Mount Bethel Winery

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: May 03, 2013

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Mar 30, 2011

Favorite Wine: Can't pick just one: Syrah and Cynthiana, tempted to list more.

This was a repeat visit for us as our first visit was rushed. I very much like this winery. The hospitality is nice. The wines are pleasant and smooth. The price points are a pleasant surprise too! Apparently their clientele likes the sweeter fruit wines and if fruit wines are what you like, Mount Bethel is for you. However, their offerings are wide and there is something for everyone. We're not the best judges of whites and we only tried the Vignoles and the Viognier. Both were nice. I have more experience with the Vignoles and I like MB's in that it is very floral and aromatic without being too sweet or syrupy. We liked their Cabernet and Merlot. They have a semi-dry red blend currently made from Chambourcin. Pleasant little table wine. Their Cynthiana is different from the Missouri and Virginia Nortons we have tried. A little smoother and a pinch less dry. But the Cynthiana flavor is there nonetheless. (I opened a bottle at home and it didn't seem to have a lot of aroma at first, but it really bloomed after about thirty minutes as you would expect. I mean it really came alive in smell and flavor.) I called back to the winery today and ordered another case of the Cynthiana. The biggest surprise of the day for us was their Syrah. Wonderful. I am waiting until the weekend here at home to give the two bottles of Syrah our full attention. I expect we will probably be getting a full case of the Syrah soon as well.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Oct 08, 2010

Norton Wine Review: Part of the fun of being at Mount Bethel Vineyards was learning the past storied family wine connections, meeting a few of the family members and tasting wines in the original, built into the earthen bank, stone walled wine room. Because of market demands, MBW is better known for their sweet wines, but they also incorporate some most unique dry wines under their Domaine Montel label. Their 1st crop Viognier was an example of one of several surprises here. Even their sweet pink Red Noble Muscadine was a fun wine. MBW’s ‘05 Zinfandel was exceptionally smooth and Cynthiana was most credible being the best Cynthiana (Norton) found in the state of Arkansas. While at MBW do not leave without trying their wonderful Elderberry wine and fortified, secret blend, Tawny Port.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Jun 26, 2010

Favorite Wine: Vignoles

Great selection of Sweet Wines

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Sep 04, 2009

The Mount Bethel winery is what I consider a mom-and-pop winery, small but with an excellent choice of wines, a friendly atmosphere, but with a small setting.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Aug 09, 2009

Favorite Wine: Merlot

We were in Arkansas visiting my wife's family when I noticed several wines in a Hot Springs Walmart that were from the town of Altus, AR. On our way home, we decided to drop off of I-40 and see the town. Our GPS had the address for just one of the wineries. On our way there, we saw the sign for Mount Bethel at the end of their lane. Driving up the lane the winery looks like an ordinary farm house. My expectations at this point were not very high. I found myself expecting hobbyists who had just recently decided to become winemakers. In behind the farmhouse, is the winery and tasting room located in the original cellars. Inside the cellar/tasting room we had the pleasure of meeting the winemakers wife who explained that her husband is a fifth generation winemaker in his family. They have been making wine at this site post-prohibition back to 1956. The family's winemaking in this country, however, dates back to the 1880s. We were on borrowed time so we tasted their Cynthiana and Vignoles. Both were excellent. We also tasted there Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon both of which were locally grown. Again both were excellent. Also tasted a Cynthiana port under the fun brand name of Big Daddy. Sorry to sound redundant, but it again was excellent. Didn't have time to taste it but they also had locally grown Chardonnay. This is what a winery hobby is all about. We stumbled onto what may very well be the best wines I have tasted in the midwest. All from a very gracious and informative host in what is probably one of the smallest wineries we have visited. We discovered a real gem. If they decide to grow their business further, then an area to sit and relax and enjoy the wines and ambiance of their home is the next step beyond what they are doing now and doing very well.

Wine: Winery: Ambiance: Jan 12, 2009

Favorite Wine: Merlot