The 2026 Missouri Wine Label Competition is an exciting showcase of creativity and design in the world of winemaking. This annual competition brings together the finest wineries from across Missouri, each presenting their most stunning label designs. These labels will be evaluated by industry experts in several categories, making it a unique contest for both wineries and wine enthusiasts alike.

The competition is divided into the following categories: 

• Best Traditional Label
• Best Contemporary Label
• Best Alternative Packaging
• Best Celebrations of 2026
• Best Wine Series
• People’s Choice Award: Decided by YOU, through online voting!

Open the following link in a new browser/window to vote: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/KDWcye0/2026PeoplesChoiceAward

We need your help! As a devoted Missouri wine enthusiast, you have the power to decide who takes home the People’s Choice Award. This is your chance to support your favorite label and have a direct impact on which winery claims this honor. Voting is live, and you can cast your vote once a day for your favorite label. Make sure your voice is heard in this race—voting will close on July 18th at 11:59 PM.

Picture this: sunshine, good company, and a Concord Piña Colada in hand that whisks you away to paradise.  

Concord Piña Colada Recipe

Ingredients: 

• 2 oz Concord wine 
• 2 oz pineapple juice 
• 1 oz coconut cream 
• Ice 
• Pineapple wedge (optional) 

Instructions: 

• In a blender, combine Concord wine, pineapple juice, and coconut cream
• Add a cup of ice to the blender 
• Blend until smooth and creamy 
• Pour into a chilled glass 
• Top with a pineapple wedge 

Treat yourself on these hot July days to your favorite Missouri WineTail! Share them with us on socials using #mowine!

July is Concord month and it is The Juice of July! It’s a key season for the vineyards as grapes ripen under the summer sun, promising a great harvest. This month let’s celebrate with refreshing sips of Concord in the summer heat! 

While this grape produces a light and refreshing wine, it is also used to make grape jelly and juice. This Missouri staple is versatile in so many ways and deserves to be celebrated all month long. 

During Prohibition some Missouri vineyards survived by growing grapes that could be sold for juice or jelly instead of wine. 

The Concord grape, an American varietal, produces a robust, medium-bodied wine. Found in the wild during the mid 1800s, it was named after its area of origin, Concord, Massachusetts. 

This prolific vine yields medium-sized clusters of large berries. It’s known as a slip-skin grape because its skin easily separates from the pulp during winemaking. 

This wine pairs well with cheddar, aged cheeses, orange chicken, pork chop, spicy seafood, candied nuts, grape pie or peanut butter. 

Recipe Ideas: 

• Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Concord Lemonade
• Peanut Butter & Concord Cheesecake
• Barbecue Sauce

Have you ever wondered how those tiny grape flowers transform into the juicy clusters we love? It’s all thanks to a crucial stage called “fruit set” and it’s a big deal here in Missouri Wine Country! 

Think of fruit set as the moment a grape flower successfully becomes a berry. Before this, the vines are buzzing with delicate blossoms, each hoping to be pollinated. In Missouri, our unique climate and soil contribute to the character of the grapes, and a successful fruit set is the first step towards a fantastic harvest. 

During fruit set, a few key things happen. The tiny ovary at the base of the flower starts to swell, and if pollination was successful, a seed will begin to form inside. This is when we start to see the first hint of those green berries that will eventually ripen into those delicious juicy grapes. Factors like temperature, rainfall, and even the type of grape can influence how well fruit set goes. A good fruit set means more grapes on the vine, which is exciting for winemakers and wine lovers alike!