In the heart of Sturgis lies family-owned winery Belle Joli Winery Sparkling House.
Co-owner and winemaker Matthew Jackson discovered his passion for winemaking at an early age. After growing up with a vineyard background, he attended California State University, Fresno to pursue the Enology Program and perfect his craft.
Here he met his wife, co-owner, and certified sommelier, CMS, Choi, and upon the completion of their respective studies, the couple boldly chose to relocate to South Dakota to fulfill their family’s passion for the winemaking process.
In 2000, Matthew planted his first vines in Belle Fourche and the rest became history.
The winery stretches across the Black Hills into Deadwood and Sturgis.
“We Came up with the name belle joli’ by combining two french terms representing the beauty of the black hills.” -choi jackson
The Sturgis vineyard covers five acres, and the Belle Fourche vineyard covers 25 acres. Both produce 15 elegant wines, including sparkling, white, red, and port [dessert] styles.
“What is really unique at Belle Joli’ is that we cover a wide range of styles of wine from dry to sweet to port styles,” said Matthew.
Choi continued, “We could describe our winery as ‘soil to sip’. We have a vineyard where guests can check out how the vine grows, see the production, and taste the final product through our daily tours.
As guests drink in the beauty of the Black Hills, they can order consciously crafted small plates that complement their wine from Belle Joli’s Bistro Menu.
“Our menu is curated to be paired with our wines so they fit well together,” said Choi. “We don’t serve anything that is too overpowering or plain.”
The menu offers a Charcuterie Board, Classic Cheese Board, Tomato and Basil Flatbread, Salmon and Dill Flatbread, Hummus with Naan Bread, and an Olive Bowl.
The Charcuterie Board is comprised of thin slices of salami, prosciutto, nuts, fresh fruit, crackers, and three kinds of fresh cheese.
She adds that the Classic Cheese Board is perfect for guests who are coming in for a glass of wine after a heavy lunch or early dinner.
“Who doesn’t like cheese?” she said with a laugh.
The flatbreads have become a fan favorite, especially the Tomato and Basil, says Choi. The thin, crispy crust is topped with an olive oil mix, melted mozzarella, and ripe tomatoes, coated with a sprinkle of basil, and parmesan cheese, tying the savory flavors together.
“If you’re simply here for a Sangria, then you might want to go with a flatbread,” said Choi. “Some people enjoy the sparkling wine and want to pair it with salty meat and cheese.”
DRINK IN THE BEAUTY OF THE BLACK HILLS
SPARKLING WINES
» Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine
» Brut Reserve Sparkling Wine
» Brut Sparkling Wine
» Demi-Sec Rosé Sparkling Wine
» Demi-Sec Sparkling Wine
Dessert Wines
» Holiday Cheer
Red Wines
» Harvest Rosé
» Pinot Noir
» South Dakota Marquette
» Cabernet Sauvignon
White Wines
» Dakota Breeze
» Chardonnay
» Frontenac Gris
» Harvest Blend
» Symphony Notes
“We Hope to build a tank facility in sturgis, that will also go along with the tours and we would love to show more the production/vineyard experience.” -matthew Jackson
Belle Joli’ specializes in sparkling wine made using the traditional Champagne method. In 2019, the couple’s Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine won a gold medal in the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
Brut Rosé is complemented with notes of red and black fruits rounded out with grapefruit and citrus. It pairs well with tuna steak, fresh oysters, or lemon parsley mussels and clams.
Among the variety of wines available at the winery are American Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Harvest Rosé, a house favorite.
Harvest Rosé is a Frontenac, riesling blend featuring notes of jammy strawberry, rose petals, and florals. It pairs well with exotic cuisine, seafood, and aged gouda cheese.
With limited quantities of artisan wine produced and sold each year, Matthew encourages their existing customers and future customers to join Belle Joli’s Wine Club Membership.
Did You Know?
Belle Joli’ has a wine-tasting room located in Deadwood.
A Furry Cause
Belle Joli’ offers exclusive merchandise featuring a design of their Golden Doodle, Bubbles. For each Bubble item purchased, half of the proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society.
“It’s free to sign up and we ship to about 30 states throughout America,” he explained. “We’re able to ship it to your front door, all you have to do is provide your information and we process your selections of how many bottles you want per shipment.”
The company offers customers the chance to choose from two to 12 bottles of handcrafted wine, as well as be one of the first to try new wines.
“They don’t want to miss that opportunity, so we ensure that our new wine is included, or if there’s a limited edition wine for the holidays, they receive it first,” Choi added.
Experience the Brut wine in a unique way with the Weekend Mimosa Flight from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. This flight includes fruit-filled flavors of orange, blueberry-pomegranate, strawberry, and pineapple-mango, made with Belle Joli’s award-winning Brut Sparkling Wine.
Since 2007, the company has provided a unique and flavorful experience for customers who are looking to indulge in the finest local wine.
“Being in South Dakota, the wine industry is still young and in an early stage of growth,” said Choi. “We just want people to come and try our product and have our local South Dakotans know about us.”
Belle Joli’s dedication to quality and craftsmanship is reflected in each dish and wine, creating a memorable experience for all who visit.
