Arkansas is the oldest and largest grape juice and wine producing state in the southern United States. Altus, Arkansas has been producing wine since the 1800s. The Altus wineries were founded by German-Swiss immigrants who settled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. When the ban came, the wineries were less profitable, but the grapes were still grown and many varieties were created here in Arkansas. In fact, many of the wineries here use grapes that were specially developed by botanists at the University of Little Rock (the Cynthiana variety).
Arkansas Wine Quality:
How do we compare to Napa Valley? Wiederkehr Wine Cellars and the Post Familie Vineyard in Altus are the largest producing wineries in the United States. In terms of quality, the wines are rival California wines. Cowie Wine Cellars have won many awards for their wines. There are many unique varieties found in Altus that taste like Arkansas.
Arkansas Wineries:
There are five wineries in Arkansas and they can store approximately 1,230,000 gallons of wine. All five allow tours and, best of all, tasting. They are all within an hour’s drive of each other as well. So, spend a weekend tasting Arkansas wine!
Grape festival:
In July, there is a great wine celebration in Altus. The wineries have grape treads, tastings, contests, and more. It’s a lot of fun and most events and tastings are free.
Contacting and visiting the wineries:
- Cowie Wine Cellars: Cowie Wine Cellars also has a wine museum in Arkansas. Located in Paris, AR. Their site has a map and some information on the wines they produce. 479-963-3990. Post Familie Winery: Located in Altus, the Post Familie Winery is a fifth generation family winery and vineyard. They have excellent wines made from the most famous southern grape, muscadine, as well as some traditional wines. They offer tours of the wine processing plant, tastings and have a great little shop. 479-468-2741.
- Wiederkehr Wineries – Also located in Altus, this is one of the wineries that Cynthiana bottles. They have a wide variety of traditional wines and some Arkansas specialties. Their store is huge, with Arkansas wines, jams and jellies and more. Of course, they offer tastings. They have a restaurant on a grounds with a German theme. Its gardens are impressive. 479-468-2611.
- Chateau Aux Arc – This twenty acre winery is also located in Altus. It is owned by Audrey House, who may have been the youngest vineyard owner in the world when she bought it in 1998. The winery currently includes the largest stand of Chardonnay grapes outside of California. They are the largest producer of Cynthiana grapes in the country, as well as being the largest Zinfandel planter in Arkansas. Additionally, Audrey’s 4,800-square-foot tasting room (which opened two years ago) is the largest among the Altus wineries. This is a must see winery. The building is very easy to miss, but it is worth looking for. They offer a full tasting and their tasting room and grounds remind me of Napa Valley more than any other winery in Arkansas. Easily my favorite. 479-468-4400.
- Mount Bethel Winery: The Mount Bethel Winery is located on Mount Bethel Drive near Highway 64, approximately 1/4 mile east of Altus Arkansas. They have several traditional varieties of grape wine, as well as several specialty wines made from Arkansas-grown fruits. 479-468-2444.
