During this time of year, we anticipate the return of cooler temperatures and look forward to enjoying fall favorites like apple cider. This sangria recipe includes classic flavors of apples and cinnamon. Add Missouri wine and it’s perfect!

Ingredients

2 bottles - Dry Missouri white wine (We used Chardonel and it was fantastic!)

5 cups - Apple cider (You can use sparkling if you like a little bubble in your sangria.)

4 large -  Apples (We used a combination of honeycrisp and fuji.)

2 - Cinnamon sticks (Optional: extra for garnishing the glasses.)

Pomegranate seeds for garnish

Directions

• Mix the Missouri wine and apple cider into a large pitcher.
• Chop or slice apples and add to the pitcher. Be sure to remove the core and seeds.
• Add two cinnamon sticks to the pitcher.
• Let it sit in fridge for at least an hour to let all the flavors meld together and the cinnamon infuse the sangria.
• Serve chilled.
• Optional: Add a small cinnamon stick and pomegranate seeds to each glass for garnish.

If you’re going to visit Missouri wineries, why not be rewarded for it? That’s why we launched the Missouri Winery Visitors Program (MVP) in September 2016. Now, two years later, the program is still going strong with more than 7,000 members.   

It's Easy to MVP 

The Missouri Winery Visitors Program is a program designed to reward loyal Missouri wine consumers. You receive a ticket each time you visit a participating MVP winery. Go online, register the tickets you collect, then redeem the points for fabulous rewards like cheeseboards, wine totes and opportunities to win sweepstakes experiences.

MVP Perks

We recently launched MVP Perks, an extension of our membership program. MVP Perks are exclusive offers at participating wineries that are only available to our MVP members. Examples of MVP Perks include discounts on food, glassware or logo merchandise purchases and special pairings. Just show your MVP membership card at a winery that offers a MVP Perk. Go to the MVP website to see the list of current MVP Perks.

The MVP Cellar Master Celebration

We are in the early stages of planning for the experience of a lifetime. The MVP Cellar Master Celebration will honor our most loyal Missouri wine fans. You’ll have the opportunity to visit with your favorite winemakers while enjoying fabulous food and award-winning Missouri wines. The event will take place in spring 2020. That means you’ll have plenty of time to visit Missouri wineries and collect points for this memorable evening. Your goal? 50,000 points.

MVP has been extended through December 31, 2019 which gives loyal Missouri wine fans even more time to earn rewards. Not a member? Go online and register today.

See you in Missouri wine country!

Before Prohibition, Missouri was second in the nation in wine production. It took a while to bounce back once Prohibition was repealed, but Missouri wine country now boasts more than 130 wineries and makes a $3.2 billion impact on the state every year. Discover these seven new wineries across the Show-Me State. Whether you’re just learning about the local wine scene or a loyal enthusiast, there is always something new and interesting to uncover in Missouri wine country.

Holy Grail Winery in Marthasville

Recently opened in a new picturesque location in Marthasville, Holy Grail Winery welcomes visitors to relax and enjoy a glass of their carefully crafted wines. Definitely take advantage of their chocolate and wine tasting when you visit!

Old Farm Winery in Catawissa

The family responsible for Old Farm Winery has farmed land in the hills of Missouri for more than a century. Today, they follow their ancestors’ lead and pour their hearts and labor into what they do. Their roots run deep on this farm and they’re proud to present the fine wines they craft to visitors. Old Farm Winery is currently open by appointment, so give them a call and make a trip out to Catawissa to see them.

Osage Orange Vineyard & Winery in Greencastle

Osage Orange Vineyard & Winery (or OOVW) is a home-based, family-run business located near Kirksville, Mo., well within the Conservation Department’s designation area known as the Mystic Plains Prairie land. Their wine is hand-crafted on-site using mostly fruit grown in the vineyard, from their trees (namely pear, peach and apple), and the produce from the family garden (e.g. watermelon, pumpkin, rhubarb, various berries and herbs like mint).

Peaceful Bend Vineyards in Steelville

Peaceful Bend Vineyards may be a familiar name, but they have recently reopened in their newly built facility. The industry and many loyal patrons are thrilled to see Katie and Clyde back and better than ever after suffering a tragic fire. Visit the winery to see the brand-new facility and enjoy delicious wine and food.

Small Batch Winery in Wentzville

Small Batch Winery is a family owned and operated micro-winery. True to their name, they make wine in small batches allowing them to be involved in every step from the fermentation, to the bottling and labeling of the finished wine. They specialize in easy-sipping wines they think are perfect for that evening or Sunday afternoon relaxing on the patio. Open by appointment only, a visit to Small Batch Winery is just a call away.

St. James Winery – Branson

St. James Winery has been a staple in the Missouri wine industry since 1970, but they have recently opened a satellite location in Branson where they house some of the production for their numerous varieties of wine as well as a delicious restaurant. Next time you’re in Branson, stop by for a tasting or a bite to eat.

Twin Meadows Winery in Madison

Twin Meadows is a family owned and operated winery. It maintains a vineyard consisting of cold hardy American and French-American hybrid vines. The grapes are harvested, processed, crafted and bottled on site to provide a diverse selection of dry to sweet wines. There’s something for everyone. Twin Meadows Winery is open by appointment only, but can’t wait to see you and show you around.

Missouri has a long history of winemaking, giving the local wine industry a strong and fascinating foundation, but our future is motivated by the passionate and hardworking winemakers and grape-growers in the state. Visit these new wineries and continue exploring Missouri wine country to discover why Missouri wine is worth the work.

What do we mean when we say Missouri wine country is kind of a big deal?

We mean 130+ wineries big.

We mean 1,700 bearing acres of vineyards big.

We mean $3.2 billion annual impact on the state big.

We mean 28,000+ jobs supported big.

We mean 1.16 million gallons sold annually big.

We mean… it’s a really big deal! Missouri may not rival the coastal wine regions, but it certainly holds its own. With a history dating back to the early 1800s, the Show-Me State was a key player in the wine industry prior to Prohibition. It took several decades after the repeal of the 18^th amendment for the local wine industry to bounce back, but bounce back it has!

Every year Missouri wine country is visited by more than 875,000 people. With 130+ wineries located all over the state, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for the small-town atmosphere or an urban experience, there’s at least one (usually several) wineries that fit the bill. Plus, the Missouri Wine and Grape board will reward you for visiting area wineries if you become an MVP. Find out more about that here.

Missouri wines are made locally, but recognized internationally. Show-Me State wines have been receiving international acclaim since the late 1800s when Norton wines from Hermann took home gold medals at several World’s Fairs. They continue to bring home awards from national and international wine competitions today. We also host a Missouri Wine Competition where local wines compete against each other. See the results from this year’s competition here.

One reason many people don’t realize the scope of the Missouri wine industry is because they may not recognize the grapes we grow. Missouri’s climate is demanding and not suitable for all wine grape varieties, so our winemakers primarily grow native American and hybrid varietals that are hardier and able to withstand the pressures of Missouri’s cold winters and humid summers. We may do things a little differently, but we do them really well. Get to know Missouri’s grape varietals here.

There is so much to discover in Missouri wine country. What are you waiting for? Visit a local winery today to find out… what’s the big deal?! 

Looking for a delicious treat this grilling season? Look no further. Fruit marinated in Missouri Vignoles white wine, grilled and topped with a marscarpone sauce is a delicious dish perfect as a dessert or side dish.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDpUC-xjUFk&feature=youtu

Vignoles Marinated Grilled Fruit Skewers Recipe

Time: 20 minutes active, 2 hours inactive | Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

4- Peaches

4- Pears

2 cups- Missouri Vignoles (semi-sweet white wine)

½ cup- Marscarpone

2 oz.- Orange juice

1 tbsp- Honey

Fresh mint (Optional garnish)

Directions:

Soak 12-15 skewers in warm water for 10-30 minutes. Wash and cut the peaches and pears into large slices. (Tip: Ripe but still slightly firm fruit is best for this recipe as it will soften some when marinated and when cooked.) Assemble the skewers, alternating between the peach and pear slices. Marinate the fruit in Missouri Vignoles for 1-2 hours.

While the fruit marinates, make the sauce by whisking together the marscarpone, orange juice and honey, adding additional orange juice until it reaches the desired consistency.

Grill the fruit skewers for 1-2 minutes on each side. Leave them on the grill just long enough to sear both sides; you don’t want to overcook the fruit. Remove the skewers from the grill, allow to cool slightly, drizzle with the sauce, garnish with fresh mint and enjoy!

You’ve been looking forward to a day at the winery. Delicious wines, incredible views. There’s just one hitch.

Naturally, your furry pal wants to go too.  And when they look at you like this...

…how can you resist?

Go ahead and give into those sad puppy eyes. There are many Missouri wineries that welcome pets. You can see which wineries are pet friendly on our website. Our new winery guide also includes a list of amenities. Look for the  symbol underneath the list of wineries to see if they allow pets on their grounds. Don’t have a winery guide? Request one here. 

Grab a leash before you go. Your destination in Missouri wine country awaits.

2          Cooking with MO Wine Contests

1          Missouri Wine Tent featuring premium local wines

11        Opportunities to attend Missouri Wine, Cheese & Chocolate classes

1          Missouri Travel Council’s Tourism Trade Show with a Missouri wine tasting

6          Delicious fair food and wine pairings

That’s 21 reasons for wine lovers to enjoy an exciting visit to the Missouri State Fair.

Cooking with Missouri Wine Contests:

The Missouri Wine and Grape Board sponsors two different cooking contests at the fair. The Cooking with Missouri Wine Contest where contestants prepare an entrée with Missouri wine, and the Cooking with Missouri Wine – Just Desserts Contest where contestants make dessert dishes with local wines. The entries are tasted and judged by industry experts. The top three entries receive cash prizes and have their recipes featured on missouriwine.org.

The Missouri Wine Tent:

Located near the grandstand, the Missouri Wine Tent is a great place to escape the heat and discover new, award-winning local wines. A 15-foot tall inflatable wine bottle will let you know you’ve arrived (and is the perfect selfie spot in our opinion). The Missouri Wine Tent features a wide range of wines crafted in the Show-Me State, and has an impressive selection of the winners from the recent Missouri Wine Competition. It’s a great place to relax with friends and a must stop on your trip to the fair.

Missouri Wine, Cheese & Chocolate Classes:

There is always too much to do in too little time. We all lead stressful lives and once in a while it’s necessary to unplug and take some time for ourselves. Why not grab a glass of your favorite locally crafted, Missouri wine and sit down with this special coloring page for a little you time? August 2 is National Coloring Book Day, but any day is a good day for self-care. Cheers to de-stressing with the simple things. Print your very own Missouri wine coloring page here. 

August is Vignoles Month, and it is the perfect time to celebrate Missouri’s fruity favorite. Vignoles, a French-American hybrid white grape, makes wine with immensely fruity flavors and aromas. It’s made in every style and sweetness from dry and refreshing, to luscious and sweet, and everything in between. There is truly a Vignoles for everyone, no matter their taste preference. It’s likely this versatility that makes Vignoles the most popular white wine in the state.

Vignoles (pronounced veen-yole) grapes account for 15% of all the grapes grown in the state, that’s 260 acres. At the recent 2018 Missouri Wine Competition, three different styles of wine made from Vignoles grapes all won Best of Class honors. A Dry Vignoles from Adam Puchta Winery took the title in the dry white wine category. St. James Winery’s 2017 Dry Vignoles, a semi-dry wine, took the honor in its category, and a Vignoles from Stonehaus Farms Winery also won Best of Class in the sweet white wine category. These three wines are all quite different, but equally delicious and each are made from Vignoles.

Vignoles wine’s tropical fruit notes and bright acidity make it incredibly food friendly. Dryer Vignoles wines pair well with Asian dishes, salads, Swiss cheese and more. Vignoles wines that are a little sweeter are great matches for spicy food. Try anything from Thai food, to Mexican dishes, and even buffalo wings with a semi-sweet or sweet Vignoles wine. The sweetness helps cut the heat and the fruity flavors compliment perfectly. Vignoles dessert wines are great with crème brûlée and cheesecake. Find your favorite Vignoles and food pairing today! 

Introducing a brand-new Missouri Winery Guide! We are thrilled that the Missouri wine industry keeps growing and evolving. Those changes meant it was time to update our printed materials. The last two versions of the guide have been maps that fold out to reveal winery listings and locations on a map of the Show-Me State. Prior to those versions, we produced booklets with listings for all the wineries in the state and a small map in the center. There was an equally avid following for each style of publication, making the next step clear… why not do both?!

Meet our new winery guide, a booklet listing Missouri wineries PLUS a fold out map in the back showing each winery’s location. The best of both worlds, this guide is the ideal tool to help you plan your next vino adventure in Missouri wine country. Pick one up at the next winery you visit or click here to request a guide be sent to you.