Succulent chicken with mushrooms, basked in Vignoles and a splash of cream. That sounds like the perfect dish for your next dinner!

Servings: 6

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4-5 strips of bacon/pancetta, chopped
• 8 chicken pieces on the bone, legs
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 cups mushrooms, halved
• 2/3 of a bottle of dry Missouri Vignoles
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Handful flat leaf chopped parsley

Instructions 

• Cook bacon or pancetta in a tablespoon of olive oil. Skip oil if bacon is too fatty. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Salt and pepper the chicken pieces and brown them in bacon fat over medium-high heat. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Cook chopped onion over low heat for 5-7 minutes, add garlic when the onion is tender and translucent and cook for an additional minute. Add cooked onion and garlic to the same plate as chicken and bacon.
• Place mushrooms into the pan and brown them for 3-5 minutes over medium-high heat. Return chicken, onion, garlic and bacon to the pan, pour Vignoles over the dish, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to low and simmer for 40 minutes.
• Add cream and simmer for 10 minutes longer. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

This recipe is sure to be delicious and impress your guests. Share it and your own wine recipes with us using #mowine!

Wanting an escape from home? Look no further because Branson, Missouri has several wineries worth visiting. Not to mention the dining, shopping and experiences are short to none. If you’re dreaming of an ideal weekend of adventures, rest assured your itinerary is already set for you! 

Branson Wineries: 

• Bear Creek Wine Company 

• Lindwedel Winery 

• St. James Winery – Branson 

• Ozark Hills Winery

Wineries Nearby: 

• 7C’s Winery 

• Tyler Ridge Vineyard Winery

Dining: 

• Lambert’s Cafe

• Downing Street Pour House 

• Mr. Gilberti’s Place 

• Catina Lardeo 

• Arnie’s Barn 

• Salt Grass Steak House 

*Many wineries also offer dining experiences

Shopping: 

• Dick’s 5 & 10
• Branson Landing
• Tanger Outlets
• Battlefield Mall
• Relics Antique Mall 

Lodging: 

• Hotels
• Camping

Experiences: 

• Wonders of Wildlife 

• Bass Pro Shops 

• Fantastic Caverns 

• Silver Dollar City 

• Branson Helicopter Tours 

• Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail 

• Copperhead Mountain Coaster

• Sight & Sound Theaters

• Dolly Parton’s Stampede 

• Titanic Museum 

Annual Events: 

• Branson Landing Winter Wonderlanding
• Branson Music Fest

Transportation: 

• Branson Transportation

Get ready for an unforgettable experience in Branson, Mo! Our interactive trip planner transforms exploring Missouri’s Wine Country into a seamless adventure. Discover more destinations here. Share your wine country journeys with us using #mowine.

Grape harvest is here! Which means that new vintages of your favorite Missouri Wines are on their way. Have you ever wondered about the harvesting process? What goes into it? Hand harvest vs machine harvest? Keep reading to dive into the full process and learn more!

Grape harvest happens between August and October. The exact timing depends on the grape variety, desired wine style, and vineyard conditions. Factors like grape color, sugar levels, and acidity also influence when a winery decides it is time to harvest! 

Veraison happened not too long ago. To learn more about this stage of the vine, click here!

There are a few more factors that go into deciding when the grapes are ready to be picked:

• Sugar content: Grapes are typically harvested when they reach a specific sugar concentration, measured in brix.
• Acidity: Depending on the type or style of wine, grapes may be harvested earlier with a higher acidity.
• Weather: Cool, dry days are ideal for harvesting, as with most crops.
• Varietal: Different grape varietals will be ready for harvest at different times.

While we have mechanical harvesters available, some wineries still use hand harvesting. Keep reading to find out why!

Hand harvesting is preferred for quality control. It is also used when geography makes it dangerous or not possible to use a mechanical harvester. For example, those vineyards that are on steep hills or in a valley. Mechanical harvesting is definitely faster, but is not suitable for all grape varietals, or wineries. Hand harvest uses different tools like clippers, pruning shears, and grape razor forks.

After harvest they sort the grapes and underripe grapes are removed. The grapes are then stored in bins, ready to be pressed!

Now that you know the entire harvesting process, get excited, your favorite Missouri Wines are in the works!

The Missouri State Fair is back, and this year we’re taking your taste buds on a wild ride! Forget the same old fair food routines – we’re pairing new must try foods with Missouri wines for an experience you won’t believe. 

Boki Food Service

• Curly chip potatoes + Sparkling
• Philly cheesesteak sandwiches + Chardonel 

Freund Family Foods 

• Cajun Cheese Curds + Vignoles
• Garlic Cheese Curds + Chardonel
• Fried green tomatoes + Dry Vignoles

J’s Firehouse BBQ

• Texas Twinkies + Vignoles

Missouri Pork Producers

• Pulled pork mac & cheese + Chambourcin
• Sloppy pig sandwich + Concord

Quality Food International 

• Jambalaya + Traminette

Talagios Pizza 

• Margherita + Vidal Blanc
• Hawaiian + Concord
• Chicken Alfredo + Chardonel
• Pepperoni + Norton

Uncle Kristi’s Doughnuts

• S’mores + Chambourcin
• Maple bacon + Chardonel
• Fruity Pebbles + Catawba 

Yoder’s Fried Pies

• Apple + Vidal Blanc Icewine
• Cherry + Norton
• Peach + Seyval Blanc
• Blackberry + Sparkling

So, come to the Missouri State Fair and get ready to indulge in some seriously fun food and wine pairings. Trust us, it’s a flavor adventure you won’t want to miss! If you try out some new and exciting pairings be sure to tag us in them using #mowine. 

This year the People’s Choice Award went to Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery for their Sweet Backroads White. You voted for it, now take a peek behind the label and learn the story of how it came to be!

Mike and Denise Riley discovered and bought the property in 2019 because they felt it was a hidden gem on the backroads of Ray County.  With its beautiful, wooded areas, an old homestead hidden on the back of the property, creek beds and Missouri Rock bluffs, they had found the perfect spot.

Fast forward to the beginnings of the winery a few years back, they headed to Augusta for a Grape Growers Field Day, and they were seeing all of these beautiful wineries outside of Augusta off the beaten path.  

Denise then mentioned to Mike that whenever they visit wineries, whether it’s Italy, Oregon or Missouri, the hidden gems are always off the beaten path and the back roads. To honor those hidden gems, they came up with the wine, named Sweet Backroads White.  The picture is a sketch of the old barn hidden on the property that was built in the 1800’s.

When Mike created Shamrock Hills Vineyard & Winery, he knew it was off the beaten path but that makes it even more special.  Together they built something they want people to come out and enjoy.  Not only award-winning wines but the ambience of the property, and the fellowship of others.  Offering plenty of food and live music Spring through Fall on the weekends, micro brews in addition to our wines and of course slushies, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy!

Plan a trip to Excelsior Springs and visit Shamrock Hills Winery & Vineyard today!