The official start of summer is June 21, but Missouri’s summer seems to be here much sooner. Start your summer with a delicious, refreshing Vidal Blanc white wine! Missouri’s climate isn’t conducive to the European grape varieties you might be used to hearing about such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. It’s simply too cold in the winter and too hot and humid in the summer. So, instead we grow hybrid grapes such as Vidal Blanc.

In June, we celebrate this versatile white wine varietal because it’s the perfect summer sipper.

Vidal Blanc accounts for around 8 percent of all the grapes grown in the state and local winemakers call it the workhorse grape due to its versatility. It can be made in a dry and crisp, sparkling and bright, semi-sweet and fruity, and even luscious and sweet dessert wine style. Whatever your preference, there’s a Vidal Blanc perfect for you to savor this summer.

If you like lighter fare during the summer, consider Vidal Blanc your go-to! This white wine is incredibly versatile when it comes to pairing seasonal favorites: grilled chicken, vegetables, sushi and salads to name a few. Other great matchups for a glass of Vidal Blanc are light cheeses, bright herbs and fresh melon.

Head out to Missouri wine country or a retailer near your this June for a refreshing start to summer with Vidal Blanc!

Strawberry Wine Lemonade Recipe 

Ingredients: 

Strawberry Wine 

Lemonade 

Ice 

Directions: 

Mix half and half strawberry wine and lemonade; serve over ice. 

Optional - Garnish with a fresh strawberry or lemon slice. 

*Pro-tip - If you like bubbles, try using sparkling lemonade. 

How do you make a great burger even better? Top it with wine ketchup made with a dry, red Missouri wine such as Norton or Chambourcin. Try this recipe the next time you serve the perfect patty. It’s a delightful spin on the classic condiment. Check out this quick video to see just how easy the recipe is to make. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu4v6H3Y8CY&feature

Missouri Wine Ketchup Recipe

Time: 15-20 minutes  |  Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

½ cup    Missouri Norton or Chambourcin (dry red wine)

½ tbsp   Cornstarch

1 cup     Ketchup

Directions

Whisk cornstarch into wine. Add mixture to small saucepan, bring to a simmer and reduce until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, approximately 5-7 minutes. Turn off heat. Stir in ketchup until blended. Let cool completely. Top burgers or dip fries in this delicious ketchup and bring your next meal to a whole new level.

Classic Beef Burger Recipe

Recipe courtesy: Missouri Beef Industry Council

Time: 30 minutes  |  Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1-1/2 teaspoons steak seasoning blend

4 hamburger buns, split

4 slices cheese (such as Cheddar, American, Swiss, etc.)

4 lettuce leaves

4 tomato slices

Directions

Combine ground beef and steak seasoning in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Lightly shape into four 1/2-inch thick patties. Heart large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place patties in skillet; cook 12 to 15 minutes until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F, turning occasionally.

Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

Flowering is the next stage in a grapevine’s growing cycle after Bud Break. It’s an exciting and delicate time when the flowers burst through their caps (calyptra to be technical) carrying the pollen that will fertilize the vine and result in grape berries.

As the vines grow, small clusters of flowers will begin to appear on the new shoots of the grape vine. At first all that is visible are the caps (or calyptra) and they look like little buttons. Generally, flowering in Missouri vineyards takes place between the end of May and the beginning of June. After the initial clusters appear, they will continue to get larger and then begin to bloom.

Most grape varieties are hermaphroditic plants, meaning they are self-pollinators. When the flowers bloom, they release their pollen from the anthers of the stamen, pollinating the ovary which then produces seeds and the flowers begin transforming into a grape berry. The grape berries will then encapsulate the seeds. This is a delicate time for the grape vine when certain types of weather can be quite detrimental. Too much rain, wind or cool temperatures can be especially dangerous during this stage of growth as they can affect how many flowers are fertilized and ultimately how many grapes are produced.

Flowering is a beautiful time to visit the vineyards of Missouri wine country. But don’t wait! This wonderful phase of the grape-growing cycle won’t last long and then it will be on to fruit set.

Get inspired by all the delicious wine slushies you discover in Missouri wine country and make your own at home. The possibilities are limitless, but here is a recipe for a Fruity Vignoles Slushy to get you started. Cheers to summer sipping! 

Spring is a beautiful season full of new beginnings. In the vineyards of Missouri wine country that means bud break. After the dormancy and pruning of the winter, the vines start to awaken. From late April through early May we see buds break through and emerge to begin another vintage.

Bud break is an inspiring time when there are limitless possibilities. Growing grapes isn’t easy, and it’s made more difficult in the Midwest by demanding weather conditions. Despite the challenges of grape-growing, Missouri vintners look forward to the potential and excitement of bud break every year. It may mean another season of work is ahead, but it also means there’s a new opportunity to grow great grapes that will become delicious wine. Local winemakers know that some things are worth the work.

Bud break will quickly give way to the next stage of the growing cycle, flowering. Head out to Missouri wine country now. Don’t miss the exciting new beginning to what is sure to be another great vintage of Missouri wine.

Did you know that May 9^th is National Moscato Day? That’s right; there’s a holiday for everything nowadays. However, with the increased popularity of this varietal, we’re pretty excited to celebrate this holiday. Moscato is originally from Italy, but the grapes that make Moscato wines are of the Muscat variety. Missouri vintners grow a variety of this grape called Valvin Muscat.

You’ll find Missouri Moscato at these wineries:  

Augusta Winery

Blumenhof Vineyards & Winery

Crown Valley Winery

Jowler Creek Vineyard Winery

Les Bourgeois Vineyards

Noboleis Vineyards

Peaceful Bend Vineyard

St. James Winery

Stone Hill Winery

Moscato wines are generally known for being sweet, fruity, light and easy sippers. Flavors and notes of peach, nectarine, melon and citrus are common in many Moscato wines. Sometimes you’ll find these wines with a hint of fizz as well. Sweet wines are a better pairing for food than many realize. Try pairing your Missouri Moscato with spicy foods and fresh fruits!

How will you celebrate Moscato Day? 

Spring is a time of new life and growth. It makes sense that it’s a time when we think more about the Earth and our impact on it. Most Missouri wineries and vineyards make efforts to be sustainable and treat the land with respect, but one winery in particular has made “being green” a cornerstone of their business from the very beginning and continues to strive for sustainability as they grow, Jowler Creek Winery.

Colleen and Jason Gerike opened Jowler Creek Winery in Platte City in 2006 with the desire and intention of creating a business that would thrive for generations to come. From the beginning, the Gerikes have taken sustainability seriously. Their business strategy involves continuous improvement and operating more efficiently each year, with the overarching goal of being carbon neutral.

“We’ve always felt blessed to have a piece of land to call our own, yet we recognize that we’re only caretakers for a little while,” says Colleen. “Our goal is to contribute to our community by being productive, while at the same time protecting our natural resources for future generations.”

The winery employs a long list of sustainable practices ranging from the use of solar power, to composting and recycling. On the property, you’ll find a whole team of nature’s helpers as well… sheep “mowing” in the vineyards, bat houses and free-range chickens to help control pests, a honey bee colony and even a native-plant butterfly garden. You may also spot Jowler Creek Winery eco-friendly vehicles out and about delivering wine to local retail shops and attending area events.

In 2017, Jowler Creek Winery was the first Missouri winery to receive ASAP certification. The Missouri Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program (ASAP) is a verification program that champions Missouri farmers who are responsible stewards of the land. It’s meant to acknowledge and reward those who proactively protect the environment, employ sound management practices and use science-based technology to produce safe food, fuel and fiber for consumers. Since then, several other vineyards have also received the certification, including Augusta Winery and St. James Winery.

Wineries aren’t the only ones who can go green. Colleen has some great advice for wine-lovers who want to help out. “Being green is about making choices that have a positive impact on your environment and community,” she says. “From purchasing your wine from the local winery down the road to recycling your finished wine bottles and corks, there are lots of little decisions you can make each day to be green that will have a big impact over time.” 

Next time you’re in the Kansas City area, be sure to visit Jowler Creek Winery and learn even more about their green practices by taking a Self-Guided Eco Tour around the property.

Cheers to a sustainable Missouri wine country and lots of great, award-winning local wine for years to come! 

The Show-Me State has 125 incredible wineries to discover. With such a wide variety of wineries spanning the entire state, it’s no surprise there are several transportation options catering to groups that want to explore Missouri wine country. Here are six options to choose from for your next vino adventure.

Excelsior Springs Chamber Wine Trolley: Excelsior Springs is a charming town north of Kansas City. The Chamber of Commerce offers a series of Wine Trolley excursions on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from April to November.

Hermann Trolley: The historic German town of Hermann is home to several wineries. Many can be visited while riding in style on the Hermann Trolley. The trolley station is conveniently located near the Amtrak station if you’re arriving to Hermann by train.

Barley Bus: On the Barley Bus you can book one of several different tours around the KC area, focusing on wineries or even breweries and distilleries. Travel in comfort on your next winery adventure in the KC area.

KATY Bike Rental and Shuttle: Looking to explore Missouri’s first wine country? KATY Bike Rental and Shuttle has several ways for you to travel around the wineries in the Augusta and Defiance areas. 

Ste. Genevieve Trolley: The French-Heritage town of Ste. Genevieve is beautiful and full of fascinating history. It's also home to several, award-winning wineries. The Ste. Genevieve Trolley will meet you at a designated pickup location and take you to different wineries to enjoy for the day.

Augusta Area Trolley: Friday through Sunday, enjoy a complimentary trolley service between Augusta Winery, Montelle Winery, Mount Pleasant Estates and Balducci Vineyards. Trolley service occurs approximately every 30 minutes and travels to and from each winery mentioned - no reservation needed!

Missouri wine country is calling. Will you answer? Any one of these trolleys or buses is a great way to explore. All aboard!