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Venture blends history with Commerce winery
NEW MADRID - It is a blend as natural as the wines they sell. River Ridge Winery of Commerce and the New Madrid Historical Museum have combined to offer visitors and local residents an opportunity to enjoy wines, grape-related products and a historic setting.
The joint project of the winery and museum with the encouragement of the New Madrid Chamber of Commerce began March 17 with the arrival of American Queen steamboat along the riverfront. Passengers from the boat simply crossed the levee to the museum's Hart-Stepp House located on Waters Street. Here they were invited inside to taste the fruits of the River Ridge Winery's labors.
"We are kind of feeling our way along this project," said Jerry Smith, who owns the winery with his wife, Joannie.
Currently plans call for the joint venture to be open for the 18 scheduled stops by the riverboat line along with special events in the community.
From behind his wooden bar in the front room of the Hart-Stepp House, Smith offers guests a taste of the wines produced at the winery tucked along the hills of Scott County at Commerce, just up river from New Madrid.
He explains how a majority of the grapes used in producing their wines are grown in their vineyard. With the flick of his wrist, he pours a small amount into the wineglass commenting on each wine's background, the grapes used, the aging process and more. Customers are offered the various River Ridge wines including the white dry wines like Chardonnay, their trademark Serendipity and Vignoles, which is bottled three different ways; the red wines, Chambourchin and Cynthiana; and dessert wines.
After the tastings, customers are invited to purchase the wines that range in price from $10 to $26.
Here visitors will also find wine-related items such as stained glass, napkins, aprons, books and glassware along with food items such as the winery's pickled garlic and roasted garlic grapeseed oil. Eventually, Mrs. Smith said they may also offer a limited menu, such as picnic meal of bread, cheese and bratwurst.
The opening went well said Smith. "It was fun and we had a good turnout. There were people here promptly at 8 a.m. when we opened. The locals joined us later in the day. We are pleased with the reception we received," he said.
"The hospitality has been wonderful," agreed Mrs. Smith. "We hope this is beneficial to New Madrid and the people in general."
Equally pleased with the opening are members of the New Madrid Historical Museum, which owns the 160-year-old house, next to the river levee. Ann Copeland, a member of the museum's board of trustees, said opening the Hart-Stepp Home to the public through the winery began as an idea to offer more for visitors to do in New Madrid.
"We think the more we have to offer tourists, the more tourists who will come," said Copeland. "And it will provide the public an opportunity to see the oldest house in town."
The March 17 event was a hit with those who have visited River Ridge Winery, Copeland said, and for those residents, who had not been to the Commerce business, it gave them an opportunity to learn more about Missouri wines. "Some people got their first taste of our local wines," she noted.
As the tourism season advances, the River Ridge Winery will be open at the Hart-Stepp house for the next 17 scheduled boat stops, including one planned for March 29. Also there are tentative plans for joint advertising by the winery and museum.
Other stops scheduled by the riverboat tourism company are for April 21 (two boats will stop); May 16; June 2, 10, 18, 22 and 25; Aug. 11, 30 and 31; Sept. 5 and 9; Oct. 30; and on Nov. 8 and 14.