Fall is the best time of year in Missouri wine country. At Noboleis Vineyards, located in the heart of the Augusta AVA, fall is all about harvest! Over the past 6 weeks, the Noboleis winemaking team has been fully immersed in picking, processing and pressing their grapes. With four varietals growing on over 17 acres of their property, it is a large job. Just last week, the Norton fields were harvested. Here’s how the process goes: The grape picker drives over the vines and shakes them. All fully mature grapes will be ripe enough to fall right of the vines with just a little pressure. Once off the vines, they head to the crush pad where they are first put through the destemmer, which helps separate out any unwanted foliage, such as twigs and leaves. Next, the grapes are partially crushed to prepare them for the press. Finally, in the press, the grapes are rolled and pressed to release all the juices needed to help Noboleis produce their award-winning wines.
This years’ Norton harvest was particularly bountiful. Even with a late frost in April causing some damage early on in the growing season, the crop yield was abundant. Winemaker, Gabe Miller, was anticipating around 8 tons of grapes from the Norton field this year; they ended up with 11 tons of high-quality fruit. This bodes well for the 2021 vintage of their Norton wine! The Norton grape, which is the Missouri state grape, naturally boasts big flavors such as cherries and black berries, with earthy undertones and hints of chocolate and vanilla. Perfect for giving a dry wine some depth and dimension. So next time you find yourselves in Missouri wine country, be sure to stop by Noboleis Vineyards and give their Norton a try, it’s a superb choice for a crisp, Fall day.
This October, Noboleis celebrates their 11th Anniversary and are the only remaining family owned and operated winery in the Augusta area. With over a decade of winemaking under their belts, the family and staff at Noboleis love to share their knowledge and passion with guests while helping them choose the perfect wines for their visit. They are open daily from 11am to 5pm, closed on Tuesdays. Be sure to check out their website for events and tips to help plan your ultimate winery trip. Cheers! noboleisvineyards.com