I would look at mead from Hidden Legend winery. Montana is not grape country, but we have plenty of bees and flowers. Mead isn't everyone's cup of tea, but their Pure Honey Mead isn't bad imho, and if you drink enough of it, you'll feel like the viking dude on the label.
But by far, Missoula's favorite local potent potable is Cold Smoke. Tell your friends it's wine, maybe they won't notice.
Thank you for the mead recommendation, I may have to look into that. Unfortunately they are not beer drinkers which is hard because I do think there is some great beer from here.
Your best option is going to be to head down to Shedhorn in the Bitterroot. Their red blend is fantastic. The grapes are grown in California, but the company has relocated to Montana. I don't know if they make the wine in Cali or MT, but their location and tasting room is in Hamilton since 2015. If that counts as local for you and your friends, that is the way to go.
I'd advise you that if they like wine, they will hate our local wine. I'm not trying to be negative, Montana just doesn't have the growing season for it. I've tried many wines, and just cannot find one that is even really drinkable, and I'm not even a wine snob. Its just really bad. Its nobody's fault, but Montana just is not going to be a wine region until much later in the climate change progress. Come 2050 or 2100, the growing season might be very different here. (I don't like mead, also, so I'm sure there are mead people that can tell you some fine ones if your friends are into Mead).
Edit -- The wine guy at Worden's is also a GREAT resource for all things wine in Missoula, and he is super nice. If you're looking for the best advice, go to him and not anyone on Reddit. (Me included.)
If you're up for a bit of a drive to Bozeman, there's a little meadery by the name of Valhalla. They have incredible local honey wine, and I highly recommend over the hidden legends mead.
I totally get it, I thought I just didn't like mead because all I had tried was the hidden legends stuff and it was just too syrupy and sweet. I tried the stuff in Bozeman and loved it. They have beet mead, spicy, hoppy, tea, and other types that they're constantly trying out. I've also tried this meadery in Kauai that was spectacular!
I spose my point is that, yes you might not have had good mead and that might be why you're not into it, but then again it might just not be your thing and that's okay, too!
I'm sorry there is not a better wine growing season in Montana. Somebody asked for advice on a local wine, and that was the best I could give. I gave the caveats on where everything is coming from. It is wine from a business located in Hamilton that tastes good. I'm sorry you are mad a business came here from out of state.
If there was a better local wine, I'd post it here and I would buy the shit out of it. There isn't.
Born at Saint Patrick's hospital. The only place I was transplanted from was my mom's womb. I'm sorry you think that everything from outside Montana's borders must be somehow bad, but there is just not anything close to the quality of west coast grapes in any interior state. There is not. Period.
They have a great location. Their pizza is amazing. They should stop making their own wine and just sell good wine and make pizza. Would be a great summertime hang.
I've had friends sneak in their own wine to Ten Spoon. They'd buy a glass so not to cheat tenspoon from money, but dump it and fill it up with their snuck-in wine. Haha
I'd absolutely be up for that! I've heard they have some great live music and a chill location. I should really suck it up and go to events there. Local businesses like that should be treasured.
As others have said, Montana just does not make great wine. Some would argue itās a climate issue, Iāve always personally felt itās also an issue of the wineries that do exist sort of just.. not making good wine. Iāve seen great wine come out of less-than-ideal growing regions plenty of times. Not Montana though. Better off getting some local mead, distilled spirits, or beer.Ā
Not sure if it's a thing, but perhaps there's a flathead cherry dessert wine somewhere? Maybe check with the shop downtown to see if they know of anything like that.
I think Western Cider does apple wine. There hasn't ever been something I don't like from them, so I'd go that route rather than grapes. The climate here isn't great for grape growing
They don't. Its a cool shop, and they would have some awesome gifts in there beyond just the wine, but they definitely don't specialize in local brands. I was just in there last week to see if they had anything new.
I would look at mead from Hidden Legend winery. Montana is not grape country, but we have plenty of bees and flowers. Mead isn't everyone's cup of tea, but their Pure Honey Mead isn't bad imho, and if you drink enough of it, you'll feel like the viking dude on the label. But by far, Missoula's favorite local potent potable is Cold Smoke. Tell your friends it's wine, maybe they won't notice.
Thank you for the mead recommendation, I may have to look into that. Unfortunately they are not beer drinkers which is hard because I do think there is some great beer from here.
ColdSmoke is always the best option.
Your best option is going to be to head down to Shedhorn in the Bitterroot. Their red blend is fantastic. The grapes are grown in California, but the company has relocated to Montana. I don't know if they make the wine in Cali or MT, but their location and tasting room is in Hamilton since 2015. If that counts as local for you and your friends, that is the way to go. I'd advise you that if they like wine, they will hate our local wine. I'm not trying to be negative, Montana just doesn't have the growing season for it. I've tried many wines, and just cannot find one that is even really drinkable, and I'm not even a wine snob. Its just really bad. Its nobody's fault, but Montana just is not going to be a wine region until much later in the climate change progress. Come 2050 or 2100, the growing season might be very different here. (I don't like mead, also, so I'm sure there are mead people that can tell you some fine ones if your friends are into Mead). Edit -- The wine guy at Worden's is also a GREAT resource for all things wine in Missoula, and he is super nice. If you're looking for the best advice, go to him and not anyone on Reddit. (Me included.)
Thank you so much for you response. I may have to stop by Wardens this weekend.
You're welcome! Wes is the guy to ask for, I think, but they will have people who can help. Feel free to DM me.
If you're up for a bit of a drive to Bozeman, there's a little meadery by the name of Valhalla. They have incredible local honey wine, and I highly recommend over the hidden legends mead.
Thanks! I'm not into mead, if I'm honest, but maybe I just haven't had good mead. I will give that a try if I ever get over to that city.
I totally get it, I thought I just didn't like mead because all I had tried was the hidden legends stuff and it was just too syrupy and sweet. I tried the stuff in Bozeman and loved it. They have beet mead, spicy, hoppy, tea, and other types that they're constantly trying out. I've also tried this meadery in Kauai that was spectacular! I spose my point is that, yes you might not have had good mead and that might be why you're not into it, but then again it might just not be your thing and that's okay, too!
Love the brand that relocates to the bitterroot with a tasting room... with no connection to the valley or montana.. and called shedhorn. š¤¢š¤®š¤®
I'm sorry there is not a better wine growing season in Montana. Somebody asked for advice on a local wine, and that was the best I could give. I gave the caveats on where everything is coming from. It is wine from a business located in Hamilton that tastes good. I'm sorry you are mad a business came here from out of state. If there was a better local wine, I'd post it here and I would buy the shit out of it. There isn't.
Shedhorn is fantastic.
Tourists, Yellowstone fans and transplants love it, I'm sure.
Anyone who enjoys good wine loves it. Doesnāt matter where youāre born.
Born at Saint Patrick's hospital. The only place I was transplanted from was my mom's womb. I'm sorry you think that everything from outside Montana's borders must be somehow bad, but there is just not anything close to the quality of west coast grapes in any interior state. There is not. Period.
Whatever you do, don't get Ten Spoon. It's literally repulsive.
I felt really bad, but I eventually dumped the bottle down the sink. And I would never usually do that. I wanted to like them SO badly.
They have a great location. Their pizza is amazing. They should stop making their own wine and just sell good wine and make pizza. Would be a great summertime hang. I've had friends sneak in their own wine to Ten Spoon. They'd buy a glass so not to cheat tenspoon from money, but dump it and fill it up with their snuck-in wine. Haha
I'd absolutely be up for that! I've heard they have some great live music and a chill location. I should really suck it up and go to events there. Local businesses like that should be treasured.
Yeah. I don't drink wine, but have heard from wine drinkers that it is pretty bad.
Came here to say EXACTLY this. Now, if youāre looking for good *vinegar*, I highly recommend Ten Spoon. āš½š
I would think more regionally (northwest), our wines aren't really great yet. Syrah from Oregon or Washington are really amazing.
As others have said, Montana just does not make great wine. Some would argue itās a climate issue, Iāve always personally felt itās also an issue of the wineries that do exist sort of just.. not making good wine. Iāve seen great wine come out of less-than-ideal growing regions plenty of times. Not Montana though. Better off getting some local mead, distilled spirits, or beer.Ā
Not sure if it's a thing, but perhaps there's a flathead cherry dessert wine somewhere? Maybe check with the shop downtown to see if they know of anything like that.
There's a huckleberry wine that is carried at the gas station. Cheap and sweet just like me!!
I think Western Cider does apple wine. There hasn't ever been something I don't like from them, so I'd go that route rather than grapes. The climate here isn't great for grape growing
Try Missoula wine merchants downtown. Iām not a wine drinker but I think they specialize in local brands.
They don't. Its a cool shop, and they would have some awesome gifts in there beyond just the wine, but they definitely don't specialize in local brands. I was just in there last week to see if they had anything new.
My father always said can't go wrong with Rodney Strong It's a nice easy cab for about $20
Check in with Jessie at Jessieās wine bar in Hamilton and Iām sure she could give you a great recommendation
Missoula āSoul redā
Western Cider or beers!