We sat down with Sommelier Steve Hultgren of Parkville Wine House in Parkville, Missouri. The Parkville Wine House is a cozy and welcoming wine bar offering both indoor and outdoor seating. Gather with friends and family to unwind over a wine flight, a glass, or a bottle of your preferred vintage. The knowledgeable and approachable wine experts are here to help you choose the perfect bottle to enhance your wine experience, all in a friendly, laid-back atmosphere.

Parkville Wine House in Parkville, Missouri: Meet the Sommelier

Tell us about what your morning routine looks like, and how you like to end your day?

My mornings aren’t very glamourous. I’m an early riser and usually find myself running empty glass bottles to the recycle bin around 6:30am. One of our core values at the Wine House is to be a good steward to the environment and our community, so we recycle what we can. My days end late with usually a light dinner of either salmon, steak, pasta or a salad usually accompanied by a cocktail which gives me time to unwind and reflect on the day.

What’s a good way for someone to start developing their wine palate?

I refer to developing a palette as a personal “wine journey” that never ends.We’re all at different places, and we’re all charting our own course. Places like the Parkville Wine House that offer flights or tastings are an excellent way to expand your palette and try new wines from different regions. Be open-minded and know that you may not like them all immediately, but you’ll find some that will open new doors for you.

Can you explain the difference in your own words between Old World and New World wines?

I like to explain Old World wine as a very rules driven, traditional approach to wine making. Vinters must follow very strict “recipes” for their specific regions, with very little to no manipulation of the wines (think Italian DOC’s or French AOC’s).

New World techniques bring in modern technology and techniques that allow winemakers to extract and focus on what they want the final product to feature, resulting in varietals and blends having many different styles (fruit forward, oak, high alcohol).

What kind of wine do you typically enjoy the most?

Sundays are usually the day I get to really kick back and enjoy a glass of wine. I always enjoy a refreshing light French Rosé in the summertime late in the afternoon. My go-to reds are usually a delicate Pinot Noir, a Cabernet Franc or something with Cab Franc in the blend. For a white, I lean Italian–either an Arneis or a Vermentino as I often have seafood for dinner.

What’s a wine that surprised you recently?

I’ve recently been really enjoying some of the Cabernet Sauvignon’s that are coming out of South Africa. That wine region has always been on my radar, but it’s often overlooked. I’d encourage you to find one to enjoy!

What up-and-coming wine region are you excited about?

Not really an up-and-coming region, as they’ve been making wine for centuries, but we’re seeing more Greek wines in our market, and I’m very excited about that. Being able to introduce my customers to varietals they haven’t experienced before is very rewarding.

What’s your Instagram so that readers can follow you?

Our Instagram page is @parkvillewinehouse.

What’s one common wine myth you’d love to debunk?

I’d like to debunk the myth that Rose’s are sweet and only should be enjoyed in the summer. We offer Rose’s year-round in our flight selection due to their versatility with food and appetizers. We always feature dry to semi-dry styles and it’s quite surprising to many customers.

What’s a grape varietal most people overlook but should try?

This summer I’ve really been getting into wines from Sicily, specifically Nerello Mascalese and Nero d'Avola. The subtle influence of the terroir surrounding Mt. Etna has been interesting to experience through wine.

Tell readers why they should visit your wine bar?

The Parkville Wine House is a charming and inviting wine bar featuring indoor and outdoor seating areas nestled in the quaint town of Parkville, Missouri. We invite you to relax with friends and family and enjoy a wine flight, a glass or a bottle of your favorite. Our wine experts are friendly, approachable and non-pretentious, and always willing to assist you in selecting a bottle to further your wine journey!

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