Hermann Chocolate Wine Trail

This past weekend Wonderful Hubby and I went on the

Chocolate Wine Trail in the Hermann, Missouri area. 

 

 Source

 

 

The Hermann area wineries benefit from fertile soil near the Missouri River.

 

Seven wineries along this trail hosted the event, each preparing a decadent chocolate treat paired with one of their wines.  Most samples were desserts but two offerings featured meat and chocolate recipes.

  

 

This was a two-day event but could be completed in one.  We opted to spend the weekend in the area and stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast in neighboring McKittrick, MO.

 

 

As you can see, it's still winter in these parts but the snow was gone and temperatures were moderate.  Luck must love chocolate and wine, too!

 

 Here are some of the treats we sampled. 

Robller Winery paired their Kasselfest Sweet Red Wine with a Double Chocolate Scone and Fresh Strawberry Reduction.

 

 

 

OakGlenn's offering was a Chocolate Mousse paired with their River View Red. 

 

 

Stone Hill Winery served Cayenne Spiced Chocolate Brownies with their Concord wine.

 

 

 Adam Puchta Winery's White Chocolate Key Lime Cheesecake Bars, paired with Vignoles.

  

 

 

 

 

Decadent Chocolate Truffle Cookies at Bias Winery.  (I have to confess, these cookies were so delicious we ate them while sitting outside on their patio before I remembered to take a photograph.  Sorry.  I thought I'd try the recipe and they turned out great!!  I'll post it at the end.  They freeze well, too.)

 

 

 

 

 

The last two offerings were meat dishes.  Chocolate and meat?  Well, we were game.  The first was from Hermannof Winery.  They served Braised Beef Short Ribs with Chocolate Currant Sauce, paired with Norton.  Wonderful!!!

 

 

 

 

 

And the second was Ground Pork and Chocolate Ragu, paired with Cabernet Sauvignon served at the Dierberg Star Lane Winery.  This winery is affiliated with several California wineries.

  

 

 

 

After visiting several wineries, we stopped at a couple of antique shops in Hermann before heading over to Meyer Hilltop Farm.

 

 

This lovely B&B had once been a working farm but the innkeepers are now semi-retired.  They've hosted guests for nearly 20 years and have even been featured in National Geographic!  Maggie's pancakes were the best I've ever eaten!! 

 

 



The next morning we attended church at St. George Catholic Church back in Hermann.   

 

 

 

 

 

We stayed a bit after the service to take a few photos of the beautiful interior.  The German-style woodcarving was so pretty.

 

 

 

 

After hearing the weather forecast for this weekend and it sounds like winter is making an unwelcome return.  I guess we'll stay snug in our home, make a few more of these recipes and enjoy some Missouri wine!!

 

 

 

Decadent Chocolate Truffle Cookies from Bias Winery

 

 

4 (1-oz.) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped                                6 Tbsp. butter

1 cup semisweet chocolate                                                                     3 eggs

1 cup white sugar                                                                                   1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup all-purpose flour                                                                       1/4 tsp. baking powder

2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder                                                      1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

 

In the microwave, melt unsweetened chocolate, 1 cup of the chocolate chips and the butter, stirring occasionally until smooth.  Set aside to cool.

 

In a large bowl, whip eggs and sugar until thick and pale, about 2 minutes.  Stir in the vanilla and the chocolate mixture until well blended.  Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt.  Gradually stir into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the remaining 1 cup of chocolate chips.  Cover dough and chill for at least an hour or overnight. 

 

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Roll chilled dough into 1-inch balls.  (I used a mini ice cream scoop.)  Place on ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.  Bake for 9 - 11 minutes (9 worked for me; you want them still soft and chewy.)  Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing.

 

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

 



 

Linking to:

 

   The Places I've Been

   Seasonal Sunday

   Foodie Friday