{When I read that Aerie’s Riverview Winery in Grafton, Ill., claimed to have the “best view in the Midwest,” the skeptic in me had to see it to believe it. This picture sums up my findings. I won’t be so bold as to say the view from Aerie’s balcony is the best in the Midwest since just about everywhere is looking fabulously fall these days, but it’s pretty hard to beat.}
{Three years after leaving NYC, the wintertime couch potato in me still yearns for the Big Apple’s infinite amount of delivery options. Sure, St. Louis has a few, but not the kind where I can have anything I’m craving – from hot cheese to a pint of ice cream – delivered in 10 minutes or less. I think this is partly why I was so excited to discover Cookie Lady on Wheels, who delivers cookies and milk, and, my favorite, spiced pumpkin gooey butter bars. You can find her at the Soulard Farmers Market or on your doorstep … in a not-creepy-only-awesome kind of way.}
{I didn’t think I liked red zinfandel until I tried Peirano Estate 2011 Immortal Zin while recently dining at Annie Gunn’s. Not only is this old vine zin smooth and full of flavor, it comes from vines more than 100 years old. The best part? At a retail store, a bottle runs only about $13. Time to stock up.}
— winery photo by Ginger Kleinschnittger
This article appears in Guide to the Holidays 2013.