The great outdoors are calling. When you head out for your next Missouri camping adventure, remember these tips for enjoying wine while communing with nature. 

• Ditch the bottle. If you’re really roughing it and don’t want the weight of wine bottles, transfer your wine to a re-sealable container like a beverage pouch. Some local wineries already sell wine in pouches. 
• Don’t forget the corkscrew. If you do bring wine in the bottle, don’t forget the corkscrew or go with a Missouri wine that has a twist-off closure. 
• Opt for silicone or plastic wine glasses. Avoid breakable, hard-to-pack wine glasses. 
• Mix up sangria concentrate before you leave. Build your sangria base (fruit, wine, liquor, juice) ahead of time and store in a sealed jar or bottle. Then just add soda or sparkling water to it as you go. Here’s one recipe to try, but the great thing about sangria is how customizable it is. 
• Turn wine corks into fire-starters. Natural cork soaked at least 24 hours in rubbing alcohol is great for getting those campfires going. Click here for instructions. 

We hope these tips and tricks help you enjoy some local vino on your next Missouri camping adventure! 

*Bonus* If you’re more into glamping, check out [these ideas]. 

June is Vidal Blanc Month because we can’t think of a better way to kick off summer than with a crisp, refreshing glass. It’s the perfect white wine for poolside sipping or backyard grilling!

Vidal Blanc, served chilled, is wonderful on a warm June day. It smells like a fresh summer garden and tastes like apple and citrus fruits. It pairs well with all your favorite summertime fare like seafood, chicken, fresh green salads, basil and melon.

Vidal Blanc is one of Missouri’s premier white wine grapes. The 110 acres of Vidal Blanc grapes account for 6.5 percent of the grapes grown in the “Show Me” State and contribute to the Missouri wine industry’s overall $1.76 billion economic impact on the state annually. Local winemakers favor Vidal Blanc for its hardiness as well as its versatility. 

Not only can this French-American hybrid grape stand up to the demanding weather of Missouri’s cold winters and hot, humid summers, it is also extremely versatile and is used to make a wide range of delicious, award-winning wines. You’ll find Vidal Blanc wines in styles ranging from crisp, dry white wines, to refreshing sparkling wines, to luscious late harvest dessert wines.

Missouri’s Vidal Blanc is the perfect way to splash into summer. With more than 130 wineries and 10 wine trails in Missouri wine country, what are you waiting for? Head out to a nearby winery and get a taste of Vidal Blanc this June!

Memorial Day is meant to be a day of remembrance and appreciation. Friends and family gather together on this long weekend to celebrate our freedom and say thank you to those who’ve made it possible for us to do so. Let’s raise a glass! 

Memorial Day also signifies the unofficial start of summer. Here are some suggestions for making your Memorial Day celebrations memorable… with Missouri wines, of course! 

Experiences: 
There are more than 130 wineries in this great state of ours and many of them are hosting special events for the weekend. A Missouri winery is a great place to spend this weekend. Fresh air, a glass of wine, a great view, and good company… it’s hard to ask for more. Grab your friends and family and head out to Missouri wine country! 

Pairings: 
Missourians have a clear fondness for grilling-out. Check out this great guide to help you pair your favorites from the grill with a glass of award-winning, local vino. 

Recipes: 
Sangria is one of the best things about summer. Try this red, white and blue sangria recipe or use this guide to build your own.

What Memorial Day menu would be complete without barbecue sauce? Try this recipe for Norton Wine Barbecue Sauce, or if you’re a fan of mustard-based barbecue sauces, check out this recipe made with Vidal Blanc. 

However and wherever you spend your Memorial Day weekend, bring Missouri wines along for the fun!

130+ Wineries making 1.25 million gallons of wine 
425+ Grape Growers tending 1,700 acres of grapes 
300+ Farmers’ s Markets supporting thousands of farmers 

Those are some impressive numbers, right? Supporting local industries has a huge impact that is more far reaching than most of us even realize. Did you know the Missouri wine industry supports nearly 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs? How about that it has a $1.76 billion impact on the state every year? 

Buying products from local purveyors supports people right here in your community. Whether you’re getting produce at one of Missouri’s awesome farmers’ markets, or picking up a couple bottles of wine from a Show Me State winery, every local product purchased makes a difference. 

Next time you’re shopping at your neighborhood retailer or dining at an area restaurant, look for local. If they aren’t selling or serving your favorite local wines, ask for them by name. Help us spread the word about the delicious, award-winning wines being crafted in your own backyard. 

Put your money where your mouth lives. Support local!

Grilling season is here, and pairing your favorite charbroiled delights is easy with this Grill-out Guide. Cheers to warmer weather, longer days and delicious food paired with the perfect award-winning wine!

On a sunny, warm day there is nothing better than sipping on a glass of chilled white wine. Take a vino adventure through the Show Me State to discover some amazing Missouri white wines. There’s an award-winning white for whatever mood you're in. If you want something fruity, Vignoles has you covered. If you’d prefer something crisp and refreshing, reach for Vidal Blanc. The list goes on, so let’s talk white wine!

Vignoles, AKA – A fruit bomb! Depending on the winery, you'll find Vignoles wines that run the entire gamut of sweetness from dry, to semi-sweet, to dessert wines. Be sure not to confuse fruitiness for sweetness though. Even the dry Vignoles wines out there have so much fruit flavor, everything from pineapple, to apricot, and the rest of the fruit bowl in between. If you haven’t tasted Vignoles wines, you’re missing out on a ripe, fresh, fruity vino experience. 

Vidal Blanc is so refreshing! Vidal Blanc is super versatile and refreshing. There are sparkling wines (Who doesn’t love a little fizz?) and still wines ranging in sweetness levels made from Vidal Blanc grapes. They all have one thing in common… they’re great on a warm day. Vidal is the ideal patio sipper.

Chardonel wine is a classic! There aren’t many foods you'll eat during the summer that don’t pair well with a glass of Missouri Chardonel. When it’s aged on oak, it has a really nice smoothness that goes well with grilled chicken or fish. Unoaked Chardonel is a great go-to for pesto or veggies from you local farmers’ market. It’s a classic for a reason.

Traminette is too unique not to love! Traveling around Missouri’s 130+ wineries, you'll come across some really great wines, but nothing quite as unique as Traminette. It smells like flowers. You read that right, fresh-picked flowers. How cool is that? If you haven’t tried a Traminette, search it out and give it a good sniff. It tastes great, but that aroma is too cool. If you're a curry fan, Traminette is a great pair. 

Seyval Blanc is harder to find, but so worth it! Wines made with the Seyval Blanc grape are a little fewer and far between, but the citrusy deliciousness in store is worth the hunt. When you see it, don’t pass up the chance to taste Seyval Blanc. 

Plan a vino adventure today and look for these local white wines at a Missouri winery. 

May is National Beef Month, and we’re ready to celebrate! Beef is delicious and versatile. What could make it better? Pairing it with Missouri wine, that’s what! 

One of our favorite ways to enjoy beef is with a Missouri wine reduction sauce. Try out this recipe for an easy and delectable sauce perfect for topping your favorite cut of beef. 

Match all your favorite beef dishes to local, award-winnings with this handy guide: 

And don’t forget that rules were meant to be broken. You can absolutely pair beef with white wine, click here to find out how. 

May is Teacher Appreciation Month, and we want to raise a glass to all the educators out there. You’ve spent the entire school year working tirelessly to impart wisdom and knowledge to your students. Thank you!

Now that the school year is coming to a close, take some time just for you. Treat yourself to rest, relaxation, and fun in Missouri wine country. We appreciate all you do and would be thrilled to help you unwin[e]d (See what we did there?) from the stress of the school year. 

Whether you hop on one of Missouri’s ten wine trails or blaze a trail of your own among the 125+ wineries, you’re in for a great time. Let the tables turn and enjoy learning a bit about Missouri wines at a tasting or tour. Find wine terms, Wine 101 videos and more in our wine library. Sip, savor, and repeat. That’s our kind of lesson plan! 

Cheers to all teachers out there!

College is tough. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and focus. So, when you’re finally graduating, it’s time to celebrate! These local, award-winning wineries are a stone’s throw from Missouri’s best-known college towns and are the perfect place to raise a glass to our “Show Me” State graduates! 

Graduates looking to celebrate near Missouri’s metro areas have lots of local winery options as well: St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield. 

Cheers to Missouri’s 2016 college graduates!