Keels Creek Winery

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Oct 06, 2012

Favorite Wine: Cynthiana

Had a Great visit to Keels Creek. I'll definately visit again.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Jun 16, 2012

Favorite Wine: Chambourcin

I was surprised at this winery. Their Cynthiana/Norton was just fine, though not compared with the Hermann Nortons. I expected touristy type things being in Eureka but this was quite nice. The Vivant was interesting as well as their Chardonel. Their best was the Chambourcin though.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Apr 02, 2011

I do not normally write online reviews but after what happened on my last visit to Arkansas, I wanted to let other people know. My sister-in-law and I were excited to visit Keel's Creek again to buy a bottle of their Embarrassed wine. After a quick tasting of three wines, we settled on the Embarrassed and Melange. Two nights later we decided to open a bottle after dinner-- Embarrassed-- We both poured a glass and took a big drink and it tasted like pure vinegar! Now this is a wine we have had before, and this was not what it was supposed to taste like. We then opened the Melange, and it tasted nothing like the wine we had tasted in the tasting room. The next day we called to see if they would replace one or both bottles that were bad and they said that the wine "isn't as sweet as some people like and that it just wasn't to our taste". They then went on to say "We are not Wal-Mart and would not refund our money or replace the bottles." I completely understand them not wanting to replace a bottle of wine just because someone doesn't like the taste, but if they had tried the wine, they would see that there was something wrong with it. Now maybe it's just me, but if I was trying to build my business, I would treat my customers a little nicer and try to make them happy with my wine. After $30 down the drain along with two bottles of wine, I am happy to say I will never visit this winery again, and I hope you don't either.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Oct 08, 2010

Favorite Wine: Chambourcin

Norton Wine Review: Keels Creek Winery’s advertised proclamation of producing dry wines is a credible mission, if only one of their wines could have outlasted the FULL LECTURE series endured during their $5 tasting. The store noises made for almost an impossible wine tasting. Keels maintains 12 acres of vineyards producing an interesting cross section of grapes, including Vivant (a Canadian white grape that seemingly grows best in the South), Vignoles, Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Cynthiana (Norton), Catawba and Cayuga. Though their wines were not to our tastes, I will say that this was the only Arkansas winery that had a handle on the Cynthiana-Norton grape background. Personally we found their Cynthiana soft and maintaining sour overtones which did not linger well on the palate. Their Chambourcin, held for two years in Missouri oak, was the most interesting of their wines. Located in touristy Eureka Springs, AR, one can experience the possibilities of dry Arkansas produced wines.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Feb 15, 2010

Favorite Wine: 2006 Cynthiana

Nice hearty reds, a good Cynthiana. Keel's Creek is a good compliment to Eureka Springs. This is a cozy building with an art gallery in the front rooms, tasting room in the back. They have a few other Arkansas wines for sale, though mostly sweet stuff that I don't drink. Being a recent transplant to Missouri, I guess I resented the Cynthiana versus Norton argument the woman behind the tasting bar offered to me. It reminded me of being at Kansas during the Mizzou-KU game...Arkansas wines are closer to "the real Norton grape, which doesn't exist" and nonsense like that. Good wine, nevertheless.