MISSOURI MAGAZINE

Jan 18, 2024 | missourimagazines.com | Bennet Bodenstein

By Bennet BodensteinI have often been questioned on “what makes a wine vegan?” Since wine is made from fruit, mostly grapes, then are they not vegan by definition? The answer is a resounding yes, although that yes is often followed by the most fighting word in the English language, but. While a wine itself will be vegan there are factors in its production that may not be considered vegan, specifically the agents used to clarify a wine.

Sep 28, 2023 | missourimagazines.com | Bennet Bodenstein

By Bennet BodensteinThe classical varieties of cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and chardonnay have found two new champions. About twenty years ago, it was the French made red cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir and the white chardonnay that were considered to be at the very top of the wine pyramid in quality and its corollary, a higher price. That was then and this is now.

Jul 27, 2023 | missourimagazines.com | Bennet Bodenstein

Do you know which country produces the most wine? The answer is Italy followed by Spain, which is followed by France, then comes the United States which is followed by of all places, China. There was a time in the world of wines where to be knowledgeable you had to be a polyglot, a speaker of many languages. The wine lover had to learn foreign words and places to have any idea what they were buying.

Jul 27, 2023 | missourimagazines.com | Bennet Bodenstein

By Bennet Bodenstein The recent explosion of sweet wines onto the market place is new, but not all that new. Modern sweet wines gained public interest with the introduction of sweet blush Zinfandel rosé. Among the first major producers of this style of wine was and often credited with its introduction, is Bob Trinchero of Sutter Home Vineyards. Modern sweet wines are not made by simply adding a sweetener to a finished wine, an act that is illegal in most countries of the world.

Jul 27, 2023 | missourimagazines.com | Bennet Bodenstein

By Bennet Bodenstein I truly believe that in the body of every wine enthusiast there beats the heart of an adventurer. While we all have our favorites there is always the urge to find another wine that we may enjoy. Sometimes we win and then there are the other times. Most of us have achieved great finds and the occasional disappointment, which then goes on our “avoid at all costs” list. It was therefore a great pleasure when I encountered the Butternut California wines.