Sunshine in a glass… the perfect description of Missouri Vignoles wine, and why August has been named Vignoles Month. August cues the winding down of summer activities, but a glass of Missouri Vignoles is the perfect way to hang on to the sunshine and summer fun all month long!

The Vignoles (veen-yole) grape is a French-American hybrid varietal that thrives in Missouri wine country. It is the most popular white grape in the state; 14 percent of all grapes grown in the “Show Me” State are Vignoles.

Vignoles grapes are used to make a wines that range in style and sweetness from dry, refreshing white wines to sweet, luscious Late Harvest dessert wines, and everything in between. A 2015 Vignoles from St. James Winery was recently awarded the Governor’s Cup for best wine in the state at the 2016 Missouri Wine Competition.

Vignoles wines are known for fragrances of fresh cut tropical fruit. This refreshing varietal boasts citrus, floral and tropical flavors which make it a great choice on hot summer days. Vignoles is a food friendly wine; fresh fruit and spicy dishes pair especially well with Vignoles.

Add sunshine to your wine glass with Missouri Vignoles this August! During the month of August, Missouri wineries will feature Vignoles with wine releases, special events, themed tastings and much more.

With 130 wineries and 10 wine trails in Missouri wine country, what are you waiting for? Head out to a nearby winery and experience Vignoles – it’s the perfect way to celebrate a unique grape variety and an award-winning wine industry dating back more than 160 years.

Véraison is a fancy French word that simply means the grapes are beginning to change color. A more complete definition is that Véraison is the beginning of berry ripening when the berries on a grape vine become soft and take on the colors characteristic of their specific varieties. 

What makes Véraison exciting? It means harvest is just around the corner, and the grapes are beginning to take on all of the wonderful characteristics that present themselves in the finished wine we enjoy so much. The aromas and flavors wine-lovers experience in a great glass of wine are starting to show themselves in the grapes. It’s also a really beautiful and obvious visual example of the lifecycle of grapes. 

Véraison is quite obvious in red grape varietals, changing the grape berries from green to varying shades of purple. There is however, a more subtle change in white grapes from green to a golden hue.

Many Missouri wineries offer vineyard tours. Now is the perfect time to visit a local winery and vineyard to see where your delicious, award-winning wine comes from. It is a beautiful and exciting time in Missouri Wine Country. 

Drum roll please… We are thrilled to introduce the winner of the 2016 Missouri Governor’s Cup, St. James Winery’s 2015 Vignoles. 

The Governor’s Cup is the top honor or the Missouri Wine Competition. A total of 308 wines were entered into this year’s competition from wineries across the state. The wines were blind tasted by a panel of industry experts from all over the country, and judged on a variety of factors. The judges named 23 gold medals, 99 silver and 114 bronze. Wines that received gold medals competed for Best of Class, and Best Varietal honors. From the Best of Class recipients, the Governor’s Cup (i.e. best wine in the state) was selected. 
Congrats, St. James Winery, for bringing home the big one with your 2015 Vignoles! Vignoles is a French-American hybrid grape and Missouri’s premier white varietal. This versatile white grape produces a wide range of wines from dry to dessert, and boasts luscious floral aromas and fruity flavors of pineapple and apricot.

The CV Riley Award for the best Norton wine was awarded to Noboleis Vineyards in Augusta for their 2014 Norton. 

Meet the rest of the 2016 Best of Class winners: 

• Sparkling: Effervescent Mead, Pirtle Winery – Weston  
• Dry White: 2014 Vidal Blanc, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann  
• Semi-Dry White: 2015 Vignoles, St. James Winery – St. James 
• Dry Red: 2014 Norton, Noboleis Vineyards – Augusta   
• Rosé: Twilight, Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard – Potosi 
• Dessert/Fortified: Cream Sherry, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann  
• Distilled Product: Grappa, Montelle Winery – Augusta 

Check out our trophy case for a full list of winners from the 2016 Missouri Wine Competition and to take a look back at the winners from the past. The winning wines will be showcased at the 2016 Missouri State Fair with many available for purchase at the Missouri Wine tent. 

Join us in congratulating St. James Winery on winning the Governor’s Cup and all the wineries earning honors in this year’s Missouri Wine Competition! 

There are so many award-winning Missouri wines; the hardest thing is choosing which to try first!

July is Concord Month; it’s super hot outside; and popsicles are delicious. Bring it all together and you get… WINE POPSICLES! Beat the heat with these delicious and super simple treats. 

Concord on its own makes a great popsicle. Pour your favorite, award-winning Missouri Concord wine directly into a popsicle mold or ice cube tray, freeze for 3-4 hours, and enjoy! If your wine ice pop doesn’t want to come out of its mold, run it under cool water for a few seconds and try again. 

Peanut Butter and Concord Wine Ice Pops Recipe 
Prep Time: 5 min     Total Time: 3-4 hours 
Serves: 6-8 

Ingredients: 
1/3 cup      Creamy peanut butter 

1 cup         Vanilla yogurt 1 ½ cups

Missouri Concord wine 

Directions: 
In a medium-sized bowl mix the peanut butter and yogurt until smooth. 
Spoon or pipe the peanut butter mixture into ice pop molds until 1/3-1/2 full. 
Fill the rest of the molds with Missouri Concord wine.
Freeze for 3-4 hours until solid. 
Run the molds under cool water for a few seconds to loosen the pops from the mold. 
Remove the pop from the mold and enjoy! 

Peanut butter and jelly is a truly classic flavor combo, and you’d be hard pressed to find a more delicious way to enjoy it on a hot, summer day than these popsicles.

Savor the sweetness of summer with Concord wine! This Vitis Labruscana grape is very unique. When you’re sipping on Concord, you know. It is what a lot of people equate with a quintessential grape flavor. That’s because grape juice and jam are often made from Concord grapes. With such a distinct flavor profile, it comes as no surprise that there are some great food pairings to go with Concord wine. 

July 6th is Fried Chicken Day and that served as inspiration for a post about all the Missouri wines that pair well with this comfort food classic. The crispy, crunchy, salty goodness of biting into a piece of perfectly cooked fried chicken is about as delicious as it gets, right? Wrong. Pair that drumstick or thigh with a glass of Missouri wine and you’re in for a real treat! 

Salty and Sweet: Pairing a piece of fried chicken with a glass of sweet, fruity Catawba is a delight for your taste buds. The salty and sweet flavors complement each other in an oh-so-tasty way. 

Magic Bubbles: Sparkling wine may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fried chicken, but it will be after you’ve tried it. The bright acidity and effervescence act as the perfect palate cleanser making every bite as delicious as the first. 

Crisp and Crispy: Dry rosé wine is a growing category and we’re seeing more and more Missouri wineries making this delicious style of wine. You won’t see us complaining though. This crisp yet fruity style of wine is a great match for fried chicken. 

Try one (or all) of these pairings today! 

In July the days are warmer and longer, making it just the right time to sit back and sip a glass of Missouri Concord. Take in the sweetness of the wine and summertime. July is Concord Month and this American grape is being celebrated all throughout the “Show Me” State. 

Concord is known for a candy-like sweetness and aromas of grape jam. This red wine is served chilled and hits the spot on a hot day. Looking for food to pair with this sweet summer sipper? Peanut butter, milk chocolate, aged cheese, and barbecue beef all pair perfectly with a glass of Missouri Concord. It’s also a great addition to baked goods. Find out more about baking with wine here. 

There are 136+ acres of Concord, AKA Vitis Labruscana, grown in Missouri wine country. That accounts for about 8 percent of all the wine grapes grown in the state. Vintners like Concord because it’s hardy and can stand up to our demanding weather patterns. Consumers like it because it’s a delicious, fun wine that’s great for casual, summer sipping. 

Grab a glass and join the celebration of July as Concord Month in Missouri! 

The Fourth of July, AKA Independence Day, holiday is right around the corner, and we’ve got some great ideas for how you can add award-winning Missouri wines to your celebration. 

1. Go to a winery – This is maybe the simplest way. There are 130+ wineries in the “Show Me” State and many will host special events throughout the holiday weekend. Visit your favorite local winery or discover a new one. 
2. Host a 4th of July soiree like a pro – We’ve made a survival guide to help you host the best Independence Day get-together your friends and family have ever seen. 
3. Become the true grill master – To many grilling is and art-form. Take your grill skills to the next level by pairing your charbroiled favorites with the perfect local wine. The MO Wine Grill-out Guide is all you need to make the best matches. 
4. Whip up a batch of sangria – Sangria is fruity, delicious, and best of all… completely customizable. Whether you follow a recipe like this one for Red, White and Blue Sangria, or build your own, consider making a double batch. Everyone loves sangria! 

Happy Independence Day from Missouri Wines. Cheers! 

June is Vidal Blanc Month in Missouri wine country, and it’s the perfect wine to kick off summer with a splash. Vidal Blanc is crisp and refreshing, and it pairs well with all your fresh summer favorites like salads, seafood and citrus fruit. There are so many great food and wine pairings for Missouri Vidal Blanc wines. Use this guide to help you decide what to eat with Vidal Blanc. 

Sitting on a patio soaking in the sunshine and a warm breeze while sipping a glass of award-winning local wine… yeah that sounds like a great way to spend a summer day. Don’t let this Missouri summer slip away without checking these seasonal favorites off your bucket list. 

1. Discover a new winery – Missouri is home to 130+ wineries. There’s bound to be one or 20 you haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet. 
2. Go on a wine trail – There are ten wine trails across the state. Some are hosting special events during the summer, all offer unique experiences. 
3. Become a MO wine MVP – You can earn points that are redeemable for rewards just for visiting local wineries.
4. Perfect your sangria recipe – Sangria can be customized for any season, but there’s nothing better than a chilled glass of fruit-filled sangria on a hot summer day. 
5. Sip and sway to some live tunes – Many local wineries feature live music on the weekends during the summer. Sit back and enjoy while you sip on a glass of award-winning wine. 
6. Take the train to wine country – All aboard! Are you ready for a great getaway? 
7. Attend a wine festival – There are wine festivals, walks and strolls scattered all throughout the state. Find one near you. They’re a great way to get to try wines from several wineries all in one place. 
8. Indulge in a bowl of wine ice cream – This recipe couldn’t be easier, and it’s beyond delicious! 

This isn’t an exhaustive list of all the fun ways to enjoy Missouri wine and wine country during the summer, but let it serve as the start of your “Savor Summer Bucket List”. Cheers!