Nothing pairs with a relaxing night-in like a good book and your favorite Missouri wine. We took some of the summer’s bestselling fiction novels from the New York Times and paired them with your favorite and familiar Show Me State varietals.

Take a sip and flip the page on these popular titles.

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens + Chambourcin

After being made into a motion picture, most will recognize the story of a young woman who survived alone in the marsh before becoming a murder suspect in a small town. This wild, romantic and mysterious tale pairs well with Chambourcin’s notes of dark cherry and earthiness. This Missouri varietal is also known as the perfect gateway to dry red wines for those wanting to expand their tastes, just like this book’s intrigue makes it a bridge between coming of age, romance and murder.

IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover +  Chardonel

This novel weaves together a love story and a heart-wrenching, honest look at domestic violence. In the book, a battered wife raised in a violent home attempts to halt the cycle of abuse. A book with such hefty storylines deserves a complex sip. Chardonel’s rich, complex and crisp taste will serve readers well, and its light flavors of pear, apple and apricot will provide a welcome reprieve when the topics are heavy.

VERITY by Colleen Hoover + Vignoles

In this thriller, Lowen Ashleigh is hired to complete an injured writer’s popular series only to uncover a horrifying truth. There is nothing horrifying about Vignoles (pronounced veen-yole), one of Missouri’s most versatile white grapes. It is thrilling to try the wine styles — from dry to sweet — crafted from this varietal. We are confident you can find the perfect Missouri Vignoles complete with its luscious aromas and flavors of tropical fruits with a crisp mouthfeel, no matter how your palate ranges.

UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover + Traminette

Called the “sexiest, most heart-wrenching Colleen Hoover book to date,” by Natasha is a Book Junkie, blog review. This Hoover novel follows Tate Collins and airline pilot Miles Archer who think they can handle a no-strings-attached fling. But they can't. We felt that Missouri Traminette’s citrus acidity with a hint of spice was the perfect match for Hoover’s steamiest novel on the bestseller list.

THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO by Taylor Jenkins Reid + Norton

Noted for its glitz, glamour and old Hollywood vibe, this tale of a movie icon recounting her great loves and career will pair well with Norton. Missouri’s state grape’s bold, complex flavors have notes of spice, vanilla and chocolate notes layered with flavors of berry, ripe cherry and currant. These full-bodied, oak-aged Nortons are as classic as old Hollywood, and its deep red color is reminiscent of every premiere’s carpet.

NOVEMBER 9 by Colleen Hoover + Catawba

If we’ve learned anything about Hoover’s writing, it is that her work can be heart-wrenching and heart-warming. November 9 is no different. A love story about two people who meet each day every year is as sweet, light and refreshing as a Missouri Catawba. But when our main character finds out her romantic interest might be simply using her story as a muse for his novel, readers will want to cling to that strawberry-like sweetness they get with every sip of Catawba.

ALL YOUR PERFECTS by Colleen Hoover + Seyval Blanc

From the most prolific author in the fiction bestsellers list, this book’s back cover poses the question: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people? This up-and-down emotional read deserves Seyval Blanc’s clean, crisp pear-like taste with a hint of light spice. Yet, much like the book, the medium-bodied Seyval Blanc can also offer more complex notes.

THE 6:20 MAN by David Baldacci + Vidal Blanc

With a cryptic murder, corruption and menace amid the pages of this novel, Vidal Blanc’s thick skin and hardiness remins us of the protagonist — an entry-level investment analyst whose ex-girlfriend turns up dead in his office building. Amid all the page-turning suspense, we thought Vidal Blanc’s flavors and aromas of pear, apple and citrus delivered in a medium-bodied, dry to semi-dry white wine complements this thriller.

BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry + Concord

Emily Henry’s Book Lovers spins the yarn of a literary agent who keeps running into an editor while on vacation in North Carolina. While readers are promised a readable rom-com, its characters aren’t the typical love birds. Still, this love story would pair well with a sweet Missouri Concord. Its flavors and aromas of classic grape juice along with its candy-like sweetness and jammy notes will make readers smile as they turn each page.

Enjoy these page-turning pairings and share your thoughts with us on social media by tagging #missouriwine and @missouriwine.

Noboleis Vineyards' Swirl was created for days full of fun, friends and family – yet was ironically a brain child of the pandemic. These unique wine-based beverages are the product of Noboleis' head winemaker Gabe Miller's play day. Two years of research and development were dedicated to perfect these sangrias and botanicals but also the brand that surrounds them.

"We wanted it to be something you could make memories with, uplift your spirits and just have some fun because you can always use more fun in your life," says Tricia Newbold, Noboleis Vineyards’ marketing director.

One glance at Swirl products’ packaging evokes the fun and playful feelings the Noboleis team wanted to capture. Their product line was created with utmost attention to detail. Everything about Swirl is intentional, from the bold colors to minimalist design. Better yet, every ounce of it was created by Missourians, according to the Augusta-based vineyard and winery.

"We are local, and everything that goes into the product and the wines are made by people from Missouri, designed by people from Missouri and grown by people of Missouri," Newbold says.

When it came time to pick a design team to lead the charge of building the brand for the budding canned beverages, the talented Novel team came first to mind. This St. Louis marketing agency had previously helped Noboleis Vineyards redesign their website and found success. In this new endeavor, the visions and creative talents were unmatched.

The Noboleis team held meetings with Novel's Attilio D'Agostino and Elizabeth Tucker. They arranged focus groups and round tables to delve into the "why" behind the product and how to convey this to customers. While Noboleis Vineyards always wanted their canned wine-based beverages to be fun, they also wanted them to appeal to a variety of tastes. Outside of general appeal, the team also knew the products had to be catchy, so as they brainstormed potential names, they knew that the winner would be one word — quick to say and easy to pronounce.

“Swirl” quickly rose to the top. Its nod to tasting room protocol would intrigue wine aficionados, yet its breezy name would be approachable for those who haven't set foot into a winery. That balance was at the forefront of the team’s minds throughout the process.

They wanted to create a wine-based beverage line that shirked any pretentiousness without shrugging off everything that makes Missouri wine great — its local roots, flavors and ties to the community. Swirl has done just that, as the product celebrates Missouri wine in many ways. Its canned packaging allows customers to throw it in a cooler for a float trip down one of Missouri's many rivers, sip it out of a wine glass or enjoy it straight from the can and surround yourself by friends and family.

Family is forefront at Noboleis Vineyards. Bob and Lou Ann Nolan founded the vineyard and winery 12 years ago after the couple purchased 84 acres in Augusta a few years prior. The couple remained at the helm of the vineyard until Bob passed last July. Today, this family-owned, female-operated winery treasures its roots and continues to build upon the family legacy. This is quite apparent by the vineyards' name (created by combining their last names) and traditional wine label imagery. It’s not surprising that current owners and mother-daughter trio, LouAnn Nolan, Christine Newbold and Angie Geis, wanted input from the entire Noboleis family and team for the Swirl design.

When Novel would send potential mock-ups for the Swirl cans, the vineyard crew would excitedly print off the artwork and wrap it around a Diet Coke can before standing back to look at their choices. This visual gave the entire team a different perspective, according to Newbold. A new perspective is what Noboleis Vineyards hopes to provide everyone who enjoys a sip of Swirl.

The 2022 Missouri Wine Label Competition judges enjoyed this fresh take on Missouri wines. The intention behind every can of Swirl was evident, from the color palette to the minimalistic yet intriguing design. Designs that garnered Swirl the “Best Label Series” among many traditional bottle entries. Proof that everyone can use a little more fun, family and a unique perspective.

Explore the experience and flavors of Swirl! Share with us on social media by tagging #missouriwine and @missouriwine.

It may sound like old news that there’s a new way to earn exclusive experiences, items and perks in Missouri wine country with Rewards Uncorked, but the program continues to grow with excitement from users each day. New rewards and experiences in wine country will debut on the website over the next few months. Since the new loyalty program launched in May, many users have been busy racking up points at participating wineries.

As an exciting incentive to kick off the new program, all users who sign up by September 1, 2022 at 11:59 pm CST will be automatically entered to win (1) of (5) $50 gift card bundles. Each gift card bundle includes five $10 gift cards to an assortment of five Missouri wineries. The five winners will be notified via email on Friday, September 2, 2022. Winners will need to claim bundles by Friday, September 16th or an alternate winner will be selected.

See how the program works, browse participating wineries, view available rewards and experiences and sign up for Rewards Uncorked here.

Members of the MVP program (the retiring Missouri Wines loyalty program) should note the following:

• The deadline to enter MVP tickets has passed (June 30, 2022), and therefore no remaining tickets can be entered for points.
• If you wish to have your remaining MVP points rolled over to your new Rewards Uncorked account, ensure that you have signed up with the same name and email address as your MVP account. This transition will take place in September, 2022 and all users with transferred point balances will be notified via email once the transition is complete.
• You are welcome to redeem rewards with MVP until September 1, 2022 by 11:59 pm CST. Many remaining items are available at major discounted values. Check out the inventory here under the “Specials” tab.

Sign up for Rewards Uncorked and start earning today! It is a bonus incentive to get out and about in Missouri wine country and get rewarded while you do. Tag us in your #RewardsUncorked adventures on social media with hashtags #RewardsUncorked and #MissouriWine.

Fine Missouri wines can be enjoyed in any glassware! However, if you are entertaining, here’s a few tips to polish your wine glasses and elevate your guest experience.

The secret is in the steam

Take your clean glassware and hold it over a steamer or boiling pot of water. Rotate the glass by holding the stem so that the inside of the bowl to the rim is fully fogged. Also, allow the foot of the glass to gather steam as well.

Simple ways to make it shine

You can use a variety of household items to polish your glassware. A polishing cloth is always handy to have. If the size of the cloth allows, grip the corner around the stem or the foot and begin to polish the outside of the glass. Next, hold the stem and polish the inside of the glass, making sure to get to the very bottom. Make sure to hold the glass up to a light source to avoid water spots or streaking. Note: Never polish the foot and the bowl in a twisting motion to avoid glass breakage and tension on the stem.

No polishing cloth, no problem

Did you know that coffee filters can be used to polish glassware as well? These are a great alternative to a fancy polishing cloth. Other options for polishing are high-end paper towels, as well as a glass-specific polishing cloth that might be used for other surfaces in the home. Avoid materials that may scratch or leave lint trails behind on the glassware.

Try these tips at home and see what you think! Share your polishing tips with us on social media by tagging #missouriwine and @missouriwine.

Upcycling your wine bottles can be as simple as a brushstroke! With these quick tips, you will see that no artistic ability is required. While you can use painted wine bottles for anything from hummingbird feeders to centerpieces, we opted for oil/vinaigrette bottles for this project. 

What you will need

Clean, empty bottles from your favorite Missouri wine

Dish soap and rubbing alcohol 

Acrylic paints

Paint brushes

Brush on sealant

Oil dispenser bottle toppers (optional)

Step 1: Prep your bottles

While acrylic paints are a forgiving medium, sometimes they don't stick to glass. Therefore, it is essential to have a clean surface before you start painting. Wash the bottles thoroughly with dish soap to remove any leftover label remnants, and then wipe clean of fingerprints and residue with rubbing alcohol before drying completely. 

Step 2: Start painting.

While some people are intimidated by picking up a paintbrush, we encourage you to dive in. If painting and design aren't your things, we have two sure-fire designs that are fun for all ages. 

Classy Confetti: We think this design is an excellent choice for painters who want a worry-free abstract look. Pick three to four colors of acrylic paint. Then, one at a time, dab the colors onto the bottle using the end of your paintbrush, a pencil eraser or even a Q-tip. Each placement will leave a perfect circle. For best results, dip the dabber in the paint often to refill for the perfect circle, and then let dry between colors to avoid smudges or mixed colors.

Fantastic Flowers: While these freeform flowers may look complex, this design only requires three colors of paint. First, you will need some white paint. Simply paint freeform by placing squiggly areas all around the bottle. Next, pick your secondary color (we used red.) Take the same brush with which you painted the white onto the bottle and dip it in the second color. Start painting the middle of your white areas with C-shaped brush strokes to create a layer of petals. Don't worry if your chosen color and the white mix together. That will create a unique blended effect. Continue swapping between your selected color and white and work toward the middle of each shape, creating rows of c-shaped petals. After you've painted all your flowers, fill any open spaces with green leaves. Let the bottle dry, and outline the leaves and petals using a thin brush or paint pen. 

Step 3: Seal your artwork

Since paint can be removed from glass, we recommend you seal your artwork with a brush-on sealant to protect the finished bottle.

Step 4: Enjoy

We love these beautiful bottles to use in our kitchen or they are also great to give as gifts. The possibilities are endless, and we hope you experiment with your own designs as you upcycle. 

Share your wine bottle designs or other repurposing ideas with us by tagging #missouriwine and @missourwine on social media. 

Sunny days and summertime call for a cool, refreshing glass of Vignoles. This white wine is made in many styles from dry to sweet, so there is something for everyone to enjoy!

Missouri Wines celebrates the popular Vignoles varietal each August. It is grown in many areas throughout the state, accounting for 15.4% of all grapes grown in Missouri and 262.2 grape bearing acres. This varietal is less susceptible to late frost damage due to a later bud opening period than most other grape varietals. It fairs Missouri’s cold winter temperatures well, but also helps you kick the heat outside and on your palate.

Vignoles is one of the most food-pairing friendly wines and is certainly the go-to wine for hot and spicy dishes. It brings a crisp balance to bold flavors like spicy pork, chicken and cheeses, peppers, Mexican, curries and dishes with hot sauce. Vignoles also complements strawberries, apricots and cheesecake with its luscious floral aroma and fruity flavors of pineapple and apricot. This French-American hybrid is one of Missouri’s most versatile white grapes to bottle as well as to pair and enjoy!

Share how you plan to enjoy Vignoles during August with us by tagging @missouriwine and #missouriwine on social media.

Spice up your summer with some sweet heat from this Concord Wine Barbecue Sauce. This sauce proves that one of Missouri’s sweetest grapes can pair well with a little spice. The toasted chili powder gives the finished sauce a kick.

Inspired by the Forager Chef’s Spicy Wild Grape BBQ, we think this sauce will work well on summer barbecue staples from wings to pork steaks, and of course a backyard burger. We paired our Concord Wine Barbecue Sauce topped burger with sharp cheddar cheese and a glass of Concord wine.

Ingredients

2 c Missouri Concord wine

2 tbsp chili powder

3 tbsp corn starch

½ c brown sugar

3 tbsp honey

1 tsp molasses

1 ½ tsp salt

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp fresh-cracked black pepper

1 tbsp ground mustard

4 cloves minced garlic

1 tsp ginger

Cook Time: 30 minutes | Yield: 2 cups

Instructions

1. Toast the chili powder until it becomes aromatic. Set aside to cool.
2. Pour 1 ¾ cup of Missouri Concord wine into a medium sauce pan and heat over medium heat.
3. Combine the remaining ¼ cup of wine with the 3 tablespoons of corn starch to create a thickening slurry. Add the thickening slurry to the wine in the saucepan.
4. Stir until the cornstarch solution combines with the wine. Then add the honey, molasses and brown sugar.
5. Continue to stir over medium heat until the liquid comes to a simmer, the cloudiness dissolves and the sauce starts to thicken.
6. When the sauce approaches the desired consistency, add the remaining spices and seasonings — chili powder, salt, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, ground mustard, garlic and ginger. Stir to combine.
7. Let the sauce simmer for a couple minutes to meld the flavors together.
8. Remove from the heat and enjoy.
9. Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a couple of weeks.

Let us know when you give this unique BBQ sauce a try and tag us at #missouriwine and @missouriwine.

Each one of Baltimore Bend Vineyard’s wines tells a story of care and creativity. Owner, manager and winemaker Sarah Schmidt’s prior career in communications was centered on telling great stories. In 1997, she decided she wanted to expand her career in new ways. Sarah convinced her parents, Richard and Kathleen Livingston, to plant just over an acre of vines on the family’s property Waverly, Missouri. This career change led to the creation of Baltimore Bend Vineyard.

Sarah graduated from the University of Missouri with her degree in agricultural journalism. She spent two decades in the communications industry, working for advertising agencies and public relations firms in Chicago and Kansas City. Through her business travels, Sarah visited Michigan’s wine country and vineyards in the Finger Lakes region of New York. She fell in love with the idea of non-California varietals and wines, and she already embraced Midwest wineries.

When she returned to the Kansas City area, Sarah realized her family’s acreage is perfectly suited for a vineyard. The land’s deep topsoil consisted almost entirely of windblown loess along the feathered edge of the glacial retreat bordering the Missouri River, which made it the perfect haven for grape vines — currently including, Norton, Chambourcin, Chardonel, Vignoles, Catawba and Valvin Muscat. Initially, Baltimore Bend Vineyard served as a grape supplier for other Missouri wineries rather than creating their own wines, but in 2003, the family officially opened their tasting room.

At that time, Sarah’s father, Richard — weatherman turned winemaker — created the Baltimore Bend wines. He learned the trade by visiting with other winemakers and attending technical trainings and workshops. Sarah shadowed him until she took over the role in 2010. After stepping into the role of Baltimore Bend’s official winemaker, Sarah received her certificate in enology from Washington State University. Studying enology not only allowed Sarah to delve deeper into the technical science and chemistry behind winemaking, but it also connected her with industry experts that served as resources and shared their expertise with her along the way.

Winemaking’s unique blend of art and chemistry weaves together two seemingly paradoxical skillsets — the exact and precise nature of science and the boundless expression of creativity. Sarah relished in threading the fine line between the two. Her storytelling roots shine each time she creates a new wine — her favorite part of her role.

“My favorite part is creating a varietal or a blend that speaks to the consumer and that they enjoy. That seems kind of cliché, but that really is what we're here to do,” Sarah says. “I like people liking what I make. I like that they like it.”

With every sip of Baltimore Bend wine, Sarah hopes to tell consumers the story of her family’s Waverly home. The unique terroir and microclimate of the region imparts its essence to every Baltimore Bend bottle, even displaying subtle and unique differences from other Missouri-grown grapes. Sarah highlights her home through the taste, labels and stories of each bottle she makes. She also wants Baltimore Bend wines to be approachable to every person who walks into their tasting room, with wines that offer something for every palate.

“I've always focused on quality, enjoyable wines. Approachable wines that will keep bringing people back,” Sarah says.

While telling the story of your home one bottle at a time is certainly a romantic notion, winemaking is not without its challenges. Some of the Midwest grape varietals can be especially challenging to work with. For example, Sarah ages her family’s Norton wines for five years before she feels the wine is ready. Unfortunately, she has had to learn “the hard way” a few times with vintages of wine that didn’t turn out like she envisioned. As she will tell you, despite your education, learning a trade still comes down to traditional trial and error.  Sarah is happy to share what she and her family have learned over the last two decades with other Missouri winemakers. She feels that professional resources are invaluable to supporting new businesses and the industry as a whole.

Outside of winemaking, Sarah’s many hats at Baltimore Bend Vineyard provide her with other unique industry challenges, especially in today’s post-pandemic world. As she notes, the family-owned winery is one of the few businesses that grows their product, manufactures it, packages it, sells it directly to the consumer and offers it wholesale. This massive undertaking has required the variety of skillsets offered by her whole family. Sarah’s communications background helped the family tell their story and effectively market their product. Her brother, Scott Livingston, who returned to the family business in 2013, uses his wholesale background to help the winery partner with various retailers throughout the state.

Although family businesses have their own challenges, the Livingston family still shares a meal nearly every Sunday night. They may try not to, but they always end up talking shop. When you share something that you’re passionate about, like Missouri wines, it’s hard to exclude it from the conversation.

Currently, the third generation is starting to work at the winery, and the family is planning for the future. They hope to add to the Baltimore Bend team, and maybe even one day have event rental space available on-site. But above all, Sarah hopes that everyone who tastes a Baltimore Bend Vineyard wine learns a little about her family’s home along historic Highway 24. At the end of the day, Sarah enjoys winemaking because it brings people joy.

Concord is the classic native red grape which flavors American cuisine from sweet, red wines, to grape juices, jams and jellies. More Concord grapes are currently raised in the U.S. than any other variety, according to the Concord Grape Association. While the father of Concord, Ephraim Wales Bull, hails from Boston, Massachusetts, this variety has deep roots in the Show Me State due in large part to Welch's Grape Co., and World War I.

Welch’s Grapelade (or grape marmalade) was invented in 1918 by Charles Welch. It was one of the first “modern” jams and a World War I ration staple. War rations increased the need for nonperishable food items such as jams and jellies. Grapelade, layered with a well-loved legume, soon spawned an American lunchtime favorite — the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. This perfect combination set demand high for Concord grape production. All ages of American palates quickly adopted the sweet and savory “PB&J” as an accessible and delicious option for a snack or meal.

The demand for Concord-based products saved many vines in the St. James, Missouri area from being uprooted during Prohibition. Grapes once used to make wine were now being used to create Welch’s Grapelade. According to VisitMo.com, there are surviving pre-Prohibition vines in the St. James area as of today. These pivotal Welch’s contracts allowed many Missouri grape producers to weather Prohibition and save their vineyards.

One such vineyard, which celebrated its Centennial Anniversary in 2021, still produces Concord grapes in St. James. Many Italian immigrants, like the Tessaros, found work in this area planting, producing, harvesting and transporting Concord grapes for Welch’s Grape Co. to produce their famous juice and jelly. The Tessaro family immigrated in the late 1890s and planted their vineyard in 1921. With Prohibition enacted during the same year, the survival of this vineyard is even more of a treasure to the area and state’s history, especially when most vineyards and wineries were told to uproot their vineyards and dispose of their wines. Millions of barrels were poured out to waste. Vines like Concord, with a purpose other than making wine, were allowed to stay.

Today, Concord is still well-loved and appreciated in the St. James area. You can visit roadside stands along Interstate 44 for fresh Concord grapes each fall. Concord vines are grown on more than 112 acres in the Show Me State and account for 7% of the state's total acreage.

You can enjoy Concord’s sweet, recognizable flavor in various forms, but can best be enjoyed as a medium bodied, blue-purple wine. This fruit forward wine pairs well with summer favorites from barbecue to ice cream, making it the perfect wine to sip during summer (especially in the Midwest.) Cheers to the history of how these vines survived, with both history and vine roots that still run deep across the United States. Concord is truly the great American grape.