3 Ladies on a Vine

On a crisp fall Sunday afternoon, 3 Ladies on a Vine jumped in the car and took the 45 minute drive to the river town of Grafton, IL. Although Grafton is less than an hour away from St. Louis, it still transported us to another world. As we drove through the scenic road to Grafton, we were surrounded by the river and the bluffs topped with fall foliage. There was a light drizzle and the sun wasn't shining, but the simplistic beauty of nature reminded us to take a moment to appreciate it. As soon as we drove into the small river town, we saw quaint gift and ice cream shops, bars, and restaurants. You could park your car and walk the river road to explore what is has to offer. Our first stop was Grafton Harbor . This floating winery sits right on the water and it can be reached by boat, foot or car. We were greeted by a welcoming smile and we quickly started our wine tasting. Their wines are maritime themed, which are really fun; but what we really enjoyed was the take away aer...

Recently, we got invited by a musician to hear him play at a Tapas Bar, called Bella Vino Wine Bar and Tapas . All we had to hear was wine and food and we were there. The restaurant was located in the historic downtown district of St. Charles, MO. The downtown is quaint with cobblestone streets and historic buildings. The vibe is very inviting. What are Tapas? They are a wide variety of small plate, savory dishes in Spanish cuisine. Similar to appetizers or hors d'oeuvres. The tapas can be cold (such as cheese and crackers) or hot (such as pasta). Bella Vino was so warm and intimate. We felt like we were walking into someone's home. We couldn't wait to have some wine and reconnect. There were numerous selections to choose from, it's a good thing we had a knowledgable waitress. We decided to start with the waitress recommendation, their speciality made Sangria. It was delicious! "Cheers" We also ordered a salad, meatballs, and a mouthwatering skillet ma...