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!

Canned wine – what once was a novel idea has become more mainstream and continues to grow in popularity among wine consumers. Several Missouri wineries now offer a select number of their wines in a convenient can. This smaller container is easier to transport than its glass counterpart and won’t break if it slips out of your hand. These smaller servings are great to mix and match.

*The following information was collected from wineries that responded to a survey and may not be a representation of all the canned wines available in the state.

KC Wineworks

KC Wineworks debuted their Show Me Sangria in August 2018. The winery’s white wine-based sangria features Missouri grapes with natural fruit juices and zero added sugar. The sangria is pasteurized and shelf-stable.

Les Bourgeois Vineyards

Les Bourgeois Vineyards cans two of their most popular wines, Riverboat Red and Riverboat White. Available for a limited time, the winery’s red wine features a tantalizing concord blend with aromas of raspberry and cherry, while their white wine has a bouquet of honeysuckle and hints of honeydew and lush tropical fruit. The winery has also started to offer their longtime favorite, Captain’s Coolers, in a can. Reminisce your favorite A-Frame memories at home with their Bonfire Berry or Citrus Cruise.

Pirtle Winery

Pirtle Winery offers a few favorites in a convenient 4-pack: Weston Bend White, a semi-dry blend that is light, fragrant and fruity; Weston Bend Rosé, a crisp and refreshing semi-dry favorite; and their bestseller, Mellow Red, a semi-sweet red blend that is soft and fruity. The winery plans to can their hard cider later this spring.

Shawnee Bluff Winery

Shawnee Bluff Winery offers two canned wines including their sweet rosé. A canned wine is the perfect addition to a lake view sunset or for an upbeat concert at their vineyard location.

St. James Winery

Photo courtesy of St. James Winery

St. James Winery recently added several canned wine options to their list. Included are sparkling versions of their internationally awarded 100% fruit wines. There are four flavors to choose from: Blackberry, Peach, Strawberry and Mango. Each one is sweet, effervescent and made with no added colors or flavors. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase canned dry rosé when in the tasting room.

So, pop the top on canned wine from these wineries in the Show-Me State. You might just find a new favorite!

Who couldn’t use a little liquid joy these days? This colorful delight will brighten up your happy hour this week. Be sure to include these simple ingredients to your next online grocery order.

Serving size: Party of One

Ingredients:

2 oz Pineapple juice
2 oz Missouri white wine
2 oz Rum
Splash of lemon lime or club soda
Lime wedge - squeezed
Pineapple
Strawberries

Directions:

Combine equal parts pineapple juice, wine and rum in beverage shaker. We used Vidal Blanc but Vignoles would also be a great choice. If these two wines aren’t a staple in your wine rack, many Missouri wineries are offering fabulous shipping deals. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the mixture, add ice and shake out your frustrations. Pour the concoction into a glass, drop in whatever tropical fruit you have on hand and top off with a splash of Sprite. 

This is the perfect addition for your beach themed staycation!

Pro tip: You can use the juice from canned pineapple in a pinch.

It’s impossible for thank our mothers for everything they do for us, but Mother's Day is a great opportunity to show our gratitude. If your mom is a Missouri wine fan, here are some wonderful DIY gift ideas she’ll adore. After all, handmade gifts have a special place in a mother’s heart, right?

For the moms out there who love to sit outside and soak in the fresh air, make a set of wine bottle Tiki Torches.

This DIY wine rack is an easy project that is perfect for the Missouri wine loving mom!

For the more experienced crafters, this wine bottle table would be a welcome gift in any mother’s home.

Wine bottle wall mounted vases are perfect for the moms who are avid gardeners. They’re a beautiful way to display flowers.

If your mother is a big reader or maybe even a writer, she’ll love a handmade wine cork letter or symbol like this cool ampersand.  

Here’s to all the moms out there. Cheers! 

You don’t need to be a master chef to bake these delicious blondies filled with cashews, butterscotch chips and, the best part, wine! It’s the perfect blend of salty and sweet and will have your friends and family saying “more please.”

Yields: 12 servings | Prep Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chardonel
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup roasted salted cashews, chopped
1 tsp flaky sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9-x-13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil so that it extends up the sides. Spray with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, vanilla and chardonel (don’t be concerned about the consistency change). Next, beat in the flour, baking powder and kosher salt.
3. With a large spoon, stir in the butterscotch chips and chopped cashews.
4. Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan and lightly sprinkle the flaky sea salt on top. Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes. The edges should be golden-brown and the center will have set.

Give your blondies time to cool before cutting into them. If you’ve got some leftover, store them in a covered container at room temperature.  

April 22nd is Earth Day, and it’s the perfect time to take stock of what we can all do to be more eco-conscious. As wine-lovers we can do our part by reusing and recycling our wine bottles and corks, and it doesn’t have to be a chore. Upcycling can be fun and useful with these DIY ideas. 

• Wine Bottle Chandelier – Brighten up any space with this super cool, customizable wine bottle chandelier!
• Centerpiece – Wine bottles make great vases with minimal muss or fuss. Clean off the labels, fill with water, and you’re all set for a great mantle piece or centerpiece for your table. 
• Modular Shelves – This DIY project is a bit more involved than some, but the end result is worth the effort! 
• Wine Bottle Lamp – Talk about the perfect gift! Make this unique lamp for friends and family for a gift you know they’ll love. 

There are tons of great cork DIY ideas, but you can also recycle cork through programs like ReCork and Cork Reharvest. Cork is a renewable, recyclable material; let’s all do our part. 

Cheers to Earth Day and being eco-conscious wine-lovers!