Storing wine isn't difficult. Here are some concise tips to keep your wine tasting great:

Store wine at 55°F in a cool basement or wine cooler. Avoid refrigerators for long-term storage, as they can dull flavors and dry out corks. Avoid temperatures below 25°F, which can freeze wine, and above 68°F, which accelerates aging.

Keep wine away from sunlight to preserve aroma and flavor. Use a dark closet or basement. Store away from vibrations and high traffic areas to maintain the wine's delicate balance.

Lay bottles on their sides to keep corks moist and prevent premature aging. This method is efficient and space-saving.

Use a cork, wine stopper, or vacuum stopper and pump to prevent oxidation. Wax paper around the cork helps with resealing. Store opened bottles upright in the fridge to slow aging and oxidation.

Most wines last 3-5 days after opening. If you don’t finish, consider using it in cooking.

For a quick easy guide check out this wine storage infographic!

Share your wine storage tips with us using #mowine!

It is time for trivia! Stretch that brain and test your knowledge of Missouri and wine, then have fun at a winery trivia night!

Wineries hosting trivia nights:

Beckett’s Winery – Glasgow, MO

Cedar Lake Cellars – Wright City, MO

Chandler Hill Vineyards – Defiance, MO

Defiance Ridge Vineyards - Defiance, MO

Fountain City Winery – Kansas City, MO

Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery – Platte City, MO

Prairie Barn Winery and Christmas Tree Farm – St. James, MO

Weston Wine Company – Weston, MO

Missouri Wines Trivia 

1. What is the most widely planted grape variety in Missouri?
2. Which Missouri winery is the oldest winery in Missouri?
3. What region in Missouri was the first to receive an AVA (American Viticultural Area) designation?
4. What is the Missouri State grape?
5. When did Prohibition end?
6. Which festival is held annually in Hermann, Missouri, celebrating the state's wine heritage?
7. How does Missouri’s climate affect grape growing compared to other wine regions?
8. What role did Missouri play in saving the French wine industry in the late 19th century?

General Missouri Trivia 

1. What significant event took place in Downtown St. Louis in 1965?
2. Which Missouri city is known as the "Live Music Show Capital of the World"?
3. What is the name of the university located in Columbia, Missouri, and is the largest public university in the state?
4. Which famous author, known for "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," lived in Hannibal?
5. What infamous outlaw was killed in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1882?
6. Which Missouri city is famously known as the birthplace of the ice cream cone?
7. What natural landmark, located in the Ozarks, is one of the largest springs in the United States?
8. What is Missouri’s state nickname, reflecting the character of its people?

Answer these trivia questions and get ready for winery trivia night! #mowine

Happy Hobby Month. Make Missouri Wines your new hobby. From visiting wineries, joining Rewards Uncorked, starting a wine collection, we have you set to create your new favorite hobby!

Bucket List:

Mark off your own bucket list, download it below!

Trail Check List:

We have created lists for different Missouri Wine Trails, of must do activities and experiences. Check them out and plan your next trip to wine country! Download them below!

Wine Collection:

Start your very own Missouri Wine Collection. To start, ensure you have the right storage, like a wine fridge. Choose wines you enjoy, including a mix of reds, whites, rosé’s and sparkling. Use a digital inventory to track your bottles and their aging. Join wine clubs or attend tastings to learn more and build your collection!

Rewards Uncorked:

Make visiting Missouri Wineries your new hobby this year. Sign up today, here!

Kick start 2026 the right way with all things Missouri Wine! Share your wine hobbies with us using #mowine

Breaking the rules this winter season. A cold evening with a glass of Norton in hand and a bowl of creamy chicken pasta that warms you from the inside out. This dish is full of flavors that is sure to leave you wanting more! 

Ingredients: 

• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1 yellow onion – finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp minced garlic
• 10 white button mushrooms – chopped
• 1 lb chicken thighs – cut to bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup Norton
• 2 Tbsp chicken broth
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ lb fettuccini pasta
• 1 cup pasta water
• 1 cup grated parmesan                              

Instructions: 

• Heat a pan, large enough to hold all the sauce and pasta, over medium heat.
• Add half the butter, chopped onion and garlic cloves. Let cook for a few minutes, until fragrant.
• Add the rest of the butter and allow to melt, then add the mushrooms. Let cook for a few minutes. (If the mushrooms start to look dry, add more butter)
• Push mushrooms to one side of the pan and add the chicken to the other. Cook separately until it has some color on all sides of the chicken, then mix with the mushrooms.
• Raise the temperature to medium-high, pour in the red wine, and cook for 2 minutes until about half of the wine has reduced.
• Add concentrated chicken stock, thyme sprigs and cream. Bring to a boil, then lower the temperature to medium again. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• While simmering, cook the pasta. Drain and reserve some of the pasta water.
• When the sauce is done, remove thyme sprigs. Then add the pasta and pasta water. Bring back to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes until pasta has finished cooking.
• Plate and sprinkle with parmesan.
• Serve with a glass of Missouri Norton and enjoy!

And there you have it – a creamy chicken pasta recipe elevated with the richness of a Missouri Norton! Perfect for a cozy night in or to share at your next family gathering. Pour another glass for you and yours and savor each bite!