New Ozarks winery opens: Tyler Ridge

With a list of smooth reds and lively whites, Michael and Kathy Dennis opened Tyler Ridge Vineyard Winery on Saturday, May 5.

Hours are Saturdays 1 p.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

When we visited in mid-afternoon Saturday, the grand opening was crowded as folks congregated around the tasting table and on the deck of the old house the Dennises refurbished.

They planted grapes a decade ago on more than two acres roughly five miles north of Springfield.

We really enjoyed the wines (all bottles $15). It was a day for socializing and making way for others who wanted to taste — not for compiling detailed tasting notes. In any case:

• Norton and Chambourcin were surprisingly mellow for 2010 vintages. Mike Dennis said the Norton was aged for several months in oak.
• Burnt Barn Red, named after an unfortunate event on Dennis property, is a semi-sweet blend of Norton and Chambourcin, a great summer red that could be chilled.

• The semi-sweet Cayuga White did not taste sweet due to the balancing effect of the acid in this wine. I don't have any experience with Cayuga. So, I was surprised by this result, which tastes like a neighbor to other regional whites such as Seyval and Vidal.

• The dry Vignoles was intensely fruity and citrusy. The semi-sweet Vignoles was more balanced.

I bought Chambourcin and Norton grapes from the Dennises last fall and have made surprisingly smooth wines, for their age and considering that I have few skills beyond adding yeast and avoiding oxidation. I attribute my success to the quality of the grapes from Tyler Ridge.