Wine Country

It has always been a dream of ours to travel to Tuscany…or Alsace…or Napa….

Until then, we will make do with our Arkansas wine odysseys.

Every year we travel to Hot Springs for the Arkansas Derby and a bit of relaxation.  (See my last post.)   On our trip home, we always stop in Altus and at least one winery.  Chateau Aux Arc has been a favorite for many years.  We have bought numerous cases of wine there as well as Cynthiana grape vines for our own mini-vineyard.   In 2012, I posted about a visit and a kind soul commented about Mount Bethel Winery.   I have wanted to visit ever since.

We made Mount Bethel our first stop.   As the long ago comment mentioned, “It is not a showy place.”   But, it is a family run business with deep roots and lots of charm.

We pulled in on a Sunday morning around 11:45.  (The website stated the tasting room opened at noon.)   The door was opened so we sauntered on in.   Behind the cash register sat a lovely older women, the matriarch of the family, who welcomed us warmly while chiding that we had caught her in her apron.   I laughed along with her and told her we could wait outside but she said she would be more than happy to help us until “the girls” showed up.

When she found out we were returning from the races, she let us know that they had raced horses on Thursday and Friday of that week and had done pretty well.  We were intrigued by her stories.   She said the winners had probably greeted us on the way in.

Thoroughbreds at Mount Bethel Winery and Farms

We sipped four wines but ended up purchasing their Cynthiana, their Cabernet Sauvignon, and their Chardonnay.   One of “the girls” arrived and told us more horse racing stories.

Some more charm at Mount Bethel Winery.

Before we left, I asked what name they raced under, assuming it would be Mount Bethel.   The matriarch of the family laughed and said that their horse racing venture didn’t have a name yet and that they were just getting started.  “We are now just getting three-year-olds.”  With a laugh she continued, “I don’t know what it is about our business model but we seem to get into things that require a long time to pay off.”

The tasting room here has an authentic European feel as you step down into a cellar-like room.   It is small and cozy with native rock walls and definitely feels subterranean.    We will certainly add this winery to our yearly traditional trip.

Next we revisited Chateau Aux Arc.   I really do like this place.   We bellied up to the tasting room bar and were treated to the full tasting (minus some of their sweeter stuff—we just don’t have the palate for that).

Wines at Chateau Aux Arc

We were soon joined by a girls-gone-wine group that were intent on visiting all the wineries in the area.  Soon a couple joined us.   Pouring and describing the wines kept our host hopping.   She did a good job.

We bought a case.

All sold out.

Sadly though, there were no Cynthiana  vines to be had this year.

On our way back to I-40, we spotted a new winery that had a small tasting room in a portable building:  Dionysus Wine.   We could have made a U-turn but we were hungry and probably had tasted quite enough wine at this point.  We will have to make this a stop on our next trip.

We headed to Ozark for some good old fashioned barbecue at Rivertowne BBQ.   We had visited here once before and remembered their ‘que as being quite tasty.

Pulled pork sandwich with sweet potato fries.

I love their sweet potatoes fries.   The fries are served with a super sweet molasses-like dipping sauce.   Again, I don’t go in for that sweet of stuff but it does seem to be a favorite and a specialty of the restaurant.

This is a small sandwich.  I bet it was at least three inches high.

Vines at Chateau Aux Arc

If you are ever in the area, I highly suggest you take the windy road from I-40 to Altus and enjoy the drive and the sips.