Norton Wine Tasting

by Ann Lemons, Joe Pollack

The last Saturday of April is unlike any other day; we drive to Hermann where the annual 10-year Norton tasting awaits at Stone Hill Winery. The Held family, which operates Stone Hill, has been doing this for 20 years; I've been fortunate enough to attend the large majority, and it's always a fascinating experience. Norton, Missouri's best red-wine grape (we think it's the best of all the native American red grapes), bears the Latin name of Vitis aestivalis, as contrasted with the classic European grapes like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and others which fall into the Vitis vinifera category...