Navigating the wine aisle can be pretty overwhelming with all the different labels and terms. It’s like stepping into a maze with rows of bottles that all seem to blur together. That is why we are here to help. Let’s break down a wine label in 6 easy steps! 

1. Producer – 
   1. The winery name is often prominent and easy to find, but sometimes you have to look for small text at the top or bottom of the label.  
2. Vintage – 
   1. The vintage indicated the year the grapes were harvested. If no vintage is listed, the wine is most likely a multi-vintage or non-vintage. 
3. Region – 
   1. The region can be as general as Missouri or American, or there may be a specific appellation listed. An appellation listed. An appellation is a recognized wine-making region known in the U.S. as an American Viticultural Area (AVA). Missouri has 5 designated AVAs. 
4. Varietal – 
   1. A varietal is the grape used in making the wine. If the name is unique, the wine is likely a proprietary blend of grapes. 
5. Estate bottled – 
   1. This designation means the grapes were grown and the wine was produced, aged and bottled by the winery listed. 
6. Scale –
   1. On the back of the bottles there sometimes is a dry to sweet scale. This is not required but is very helpful. 

By breaking down and understanding wine labels it can completely transform the way you perceive wine. It can allow the experience to be fun and delightful! Familiarizing yourself with key elements on a wine bottle allow you to make informed choices and discover new favorites. Remember try new things and enjoy the wine you like! Next time you are in the wine aisle, take a moment to read the labels and enjoy the journey of discovering great Missouri wines. Cheers! 

Save your screw caps and use them for your next DIY craft. Spice up your home with these cute screw cap pumpkins that are not only perfect for Halloween but the entire fall season! 

Supplies: 

• Screw caps 
• Glue dots or hot glue gun

Steps: 

1. Lay pumpkin design out on table. 
2. Apply glue dots sides of screwcaps while sticking them together. 
3. Go row by row starting from the bottom. 
4. Allow time for glue dots to adhere. 
5. Decorate with the finished screw cap pumpkins around your home! 

Share your final design with us using #mowineDIY

Have you ever wondered how to take your everyday meals from ordinary to extraordinary? The answer is definitely simpler than you might think, wine. Adding a Missouri wine to your dinner meal takes it to the next level! Enjoy #MoWine with cuisines from all different parts of the world. 

Here are a couple popular dishes and what Missouri wine they pair well with! 

American:

• BBQ Chicken Pizza + Catawba  
• Burger + Chambourcin 

Chinese:

• Vegetable Fried Rice + Sparkling Wine 
• Beef & Broccoli + Norton 

Thai:

• Pad Thai + Vignoles 
• - Thai Green Curry + Traminette

Italian: 

• Alfredo + Chardonel 
• Risotto + Vidal Blanc 

Brazilian:

• Acarajé + Norton 
• Picanha + Vignoles 

Cajun:

• Gumbo + Seyval Blanc 
• Jambalaya + Chambourcin

Greek: 

• Gyros + Norton  
• Souvlaki + Chambourcin 

Cheers to the unique food of the world and Missouri wine pairings! Be sure to tag Missouri wines using #MoWine and #wineandfoodpairings!

As the crisp autumn air begins to settle in and the leaves start to turn, there’s nothing quite like the comfort of a warm meal. This fall, let your crockpot become your best friend in the kitchen! Try out these Pork Chops with a White Wine & Mushroom sauce.

Ingredients: 

• 4 Boneless Pork Chops 
• Salt & Pepper to Taste 
• ½ c Missouri Dry Chardonel 
• ½ c Chicken Broth 
• ¼ c Heavy Cream 
• 2 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
• 1 tsp Dried Thyme 
• 1 c Sliced Mushrooms 
• Fresh Parsley, Chopped (optional, for garnish)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 6-7 hours low / 3-4 hours high 

Instructions: 

1. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. 
2. In a bowl, mix together the white wine, chicken broth, heavy cream, minced garlic, and dried thyme. 
3. Place the pork chops in the crockpot.
4. Pour the white wine mixture over the pork chops and top with mushrooms.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
6. Serve the pork chops with the white wine and mushroom sauce from the crockpot, garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Serve with a refreshing glass of Chardonel and enjoy! 

Missouri port style wine can only be made better, with chocolate. Combine them and try out these decadent Port and Chocolate truffles!

Prep-time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 3 hours

Ingredients:

• 6 oz - Semisweet or Bittersweet Chocolate chips
• ½ cup - Heavy Cream
• 3 Tbsp - Missouri port style wine
• ½ cup - Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• ½ cup - Chocolate Almond Bark

Steps:

1. Combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in bowl and melt on low heat in microwave or saucepan, stirring frequently.
2. When melted add into a bowl with wine and combine.
3. Refrigerate or chill in freezer until mixture is firm.
4. Place wax paper on a baking sheet. 
5. With a spoon or melon baller, scoop a half inch to an inch diameter size truffle. Roll them in the cocoa powder and place on wax paper.
6. Melt almond bark on low heat, stirring frequently. Use a spoon to drizzle chocolate onto truffles.
7. Freeze for 10 minutes and then enjoy!

Keep in the fridge and enjoy them alongside a glass of Missouri port style wine. Try out these delicious and easy to make port truffles!

“Starlight, starbright.”

A starlit sky shines brightly on the purple and pink night sky. In the side of a rocky cliff sits a patio that overlooks their property. Surrounded by multiple trees that sit along the fence line. The patio has become a special place for a sweet lady named Betty. At the end of each day, she would go out there and gaze at the beautiful starry night and recite this poem.

“Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight. Wish I may, wish I might, have this wish I wish tonight!” This poem along with their loving memory of their mother sewed as an inspiration to the owners of Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard. 

Steffie Littlefield and Cyndy Keesee, wanted to create a tribute to their sweet mother Betty. They couldn’t think of a better way than to dedicate this sweet, delightful wine to her. This wine is a hit among many. The flavors are derived from the blending of their two white grapes, Vignoles and Vidal Blanc. It is a heavenly blend that shines as brightly as the stars in the sky, apricots and citrus with a hint of honeysuckle. It is best when served chilled, and it pairs well with seafood, poultry and fresh herbs.

Their mother and the patio that is looking over the cliff is a charming memory that they hold dear and love to share with their friends. They have a photo featuring their mother walking the property in their tasting room. 

Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard sits right outside of Potosi, Missouri. Be sure to stop by and try Starlight out for yourself while taking in the immaculate views. 
 

Attention, thrill-seekers and wine enthusiasts! Step into the enchanting realm of Missouri wine country, where vineyards offer more than just a delightful bottle of wine. Hidden within each winery lies a riddle, a mystery waiting for your keen mind to unravel. Are you up to the challenge? Be among the first three to crack these riddles and submit your answers via our survey, and a special prize awaits you!

1. I have a name derived from two, Al and Bonnie, it’s true. Nestled on a hillside high, overlooking a valley wide. An inn for guests to rest and stay, with a waterfront view to brighten their day. In a country of western Missouri I reside, a part of a wine trail, a journey to guide. 

2. In a place where spirits might give you a fright, a building reborn from its previous life. Above the wine, you can stay for the night, if you dare to face tales of ghostly strife. On TV it's shown, with stories to share, its eerie fame is beyond compare; can you guess this haunted winery?

3. I stand tall near a river's bluff, with views of a dome, stately and tough. My wine names sing of noble medieval lore, in vineyards and bottles, I'm adored. Who am I?

4. In central Missouri, this family thrives, their vineyard opened in twenty-sixteen’s lives. Old Testament names the boys proudly claim, and hidden within, a synonym for "beer" in their last name. A lady from "bourbon country" crafts their wine, with each bottle released, a taste so fine. Seasonal specials, a variety grand, can you name this winery nestled in the heartland? 

5. In fields where cattle used to roam, now two sisters call it home. Their labels speak of days gone by, with ranch icons that catch the eye. At farmer's markets, they make their stand, named for an iconic structure on their land. What family-owned winery am I?

6. I am a verdant place where vines do grow, not far from where KC's rivers flow. Among the grapes, sheep and chickens roam, keeping grass short in their vineyard home. Electric cars can find a charge here too, what green vineyard am I, can you construe?

7. I stand where valleys meet the sky, with views that take your breath away. Born in the year when disco was nigh, in a place where wine holds sway. My home, the first appellation pride, where clouds and vines together bloom, seek me there, where I reside, in a misty, cloud-kissed tasting room. What winery am I?

8. I am a place of love and cheer, where weddings happen year by year. A second generation runs the show, nestled where the suburbs grow. On a trail where wine is poured, with a vine in our logo adored. What am I, can you deduce? A venue where joy is let loose.

9. I house many places under one vast shade, where music’s grand echo is frequently made. In summer’s embrace, near waters that gleam, rooms to stay, and live out your dream. Where am I?

10. I am a place where fruits transform, in ways quite different from the norm. A "micro-winery" I proclaim to be, with wines named after family. To taste my craft, an appointment you'll make, for extraordinary fruit flavors, there's no mistake. Who am I, can you guess my name? A place where wine and kin are one and the same.

11. I offer a view where water meets the eye, for private events under the open sky. With Italian roots, my menu sings, specialty pizzas and all savory things. My landscape is sprawling, perfect for a spread, a picnic paradise where memories are fed. Reserve a firepit, cozy and bright, for you and your friends on a starry night. What winery am I?

Link to survey: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/8n7eQfE

Save your screw caps and use them to make a unique piece of art. Repurpose and reuse your screw caps instead of throwing them away. With just a few supplies make a beautiful conversation piece with your leftover screw caps!

Supplies:

• Vaseline
• 9-inch cake pan
• Contact Paper
• Screw Caps
• Bag of quickcrete
• Water
• 5 Gallon Bucket
• Trowel 
• Sponge

Steps:

1. Cut contact paper to shape of cake pan, and place design upside down on contact paper in cake pan or stone mold.
2. Apply even coating of Vaseline to your cake pan or stone mold.
3. Mix concrete according to bag instructions. 
4. Add concrete to the cake pan. Be sure to push down to fill any cracks with the concrete. Fill to brim of cake pan with cement.
5. Tap the sides of the cake pan with a mallet or hammer to release any air bubbles.
6. Let sit until cement is dry. Approximately 7-8 hours in the sun. Turn upside down and release carefully from the cake pan.
7. Wet a sponge and clean of the design!

Repurpose your old screw caps and share your final design with us using #mowineDIY

Fall is the perfect time for sharing moments with those closest to us. While we are at it, why don’t we share some of our favorite wines as well. Celebrate togetherness, community and wine by participating in Come on Over October. 

Wine and gatherings, the perfect pair for centuries. Find out more about this pair’s rich history at the link below!

https://www.comeoveroctober.com/wine-history-hitlist/

Come Over October is an initiative by Come Together - A Community for Wine Inc. Come Over October is a time to invite family and friends together to enjoy wine and comradery. It is the best of both worlds, being together with those you love, and wine!

Looking for some tips and tricks to host this October? Check out the link below for effortless hosting!

https://www.comeoveroctober.com/entertaining-tools-tips/

There are many different ways to celebrate. Simply plan a gathering with your friends. You can even plan an evening with themed wine choices or plan a night with easy food to match. Then you can celebrate the season and Come Over October.

While it always a great time to gather with others and sip wine, find out the reason for Come Over October at the link below!

https://www.comeoveroctober.com/why-this/

You can also celebrate at Missouri Wineries. Find the perfect Missouri Winery to celebrate at this October!

https://missouriwine.org/education/enjoy-wine/winery-search

Come Over October encourages slowing down and enjoying time with friends and family while sharing and creating memories and stories with wine!

Celebrate Come Over October with Missouri Wine!