Does the warm weather have you eager to escape the confines of your home? Consider soaking in the great outdoors on a Missouri winery patio. Finding a winery with outdoor seating is only clicks away. The helpful winery search tool on Missouriwine.org can lead you to your next relaxing afternoon excursion. Simply use the refine dropdown and select outdoor seating from the list of search criteria. You can also enter your zip code to find those wineries close to home.

Did you know June 13 is National Rosé Day? Rosés continue to be a trendy favorite among wine consumers - women and men. There’s even a special term coined for the male segment of the population who enjoy rosé wines – brosé. Canned Rosé has even made its debut in Missouri wine country.

The unique flavors, aromas and characteristics of rosé wines vary based on the grapes used, but overall, they are light and fruity. Their light, fruity nature makes them a great pairing for many different foods. Serve chilled for a refreshing summer sipper.

The versatility of rosé wines is another reason they are a crowd favorite, especially since sparkling rosé hit the shelves. A handful of Missouri wineries even offer bubbly rosés.

Use rosé to make your very own Quarantini or Signature Sangria.

Whether you’re grabbing a Missouri rosé to enjoy on its own or mixing it into a delicious cocktail, we’re sure you will find one to add to your favorites list.

Vidal Blanc, pronounced vee-dahl blahnk, is a French-American hybrid grape that most often produces a dry to semi-dry wine with fragrances of a fresh summer garden. Some winemakers even produce a beautiful sparkling wine using Vidal Blanc grapes. Clean, citrus fruit flavors of apples and lemon make this wine a summertime favorite.

There are nearly 100 acres of Vidal Blanc grapes in Missouri which accounts for 5.9% of all grapes grown in the state.

Vidal Blanc pairs best with simple, fresh ingredients like basil and garlic, as well as seafood and poultry. Perhaps the most perfect pairings for Vidal Blanc are warm summer days and a backyard patio.

Missouri Wines invites you to enjoy a backyard vacation with Vidal Blanc.

BBQ grills are firing up across the Show-Me State. Why not mix-up your burger routine with this easy red wine ground beef recipe? You likely have all the ingredients in your pantry already. Gather them up and let the grilling begin!

Servings: 4 Burgers

Ingredients

• 2 cups Missouri Norton
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 lb ground beef
• Worcestershire sauce (to taste)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Tomato
• Sliced cheese
• Buns

Directions

Combine the wine and brown sugar in a medium saucepan on high heat. Stir the mixture until it is completely dissolved. Let the sauce boil and reduce for 20 minutes. While waiting for the mixture to cool, combine hamburger, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl.  Once the sauce has cooled, incorporate ¼ cup of the wine reduction into the ground beef. Form four ¼ lb patties. Grill burgers over medium heat until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. While grilling, toast your buns slightly. Add your favorite cheese and drizzle with remaining wine sauce. Top with tomatoes or your favorite burger fixings.

Enjoy with a glass of Missouri Norton. Cheers!

When The Cork Report created the first #openlocalwine night back in March, they never could have imagined how popular it would be – with readers, with winemakers and with fans of local wine all over North America and beyond.

To take part in #openlocalwine all you need to do is:

• Get a bottle of local wine and open it Friday, May 22.
• Enjoy it with a nice meal – home-cooked or takeout from your favorite local restaurant.
• Post picture(s) of the wine or wines on social media using hashtag #openlocalwine.
• Raise a glass to the winemaker who made it.

Let’s put Missouri wine on the map! Use #openlocalwine, as well as #MOWines, when posting your bottle of Missouri wine on social media. Challenge your partner in wine to do the same. You can also tag the winery so that they can see who their top fans are.

Looking for a simple dessert recipe to amp up your dinner plans? This raspberry wine sorbet is sure to please. You can prepare this dish in advance using only five simple ingredients with your favorite Missouri white wine!

Prep Time: 15 minutes  |  Total time: 8 Hours  |  Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 cups Raspberries (Fresh or frozen)
• ⅓ cup Dry Vignoles (Dry white wine)
• ¾ cup Sugar
• ½ tsp Salt
• ½ tsp Almond extract

Directions

Place the raspberries in a food processor. If using frozen berries, they may need to be slightly defrosted first. Once the berries are pureed, add white wine, sugar, salt and almond extract to the mixture. Combine with the food processor until the ingredients are well mixed.   

Pour the liquid mixture into a freezer safe container with a lid. Place the container in the freezer overnight or until thoroughly chilled.

Be sure to tag us with your results on social media using #MoWines!

May 16 is Mimosa Day and what better way to celebrate than to add your favorite sparkling Missouri wine to one of these delicious recipes.

Blueberry Lemonade Mimosa

Blushing Mimosa

Cherry Bomb Mimosas

Dole Whip Mimosa

Guava Mint Mimosa

Lemon Sorbet Mimosa

Mango Mimosa

Mermaid Mimosa

Mimosa Coladas

Mimosa Sangria

Mimosa Smoothie

Paloma Mimosa

Pineapple Strawberry Mimosa

Pink Mimosa

Summer Crush Mimosas

Tequila Sunrise Mimosas

Watermelon Mimosa

We hope we’ve inspired you to grab a bottle (or bottles) of award-winning Missouri sparkling wine and whip up a fun, refreshing mimosa!

Canned wine – what once was a novel idea has become more mainstream and continues to grow in popularity among wine consumers. Several Missouri wineries now offer a select number of their wines in a convenient can. This smaller container is easier to transport than its glass counterpart and won’t break if it slips out of your hand. These smaller servings are great to mix and match.

*The following information was collected from wineries that responded to a survey and may not be a representation of all the canned wines available in the state.

KC Wineworks

KC Wineworks debuted their Show Me Sangria in August 2018. The winery’s white wine-based sangria features Missouri grapes with natural fruit juices and zero added sugar. The sangria is pasteurized and shelf-stable.

Les Bourgeois Vineyards

Les Bourgeois Vineyards cans two of their most popular wines, Riverboat Red and Riverboat White. Available for a limited time, the winery’s red wine features a tantalizing concord blend with aromas of raspberry and cherry, while their white wine has a bouquet of honeysuckle and hints of honeydew and lush tropical fruit. The winery has also started to offer their longtime favorite, Captain’s Coolers, in a can. Reminisce your favorite A-Frame memories at home with their Bonfire Berry or Citrus Cruise.

Pirtle Winery

Pirtle Winery offers a few favorites in a convenient 4-pack: Weston Bend White, a semi-dry blend that is light, fragrant and fruity; Weston Bend Rosé, a crisp and refreshing semi-dry favorite; and their bestseller, Mellow Red, a semi-sweet red blend that is soft and fruity. The winery plans to can their hard cider later this spring.

Shawnee Bluff Winery

Shawnee Bluff Winery offers two canned wines including their sweet rosé. A canned wine is the perfect addition to a lake view sunset or for an upbeat concert at their vineyard location.

St. James Winery

Photo courtesy of St. James Winery

St. James Winery recently added several canned wine options to their list. Included are sparkling versions of their internationally awarded 100% fruit wines. There are four flavors to choose from: Blackberry, Peach, Strawberry and Mango. Each one is sweet, effervescent and made with no added colors or flavors. Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase canned dry rosé when in the tasting room.

So, pop the top on canned wine from these wineries in the Show-Me State. You might just find a new favorite!

Who couldn’t use a little liquid joy these days? This colorful delight will brighten up your happy hour this week. Be sure to include these simple ingredients to your next online grocery order.

Serving size: Party of One

Ingredients:

2 oz Pineapple juice
2 oz Missouri white wine
2 oz Rum
Splash of lemon lime or club soda
Lime wedge - squeezed
Pineapple
Strawberries

Directions:

Combine equal parts pineapple juice, wine and rum in beverage shaker. We used Vidal Blanc but Vignoles would also be a great choice. If these two wines aren’t a staple in your wine rack, many Missouri wineries are offering fabulous shipping deals. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the mixture, add ice and shake out your frustrations. Pour the concoction into a glass, drop in whatever tropical fruit you have on hand and top off with a splash of Sprite. 

This is the perfect addition for your beach themed staycation!

Pro tip: You can use the juice from canned pineapple in a pinch.

It’s impossible for thank our mothers for everything they do for us, but Mother's Day is a great opportunity to show our gratitude. If your mom is a Missouri wine fan, here are some wonderful DIY gift ideas she’ll adore. After all, handmade gifts have a special place in a mother’s heart, right?

For the moms out there who love to sit outside and soak in the fresh air, make a set of wine bottle Tiki Torches.

This DIY wine rack is an easy project that is perfect for the Missouri wine loving mom!

For the more experienced crafters, this wine bottle table would be a welcome gift in any mother’s home.

Wine bottle wall mounted vases are perfect for the moms who are avid gardeners. They’re a beautiful way to display flowers.

If your mother is a big reader or maybe even a writer, she’ll love a handmade wine cork letter or symbol like this cool ampersand.  

Here’s to all the moms out there. Cheers!