Cranberry Orange Cake Cookies

December 20, 2022

Zest up cookies with an easy wine icing glaze. Just two ingredients – wine and powdered sugar – will take your baking skills up a notch. Try it out in this easy recipe!

Prep time: 15 minutes (45 with time to chill dough)

Serves: 10-12

 

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix

1c softened butter (2 sticks)

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 orange (2 tbsp orange juice)

For icing:

1 bottle of St. James Cranberry wine

1/2c powdered sugar

1/2 orange (zest top of each cookie)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt butter and add to medium mixing bowl. Whip butter by hand or with blender until smooth.
  3. Add yellow (or white) cake mix to mixing bowl, followed by eggs, vanilla extract and juice from the fresh orange.
  4. Combine mixture by hand or on low with a mixer until smooth. Place dough in the fridge for 45 minutes to chill.
  5. Once chilled, scoop dough with a cookie scoop and place 2 inches apart on a baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes. Repeat steps with remaining dough.
  6. Remove cookies from oven and let cool. While waiting, mix powdered sugar and gradually add in 2 tbsp of Cranberry wine and whisk together until glaze icing forms.
  7. Drizzle about 1 tbsp of icing on each cookie. Zest an orange and top each cookie with the zest before the glaze hardens.
  8. Plate and serve with a glass of cranberry wine. Enjoy!

Use any sweet or fruit wine to create an icing when baking! Try these fluffy cake cookies and let us know what you think. Tag us on social media with #missouriwine and @missouriwine.

Missouri wines win 2022 Jefferson Cup honors

December 15, 2022

Several Missouri wines garnered top honors at the 23rd annual Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition held Nov. 17-18. The Jefferson Cup, hosted by Master of Wine and Master Sommelier Doug Frost, invites the best wineries from the country’s prominent wine regions to compete. Eighteen judges tasted the 575 entries to find the wines which best exemplified American viticulture and winemaking. This year, forty-one wines from ten states grabbed top honors — the Jefferson Cup — including seven Missouri wines.

Jefferson Cup Winners:

Adam Puchta Winery - Hunter's Red

Adam Puchta Winery - Chardonel 2021

Adam Puchta Winery - Traminette 2021

Les Bourgeois Vineyards - Jeunette Rouge

Noboleis Vineyards - Norton 2019

Stone Hill Winery - Norton 2019  

Stone Hill Winery - Cream Sherry

Double Gold Winners:

Adam Puchta Winery - Judge's Heir

Adam Puchta Winery - Norton Estate 2018

Les Bourgeois Vineyards - Norton 2020

Pirtle Winery - Effervescent Rosé 2021

Stone Hill Winery - Chardonel 2020

Terra Vox Vineyards - Wetumka 2021

Gold Winners:

Adam Puchta Winery - Chambourcin 2021

Adam Puchta Winery - Cat's Meow

Adam Puchta Winery - Riefenstahler

Adam Puchta Winery - Misty Valley

Adam Puchta Winery - Desire

Adam Puchta Winery - Jazz Berry

Adam Puchta Winery - Signature Port

Amigoni Urban Winery - Urban Drover 2020  

Amigoni Urban Winery - Telegram T 10

Amigoni Urban Winery - Syrah 2020

Baltimore Bend Vineyard - Last Minute 2020

Dale Hollow Winery - Vignoles

Les Bourgeois Vineyards - Concord

Les Bourgeois Vineyards - Collector's Series Vignoles Traminette 2021

Les Bourgeois Vineyards - Riverboat White

Noboleis Vineyards - Steepleview 2021

Noboleis Vineyards - Vignoles Dry 2021

Pirtle Winery - Traminette (2021)

Pirtle Winery - Apple Wine

Pirtle Winery - Blackberry Mead

Stone Hill Winery - Norton 2020

Stone Hill Winery - Norton Old Vine Reserve 2019

Stone Hill Winery - Vignoles 2021

Stone Hill Winery - Vignoles Reserve 2020

Stone Hill Winery - 175th Anniversary Cream Sherry  

Terra Vox Vineyards - Sherryvox 2015

Congratulations to all of our award-winning wineries! For complete Jefferson Cup results visit: thejeffersoncup.com

Watch tasteMAKERS' documentary on Missouri wine industry

December 13, 2022

                                                                                                           (Click image to watch)

Missouri Wines is excited to share this documentary from tasteMAKERS about the history of the wine and grape industry in the Show Me State. Roots run deep when it comes to this industry in Missouri, with the first vines planted in the 1830s.  Watch how the 19th century winemakers laid the foundation for today’s industry that was nearly decimated by prohibition. See what today’s leaders have done to reinvigorate the Show Me State’s wine industry. There are currently more than 125 wineries across the state are proudly producing award-winning, quality wines. Meet today’s industry leaders and hear firsthand about the passion today’s industry leaders put into growing, making and sharing Missouri wines.

We hope you enjoy this special! Watch and share with us your favorite fact you learned! Tag us on social media with #missouriwine and @missouriwine. Cheers!

Pennington Wines

Pennington Wines is a small family ran winery, focusing and striving for perfection from the vineyards to creating elegant uncomplicated wine where the story begins with every glass.

Contact

Prairie Barn Winery

Just off the famous Route 66, you'll find Prairie Barn Winery and Christmas Tree Farm. Located three miles north of St. James, Missouri, you'll find the historic barn tasting room where you can enjoy a selection of delicious wines, relax outside on the deck which overlooks the trees and vineyard. 

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The Great 8 of Wine Gifts

December 08, 2022

We asked Missouri wine enthusiasts for their favorite holiday wine gifts, and they delivered.  We compiled the ultimate list of Missouri wine gifts for family and friends. Put these great gifts on your list, check it twice and be sure to be nice!

  1. By the bottle – The greatest gifts can certainly be the ones you sip. Our survey results say; wine is one of the best gifts to receive as a wine aficionado. Whether it’s their favorite bottle, a new Missouri varietal to taste, a curated tasting flight or even a wine club subscription, wine is a great option. Now, wrap up a bottle and give it to someone you care about. 
  2. Give glasses – Glassware also makes a great gift. Glasses can be personalized to make your gift even more unique. Etched, monogrammed, painted or even hand-blown artisan — glassware comes in many giftable options. Glassware doesn’t even have to be glass. For your friends who love to picnic, gift them non-breakable wine tumblers for their next outing.
  3. Wine supplies – Wine supplies are always a great gift too. Decanters, bottle openers, vacuum sealers, foil cutters, bottle stoppers and more — these are the wine gifts that keep giving because they keep the wine tasting fresh and its best.
  4. Missouri wine wearables – Hats, shirts, hoodies and more make a fun gift for wine lovers. From elegant wine country logos to fun, quirky graphic tees, we love to wear Missouri wine gear. Give friends and family gear from their favorite Missouri winery so they can wear their memories on their sleeve.
  5. Experience wine country – Curate an unforgettable experience for the wine lover on your list. Tickets to wine trail events or wine dinners, reservations at a bed-and-breakfast in wine country or a winery with lodging are all great gifts that create even better memories.
  6. Pack it up – For Missouri wine lovers who love to picnic or travel, the perfect gift is tote-able. Wine bags, coolers, carriers and portable bottle chillers help folks pack their favorite Missouri wine. While a new picnic blanket or basket paired with a cheese or cutting board is excellent for those who love to picnic in wine country.
  7. At home – Home is where the wine lives. Make wine storage a breeze with a wine fridge or wine rack to showcase their collection. Bar towels and wine-worthy decorations make beautiful gifts to dazzle wine lovers during the holiday season and beyond.
  8. Read all about it – Lastly, look into books for our wine enthusiasts who love to read: tasting guides, wine recipes, history of wine country and even wine magazine subscriptions.

If you can’t narrow down the list, you don’t have to. Create your own gift basket personalized to your wine lover’s favorite things. The options are endless — wine, cheese and chocolate make a fabulous pairing combination. Consider adding a gift certificate to their favorite winery or local wine shop. Most Missouri wineries have a selection of wine themed items in their tasting rooms making it easy to shop local this season.

Share your favorite wine gifts with us on social media at #missouriwine and @missourwine.

Remembering Repeal Day

December 05, 2022

The Missouri wine industry still feels the impact of Prohibition, even a century later. Pre-prohibition production numbers exceed what we make today, yet quality can still be found all over the Show Me State. It is inspiring, yet disappointing to know what Missouri wines could have been without the setback of Prohibition. Not only did it decimate the wine and grape industry, but it also stifled an iconic part of Missouri’s identity. Today, we celebrate the anniversary of the end of the 13-year-long Eighteenth Amendment “Prohibition of Liquor” to the United States Constitution. The Twenty-First Amendment was ratified on December 5, 1933, allowing wine, spirits and alcoholic beverages to legally enter society in the U.S. again.

from The Advertiser-Courier of Hermann, Missouri

The Missouri wine industry has been an economic force in the state since the 1830s and continued into the turn of the century. Historical production data is often regionalized. However, statewide production figures made public in 1906 by the State Labor Bureau provide a strong visualization: “enough wine was made in and shipped from Missouri last year to float a battleship of 13,000 tons.” Not only is this industry a huge part of the culture, but also legendary in the state’s agriculture industry. Prohibition created obstacles the state had to overcome for decades after Prohibition ended. Repeal Day is an important and memorable one for the wine and grape industry in Missouri to continue its legacy for the future.

Prohibition was enacted during a pivotal time in history. Crime and corruption were on the rise. Many people were being jailed or imprisoned for acts associated with alcohol consumption. Social issues in the home were often credited to overconsumption. Churches in New York and Massachusetts pledged abstinence to alcohol as early as 1800, but increased greatly moving westward over the next half-century into a national movement. The Temperance Movement (defined as the practice of drinking little or no alcohol) became well-known to many Americans. The Women's Christian Temperance Union, founded in 1874, and the Anti-Saloon League were pivotal forces across the nation that desperately wanted a change in society. Activists for the movement, such as Carry Nation, were gaining popularity and awareness. Nation was notorious for demolishing barrooms with a hatchet, heated by her past experience of her former husband’s alcoholism. Although these groups started this movement a century prior, this unique time in history created the perfect storm for the citizens and congress to evaluate this issue.

The neighboring state of Kansas enacted a state-wide prohibition in 1881. Nation, a resident of Kansas, joined the movement in 1890 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to favor sales and importing “original packages” from distributors from other states to saloons. Although it was illegal, saloons were still flourishing from this exception. The Temperance Movement had a significant influence on the attitudes of surrounding states and their citizens, such as Missourians, and the impact lasted for years and generations of people beyond the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment.

These two decades prior to enacting the Amendment were critical. The U.S. Constitution experienced the most change between 1913-1919, since the Bill of Rights, including direct election of senators, women’s suffrage and federal income tax. This created options for discussion and large changes on a national level. Federal income tax was established by the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913, ending the government’s previous large source of income gathered from taxing alcohol. This change made Prohibition achievable without harming government funding. Several political groups saw the opportunity and seized it.

According to Daniel Okrent, American writer and editor, in his research findings regarding the enactment and repeal of the Amendment, the joint power of several political groups during that time allowed for this change. He evaluated that their agendas were beyond Prohibition alone, yet all intersected:

“Five distinct, if occasionally overlapping, components made up this unspoken coalition: racists, progressives, suffragists, populists (whose ranks included a small socialist auxiliary), and nativists. Adherents of each group may have been opposed to alcohol for its own sake, but used the Prohibition impulse to advance ideologies and causes that had little to do with it.”

Not all Missourians were in favor of the repeal of Prohibition. (August 17, 1944 The Gasconade County Republican)

Although President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the bill, the House of Representatives and the Senate chose to override his veto. The Volstead Act (also known as National Prohibition Act) was passed October 28, 1919 and went into effect on January 17, 1920. At that time, 48 of Missouri’s 114 counties were home to wineries. Now, they were home to only one in St. Louis, a group of Jesuits who were producing wine for sacramental purposes, St. Stanislaus Novitiate. All for-profit wineries were forced to close.

U.S. Treasury Department was tasked with enacting the restrictions surrounding which “intoxicating liquors” were forbidden, with the exception of medical or religious purposes. This new act was difficult to enforce. Perhaps the most notable details from Prohibition are recalled for the misdeeds that arose such as “bootlegging” and other insidious activity to gain higher profit from illegal sales. Not only alcohol trends were changed, the U.S. began collecting a five percent tax on sugar products. In fact, instead of having an alcoholic drink at dinner, it was suggested to enjoy candy now instead.

Prohibition has famously been called “The Noble Experiment.” Unfortunately, due to the political motives used to enact it, it is believed that it caused more social harm than good. Prohibition certainly condemned the lifestyles of marginalized groups, including those of certain races or newly immigrated citizens. Although it was recorded that “arrests for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct declined 50 percent between 1916 and 1922,” violence increased due to the crime and lucrative business opportunities created by the void.

These political impulses affected the livelihood of wineries and other small businesses across the nation. Only a few vineyards were preserved in Missouri for religious purposes. Vines were dramatically ripped from their roots. Casks and barrels, filled with years of hard work, were painfully emptied into the streets and rivers to vacate any possibility of being incriminated. This wounded not only grape growers and their enterprises, but also significantly affected communities and residents who relied on the grape and wine industry as a source of income. Morale lowered and lifestyles were greatly impacted by this change to the nation.

Thirteen long years passed and Americans became thirsty for a change. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced the end of Prohibition on December 5th of 1933. The Twenty-First Amendment was enacted, repealing the Eighteenth Amendment. The U.S. Constitution has been formally amended 27 times - what makes the Twenty-First amendment unique is that it is the only instance where it repeals a previous amendment. Missourians celebrated this news as the clock turned 12:01 on April 7, 1934, when the repeal went into effect.

Although the national prohibition ended in 1933, many states kept local prohibition laws in place. Kansas didn’t repeal their statewide prohibition until 1948. Mississippi was the last state to repeal in 1966. Some repealed, yet kept strict laws for production, sales, importing and exporting. This remaining restriction kept it hard for wineries to grow and produce for-profit. Missouri experienced this adversity for many years. These restrictions are credited for the growth struggles experienced for decades following the repeal.

The Missouri grape and wine industry was reinvigorated in the 1960s and 1970s by two Missouri families: the Hofherrs of St. James Winery in St. James and the Helds of Stone Hill Winery in Hermann. These families experienced these detrimental limitations firsthand. To grow the opportunities for wineries across the state, the Missouri Wine and Grape Advisory Board was created. This board later became the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, established with help from a state tax in 1980. The nation’s first American Viticultural Area (AVA) was presented to Augusta 1980 as well, establishing the historical footprint Missouri has on winemaking in America. The Missouri Wine and Grape Board supports more than 125 wineries across the state today with marketing and research efforts. These efforts support the awareness of Missouri’s wine and grape history and legacy, while also creating new and dynamic ways to propel Missouri wines into the future.

Cheers to Repeal Day! Experience quality and elevate your experience by exploring Missouri wine country. The historical gems to uncover are endless! Follow us on social media at @missouriwine or #missouriwine for more content and history.

H Levels

 

H1 - This is H1. MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 40px. Line height 48px.

H2 - This is H2.  MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 24px. Line height 34px.

H3 - This is H3. MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 28px. Line height 34px.

H4 - This is H4.  MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 24px. Line height 29px.

H5 - This is H5. MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 20px. Line height 24px.  Forces all caps.

 

H Levels

 

H1 - This is H1. MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 40px. Line height 48px.

H2 - This is H2.  MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 24px. Line height 34px.

H3 - This is H3. MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 28px. Line height 34px.

H4 - This is H4.  MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 24px. Line height 29px.

H5 - This is H5. MS-Bold - 500.  Weight 500.  Size 20px. Line height 24px.  Forces all caps.

 

Traminette Chicken Fettucine Alfredo

December 01, 2022

A splash of Missouri Traminette brightens up creamy chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. It lends its light citrus flavors, acidity and hint of spice to this dish’s salty and savory dairy elements, like parmesan cheese and heavy cream. Together, alfredo sauce and Traminette make the perfect pairing — in just 30 minutes.

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts, halved into four thin filets

Garlic salt to taste

3 tbsp butter

1 medium onion chopped (1/2c)

4 cloves of garlic (or equivalent minced garlic or garlic paste)

1/3c Missouri Traminette wine

1 2/3c heavy cream

1c grated parmesan

Black pepper to taste (or red pepper flakes if you prefer)

1/2 box Fettucine pasta

1 serving spoon of pasta water

 

Instructions

  1. Half the chicken breasts lengthwise to make thin filets. Pat chicken dry and season both sides generously with garlic salt.
  2. Add water to a pot for pasta, salt water if desired and begin to bring to a boil for pasta.
  3. Heat large sauté pan over medium-high heat and melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter in pan before adding chicken.
  4. Cook chicken filets in pan until fully cooked — approximately 4-8 minutes per side, depending on the thickness.
  5. Remove chicken from pan and set aside to rest.
  6. Add Fettucine noodles to pot of boiling water and prepare according to the package instructions.
  7. Add 1 1/2 more tablespoons of butter and onions to sauté pan where you cooked the chicken. Sweat the onions until they begin to turn translucent.
  8. Add the garlic and heat until it becomes aromatic, being careful not to burn it.

Deglaze the pan with a 1/3 cup of Missouri Traminette wine. Don’t worry if the mixture looks brown. The wine is releasing all the chicken fond and butter flavor that has been building in the pan. Bring to a simmer to let the wine cook off slightly before adding the heavy cream.

  1. When the wine/cream mixture begins to simmer, slowly begin adding the cheese until it is all melted and incorporated into the sauce. Add black pepper or chili flakes to taste.
  2. Ladle a spoonful of pasta water into the sauce to make it glossy and smooth.
  3. Drain the pasta.
  4. Toss some sauce with the noodles and top each portion with chicken.
  5. Garnish with herbs or extra parmesan cheese.
  6. Serve & enjoy! 

Try this easy and delicious recipe and let us know what you think. Tag us on social media with @missouriwine and #missouriwine and share! 

 

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