What could be better than a sunny day, a stretch of open road and your favorite songs on the radio? We can only think of one thing that could make this scenario better – if that road leads you through scenic Missouri wine country!

Warmer weather and blooming foliage make for the perfect time to hit the road in the Show-Me State. Whether you’re looking for a quaint afternoon drive or a statewide road trip, wine country is your destination. You’ll come across stellar views, award-winning wineries and one-of-a-kind attractions only found here.

Every great road trip starts with a game plan and mapping out your journey. Historic Route 66 and breathtaking highways 94 and 100 wind through wine country, and are great starting points for first-time road trip travelers. Want to explore a specific Missouri wine region? We’ve got nine interactive trip planners that are loaded with resources and links to lodging, dining and wineries to visit. As you plan out your road trip itinerary, be sure to use our interactive map to find wineries along your route; with 125 wineries spread across the state, there’s bound to be a winery near you! Want to extend your trip into a multi-day adventure? You can find several wineries with on-site lodging that allow you to rest and rejuvenate before another day on the road.

Now that your route is determined and bags are packed, don’t forget to pick up bottles of award-winning Missouri wine to commemorate your trip! From dry to sweet, red to white and everything in between, there is a wide array of wines that will please any palate. To keep your precious vino safe during transport, follow our easy suggestions for traveling with wine.

For tips on storing wine at home, check out our recent blog that outlines the do’s and don’ts of proper storage of your favorite vintages.

No matter where your road trip travels take you, make sure to include Missouri wine and gorgeous wine country! As you’re traveling, share your photos using #MOWines.

In wine country, people continue to say “yes way” to rosé wine. In honor of Rosé Day on June 12, we’re putting on our rosé-colored glasses and diving in to this trendy and delicious wine.

You might be surprised to learn that rosé isn’t a specific grape varietal, but rather a broader style of wine. Rosé can be made from a variety of red grapes, and this wine gets its signature color during maceration. Speaking of color, rosé wines can be found in varying shades of pink based on the maceration process.

Thinking that rosés are too sweet for your taste? Think again. This versatile style of wine has a spectrum ranging from dry to sweet, with something for everyone to enjoy. Some Missouri winemakers even produce sparkling rosés that are sure to delight! You can also find canned rosés in wine country that are perfect for sipping and savoring on-the-go.

Besides being crowd pleasers, rosé wines are food-friendly! Need some help finding a mealtime match for your rosé of choice? We’ve got you covered with our easy pairing guides:

To help you celebrate Rosé Day (or any day) in style, we’ve got an easy and refreshing rosé sipper for you to try! With just 5 minutes to spare, and a few common ingredients, you and your gang can raise a toast to Missouri rosés with a satisfying twist on the classic mojito.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZtvvGEVQTE 

Berry Fresh Rosé Mojito

Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 4

Ingredients

Mint leaves (one large handful, and extra to garnish)

4 oz. simple syrup

4 oz. fresh lime juice

4 oz. rum

1 bottle Missouri dry rosé wine

1 can (16 oz) raspberry sparkling water

Ice

Fresh raspberries

Directions

1. Muddle simple syrup and mint leaves in a large pitcher. (Pro tip – the backside of a spoon works well for muddling) 

2. Add rum and lime juice to pitcher.

3. Pour in rosé and top with sparkling water. Stir well.

4. Add ice to pitcher (if desired) and chill until ready to serve.

5. Serve over ice, and garnish glasses with mint and fresh raspberries.

As you sip and celebrate Rosé Day with this simply satisfying winetail, make sure to snap a photo and use #MOWines!

Celebrate National Candy Month with a mouthwatering treat for a crowd! These ultra-rich and moist cake pops are made even more delectable with Chambourcin wine and dark chocolate. Preheat the oven, tighten your apron and get ready to whip up an easy dessert that any guest will swoon over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfZOps-_o7Y

Sweet Tooth’s Delight Cake Pops

Makes approximately 30 1” cake pops | Prep time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 box red velvet cake mix
3 large eggs
Vegetable oil
1 ¼ + ¼ cup Chambourcin wine
3 heaping tablespoons strawberry jelly
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1 lb. dark chocolate
¼ brick paraffin wax (find in the canning section of your local grocery store)
Cake pop sticks
Sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350^oF.

2. Combine red velvet cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and 1¼ cup Chambourcin wine in a mixing bowl. Add strawberry jelly and mix until well incorporated.

3. Pour batter into a greased 9x13” baking dish and bake 30-35 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let cake cool completely.

4. Beat 1 of stick butter in a medium mixing bowl until fluffy, and slowly add powdered sugar until frosting forms and stiffens. Pour in remaining Chambourcin wine and mix.

5. Crumble cooled cake in a large mixing bowl and add in frosting. Stir until well combined.

6. Roll into roughly 1” balls and place on a large cookie sheet. Slide cake pop sticks into balls and chill in freezer for at least 30 minutes.

7. Melt dark chocolate and remaining stick of butter in saucepan, and incorporate paraffin wax shavings into melted chocolate mix. (Paraffin wax will thin out the chocolate and make it shiny!)

8. Dip chilled cake pops into melted chocolate mix and swirl until coated. Tap off excess chocolate and stand upright to cool. (Pro tip – an old shipping box is a great base for cake pop cooling, just gently poke holes with a knife and slide cake pop sticks down)

9.Add sprinkles if desired, and let cake pops cool completely. Pop in the freezer until it’s time to serve.

Share your recreation of these tasty treats with us using #MOWine

 Warm weather, longer days and sweet sunshine have arrived in the Show-Me State. We welcome outdoor gatherings, picnic sipping sessions, and experiencing wine country with a glass of award-winning Missouri wine in hand. This summertime shift is the perfect opportunity for wine fans to explore crisp and refreshing white wine varietals that are sure to satisfy on a warm day. This June, celebrate Vidal Blanc in Missouri wine country and sip into summer.

Vidal Blanc is a French-American hybrid grape that produces a dry to semi-dry white wine. Some Missouri winemakers even produce mouthwatering sparkling and dessert wines with this hardy grape! Nearly 140 acres of Vidal Blanc grapes are grown across Missouri, accounting for 5.9% of grape production in the Show-Me State. Learn more about Vidal Blanc here.

Vidal Blanc has all the elements of summer in a glass. This refreshing wine has aromas of a fresh garden, and flavors of ripe summer delights like apples and lemon. This varietal’s palate-pleasing citrus notes are the perfect complement to a summertime patio or poolside sipping session.

This clean and crisp varietal is a delightful pair to seafood and poultry, as well as fresh herbs. Vidal Blanc is also a pairing partner in many recipes, including satisfying cake, delightfully delicious squash gratin and crowd-satisfying pasta primavera. Besides being a food-friendly wine, Vidal Blanc makes an excellent addition to thirst-quenching summertime winetails like Pineapple Joy.

Whether you choose to enjoy a glass of clean and crisp Vidal Blanc at one of Missouri’s 125 wineries, or uncork and savor at home, we’ve got helpful resources to make it easy to find award-winning wine near you.

This June, sip into summer with Vidal Blanc.

Warmer weather and sunny days couldn’t get much better – unless you add delicious and refreshing Missouri wine to the mix. Missouri’s breathtaking wine country and award-winning vino are can’t-miss experiences, made even better by the opportunity to earn rewards and experiences with each visit. Kick off your summer sipping escapades and get rewarded with the Missouri Winery Visitors Program (MVP).

MVP is a free program that encourages members to explore Missouri wine country and collect tickets from participating wineries. Those tickets can then be entered to receive points, which can then be exchanged for a variety of exciting rewards. Our MVP members use the program as a way to visit new parts of the Show-Me State, connect with other wine lovers and broaden their wine knowledge. 

As you explore wine country and rack up points, be on the lookout for new MVP rewards! We are continuing to update our lineup of reward offerings and quarterly sweepstakes drawings. No matter how often you visit wine country, MVP rewards you – our items  range in point value so there’s something for everyone! Just one first-time visit to a participating winery earns enough points for a drawing into our quarterly sweepstakes.

Current MVP members, get excited! As a way to kick off your summertime wine country excursions, we are excited to announce a point reset. Effective today, visits to Missouri wineries will count as first-time visits again – this means that even if you’ve visited your favorite MVP-participating winery prior to June 1, your visit to that winery after today will count as a first-time visit again. Rest assured that you won’t lose your existing points – we know you’ve worked hard and traveled many miles to earn them!

Whether you’re new, a seasoned pro or still need to sign up for this incredible program, now is the perfect time to visit wine country and get rewarded with MVP. Find a list of participating wineries to plan your next adventure and watch your points add up!

Grilling season is here, and pairing your favorite charbroiled delights is easy with this Grill-out Guide. Cheers to warmer weather, longer days and delicious food paired with the perfect award-winning wine!

What better way to celebrate National Wine Day than with award-winning Missouri wine? This holiday is one of our favorites in Missouri wine country, as we uncork and toast to delectable wines and the enjoyment they bring.

Want to get out in wine country to commemorate National Wine Day? The Show-Me State is dotted with 126 incredible wineries waiting to welcome you - find a winery near you using our interactive map. Take in the stellar sights and sips that only Missouri wine country can offer.

Prefer to celebrate from home? Check out our guide to an at-home wine night. National Wine Day is also a perfect opportunity to pair award-winning Missouri wine with a variety of foods – check out some of our favorite pairings for cheese, junk food, Imo’s pizza and more! If you’d rather enjoy a home-cooked meal, try using your favorite Missouri wine in a recipe on National Wine Day. From refreshing winetails to enticing entrees or desserts, our blog has ample ideas that will inspire you.

Did you have a chance to tune in to the three-part Feast Virtual Vine series? Participants swirled, sniffed and sipped their way through award-winning Missouri varietals along with expert hosts and Missouri winemakers themselves. In November 2020, wine lovers learned about the versatile Chambourcin varietal. For the second installment of the series, viewers learned about Missouri’s state grape, Norton, during Norton Month in January 2021. The Virtual Vine series wrapped in April 2021 with a focus on Vignoles as a unique varietal with unlimited potential. Want to relive these evenings of education and enjoyment? Follow the links to find recordings for the Virtual Vine installments of Chambourcin, Norton (featuring Stone Hill Winery, Augusta Winery, Les Bourgeois Vineyards and St. James Winery) and Vignoles – they’re a perfect addition to your National Wine Day festivities.

No matter how you choose to celebrate National Wine Day, we hope you include award-winning Missouri wines in your plans. Cheers!