Julia Child once said “a party without cake is really just a meeting,” and who needs more meetings these days. So let’s amp up our cakes with wine! This easy recipe adds a fun twist that is sure to impress your guests. This dense cake can even be frozen and served chilled on a hot summer day.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 50-60 minutes

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 yellow cake mix
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 box vanilla pudding instant mix
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• ¾ cup water
• ¾ cup oil
• ½ cup Vidal Blanc white wine

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ cup Vidal Blanc white wine

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease your Bundt pan. We suggest using shortening and flour so the cake can be easily removed from the pan. Combine the cake ingredients in a large bowl and mix using a hand mixer. Pour the batter into the greased Bundt pan. Tap the pan lightly to bring air bubbles to the surface. Bake the cake for 50-60 minutes. Darker pans may require less baking time. Just before the cake is ready to come out of the oven melt butter in a small sauce pan. Stir in sugar until it dissolves then add Vidal Blanc. Once the cake is out of the oven, pour the glaze over the hot cake while still in the pan. Don’t let the cake cool too long before you flip it. You can also lightly dust the top with powdered sugar. Share your results with us using #MoWine.

Hannah Magee always dreamed of owning a winery. Her love of Missouri wine and knack for marketing led her to Jowler Creek Winery in Platte City, in 2013. After working with Jason and Colleen Gerke for a couple of years, Hannah stepped away to climb the corporate ladder and save money for a winery.

But in 2017, her corporate climb came to a sudden and screeching halt, and Hannah landed back in the Missouri wine industry she loved. Not that it was a soft landing. When she approached the Gerkes, they offered to sell her the Weston Wine Company, a winery they started in 2014 with Hannah's input. It took six months, three banks and uprooting her life as she knew it before Hannah officially owned the Weston Wine Company.

Weston, Missouri – population 1,800 – is a quaint main street dream that could even make the fictional Mayberry jealous. Just 40 minutes from Kansas City, it's hometown vibes, welcoming community and numerous entertainment options make this town a popular tourist attraction and the perfect home for the Weston Wine Company.

Like the town, Hannah wanted Weston Wine Company to be an inviting place, which welcomes wine lovers of all tastes and experience levels. Just six months after purchasing the winery, she completely rebranded it to represent her two rules of wine tasting – sip what makes you happy and sip with people you love.

"Good wine is wine that you want to keep savoring, and that is different for everyone who comes in," Hannah said. "Our goal at Weston Wine Company is to get on the level that the other person on the other side of the bar is – no matter what that would be."

The Weston Wine Company showcases Hannah's favorite part of Missouri wine culture – its community.

"That's what Missouri wine is good at. That's Missouri wines' secret. We have droves of people who come out and sit on our porches weekend after weekend," Hannah said.

Weston Wine Company's staff is always friendly and engaging. The winery offers several events from murder mystery dinners to trivia nights, which allow customers to experience wines from the Show-Me State in a whole new light.

Hannah and her staff always meet guests where they are. If they've never tasted Missouri wines, they can test their palates with a tasting flight consisting of three wine varieties and mini-cupcakes or cheeses. If they're wine aficionados, they can visit with Hannah about the local grapes sourced for their proprietary wines.

Most importantly, to Hannah, she wants every sip of Weston wine to pair with a good memory. Perhaps, a sip of Rulebender Sweet Red will remind visitors of their birthday celebration on the winery's porch. Maybe, the label of Prim + Proper Sparkling Moscato will help to recall a girl's day in Weston.

Regardless if it's a dry white enjoyed after a long day of working remotely, or a sweet red sipped during game night, Weston Wine Company wines always pair well with great experiences.

Father’s Day is coming and we’re here to help you get prepared.

Looking for a great Father’s Day gift? How about wine, beef and cheese? Is he a true wine fan? Check out these 10 gifts for every wine lover. With so many wineries offering outdoor tastings, a folding chair could be just what dad ordered. Whatever the gift may be, a day at a Missouri winery with his (favorite) child is sure to say “I love you.”

Is your dad more of a beer guy? No worries, there are Missouri wineries that brew their own beer!

Arcadian Moon Winery & Brewery in Higginsville is the first brewery in Lafayette Country in nearly a century. They have a variety of beers to enjoy ranging from porter to pale ale and update their offerings seasonally.

Bias Vineyards and Winery in New Haven is also home to Gruhlke’s Microbrewery, named for the “German gnome who shares his secret formulas for great microbrewed beer.” It was the first winery in Missouri and second in the nation to operate as both a winery and brewery.

Cave Vineyard in Ste. Genevieve is home to several beers under the S.I.L.’s moniker which stands for sons-in-law. The family joke is that the sons-in-law of the owner have found a way to fund their hobby.  Currently, they have three brews available by the bottle, but occasionally, they brew up something fun to put on tap.

Charleville Vineyard Winery & Brewery in Ste. Genevieve has seen great success with their brewery and the views at the winery and brewery location in Ste. Genevieve are hard to beat.

Crown Valley Winery, Brewery & Distillery in Ste. Genevieve offers a plethora of tasting options. They make a wide range of wines, including sparkling, while their brewmaster produces beer made in a state-of-the-art 15-barrel microbrewery. Their Fizzy Izzy root beer has its own devoted fans as well. 

Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard in Potosi now has Edg-Clif Brewing Company on site offering a selection of six different beers on draft to try or take home in a growler.

Steele Crest Winery and Microbrewery sits on five acres in Jackson near Cape Girardeau. The winery and brewery features ample indoor and outdoor seating. Plus, who can resist wood-fired pizza to go with their wine or beer?

*Bonus*

Wineries that are closely partnered with breweries:

St. James Winery and Public House Brewery have partnered up to offer award-winning wine and beer as well as delicious food at the Public House Taproom in St. James, next to the winery. The Gardens is a welcoming outdoor space where you can enjoy the best of both worlds (wine and beer), yard games, and fire pits.

Les Bourgeois Vineyards in Rocheport works closely with Broadway Brewery of Columbia which utilizes space at the winery to brew. You can enjoy their beers at the tasting room or overlooking the Missouri River at the A-Frame or Bistro.

Whether you’re a wine fan, a beer connoisseur, or you like both, Missouri wine country is a great place to celebrate dad.

Does the warm weather have you eager to escape the confines of your home? Consider soaking in the great outdoors on a Missouri winery patio. Finding a winery with outdoor seating is only clicks away. The helpful winery search tool on Missouriwine.org can lead you to your next relaxing afternoon excursion. Simply use the refine dropdown and select outdoor seating from the list of search criteria. You can also enter your zip code to find those wineries close to home.

Did you know June 13 is National Rosé Day? Rosés continue to be a trendy favorite among wine consumers - women and men. There’s even a special term coined for the male segment of the population who enjoy rosé wines – brosé. Canned Rosé has even made its debut in Missouri wine country.

The unique flavors, aromas and characteristics of rosé wines vary based on the grapes used, but overall, they are light and fruity. Their light, fruity nature makes them a great pairing for many different foods. Serve chilled for a refreshing summer sipper.

The versatility of rosé wines is another reason they are a crowd favorite, especially since sparkling rosé hit the shelves. A handful of Missouri wineries even offer bubbly rosés.

Use rosé to make your very own Quarantini or Signature Sangria.

Whether you’re grabbing a Missouri rosé to enjoy on its own or mixing it into a delicious cocktail, we’re sure you will find one to add to your favorites list.

Vidal Blanc, pronounced vee-dahl blahnk, is a French-American hybrid grape that most often produces a dry to semi-dry wine with fragrances of a fresh summer garden. Some winemakers even produce a beautiful sparkling wine using Vidal Blanc grapes. Clean, citrus fruit flavors of apples and lemon make this wine a summertime favorite.

There are nearly 100 acres of Vidal Blanc grapes in Missouri which accounts for 5.9% of all grapes grown in the state.

Vidal Blanc pairs best with simple, fresh ingredients like basil and garlic, as well as seafood and poultry. Perhaps the most perfect pairings for Vidal Blanc are warm summer days and a backyard patio.

Missouri Wines invites you to enjoy a backyard vacation with Vidal Blanc.

BBQ grills are firing up across the Show-Me State. Why not mix-up your burger routine with this easy red wine ground beef recipe? You likely have all the ingredients in your pantry already. Gather them up and let the grilling begin!

Servings: 4 Burgers

Ingredients

• 2 cups Missouri Norton
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 lb ground beef
• Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato
• Sliced cheese
• Buns

Directions

Combine the wine and brown sugar in a medium saucepan on high heat. Stir the mixture until it is completely dissolved. Let the sauce boil and reduce for 20 minutes. While waiting for the mixture to cool, combine hamburger, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl.  Once the sauce has cooled, incorporate ¼ cup of the wine reduction into the ground beef. Form four ¼ lb patties. Grill burgers over medium heat until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. While grilling, toast your buns slightly. Add your favorite cheese and drizzle with remaining wine sauce. Top with tomatoes or your favorite burger fixings.

Enjoy with a glass of Missouri Norton. Cheers!

When The Cork Report created the first #openlocalwine night back in March, they never could have imagined how popular it would be – with readers, with winemakers and with fans of local wine all over North America and beyond.

To take part in #openlocalwine all you need to do is:

• Get a bottle of local wine and open it Friday, May 22.
• Enjoy it with a nice meal – home-cooked or takeout from your favorite local restaurant.
• Post picture(s) of the wine or wines on social media using hashtag #openlocalwine.
• Raise a glass to the winemaker who made it.

Let’s put Missouri wine on the map! Use #openlocalwine, as well as #MOWines, when posting your bottle of Missouri wine on social media. Challenge your partner in wine to do the same. You can also tag the winery so that they can see who their top fans are.

Looking for a simple dessert recipe to amp up your dinner plans? This raspberry wine sorbet is sure to please. You can prepare this dish in advance using only five simple ingredients with your favorite Missouri white wine!

Prep Time: 15 minutes  |  Total time: 8 Hours  |  Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 cups Raspberries (Fresh or frozen)
• ⅓ cup Dry Vignoles (Dry white wine)
• ¾ cup Sugar
• ½ tsp Salt
• ½ tsp Almond extract

Directions

Place the raspberries in a food processor. If using frozen berries, they may need to be slightly defrosted first. Once the berries are pureed, add white wine, sugar, salt and almond extract to the mixture. Combine with the food processor until the ingredients are well mixed.   

Pour the liquid mixture into a freezer safe container with a lid. Place the container in the freezer overnight or until thoroughly chilled.

Be sure to tag us with your results on social media using #MoWines!

May 16 is Mimosa Day and what better way to celebrate than to add your favorite sparkling Missouri wine to one of these delicious recipes.

Blueberry Lemonade Mimosa

Blushing Mimosa

Cherry Bomb Mimosas

Dole Whip Mimosa

Guava Mint Mimosa

Lemon Sorbet Mimosa

Mango Mimosa

Mermaid Mimosa

Mimosa Coladas

Mimosa Sangria

Mimosa Smoothie

Paloma Mimosa

Pineapple Strawberry Mimosa

Pink Mimosa

Summer Crush Mimosas

Tequila Sunrise Mimosas

Watermelon Mimosa

We hope we’ve inspired you to grab a bottle (or bottles) of award-winning Missouri sparkling wine and whip up a fun, refreshing mimosa!