*Disclaimer: This content is not paid or sponsored in any way. It is written as an informational guide for readers to explore and experience the winery mentioned in the post.
When you want a selection of wines, more than just a few, then a little general store in Brazeau, Missouri is where you’d find many options. Just past many cornfields, right in the crook of a curved road sits a little old store with a quaint front porch that is called Hemman Winery. The small in stature winery is big on varieties in this family-owned and operated establishment. The 1850’s building that houses the business still has its general store charm from the original wooden floors to the nostalgic items on display, such as vintage salve containers. They offer many other items for wine lovers like hand towels with sayings and bottle stoppers and more. The tables that greet you just beyond the front door feel like a gathering place which is perfect, as Hemman Winery hosts a General Store Cafe with a full menu. You can even order a platter of cheese and sausage with a bottle of wine for less than 25 bucks(taxes not included)! What a deal this great winery offers in a little old general store.
Hemman Winery also offers concerts throughout most of the year. If you are in the area, this would be a nice place to spend some time listening to live music and catching up with an old friend. Or maybe make a new one.
The Wine:
Now as I stated before, Hemman is big on varieties when it comes to their wines. Their offerings are more than twenty wines, closer to thirty. They do sell out of some of the more popular ones and we know that making wine is not an overnight process, so keep that in mind. While I was visiting I think there were about thirteen or fourteen wines that were temporarily out of stock, and there were still about sixteen to choose from. I ended up trying about ten different wines and I can honestly say that there wasn’t anything I frowned at. Not everything was my favorite, but there were quite a few I would always be open to having a glass of.
One of those that I would always be open to a glass of was the Vignoles (vi-yowl). This wine is made from the vignoles, a hybrid grape that is mostly grown in North America in places such as Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky. The Vignoles wine at Hemman was a refreshing, fruity but dry white wine. There are notes of citrus and a light layer of tropical fruit in this wine. It reminded me of a dry sangria. Dry, when dealing with wine, refers to the wine having little to no residual sugar left after fermentation. So this vignoles was similar to a white sangria without the sugar. A sweet wine drinker may enjoy a small amount of this when wanting a quick sip of something refreshing on a hot summer day. Now, if that doesn’t work for you, may I suggest you cut up some fruit of your choice and add it to a pitcher of ice with about a half cup of sugar and a full bottle of Hemman’s Vignoles and make sure you have nowhere to go!
Another one I really enjoyed was the Brazeau Blend. This sweet red wine was delicious and smooth. It was like fruit juice with a low alcohol content. A blend of Concord and Catawba grapes, the Brazeau Blend is a favorite of many.
Speaking of blends, the 1821 celebration wine is awesome. It was created as a special blend for the town of Brazeau’s 200th anniversary just three years ago. I am not sure what grapes come together to make this wine but it was very concord forward to me. If you like Welch’s, this wine will appeal to you. But it has a slight bit of a kick. It is not super strong, therefore it settles on the palate well. They suggest having it with grilled meat, steak or burger. I envisioned having this wine with a cheese board. Sharp and moldy cheeses; cheddar, blue, stilton. The sweet and smooth finish of the wine would play well with the sharp and pungent cheeses.
There are many more wines to try at Hemman Winery. Be prepared to find more than a couple that you like.
The Experience:
This was somewhat of an unexpected stop for me between southeast Missouri and west Tennessee on about a four hour drive. I had seen the signage going one way and on my return trip I decided I had a few minutes to stop in. I was meeting with a friend later that afternoon, so I couldn’t stay long, but it was en route so I wanted to try it out. However, it may be off the beaten path for many people. Even though it was somewhat of a detour for me, it became an alternative route in order to be able to see friends in other places. As any of you travelers know, GPS can be wonderful, but it can also be a talking disturbance with no clear direction. Isn’t that ironic? If you are headed to Hemman, I suggest you call when you’re in the area to ask for clarified directions. Now GPS worked fine for me when I was heading to the winery, but it didn’t seem to be the same when I was leaving. I had entered the destination for where I wanted to go after I left the winery. I just so happened to ask the people at the winery about them and they quickly told me not to follow what I had read. That was very kind of them and their directions were clear and direct. I was able to pick up the right GPS directions once I hit the highway they led me to.
Outside of that, the wine selection was generous. To be honest, it can be a bit overwhelming with so many choices. But gratefully, the servers are not only knowledgeable but kind and they will guide you. For me, the mark of a good wine server is their line of questioning. Most places ask, “Do you like dry or sweet?” when doing a wine tasting. Great question, but some people don’t yet know. Some people are undecided and some desire a little push in order to try new things. At Hemman, I was not only asked ‘dry or sweet’, I was also asked what kind of foods do I liked to eat. I was even asked what are some of my favorite non-alcoholic drinks and how often do I drink wine. Not only does this open up to great conversation, it makes one open up to trying things outside of their own comfort zone. As a coffee and tea drinker, I typically do not like any sweetener in either. I like to taste the notes of the coffee beans or tea leaves as purely as possible. Wine is in that same boat for me. I want to taste it as pure as it comes. That coupled with the fact that my palate can be sensitive to sugars when drinking and it overshadows other notes, I appreciated being asked these questions.
While I was visiting Hemman Winery, there was only one party of about five or six who were enjoying the outdoor seating adjacent to the general store building. This seemed to be a regular thing for them, which says a lot of good about the winery and its atmosphere. There was one other person besides the server inside the building. A local gentleman who seemed to be soaking up the environment and relaxing while the server entertained me and my many questions. Being a local, he was able to answer some of my questions as well.
Overall, I enjoyed many of the wines and felt that this was a nice stop off on my trip. I would visit again for another tasting and to purchase. If you live in the southeastern part of Missouri and even a couple of cities in southern Illinois, Hemman services those areas. There is a list at the bottom of their website (link below). You can also find their wines on shelves in a few locations. But of course, if you can visit the winery at least once, the wines are best served with experience 😉
Tastings:
At the time, the tastings were free. I do not recall if there was a limit. Just keep in mind that the servers are encouraged to cut anyone off who seems over their limit. Please contact them directly for more info.
My Takeaway:
For a nice little stop off in a rural town, Hemman Winery offers a good variety of wines. From traditional to fruit wines, there is something for everyone. Maybe a couple for everyone! The general store look and feel are tastefully nostalgic and make for an atmosphere of slower days. And you know we like to slow down to appreciate moments.
B. Long
For more info go to: https://www.hemmanwinery.com/
