Category Archives: USA

Travel, USA, Wines

Interesting Winery Find in Kansas City – Amigoni Urban Winery

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We traveled to Kansas City this weekend to meet my 6-week old grandson, Easton Ruegg (an adorable future baseball player). While thinking of things to do on a beautiful autumn day, with the tree leaves at full color, my daughter-in-law Rebekah suggested that we try a new winery/wine tasting room in downtown Kansas City. Located at 1505 Genessee in the historic Telegram building, Amigoni Urban Winery was a pleasant surprise, as I have never been a fan of Missouri wineries…

Owner Michael Amigoni has created a popular, comfortable wine tasting room here, with a full selection of wines, consisting of 80% local Missouri and 20% Lodi, California grapes from (Stokes Family Vineyard). My first thought before going in was “oh, no – not another Missouri Winery with typical Missouri grapes – Norton, Chardonelle, etc.  But I quickly learned that Amigoni is the only Missouri winery to feature entirely “Vinis Vitifera,” meaning that they only grow and use the typical popular grape varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, etc.). Michael Amigoni has figured out how to grow these varietals in west-central Missouri. All of Amigoni’s wines are small batch, Missouri Oak barrel fermented wines.


The tasting menu would make one think they were in a California tasting room, with straight varietals (Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot), as well as a number of interesting “Urban” blends. Amigoni also said he will release both a Barbera and a Cinsault (or Cinsaut) soon. With his northern Italy roots, the Barbera should be great. The normal tasting is 5 pre-selected wines (out of 13 available) for $6 – a great bargain. I added in 5 additional tastes at $1 each (strictly for the purpose of research for this blog!).

My (brief) tasting notes:

  • 2014 Sauvignon Blanc: Very crisp and dry; Nose is grapefruit, with pineapple and lemon on the palate. Very light and drinkable.
  • 2014 Viognier: Nice violet aroma, with a balanced honey and cherry taste.
  • 2013 Urban Rose’: Dry Cabernet Franc Rose’: A funky nose, very light taste with a nice strong Cab Franc finish.
  • 2013 Urban Cepages (80% Grenache, 20 % Cab Sauv): Very nice wine! I bought a few bottles to age up to 5 years. A beautiful Grenache flavor in the mouth, with a nice Cab finish. Like two wines in one.
  • 2013 Cabernet Franc: Aged 18 months in Missouri Oak. Heavy cherry notes, with light vanilla and tobacco. A good wine, but not a typical Cab Franc to me.
  • 2012 Merlot: A big, full-bodied Merlot. Cherry and blueberry – aged 14 months. A great Merlot for a Missouri wine.
  • 2013 Urban Vaquero (66% Tempranillo, 34% Merlot): My favorite wine here! Very soft on the palate, with a surprising spicy finish.
  • 2013 Urban Red (83% Cab Sauv, 7% Cab Franc, 7 % Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot: A Bordeaux-style blend, but doesn’t taste like a normal Bordeaux wine. A light earth aroma with a slightly sour cherry taste. Not one I would personally care for. This one did remind me of a more typical Missouri wine for some reason.
  • 2013 Urban Drover (50% Cab Franc, 50% Petit Verdot): Aged 18 months in French and Missouri oaks. A nice, mature nose, with dark cherry and spice. A nice wine, but lighter than I expected.
  • 2012 Petit Verdot: Aged 24 months in Missouri oak. Full bodied and smooth. Slight grassy or celery note to it, but a nice wine. Again – not like a California Petit Verdot would be, with the rich, velvety feel.

In addition, Amigoni offers local beer flights, as well as an excellent Root Cellar “Row Hard” Root Beer! This reminded me of the A&W root beer I used to make when I worked there 40 years ago. They also offer a nice cheese plate and a sausage and cheese plate. Perfect for pairing with the wines.

Some really exciting news is that in mid-November, Amigon is releasing the first commercially available “Vino Ketchup!” A ketchup with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (no alcohol content). I’d love to try this!

All is all, a wonderful, pleasing experience. A definitely recommend a visit to Amigoni Urban Winery if you are in Kansas City. The place was packed today!

Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.

Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.

Lastly… grab a glass of wine, and ENJOY!!!

Texas Wines, Travel, USA, Wines

One of my recent Texas wines…. from Kuhlman Cellars

Over the past few years, I have posted to my personal Facebook page a number of photos and thoughts about wines I have had that evening.  To get started, I’ll put a few of those on my first few posts.  This is truly a work in progress, so please bear with me!

I’ll start with a local Texas wine – from Texas Hill Country, about 1 hour west of Austin (from about Hye to Fredericksburg).  For those who have never tried Texas wines, I was absolutely amazed at the wines they have here.  Texas Hill Country has become the #2 region for winery visits in the U.S.  The Texas Hill Country has become an award winning wine region, and makes some of the best Tempranillo’s anywhere!

Texas Hill Country Wineries link

Texas Hill Country Wine Map

Kuhlman Cellars is one of the newer wineries, in the “town” of Stonewall, just west of Hye, just east of the LBJ Ranch, and features an excellent wine and appetizer pairing (by appointment).  Jeremy Wilson is one of their excellent sommeliers, and is an excellent host!

Kuhlman Tasting & Pairing

http://www.kuhlmancellars.com        https://www.facebook.com/kuhlmancellars

Kuhlman Cellars has a lovely selection of wines, including Sauvignon Blanc (90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillion); Calcaria (75% Trebbiano, 17% Roussanne & 8% Viognier); Roussanne; Viognier, Alluve (59% Carignan, 22% Grenache & 19%Petite Sirah); Baranca (82% Carignan, 9% Petite Sirah & 9% Grenache); and Kankar (43% Malbec, 38% Petite Sirah & 19% Sangiovese).

2012 Kuhlman Cellars Alluve

Last night’s wine – a 2012 Kuhlman Cellars “Alluve’ – Sonoma County” ($28).  A Texas Hill Country winery, using Sonoma County grapes for this blend of 59% Carignan, 22% Petite Syrah, and 19% Grenache.   The blend of primarily Petite Sirah and Carignan together creates a beautiful red-purple color.  The nose displays an amazing blend of aromas such as blackberry and plums, with a touch of black licorice.  The flavors that come out of the taste in the mouth are well balanced, and the use of Grenache lightens up the wine to keep it from being potentially heavy.   There are subtle hints of coffee and sweet plums, with a touch of leather.  As with many Texas wines, this is a wine that is very enjoyable now, and for the next 5-7 years.  It paired very well with lamb chops, but would also go well with steak, bison, or venison.  And Kuhlman Cellars recommends to pair Alluve’ with their own herbed almonds.

Kuhlman does some fantastic pairings with their wines. Another of the newer “must visits” on the 290 wine trail west of Austin!

Feel free to leave a comment below, and to subscribe on the left, so you get notified of new posts.

Also, feel free to email me privately at: stevestastingsandtravel@gmail.com.

Lastly… grab a glass of wine, and ENJOY!!!