Memorial Day is a time to honor those who served in the US military. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial kickoff to summer. Festive gatherings and barbecues with a patriotic theme are common during the three day weekend. Missouri wines are fantastic with the grilled meats, vegetables and fruits of the new season. Start your cookout with refreshing pitchers of ice cold Sangria. The variations on this classic wine punch are nearly endless. Have fun mixing it up with your favorite Missouri red, white, rosé or sparkling.

When it is time to eat,  treat your guests to mouthwatering smoky-sweet BBQ beef short ribs paired with Chambourcin's cherry, earthy aromas. The dark berry and spice of bold Norton is a mouthwatering match for Texas-style smoked beef brisket. Juicy, grilled pork chops provide a nice contrast to the deep, grape jam aromas of sweet Concord.

Grilled rosemary chicken is delicious with the citrus fruit flavors of oaked Chardonel. You can also enjoy this dry, full-bodied white with a chicken cobb salad loaded with avocado, bacon and blue cheese. Crisp, medium-bodied Seyval Blanc is a great pair for vegetarian offerings. Serve it with grilled portebello mushroom burgers or colorful grilled vegetables seasoned with fresh herbs.

Missouri's award-winning wines will take you all the way through dessert. Sip a semi-sweet Traminette with a slice of apple pie. Pair the citrus, floral and tropical flavors of Vignoles with a fresh fruit and mint salad. Homemade strawberry ice cream on a warm day is divine with light Catawba.

Missouri Wines pair well with Memorial Day!

What do a juicy hamburger, a savory steak, and a tender rack of ribs have in common? They are all examples of the many tantalizing forms of beef. May is National Beef Month, so now is the time to celebrate this mouthwatering meat with your favorite Missouri wines.

Beef is flavorful and versatile. It can be enjoyed any number of ways, which gives you practically limitless options for wine pairings. Red wines are commonly matched with beef because their dry and astringent tannins shine when combined with beef's proteins. For instance, a glass of spicy, full-bodied Norton is exquisite with a rich, buttery filet mignon wrapped in bacon. When you dress up a burger with portabello mushrooms and brie cheese, it brings out the earthy, cherry flavors in Chambourcin. If you're craving something sweet, try Concord with succulent slow-cooked barbecued beef sandwiches.

It might seem unconventional, but white wines are also great with the right beef dishes. Serve a floral,  fruit-forward dry Vignoles with a simple, tasty beef stir-fry with bell peppers. Or choose a slightly sweet Traminette to perfectly balance the salt from the stir-fry's soy sauce. The apple and citrus aromas of Vidal Blanc are refreshing with a grilled steak salad loaded with wholesome veggies.

Don’t let any leftover wine go to waste. Cooking meat with wine not only adds delicious, complex flavor, but also helps to tenderize the dish. Use a dry Missouri white wine for this rosemary sauteed beef. A dry red is a nice addition to this recipe for beef tenderloin with spring vegetables.

Still hungry? Visit the Missouri Beef Industry Council website for more beef recipes, and Missouriwine.org to select the perfect wine to pair with them.

Missouri wines pair well with beef!

Route 66, also known fondly as the “Mother Road” holds miles of history and still stands as a symbol of free-spirited independence. The open road is calling. Will you answer? The Show-Me State’s portion of the route runs from the Mississippi River in St. Louis, down the Interstate 44 (I-44) corridor to the Kansas border.

While you’re visiting this historic route you can also experience delicious, award-winning Missouri wine. On your journey, you can pair a little history with local wine and take the old highway that dates back to pre-Civil W

ar era state lines. Hop on I-44 in St. Louis and head southwest to Eureka. Eureka is host to the Route 66 State Park. When you leave Eureka you can take Historic Route 66 out of town, or you can get back on the Interstate to continue onward. Don’t forget to visit Meramec Caverns in Sullivan on the way!

The next stretch of the Mother Road includes some “must see” wineries. A good place to start is the historic town of Leasburg where Belmont Vineyards has access directly off Route 66. A few more miles down you will find St. James, which boast many prized wineries including; St. James Winery, Meramec Vineyards, Three Squirrels Vineyards, and Heinrichhause Winery. Another good spot to check out is the Rosati Winery Museum, where you can see the impressive history and mechanics of the pre-prohibition Missouri wine industry. Another spot to check out is Peaceful Bend Winery, which has one of the most romantic views along the route.  For even more breathtaking views continue along the Route, winding around the river bluffs of the Big Piney River, and check out the Trestle Bridge in Devil’s Elbow.

If you’re headed home after a day on Route 66 remember to bring home a bottle (or two) of your favorite Missouri wine to share. Continuing for a second day?  There are several beautiful Bed & Breakfasts’ just a few minutes off Route 66 around Waynesville. Start your next day off right with a stop in Lebanon to check out the Route 66 Museum, complete with classic cars and other memorabilia.

Hop back in your car and head to Springfield which has a Route 66 park and both OOVVDA Winery and Tyler Ridge Winery only a short jaunt off of the Mother Road. If you decide to spend more time in the Springfield area, the Ozark Mountain Wine Trail stretches 30 miles outside the city in every direction and boasts nine wineries and special gifts for visiting.

Beyond Springfield is the oldest part of the route that was bypassed years ago. However, there are still gems like the historic town of Carthage, home to White Rose Winery, and plenty more fun before you end your trip in Joplin, Missouri. For more information about the wineries, visit www.missouriwine.org or if you want more information about Route 66 check out www.visitmo.com .

“Get your kicks on Route 66″ by the legendary Nat King Cole

It’s spring, you know what that means… new life! And that is exactly what is happening in the vineyards of Missouri wine country with “bud break”. Bud break is the start of the annual growing cycle for grape vines. It is quite an exciting time because it’s really the first sign of life in the vineyards.

So, what exactly is bud break? It’s pretty much what you might imagine from its name. Tiny buds on the vine start to swell and eventually shoots begin to grow from the buds, breaking through if you will. Buds are the small part of the vine that rest between the vine's stem and the petiole (leaf stem). From these buds will come all of the new cycle’s growth, and finally its bounty.

Like most plants varieties, every grape varietal has its own appearance during bud break, ranging from fairly plain to downright ornamental. Bud break on a Norton (the state grape of Missouri) vine is pictured.

It’s an exciting and beautiful time to get out to Missouri wine country. If you’re interested in seeing bud break in action, contact a local winery. Some offer vineyard tours, but hurry because this phase won’t last long before we’re off to the next.

Yes, traditionally Easter baskets and the sweet treats they contain are for youngsters, but just because you’re a grownup now, doesn’t mean you can’t have an holiday treat of your own. Whether there is a piece or two leftover from assembling your little ones’ baskets or indulging in a reward just for you, try pairing these Easter candy favorites with Missouri wine.

•  Chocolate Easter Bunnies of all shapes, sizes and flavors have a Missouri wine that pairs perfectly!

White Chocolate + Sweet Sparkling Wine

Dark Chocolate + Norton

Milk Chocolate + Your favorite Missouri fruit wine (We recommend Raspberry or Cherry.)

•  Cadbury Crème Eggs + Blackberry Wine
• Peanut Butter and Chocolate Eggs + Concord (think adult PB&J)
•  Jelly Beans + Catawba
•  3 Musketeers + Chambourcin
•  Marshmallow Peeps + Late Harvest Wine
•  Starburst + Vidal Blanc

Missouri wine pairs well with a sweet Easter treat!