National Baking Day is a perfect opportunity for you to experiment with new baking recipes and techniques. If you're a fan of baking bread, why not try making a delicious loaf using Norton wine? It is the perfect opportunity to showcase our official Show-Me State grape. This wine is known for its rich and fruity flavor profile, which makes it a perfect addition to bread. When combined with flour, yeast, and other ingredients, Norton can add a unique depth of flavor to your bread, making it stand out from the rest.

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

3 C sifted unbleached bread flour

1 TBSP baking powder

2 TBSP sugar

1 1/3 C Norton wine (*Any dry Missouri wine works too)

1 TBSP melted butter

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Whisk to evenly distribute.
3. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients; pour in the wine.
4. Stir well until the mixture is mostly combined.
5. Turn the dough and leftover flour mixture onto a flat surface dusted with light layer of flour.
6. Knead the dough for 3-5 minutes to incorporate the last of the flour mixture and create smooth dough. Shape the dough into an oval shape and place it on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
7. Brush the loaf with melted butter and cut three ¼ inch deep scores diagonally in the top of the loaf.
8. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until the crust is browned slightly. Let cool for five minutes before cutting and serving.

*Any dry wine works but we recommend using Norton wine as it adds a nice, strong flavor and aroma.

Pair with this fun cinnamon butter.

INGREDIENTS:

1 C salted butter, room temperature

1 C powdered sugar

½ C honey

2 TSP cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Stir together until butter consistency.
2. Spread on butter, enjoy!

So next time you want to bake a delicious treat, try making a loaf of Norton bread. Happy baking!  

If you are a Missouri wine enthusiast, you may have heard the term ‘pruning’ when discussing grapevines. Pruning is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy and productive vineyard as it is essential for producing quality grapes. Whether you are a casual wine sipper or a connoisseur, understanding the importance of pruning can enhance your appreciation of the wine in your glass.

The purpose of pruning is to get the maximum yields of juice and to have adequate vegetative growth for the upcoming season. Dormant vines are pruned in late January until March. If pruned too early, a hard frost can damage the buds and canes.

Several different pruning techniques are commonly used in Missouri: Cane Pruning, Spur Pruning and Machine Pruning.

Cane pruning involves cutting the vine down to at least one cane that will produce new shoots in the upcoming season. The canes that are cut will not be fruitful.

Spur pruning involves retaining two to four buds off young canes. When pruning, the spurs should be spaced out evenly. Old canes will not be fruitful and not kept.

Machine pruning is a technique that has gained popularity in recent years. It involves the use of specialized equipment to trim grapevines, usually during the dormant season. The machine prunes the vines by cutting off the old growth and shaping the remaining canes. This method is efficient and cost-effective, as it saves time and labor compared to manual pruning.  

If left unpruned, the number of grape clusters would be excessive. The vines would be unable to sustain the growth. Additionally, the vines would become unruly and tangled. Grape clusters would become hidden under thick layers of leaves, making it so that the grapes would not ripen. If the vines are not tended to, the clusters will be enjoyed by wildlife and not in a bottle of vino. 

Pruning grapevines is an essential aspect of growing healthy and productive grapevines. The next time you open a bottle of Missouri wine, thank those working in the cold to ensure we can enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Want to learn more about the lifecycle of a grapevine? Click here to watch the video!

New Year resolutions are a time-honored tradition that many people use to mark the beginning of a new year, and to set goals for self-improvement. One resolution that might surprise you is to try more Missouri wine! With more than 125 wineries and vineyards scattered throughout the state, there's no shortage of variety when it comes to Missouri wine.

If your resolution is to become more familiar with Missouri wine (and we hope it is) here are some ideas to get you started!

Sign up for Rewards Uncorked: Visit wineries, earn points and get rewarded. It’s that easy!

Cook with Missouri Wine: Missouri wines can greatly enhance the taste of your favorite food dishes. Dry or sweet wines can help bring out new flavors. Missouri’s fruit wines are incredibly food friendly when it comes to baking sweet treats too.

Explore one of the 9 Wine Trails: Missouri offers 9 different wine trails. Plan the perfect trip by visiting one of the wine trails and seeing all that it has to offer, including wine tasting, food and amazing vineyard views.

Try a new Missouri wine varietal: Trying a new Missouri wine varietal can be an exciting and enjoyable experience for wine enthusiasts. With a variety of grape cultivars grown in the region, there is always something new to discover and savor. Whether you prefer red, white, or rosé, the Missouri wine scene has something for everyone to explore.

Host your own wine tasting: Hosting your own wine tasting can be a fun and educational experience. You can invite friends over and have them bring a bottle of their favorite wine to share. It's a great opportunity to learn about different types of wine, how to properly taste and pair them with food, and to enjoy the company of friends.

Try a new winery: Visiting a new Missouri winery can be a wonderful experience for wine enthusiasts and novice tasters alike. From the stunning scenery of the vineyards to the rich flavors of the wine, each winery offers a unique and memorable experience.

Attend Wine Country Events: Attending events in Missouri wine country is an exciting way to explore the region and learn about its rich viticultural history. You can join the winery events and participate in grape harvests, wine tastings, and vineyard tours to get a hands-on experience of the winemaking process. Additionally, you will get the opportunity to try various wines made with locally grown grapes and meet other wine enthusiasts who share your passion.

Cheers to 2024 in Missouri wine country!

Wine glasses come in all shapes and sizes, each designed to enhance the sipping experience of a specific type of wine. Red wine glasses, for example, are typically larger and wider, allowing the wine to breathe and aerate, while white wine glasses are generally smaller and narrower, preserving the wine's cooler temperature and concentrating the aromatics.

When focusing on glasses, there are few different styles to choose from.

Flute

These glasses are best for sparkling wines. It offers a shorter stem, with a longer, more narrow bowl. This is ideal for sparkling wines because is retains the carbonation and captures the flavors of the wine.

White Wine Glass

White wines should be served in a glass that offers a narrower bowl. This is because the smaller bowl preserves the fruity flavors and aromas. To elevate the flavors more, there are specifically designed glasses for grape varietals.

Red Wine Glass

While sipping on a bold, full-bodied red wine, it is best to utilize an appropriate glass. Red wine glasses have a globe-shaped bowl and are also taller and larger than a white wine glass. The wider opening also allows for a larger surface area, which enhances the wine's flavors and textures. Additionally, red wine glasses often have a longer stem to prevent your hands from warming the wine, which can negatively impact the taste. 

Varietal Specific

If you’ve been on the hunt for fancy stemware you may have seen varietal specific glasses on the market. While having such specific glassware is not required to enjoy the wine it does create a unique experience. Riedel Crystal set out to design the perfect glass for two of Missouri’s unique varietals. Today we have options for both Norton and Vignoles.

The Missouri Wine Board partnered with Riedel to select the perfect glasses for Norton and Vignoles. Participants evaluated 14 glasses, looking for the glass that best translated the “message” of each varietal (aroma, acidity, balance, etc.). According to Riedel, shape, size and rim diameter are the three variables to consider when evaluating varietal specific glassware.

Whether you're enjoying a glass of Missouri's crisp, refreshing Seyval Blanc or a bold, spicy Chambourcin, finding the perfect wine glass can help brighten and enhance the flavors!

Are you new to Missouri? Want to know more about the Missouri Wine Industry? Look no further than our Beginner's Guide to Missouri Wines! Learn how to taste wine like a pro to how many gallons of Missouri wine are sold yearly! 

If you're a wine lover, you know each season brings new flavors. From National Drink Wine Day in February to Mead Day in August, there's always a perfect holiday for every wine lover. The 2024 Wine Lover's Calendar can help you keep track of the wine holidays to celebrate throughout the year. 

Cheers to the New Year!

Norton is not just a classic, it’s a wine for the ages. It’s our state grape, complex and rich in flavor. Every January, we recognize and honor this special grape.

This grape varietal was originally discovered in Virginia but eventually made its way to the Show-Me state. When Norton arrived in Missouri, it became the star of the show on a national and international stage. A Hermann winery won gold at the World’s Fair in Vienna for their Norton.

German settlers in Hermann set the standard for today’s winemakers who continue to carry on their legacy. Since 2011, the Missouri Wine Competition has recognized and awarded the best Norton in the state with the C.V. Riley award. The award is named in honor of Charles Valentine Riley, the state’s first appointed entomologist who is credited with helping save the French wine industry. Riley discovered that American rootstock was naturally resistant to the Phylloxera, a pest that nearly decimated the vineyards in France.

This year’s C.V. Riley award winner was also the Governor’s Cup winner - Stone Hill Winery’s 2020 Old Vine Reserve Norton. The winery’s President, Jon Held, says, “This wine is extremely unique since it’s produced entirely from a pre-prohibition vineyard of Norton vines planted during the 1860s.”

Jon says “This tiny ¼ acre vineyard only yields two to three barrels of wine per year. This precious vineyard was the source of cutting wood for renewed plantings of Norton as the Missouri wine industry was restarting in the 1960s. It is a special tribute to win with a wine from these old vines since we celebrated the 175th anniversary of Stone Hill Winery last year.”

Norton is a great wine to age and to keep in your collection for years to come.

Celebrate Norton Month by enjoying a glass of the ‘Wine for The Ages’.

The Vixen's Velvet is a decadent concoction made with a blend of three easy ingredients. This cocktail is perfect for anyone who loves the rich and smooth flavors of chocolate and coffee. If you are looking for a cozy drink to enjoy on a cold winter night, Vixen's Velvet is sure to satisfy.

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz Port-style wine

1 oz Kahlua

Eggnog (for topping)

Nutmeg (for topping)

Ice

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Add ice to a shaker.
2. Pour Port-style wine and Kahlua into shaker.
3. Strain into glass with ice.
4. Top with eggnog.
5. Sprinkle with nutmeg and enjoy!

Vixen's Velvet is a delicious and indulgent holiday drink that perfectly combines the strong flavors of Kahlua and Port and the sweetness of Eggnog.  

Wine is a beverage that has been enjoyed for thousands of years and has become an integral part of many cultures around the world. However, with its rich history and cultural significance comes a certain level of etiquette that should be followed when enjoying a glass of wine. Whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur or a newcomer to the world of wine, understanding proper wine etiquette is essential to fully appreciate the experience.

SERVING WINE

Serving wine properly is key for a successful dinner celebration. The first step to serving is choosing the proper glassware for the wine you are serving. For example, sparkling, white, rosé and light red wines will need a narrow rim as they concentrate the aromatics and will help the wine stay chilled. Full-bodied wines require a wider rim and bowl which allows the wine to better aerate.

On top of choosing the proper glassware, make sure that the wine is being served at a proper temperature. We recommend following the 3-2-1 rule for refrigerating. 3 hours for sparkling, 2 hours for white and rosé and 1 hour for reds. Additionally, depending on the type of wine you are serving, red wines may taste better being decanted. View this video on how to decant.

When pouring a glass of wine for your guest, try not to overfill their glass. A normal serving of wine is 5 oz, meaning a bottle contains around 5 glasses of wine. We recommend filing the glass up to the widest part of the bowl. 

TASTING WINE

There is a process all wine professionals follow: 5 S’s of Wine Tasting

The first S is ‘see’. Hold your glass against a white background in a well-lit room to admire the color & clarity. A wine's color is influenced by its age & grape variety. As wines age, white wines gain vibrancy, while red wines may lose some pigment.

The next step to wine tasting is ‘swirl’. Hold your glass in front of you, or place on a flat surface, and gently rotate it so the wine swirls about in the glass. Swirling helps aerate and "open up" the wine, releasing its natural aromas.

The third S is ‘smell’. Stick your nose down inside your glass and take a quick, deep inhalation. Much of wine's pleasure is the aroma from the grapes, and the bouquet, which reflects the winemaking process.

The fourth and our favorite S is ‘sip’.  Take a small sip, roll it to coat your tongue (like swishing mouthwash) and breathe in a little air to release the aroma as you are tasting.

The final S is ‘savor’. Most wines have a lingering aftertaste or "finish" even once you've completed the tasting.

GENERAL ETIQUETTE

When holding a wine glass, it may seem logical to cup the bowl. However, this warms up the wine, making it less enjoyable. The proper way is to hold the glass near the bottom of the stem. More specifically, between your thumb and forefinger.

Having good wine etiquette can greatly enhance your wine tasting experience and leave a positive impression on those around you. By following these simple tips, you can become a pro at wine etiquette and enjoy the full spectrum of flavors and aromas that wine has to offer.

Cheers!