Le Cave opened the doors to its lovely winery and vineyard on Memorial Day weekend, 2007. And we just celebrated our FIRST birthday! Wow, it doesn’t seem that a year has already passed - we’re too busy thinking up more fun and games, and meeting all the wonderful guests who have visited our winery! So we take this opportunity to say “THANK YOU” to all of you who have visited, told your friends about us, and come back again and again. How wonderful you are and we appreciate you!
For those of you who haven’t come to see us yet, get moving!!! Just outside of Billings, Missouri, approximately 25 miles southwest of Springfield, it’s a country drive, but you won’t be disappointed, we promise! Our welcoming committee (consisting of a yellow lab named “Luke”, a tiny rotund dachshund “Captain Jack Sparrow”, and a very stately and dignified shepherd “Eiko”) meet your car and lead you to the parking area. Greetings are called out from the outdoor tasting deck where guests relax under beautiful shade trees sampling estate bottled offerings from Le Cave’s impressive list. Pure hospitality and “down home” friendly are the signature of this Missouri winery.
For those of you who have visited, here’s the latest: The upstairs tasting loft IS almost finished and we are now collecting our furnishings and fixtures - The fireplace and wide screen T.V. are ready for fall football !
We welcome our daughter Rae to the vineyard! She moved here from Georgia. Not merely an additional pair of hands, she’s cute too! Unfortunately, we bid fond (and tearful) farewell to our son Blair, who must follow his passion as a firefighter. Godspeed, son, and we wish you success! Blair also took vines from the vineyard with him, which have been duly planted at his new home - his other passion is having a vineyard of his very own one day - a votre santé to you and may your vines grow tall and strong and make lots of grapes!
As for the wines – our current menu features three scrumptious fruit wines, two exceptionally nice barrel aged reds (Victoria and Frontenac), a unique white that loves seafood (Aurore), a Missouri chambourcin port, a Table Red, and YES, we do have Swannee Belle, but the Frambois is dangerously low! However, fear not!....”
NEW WINES will be out soon! Approximately SIX wines are scheduled for release beginning in July and continuing to the first of the year. “Remson” and “Blackberry Dessert Wine” will return soon, and also our new Chambourcin Table Wine, another new decadent Missouri port, a lovely new Vignoles, and “Afterthought” will also return! (Side note: 2009 may bring a lovely surprise - champagne!!!)
Tastings are offered with pairings of crackers, cheese, shrimp and chocolate. (Luke and Captain Jack have been known to beg!) Snack boxes and cold wines are in the cooler to take out on the deck. Picnics are WELCOME. The Whites are great story tellers, and you will often find the family dancing on the deck, slapping brats on the grill at a moment’s notice, or churning ice cream on a hot day!
Speaking of bands, YES, we have them! See our “Upcoming Events” section for our calendar!
NEW retail is on its way, and we’re soooooo excited! Just wait until you see our new “Bitch Bags” and “Icestirs”, and taste the Chocolate Merlot Fudge sauce! Did I mention the winesox decorated with feather boas??? You gotta see and you won’t find these things elsewhere either! Also, gift baskets are always available and you can customize for any event!
The 16 acre vineyard is still under cultivation. Varieties range from Norton, Frontenac and Chambourcin to Vignole, Seyval, Golden Muscat, Auroré, Chardonel, Catawba, Concord, and their newest Sangiovese vines. The vines are looking great this year and we look forward to a bountiful harvest in the early fall!
Le Cave was also involved in the formation of the newest wine trail in Missouri – the Ozark Mountain Region Wine Trail – which was organized and born in August, 2007.
The ambience is wonderful. Le Cave is just home folks and they definitely love what they’re doing! The grape vines are beautiful and the wine is superb. Do yourself a favor – take a road trip to Billings, Missouri, and visit Le Cave Vineyards – SOON! See y’all soon!
A votre santé !
Below are a few phtotos from the Le Cave Vineyard family.....
