Bloom’n Blues Fest @ Chateau aux Arc, Altus, AR
Bar-B-Que & Blues All Day!
Named for the original French spelling of "Ozark," Chateau Aux Arc planted its roots in 1998 when Audrey House bought ten acres of vineyard in Altus, Arkansas. Although she's likely one of the world's youngest winemakers, Audrey has nevertheless spent years on exhaustive research and travel across California wine country. A winemaker since the ripe old age of 13, she fashioned her first batch from water, sugar, baker's yeast and Welch's grape juice concentrate. After graduating from college, Audrey knew she was ready to make some great wine, so she bought the land and spent her weekends camped out for six months in a tent in her fields while she worked to bring her dreams to fruition.
In spring of 2001 Chateau Aux Arc opened its winery selling vintages bottled in 1999 and 2000. Three thousand gallons of wine were produced in 2001 and now with almost 40 acres of plantable vineyard, an eightfold increase in production was planned between 2001 and 2006.