July is Concord month and it is The Juice of July! It’s a key season for the vineyards as grapes ripen under the summer sun, promising a great harvest. This month let’s celebrate with refreshing sips of Concord in the summer heat! 

While this grape produces a light and refreshing wine, it is also used to make grape jelly and juice. This Missouri staple is versatile in so many ways and deserves to be celebrated all month long. 

During Prohibition some Missouri vineyards survived by growing grapes that could be sold for juice or jelly instead of wine. 

The Concord grape, an American varietal, produces a robust, medium-bodied wine. Found in the wild during the mid 1800s, it was named after its area of origin, Concord, Massachusetts. 

This prolific vine yields medium-sized clusters of large berries. It’s known as a slip-skin grape because its skin easily separates from the pulp during winemaking. 

This wine pairs well with cheddar, aged cheeses, orange chicken, pork chop, spicy seafood, candied nuts, grape pie or peanut butter. 

Recipe Ideas: 

• Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Concord Lemonade
• Peanut Butter & Concord Cheesecake
• Barbecue Sauce

Have you ever wondered how those tiny grape flowers transform into the juicy clusters we love? It’s all thanks to a crucial stage called “fruit set” and it’s a big deal here in Missouri Wine Country! 

Think of fruit set as the moment a grape flower successfully becomes a berry. Before this, the vines are buzzing with delicate blossoms, each hoping to be pollinated. In Missouri, our unique climate and soil contribute to the character of the grapes, and a successful fruit set is the first step towards a fantastic harvest. 

During fruit set, a few key things happen. The tiny ovary at the base of the flower starts to swell, and if pollination was successful, a seed will begin to form inside. This is when we start to see the first hint of those green berries that will eventually ripen into those delicious juicy grapes. Factors like temperature, rainfall, and even the type of grape can influence how well fruit set goes. A good fruit set means more grapes on the vine, which is exciting for winemakers and wine lovers alike! 

The U.S.A. is 250! Time to celebrate and Missouri Wineries are here to help. Check out this list of events celebrating America’s milestone birthday in Wine Country!

Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant – Holts Summit

• July 4: 4^th of July at Canterbury Hill

Cedar Lake Cellars – Wright City

• July 3-5: Stars & Stripes Weekend

Chandler Hill Vineyards – Defiance

• July 3: Toast to 250 Dinner Celebration
• July 4: 4^th of July Celebration

Dale Hollow Winery – Stover

• July 3: Independence Day Celebration

Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard – Potosi

• July 4: Heritage Celebration

Hermannhof Winery – Hermann

• July 4: 4^th July

Les Bourgeois Vineyards – Rocheport

• July 5: 5^th of July Celebration on the Blufftop

Stonehaus Farms Winery – Lees Summit

• July 3: Fire and Wine

Weston Wine Company – Weston

• July 4: Fireworks Watch Party

Celebrate America 250 in Missouri Wine Country!

*Many wineries will also be open and have live music.

Mark your calendars because we are thrilled to announce that the Missouri State Fair Wine Trail and Winery Showcase is back for round 2 this year at the Missouri State Fair! Get ready to explore the incredible sips of Missouri wines and discover your new favorite. 

Missouri State Fair Wine Trail – Friday, August 14 – 11 AM – 6 PM

1. Augusta Winery / Montelle Winery – Cattle Barns
2. Chateau Sainte Genevieve – Mizzou Building 
3. Musket Cellars & Vineyards – Farm Bureau 
4. Noboleis Vineyards – Grandstand 
5. Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery – Pork Place
6. Windy Wine Company – Beef House 
7. Baltimore Bend Vineyards – Mo Wine Tent 
8. Stone Hill Winery – MEC Building 
9. St. James Winery – Agriculture Building 
10. Adam Puchta Winery – MoDOT Gardens 

Missouri State Fair Winery Showcase – August 13 – 23, 2026 – 11 AM – 6 PM

• Windy Wine Company – Thursday, August 13
• TRAIL DAY – Friday, August 14
• Adam Puchta Winery – Saturday, August 15
• Spencer Manor Winery – Sunday, August 16
• Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery – Monday, August 17
• Edg-Clif Vineyard – Tuesday, August 18
• Les Bourgeois Vineyards – Wednesday, August 19
• Defiance Ridge Vineyards – Thursday, August 20
• Chateau Sainte Genevieve – Friday, August 21
• St. James Winery – Saturday, August 22
• Stone Hill Winery – Sunday, August 23

As the last sips are savored and the final bottles are bought, we want to go ahead and tell everyone thank you for supporting Missouri’s wine industry. We hope to see you in Sedalia, Mo during the Missouri State Fair from August 13 – 23, 2026!