Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery

     Dwayne and I took one of our many driving tours, Sunday, January 28th and, as my friends know, I like to take off in any direction and end up where I end up. Dwayne doesn't so we headed south anyway, looking for landscape photography possibilities. In short, we ended up at the Somerset Vineyard and Winery.
     Now, I became a wine enthusiast after I graduated from Arizona State University and was transferred to Los Angeles. I became interested in wines while in Arizona and I made a trip or two to the Brookside Winery (now deceased) just south of Phoenix. In the 80s I began to explore Santa Barbara County for it's wines. I was a frequent visitor to the Firestone winery and Zaca Mesa, both presenting rich red wines. It was there I learned that great wines come from regions where there is sandy soil, and cool Fall seasons. The soil here in Kansas is composed of clay with a little dirt on top, and the temperatures are extreme: I thought not a good area for growing wine grapes.
     Driving South, we barely noticed a sign instructing us to take the next exit to Somerset Winery. As we headed toward the winery, I noticed vines looking out of place with the snow that had fallen around them. In the past, I would have dismissed this winery as a factory where Ripple might have been produced, but the reality is that Somerset Ridge Winery has selected the grapes that grow successfully in this state of extremes.
     Somewhat dubious about wines grown here in Kansas, I didn't expect much, but Somerset Ridge exceeded my expectations. They have 12 varieties of grapes and 8,000 vines, and I found that wine enthusiasts will certainly find wines they enjoy.
     The winery is located in an agricultural area outside of Kansas City Metro. The grounds are attractive and the tasting building is easily accessible from the parking lot. We bellied up to the wine tasting bar and our guide began the tasting by asking us what kinds of wines we enjoy. Both Dwayne and I enjoy dry wines, so we were presented several wines to taste. The first wine presented was their Chardonel, a wine similar to Chardonnay. Chardonel has a crisp finish of pears and green apples and Somerset suggests it be served with salads and fish.
     My favorite wine is their Norton. Somerset Ridge describes this wine as "a classic Norton dry red wine- with a wild fruit aroma (I think it has the aroma of strawberries.) and a firm acidity. It is fermented in small lots and aged in American oak barrels." Another favorite is their Citron, a desert wine consisting of one of their white wines with lemon. This after dinner drink is truly a desert wine reminding me of late harvest Gewurztraminer.
     Somerset has an attractive, indoor tasting area, as well side dishes consisting of crackers, cheese and fruits. They have tables where visitors can sip wines, while enjoying friendly conversations with friends. Somerset Ridge is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM during the winter. When the weather becomes nice, there are more areas where visitors can sit and enjoy their wine and snacks. The winery has entertainment as well. If you are in the area off Highway 169, south of Kansas City, this is a place to visit. See more at: https://somersetridge.com/