In 1861, Charles (Charlie) Schlottach's great-great-grandfather literally followed wagon wheels from Germany to central Missouri, serving as a blacksmith along Missouri's "iron road" near Owensville, Missouri. Charlie’s grandkids are now the sixth generation of Schlottachs to grow up in this community. All three of Charlie's children and his wife, Karen, work at White Mule Winery or on the family’s farming operation. To say the Schlottachs have roots would be an understatement.

White Mule Winery is a celebration of those roots, their community and Missouri agriculture as a whole. From the winery's name which was to honor the farm's previous owner who was known to farm with a pair of white mules well into the '80s, to the walls of their winery which are clad with local barn wood, White Mule is an ode to central Missouri's heritage and sustainability.

If you visit the winery located next to the sharp turn on Highway 50, you'll likely see the current team of white mules "Margaret" and "May" enjoying retirement. You'll also see a family-run business that thrives on the Schlottach family tradition of good food, good wines and good conversations.

Charlie can vouch for all of these because his family has played a role in each step. The Schlottachs sustainably produce most items offered at White Mule Winery. Nearly every steak comes from their own cattle raised in the rolling hills and processed in their own harvesting facility. Many of their wines come from the vineyard they planted 17 years ago, and the conversation is always flowing between White Mule patrons and the friendly Schlottach family and staff.

"We just talk about our community, our collective community and what we're trying to do to be sustainable and share those values. We think that those old-timers have a lot of things right with how they eat well, sip well and communicate with each other," Charlie says. "We sit down, communicate, and celebrate life."

If you were to join White Mule for one of their Friday steak dinners, you'll likely see Charlie and be invited to their outdoor grill to see your steak be prepared over hot embers from oak wine barrels, as he recommends to pair your steak with their Norton, which also carries oak notes.

"When you know what you know about the wine you're serving them and the food you're serving them, it's really rewarding because you know the quality of it," Charlie says. "It's tremendously rewarding when your customers are satisfied. They come back, and then they send their friends."

While the White Mule may seem rural, it is the gathering place for its community. It proudly hosts local meetings, counsels, celebrations and even weddings. This is what the Schlottach family hoped for when they created the winery, because they've long known the importance of the community they know, love and have served for nearly a decade.

Serving his community and promoting Missouri agriculture is nothing new for 65-year-old Charlie. He spent nearly 20 years selling cattle feed, followed by 17 years in politics. While serving in the Missouri House of Representatives, Charlie realized more and more Missourians were asking the right questions about their food. In White Mule Winery, Charlie saw a way to provide an answer, build a family business and promote his community.

"I have never seen any better opportunity for rural Missouri with what we have to offer with value-added agriculture than what we have right now," Charlie said. "When you have a story to go with it and you can stand behind your product, it is a powerful thing and people appreciate it."

Stories always abound at the White Mule Winery, whether they're about food and wine or celebrating the latest happenings in the community. Stories bring Missourians together, and as Charlie will tell you, some of the best ones are often shared with neighbors.

"See what is in your own community. Check what is in your backyard. There are hidden places with foods and wines that can surpass your expectations. Sometimes local is just as good as anything that you can find around the world," he says. "Stay near home; check it out. Your friends and neighbors will probably be there, and they're probably there now."

It's Concord month, and it's time to celebrate the quintessential grape juice flavor we know and love. Concord grapes are not only a variety of American grapes that make sweet red wine, but they're an important part of Missouri history.

1. Boston-born Ephraim Wales Bull discovered concord grapes. Known as the "father of the Concord grape," Bull planted more than 20,000 native species of American grapes before producing what he considered to be the ideal grape on his Concord, Massachusetts farm, according to the Concord Grape Association.

2. Concord grapes are "slip skin" grapes. This means the skin easily separates from the pulp. More of these unique purple grapes are grown in the U.S. than any other variety, according to the Concord Grape Association.

3. The iconic Welch's grape juice was born in 1869 when New Jersey dentist Dr. Thomas Welch used pasteurization to preserve juice from the concord grapes growing outside his home.  In 1918, his son, Charles, introduced Welch's "Grapelade," one of the first modern jams and a World War I ration staple, according to the Concord Grape Association.

4. With the increased demand for Welch's grape products, company contracts for concord grapes saved many Missouri vines during the Prohibition. As vineyards were pulled up by the rootstock and barrels were dumped, many growers in the Saint James, Missouri area were able to save their vines by contracting with the Welch's Grape Co. Today, there are even some acres of pre-Prohibition concord vines in that area, according to VisitMo.com.

5. Concord grape demand continued to grow with the invention of a lunchtime favorite and World War II ration – the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Since "Grapelade" was already a wartime staple and pre-sliced bread emerged into the marketplace in 1928, soldiers paired the two ingredients with canned peanut butter to create the inexpensive, yet nutritional and delicious classic, according to the Concord Grape Association.    

6. Known for its hardiness as much as their grapes' sweet, recognizable flavor, Concord vines cover around 112 acres in the Show-Me State and account for 7 percent of the state's grapes. You can still visit roadside stands along Interstate 44 near Saint James, Missouri to purchase Concord grapes each fall, according to VisitMo.com.  

7. Concord wines are sweet, fruity and candy-like. Fermented in the skins, the wine is most often then processed like a white wine. This results in a medium body, blue-purple wine which pairs well with summer favorites from barbecue to ice cream, making it the perfect wine to sip during Show-Me State summers, according to missouriwine.org. 

Upcycle your empty wine bottle into a beautiful tiki torch that will be sure to give your outdoor space a “glow-up.” You’ll be able to sip your favorite Show Me State wine on your patio, while their sweet scent will keep any bugs at bay. These tiki torches make great gifts and are a beautiful addition to any outdoor entertaining space.

What You Will Need:

Wine bottles with the labels removed
Tiki torch wicks
Plumbing tape
1/2"-3/8" Copper reducing coupler
1/2" Copper cap
Citronella lamp or Tiki torch oil
Glass vase beads, marbles, aquarium gravel or pebbles less than 3/8" in diameter

Step 1: Rinse your empty wine bottles inside and out. Carefully peel the labels. If the labels or adhesive is hard to remove, soak the bottles in a warm bath of hot water, white vinegar and dish soap until you can gently scrub away any remaining labels or glue.

Step 2: Carefully pour your glass beads, marbles, aquarium gravel or pebbles into the bottom of the bottle until it is a third or a quarter of the way full. You can choose any item to fill your bottle with as long as the diameter is less than 3/8". Have fun selecting your stones, beads or marbles – picking ones that will provide a pop of color to your patio or match your outdoor furniture or decorations. A funnel will make it quicker and easier to fill the bottles.

Step 3: Insert your wick into the copper coupler with about ½" sticking out past the coupler's narrower end.

Step 4: Wrap plumber's tape around the wider end of the copper coupling. This will help to seal the bottle when you insert your wick and coupling. Each bottle will vary slightly in diameter, but we found between 5-10 wraps with the tape made for a snug fit.

Step 5: Fill the bottle to the base of the neck with tiki torch fuel. Citronella oil is an excellent choice for summer nights as its sweet smell helps keep the insects at bay. This is another instance where a funnel can help make this step quicker and less messy.

Step 6: Insert your prepared wick and coupling into the filled bottle with the long side of the wick and the broader end of the coupling fitting into the bottle. Push the coupling firmly into the mouth of the bottle until you've passed the plumber's tape and only the smaller end of the coupling and a 1/2" of wick are outside of the bottle. Please note if you believe you need to add more plumber's tape to better seal your torch or remove some tape so the coupling will fit into the bottle, remove the wick and coupling and make appropriate adjustments before re-inserting it in your bottle.

Step 7: Let your new torch sit for about 15 minutes to allow the neck wick to soak up the tiki torch oil.

Step 8: Light the wick and enjoy your new upcycled wine bottle tiki torch. Its beautiful, soft glow will illuminate your outdoor space and its sweet smell will keep bugs at bay while you sip your favorite Missouri wine on a warm summer night.

Step 9: When you're ready to head back indoors, blow out your torch and place the copper cap over the wick to prevent any water from soaking into the wick and making it harder to light next time you'd like to give your patio a "glow up."

Chill your favorite Missouri wine in a jiffy. Watch this video for two quick tips that will cool down your wine in 30 minutes or less! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMF1zIgLSXU

The sun is beaming down and we're cooling off with Concord, July's varietal of the month. Concord is a must have when looking for something sweet and refreshing!

Concord, pronounced kahn-kord, is a deep, dark plum colored wine that smells like a jar of concord grape jelly. Its candy-like sweetness pairs well with cheddar cheese, BBQ, pork chops, orange chicken, spicy seafood, nutmeg, vanilla, poached pear, figs, grape pie and chocolate.

Concord accounts for 6.6% of all grapes grown in Missouri. There are 111.9 bearing acres of concord grapes in the state.

We invite you to sit back, relax and sip a glass of Missouri's summer sweetheart!

Julia Child once said “a party without cake is really just a meeting,” and who needs more meetings these days. So let’s amp up our cakes with wine! This easy recipe adds a fun twist that is sure to impress your guests. This dense cake can even be frozen and served chilled on a hot summer day.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Bake Time: 50-60 minutes

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 yellow cake mix
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 box vanilla pudding instant mix
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• ¾ cup water
• ¾ cup oil
• ½ cup Vidal Blanc white wine

Glaze Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¼ cup Vidal Blanc white wine

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease your Bundt pan. We suggest using shortening and flour so the cake can be easily removed from the pan. Combine the cake ingredients in a large bowl and mix using a hand mixer. Pour the batter into the greased Bundt pan. Tap the pan lightly to bring air bubbles to the surface. Bake the cake for 50-60 minutes. Darker pans may require less baking time. Just before the cake is ready to come out of the oven melt butter in a small sauce pan. Stir in sugar until it dissolves then add Vidal Blanc. Once the cake is out of the oven, pour the glaze over the hot cake while still in the pan. Don’t let the cake cool too long before you flip it. You can also lightly dust the top with powdered sugar. Share your results with us using #MoWine.

Hannah Magee always dreamed of owning a winery. Her love of Missouri wine and knack for marketing led her to Jowler Creek Winery in Platte City, in 2013. After working with Jason and Colleen Gerke for a couple of years, Hannah stepped away to climb the corporate ladder and save money for a winery.

But in 2017, her corporate climb came to a sudden and screeching halt, and Hannah landed back in the Missouri wine industry she loved. Not that it was a soft landing. When she approached the Gerkes, they offered to sell her the Weston Wine Company, a winery they started in 2014 with Hannah's input. It took six months, three banks and uprooting her life as she knew it before Hannah officially owned the Weston Wine Company.

Weston, Missouri – population 1,800 – is a quaint main street dream that could even make the fictional Mayberry jealous. Just 40 minutes from Kansas City, it's hometown vibes, welcoming community and numerous entertainment options make this town a popular tourist attraction and the perfect home for the Weston Wine Company.

Like the town, Hannah wanted Weston Wine Company to be an inviting place, which welcomes wine lovers of all tastes and experience levels. Just six months after purchasing the winery, she completely rebranded it to represent her two rules of wine tasting – sip what makes you happy and sip with people you love.

"Good wine is wine that you want to keep savoring, and that is different for everyone who comes in," Hannah said. "Our goal at Weston Wine Company is to get on the level that the other person on the other side of the bar is – no matter what that would be."

The Weston Wine Company showcases Hannah's favorite part of Missouri wine culture – its community.

"That's what Missouri wine is good at. That's Missouri wines' secret. We have droves of people who come out and sit on our porches weekend after weekend," Hannah said.

Weston Wine Company's staff is always friendly and engaging. The winery offers several events from murder mystery dinners to trivia nights, which allow customers to experience wines from the Show-Me State in a whole new light.

Hannah and her staff always meet guests where they are. If they've never tasted Missouri wines, they can test their palates with a tasting flight consisting of three wine varieties and mini-cupcakes or cheeses. If they're wine aficionados, they can visit with Hannah about the local grapes sourced for their proprietary wines.

Most importantly, to Hannah, she wants every sip of Weston wine to pair with a good memory. Perhaps, a sip of Rulebender Sweet Red will remind visitors of their birthday celebration on the winery's porch. Maybe, the label of Prim + Proper Sparkling Moscato will help to recall a girl's day in Weston.

Regardless if it's a dry white enjoyed after a long day of working remotely, or a sweet red sipped during game night, Weston Wine Company wines always pair well with great experiences.

Does the warm weather have you eager to escape the confines of your home? Consider soaking in the great outdoors on a Missouri winery patio. Finding a winery with outdoor seating is only clicks away. The helpful winery search tool on Missouriwine.org can lead you to your next relaxing afternoon excursion. Simply use the refine dropdown and select outdoor seating from the list of search criteria. You can also enter your zip code to find those wineries close to home.

Did you know June 13 is National Rosé Day? Rosés continue to be a trendy favorite among wine consumers - women and men. There’s even a special term coined for the male segment of the population who enjoy rosé wines – brosé. Canned Rosé has even made its debut in Missouri wine country.

The unique flavors, aromas and characteristics of rosé wines vary based on the grapes used, but overall, they are light and fruity. Their light, fruity nature makes them a great pairing for many different foods. Serve chilled for a refreshing summer sipper.

The versatility of rosé wines is another reason they are a crowd favorite, especially since sparkling rosé hit the shelves. A handful of Missouri wineries even offer bubbly rosés.

Use rosé to make your very own Quarantini or Signature Sangria.

Whether you’re grabbing a Missouri rosé to enjoy on its own or mixing it into a delicious cocktail, we’re sure you will find one to add to your favorites list.

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.