Happy Mulled Wine Day! Celebrate with us by making your own, from scratch. All you need is a Missouri dry white plus a few minutes!

Servings: 4-5
Ingredients

•    1 bottle of Missouri dry white wine
•    1 orange, sliced into rounds
•    1/4 cup sugar
•    8 whole cloves
•    2 cinnamon sticks
•    2 tbsp star anise seed
•    optional garnishes: citrus slices (orange, lemon and/or lime), extra cinnamon sticks, extra star anise 
 

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a non-aluminum saucepan, and bring to a simmer (not a boil — you don’t want to boil the alcohol out!) over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours. Strain, and serve warm with your desired garnishes.

2. You can also place the oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and star anise in a cheesecloth. Then simply strain and pull out the bundle when ready to serve
   

   Share your mulled wine recipes with us #mowine!
    

In today’s world the idea of disconnecting can feel like a distant dream. But what if we turned that dream into reality, even if it is just for a weekend. National Unplugged Day is the perfect excuse to ditch the devices and leave the busy world and dive into intentional experiences. We challenge you to venture into Missouri Wine Country, seeking the perfect balance of relaxation, connection and of course, great wine! 

Choose a place to stay nestled in the rolling vineyards. The absence of mindlessly scrolling will be replaced with laughter, storytelling, and the joy of just being together. Spend the day exploring the local wineries, great bites, and the charm of Missouri Wine Country. 

Unplugging for the weekend isn’t just about escaping. It is a moment to rediscover human connection, the simple pleasure of life and to experience the one-of-a-kind Missouri Wine Country! 

Be sure to check out all of our 90+ wineries websites for lodging information. 

The more a wine has aged, the better it is in quality, taste and overall enjoyment, right? Wrong! While some wines are meant to be aged and do in fact get better with time, not all are made for that.

Some wines are better and actually meant to be enjoyed right away. Most white, lighter red, fruit, sparkling and other wines are not going to get better with time. In fact, waiting too long could make the wine not as tasty or even ruin it.

These wines are meant to be enjoyed right away because over time their aromas and flavors actually fade. Aging these wines is not always worth it, and an action that could ruin your glass of wine.

However, some wines do get better with age. Usually, the dry reds, dessert and some sweet wines can benefit from aging. Over time these wines can change and actually develop new aromas and flavors. The structure and flavor soften, reducing acidity and tannins.

When aging wine, the only guarantee is change. If you are looking for a soft and complex wine, age your dry reds. If you are looking for a fresh wine and a pop of flavor, have a glass of your white wine soon after you buy it.

Whether you age your wine or not, proper storage is key to enjoy aged and young wines. Get more tips on storing your wine in our blog, Wine Storage Made Easy,

Not all wine is better after aging, but aging the correct wine the correct way, can create an entirely new wine!

Have you ever dreamed of being a part of a club, as an adult, that is full of fun and new experiences? Welcome to the world of Missouri Wine Clubs, where each wine club is unique and special. This isn’t just about sipping wine; it’s about staying connected to wineries even from a distance.

A few wine club benefits but not limited to: 

• Limited wine releases
• Early access to new wine vintages
• Exclusive events 
• Discounts 

Here are Missouri Wineries that have wine clubs: 

7C’s Winery – Walnut Grove 

Adam Puchta Winery – Hermann 

Amigoni Urban Winery – Kansas City 

Augusta Winery – Augusta 

Blumenhof Vineyards & Winery – Dutzow

Chandler Hill Vineyards – Defiance 

Chateau Sainte Genevieve – Bloomsdale 

Defiance Ridge Vineyards – Defiance 

Eagles’ Landing – St. James

Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyards – Potosi 

Fountain City Winery – Kansas City 

McKelvey Vineyards – Leslie 

Noboleis Vineyards – Augusta 

Red Rox Winery & Vineyards – Urich 

Riverwood Winery – Rushville 

Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery – Excelsior Springs

Small Batch Winery – Wentzville 

St. James Winery – St. James

Stone Hill Winery – Hermann 

TerraVox Vineyards – Kansas City

The Peculiar Winery – Peculiar 

Van Till Family Farm Winery – Rayville 

Wine clubs aren’t just a convenient way to fill your wine rack; they allow you to step into a world to discover a deeper connection with the wine industry. As you raise a glass to the next adventure, remember each winery has a story to tell. 

Share your wine club journey with us using #mowine! 

Happy Perfume Day! To celebrate, we want to share more about the aromas in the wines we love. Check out our infographic on how aromas make a wine, and check out our aroma guide!

Text on Infographic:

Tasting is Smelling

We only "taste" sweet, sour, salt, bitter, and umami (savory). The other details we taste are aromas or smells.

Taste and aroma are linked; about 80% of what we perceive as taste comes from our sense of smell.

When you combine smell and taste, you experience everything the wine has to offer.

Cheers to perfume day, and the aromas of Missouri Wines!

Do you want to wow your guests without spending hours in the kitchen? Enter this glorious grazing board! It is as delicious as one chooses to make it with their perfect bite. The best part? It’s totally customizable and always a crowd-pleaser. 

So how do you even begin to build this masterpiece? Start with a sturdy base. We cleaned off the countertop and rolled out the butcher paper, (makes for easy clean up too!) you could also use several large serving platters or cutting boards. Aim for a mix of textures and flavors. Different cheeses, a few cured meats, some nuts and an assortment of crackers too. For a touch of sweetness, you can add some fruit like grapes, strawberries and some chocolate scattered too. Anything you want can be added to this, the options are unlimited!

Ready for the real showstopper? Missouri Wine! The beauty of a grazing board is the versatility and that means there is a wine pairing for each bite. Adding in an array of Missouri wines allows everyone to find a pairing that they will be sure to love! 

Wanting a fun way to hear everyone’s favorite pairings? Leave little cards out for people to write down their favorite parings for others to enjoy alongside them. The goal is to have sips that enhance all those delicious bites. 

Happy hosting! Share all your grazing boards with us on social using #mowine!

Get ready to shake, rattle, and stir, because Margarita Day is almost here! Here’s to the best time of the year where we collectively raise a salt-rimmed glass to one of the world’s most beloved cocktails. The only thing that makes it better is when it is a Jalapeño Moscato wine-a-rita! 

Serving Size: 1 glass

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz tequila 
• 1 oz fresh lime
• 1 oz orange liqueur
• 1 oz simple syrup 
• 1 oz Moscato wine 
• 2 – 3 slices fresh jalapeño
• Ice 
• Salt for the rim

Instructions: 

• Prep the glass: Rub a lime wedge around the rim of the serving glass. Dip the rim into a shallow plate of salt to coat it evenly. 
• Muddle the jalapeño: In a cocktail shaker, gently muddle the fresh jalapeño slices with the simple syrup to release their flavor and heat.
• Shake the cocktail: Add the tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur to the shaker. Fill the shaker with ice, cover and shake until well-chilled.
• Strain and add wine: Add ice to your prepped glass and strain the mixture onto the ice. Slowly top the drink with Moscato wine.
• Garnish: Add flare with an extra jalapeño slice and lime wedge. 

As the ice melts and the last sip is savored remember it’s an invitation to relax and connect with friends. Cheers to the sweet and spicy sips that leave us wanting more! Share your wine-a-rita recipes with us using #mowine!

Ever noticed how wine bottles aren’t all the same? From tall, slender bottles to thick and broad bottles. With different colors from blue, brown, green and clear glass, there is a lot of variation. These aren’t just aesthetic choices, they’re rooted in history, practicality, and even the wine itself. 

Historically, bottle shapes and colors evolved for functionality reasons. Darker glass, like brown were crucial for protecting the wine from light, which helps maintain the flavor and aromas over time. This used to be vital because climate-controlled storage was limited. Different regions developed distinct bottles shapes, often reflecting the type of wine in the bottles. For instance, blue, tall, slender bottles, traditionally used for white wines as it was believed to enhance the wine’s delicate aromas. Straight sided Bordeaux bottles were associated with full-bodied red wines, its shape designed to accommodate the sediment that can develop in these wines. Sparkling bottles tend to have a thicker glass as they need to be “stronger” to hold the pressure that comes with the carbonation. 

The evolution of these shapes became a way to quickly identify what style of wine was within the bottle. Next time you are admiring a bottle of wine, take a moment to appreciate the thought that went into its design. Each shape and color can tell a story, not just of the wine within but the decades of innovation. A little piece of history and science waiting to be uncorked and enjoyed. 

National Pizza Day is here! Celebrate by pairing your favorite pizzas with Missouri wines. Shakespeare’s, Imo’s, or even a frozen pizza pair up perfectly with Missouri wines! Check out all of our pizza pairing guides and celebrate the right way.

Cheers to pizza and wine! Share your pizza pairings with us using #mowine! 

Chocolate wine fondue combines the best of both worlds. A warm, gooey chocolate dip perfect for sharing and trying new things. Create a snack board of all your favorite sweets and get ready to take your taste buds on an adventure!

Ingredients: 

• 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 
• 2 tbsp butter
• 10 oz package of dark chocolate chips 
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• ½ cup dry red wine 
• 2 tbsp raspberry jam 
• ½ tsp kosher salt 
• Toothpicks 

Instructions: 

1. Combine sweetened condensed milk, butter, dark chocolate chips and vanilla until melted.
2. Lightly stir until melted.
3. Remove from heat, stir in red wine, raspberry jam and kosher salt.
4. Lightly sprinkle more kosher salt on top before serving. 
5. Keep warm.
6. Serve with your favorite fresh fruit, marshmallows, rice krispy treats, graham crackers or more! 

Creating this Chocolate Wine Fondue is sure to be the star of the show at your next gathering! Allowing everyone to mix and match to make their perfect pairing will be sure to please every palate. Share your chocolate wine fondue recipes with us using #mowine!

Pro-Tip: Use a candle warmer to keep it melted if you don’t have a warmer!