saturday, June 17
• Moana – Saturday, July 15
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – Saturday, August 19
• Grease – Saturday, September 16

The vineyard gate opens at 6:30 p.m. and the movie starts at sunset. Bring your own seating, as well as appropriate clothing and blankets as needed. Please, no smoking.

March 28, 2017/by CurlyHost

Little Italy of the Ozarks Festival

events, our people, parties, st. james winery, wine & food

Winemaking, farming, food and coming together for community events have a long history in the St. James area. Known locally as the Meramec Highlands, our region is also fondly known as “Little Italy of the Ozarks” thanks to the establishment of an Italian settlement here more than a century ago.

Join St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company as we celebrate the area’s Italian heritage at our Little Italy of the Ozarks Festival on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20, 2017 at The Gardens. This beautifully landscaped outdoor seating area is located between the winery and brewery (551 State Route B, St. James, MO 65559).

In addition to many entertaining activities, the two-day festival ends on Saturday with a ticketed Traditional Rosati-style Spaghetti Dinner under an outdoor tent where you’ll feel like part of the family.

Buy Tickets Now!

Friday
First, we’ll kick off the festivities in the St. James Winery Tasting Room on Friday night from 5 to 8 p. m. with the release of the new Winemaker Series. This new line of wines is handmade in small batches by our St. James Winery Cellar Crew. Taste complimentary samples of the first four releases, along with Public House Brewing Company food pairings:

Chambourcin with Heritage Pasta
Dry Vignoles with Margherita Pizza
Seyval with Spring Salad
The Folly with Pretzel Bites

Next, walk over to The Gardens for a 9 p.m. showing of Under the Tuscan Sun (PG-13) on our huge outdoor screen. The movie features a writer who impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany, Italy in order to change her life.

Saturday
On Saturday, The Gardens open at 11 a.m. Our wood-fired pizza kitchen and regular kitchen will be open all day, serving made-from-scratch food, craft beer, wine, hard cider, wine slushies and non-alcoholic beverages.

Local youth soccer coach and St. James Winery Executive Winemaker Andrew Meggitt will host a Soccer Tutorial on foot skills for all ages from 2 to 3 p.m. to celebrate Italy’s most popular sport.

Kansas City band Red Velvet Crush will be performing pop and rock music from 12 to 3 p.m. Acoustic artist Nicole Nelson from Nashville, TN will perform pop and soulful rock songs with an earthy flair from 5 to 8 p.m.

Starting at 5 p.m. we’ll recreate the Traditional Rosati-style Spaghetti Dinners with a ticketed dinner under an outdoor tent. For $10, you receive a heaping portion of spaghetti in a traditional, local-recipe Italian sauce with meatballs, garlic bread sticks, spring salad, slice of cake and a non-alcoholic drink.

Buy Tickets Now!

EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, May 19

Wine Tasting & Food Pairing
Winemaker Series Release
5 – 8 p.m.
St. James Winery Tasting Room

Outdoor Movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”
9 p.m.

Saturday, May 20

Live Music
Red Velvet Crush | 12 – 3 p.m.
Nicole Nelson | 5 – 8 p.m.

Soccer Tutorial
Foot skills for all ages
2 – 3 p.m.

Traditional Rosati-style Spaghetti Dinner
$10 per ticket
5 – 8 p.m.

March 27, 2017/by CurlyHost

St. James Winery sweepstakes offers float trip down Missouri’s spring-fed waterways

events, great deals, parties, press release, st. james winery, wine & food

ST. JAMES, Mo. (March 1, 2017) – St. James Winery is offering people the chance to spend a summer weekend living the region’s outdoor lifestyle. From March 1, 2017 until April 30, 2017, people can enter daily in a sweepstakes to win a float trip for eight people in Missouri’s Meramec River region.

“This sweepstakes allows us show people the unique outdoor traditions we have in the Meramec Highlands region,” said Peter Hofherr, St. James Winery’s CEO. “Our vineyards sustainably grow flavors that reflect the natural character of each of our grape varieties and the special place they are grown. Our intention is to share our area with others so they can experience how the outdoors enrich our lives and how we make your life sweeter with St. James wine.”

Winners of the sweepstakes will receive a trip for eight people the weekend of Friday, August 4, 2017 through Sunday, August 6, 2017. The trip includes:

Two (2) night stay in a cabin at Bass’ River Resort in Steelville, Mo. on Friday and Saturday night
Dinner and drinks at Public House Brewing Company: St. James Taproom and tour of the Fermentation Campus, which includes the brewery and St. James Winery, in St. James, Mo. on Friday night
Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday at Bass’ River Resort
Bag lunch and float trip on Saturday at Bass’ River Resort
BBQ dinner on Saturday night at Bass’ River Resort
Tour of St. James Winery vineyards and lunch at St. James Vineyard Cottage on Sunday

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not increase the chances of winning. Winners must be available for the weekend chosen. If the winner is not available, an alternate winner will be chosen by St. James Winery to receive the prize. Entrants, winner and participants must be 21 year old. View full terms and conditions.

View Full Terms and Conditions

March 1, 2017/by CurlyHost

Champagne Tasting Event on March 17

dry wine, events, innovations, parties, sparkling wine, st. james winery, wine & food

When we re-released our Brut Champagne American in the summer of 2016, we shared the story of our champagne-making process and the potential disaster that ultimately led to greatness.

Of the three exceptionally small batches made, Bin 3 was the first to be released in June 2016 with only 18 cases produced. It had a pronounced floral nose, with flavors of bright citrus, peach and honeycomb with a lively effervescence and medium creamy body.

Now Bin 1 and Bin 2, with 4 cases and 12 cases produced respectively, are ready to be released.

Join us at the Brut Champagne American Tasting Event on Friday, March 17, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the St. James Winery Tasting Room in St. James, Mo.

You’ll be the first to taste these two very limited sparkling wines and pair them with cheese, chocolate and fruit. The wines will also be available for purchase that evening, while supplies last.

February 14, 2017/by CurlyHost