DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

October 12, 2017

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

Fall is here and it’s time to celebrate! This set of three cork pumpkins is a fun and easy craft that will add some fall festivity to your home or office. Everything you need to know to create this adorable décor is below.  

What you’ll need:

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins - Supplies

43 Missouri wine corks (Natural cork works better than synthetic for this particular project.)

Orange acrylic paint (Painting is optional. If you prefer the natural cork look, that’s fine.)

Paint brush (Putting the paint on a paper plate and dabbing the end of the cork in it will work in a pinch if you don’t have a paint brush handy.)

Glue (Hot glue works well, but if you prefer, you can use another strong adhesive such as E6000.)

Green felt

Scissors

Craft knife or box cutter

Twine or festive fall ribbon

Instructions:

  • Paint the corks: Dilute about a quarter size amount of paint with a few drops of water and mix. Paint all but two of your corks. You can paint one or both ends of the corks depending on where you plan to display your pumpkins. If painting both sides you can do both at the same time by holding the middle of cork while painting and laying the painted corks down on their sides to dry.

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins - Painted Corks

  • Arrange the corks for your pumpkins. Now is also when you’ll want to plug in and prep your hot glue gun if that is your adhesive of choice.
    • Large Pumpkin: (from bottom to top) row of 4, row of 5, row of 6, row of 5, row of 4
      • For a more streamlined looking pumpkin, match the length of the corks in each row.

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

    • Medium Pumpkin: (from bottom to top) row of 3, row of 4, row of 3,
    • Small Pumpkin: (from bottom to top) row of 2, row of 3, row of 2

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins - Diagram

  • Assemble the body of your pumpkins. Glue the sides of the first row of corks together. Glue the next row of corks to their neighbors, both below and beside. Continue for all painted corks 

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

  • Create and attach the leaves. Print this template and cut out the leaves to use as your guide for cutting out the leaves for each pumpkin. Trace the cutouts on the felt or pin them to the felt with straight pins and cut out your leaves. Glue the leaves onto the top center of the corresponding pumpkins.

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

  • Make and attach the stems. Carefully cut off a third of one of the corks you left unpainted. Glue the longer piece on top of the leaves on the large pumpkin and the smaller piece on the small pumpkin. Cut the last remaining cork in half and glue one piece onto the center top of the medium pumpkin. You will have half of one cork leftover.
    • Tip: Hold the cork with a binder clip to avoid any slippage.

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

  • Add the finishing touch. Tie the ribbon or twine in a bow around the stem.

DIY Wine Cork Pumpkins

Wherever you plan to display your cork pumpkins will instantly feel more festive and ready for the fall. These also make a great gift. Cheers to crafting with Missouri wine! 

Don’t let your open wine go to waste!

October 10, 2017

Don’t let your open wine go to waste!

Don’t let your open wine go to waste!Some people may be hesitant to pop the cork on a new bottle of wine if they can’t finish it in one evening or setting. So once you’ve opened a bottle of wine, how do you preserve it? We’ve compiled a list of tools and tips to make your favorite vino last a little longer.

  1. Reseal the bottle. Oxygen is initially beneficial to wine when it’s in your glass but an unsealed bottle can become oxidized and spoil after an extended period. Replacing the cork with wine stoppers are often helpful to protect your leftover wine. There are thousands of fun decorative styles available in stores and winery gift shops.
  2. Remove the oxygen. An additional tool to protect your wine involves using a vacuum stopper and pump to remove oxygen from the bottle. Take things a step further by storing the wine upright to reduce surface area of the wine which limits oxygen exposure.
  3. Refrigeration. You may be aware that white wine should be refrigerated after opening, but it can also go a long way for reds. Storing partial bottles of wine in the fridge can slow down the spoiling process and extend the life even further. In most cases a sealed wine can be stored for several days in the refrigerator.
  4. Cook/Bake with it. If all else fails use the leftover wine for sauces or in your baked goods for additional flare.

Follow these easy tips to extend the life of your Missouri wines! 

Picking the Proper Glassware

October 05, 2017

When it comes time to pour a glass of wine, does it matter which vino vessel you choose? Yes and no. The glass and how you hold it can influence your wine tasting experience. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your favorite Missouri wines.

What is the proper way to hold a wine glass? A stemmed wine glass should be held towards the base of the stem between your thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Your middle finger should rest on the stem just above the base. Why? Holding the wine glass by the bowl transfers the heat from your hand to the glass and wine. Your wine will stay cooler longer if you hold the glass by the stem. 

Stem or stemless:  Stemless wine glasses have gained popularity over the years. Some wine consumers find this style easier to handle and less fragile. The trendy silicone wine glass, which tends to come without a stem, is virtually unbreakable. This popular glassware is flexible and perfect for wine enthusiasts who are on-the-go. However, whether glass or silicone, you are likely to transfer more of your body’s warmth to the wine if you use a stemless vessel.

Varietal Specific: Wine glasses come in many different styles and shapes and all serve a purpose: to bring out the best in the wines for which they were designed. A specially designed glass directs wine to key areas of the tongue and nose. Studies reveal that more than 70 percent of what we think of as taste actually comes from our sense of smell. If you can't properly smell the wine, you're missing out on a majority of the wine-tasting experience. A couple of trivia facts: Riedel, the famous glassware manufacturer, designed special glasses for Norton and Vignoles. 

Red wine glasses are usually a bit taller and have a larger bowl than white wine glasses. Bold red wines like Norton require a large bowl to allow all the aromas and flavors to emerge. This also gives you more room to smell the wine. 

White wine glasses have more of a U shaped bowl and are more upright than red wine glasses. The U shape allows the aromas from wines such as Vignoles to be released while maintaining a cooler temperature.

Sparkling wine is best served in a sparkling wine glass. The upright and narrow design retains the carbonation and captures the flavor in the beverage.

These wine glass tips will help you savor the delightful flavors in Missouri wines, but in the end, it comes down to personal preference. Stem or stemless, varietal specific or not, what truly matters is that you enjoy the experience. Cheers!

MO Wine- The Seasonal Shift

October 03, 2017

MO Wine- The Seasonal Shift Let’s set the scene… there is a chill in the air, the leaves are changing, and fall is upon us. The change in seasons is not only breathtaking (hello fall colors!), but for many of us there seems to be an internal shift as well. We’re ready for warm and savory comfort foods, wrapping up in a sweater and slowing things down a little. Often this season also sees a shift in wine preference as well. More red wines and rich flavors. If you’re feeling the seasonal shift, here are some ways to make a smooth and delicious transition.

Red Wines and Rich Flavors

The deliciously light and crisp white and rosé wines that were perfect for spring and summer may not cut it as fall arrives. If you’re looking for richer flavors try Chardonel, Chambourcin and Norton. Chardonel is a white wine that is full of flavor and can be creamy and rich when aged on oak. Chambourcin is an earthy and often jammy red wine that is very food friendly and great for sipping this season. Norton, Missouri’s official state grape, makes big and bold dry red wines. If you’re looking for something slightly sweeter, try Concord or look for semi-sweet red wine blends at local wineries.

Fall Favorite Pairings

MO Wine- The Seasonal Shift

The light fare of summer gives way to more hearty, warming dishes such as butternut squash, mushrooms, roasted chicken and pork. The list goes on and on, but one thing most fall favorites have in common is a heartiness as the temperatures cool. Use this guide to find the perfect pair for delicious seasonal dishes.

Seasonal Sangrias and Such

MO Wine- The Seasonal Shift

Who says you can’t love apple cider and wine? This Apple Cider Sangria recipe is easy, delicious and perfect for your fall get-togethers. Other seasonal favorites to seek out… pumpkin, apple and cranberry wines. Several wineries around the state make festive seasonal wines that are almost always small batches with limited availability. Some of the wineries that have offered specialty fall wines in the past are: 7Cs Winery, Endless Summer Winery, Hemman Winery, Meramec Vineyards, Riverwood Winery, Ste. Genevieve Winery, St, James Winery, Wenwood Farm Winery, and Windy Wine Co, but wineries across the state are releasing new wines all the time. Head out to Missouri wine country on the hunt for your new fall favorites!

 

Cheers to the seasonal shift and the Missouri wines that pair no matter the time of year! 

Exciting Announcement from MO Wine MVP

September 28, 2017

Exciting Announcement from MO Wine MVPExtra! Extra! Read all about it! You may or may not have heard the recent “breaking news” from Missouri Wines. Due to the popularity among its members, the Missouri Winery Visitors Program is being extended another full year! You now have until December 31, 2018 to earn points. Points can be redeemed for exciting rewards until March 1, 2019. There is an added bonus for current members, on January 1, 2018 the point value for all visits will count as a first time visit again. This means you’ll earn 500 points even if you’ve already collected a ticket from that winery. Point totals acquired before January 1, 2018, will not change or be reset with the extension of the program.

The first year saw many great milestones for the program; almost 32,000 winery visits by nearly 4,000 participants more than 100 participating wineries. We are proud to offer 25+ rewards in addition to the rotating quarterly sweepstakes opportunity. 

For those of you who are new to the program, there is no cost to participate. Simply collect your ticket at participating wineries and enter the codes at our website MissouriWineMVP.com. Once you start earning points you can redeem them for many exciting rewards and experiences in Missouri wine country. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to see which rewards go on special and learn about new sweepstakes offers as they are released. Stay tuned as we begin to plan the MVP Extravaganza event. More details will be available online soon.

Be sure to check our calendar for exciting harvest and Missouri Wine Month celebrations across the state!

Tourism Tools for Exploring MO Wine Country

September 26, 2017

Tourism Tools for Exploring MO Wine Country September 27th is Tourism Day, but we think every day is a good day to explore Missouri wine country. However, with more than 130 wineries and 12 wine trails scattered all over the state, how are you supposed to figure out where to go and when? We know it can be daunting, so we have several tools to make planning your next vino adventure easier.

Interactive Winery Maps

On the wineries section of our website, we have an interactive map search that can be used in two different ways, by distance or keyword. If you want to plan your trip based on location, select Distance. From there enter the zip code and how far away from that zip code you’re interested in going and Submit. The map will show you all of the wineries in that area. You can see details about the winery by clicking on the map dots or select Show List View if you prefer to evaluate the results in a list format. The keyword search works very similarly except that the map shows the wineries that match the keywords you entered. You can take your search even further by using the Refine by Amenities option. If you’d like wineries that offer tours or food or are pet friendly, you can narrow the results using this tool. If you prefer to use a physical map, we have that too and can send you one when you use the Request a Winery Guide form.

Wine Trails Map and Info

There are now 12 wine trails across the state, each offering a unique experience. You can see where they lie on the map, a description of what they’re all about, and a list of member wineries on the wine trail section of our site. You’ll also find links to the wine trails’ websites for specific event and promotion details.

Pre-planned Wine-tineraries

On the Travel section of our site, we have several downloadable trip ideas ranging from wineries and attractions along Route 66, to a triangle tour of Missouri’s metro areas and nearby wineries. These can be adjusted or used as a ready-to-go getaway guide. You’ll also find travel and tourism related blog posts on this page to help inspire your next Missouri wine adventure.

Go, Do Calendar

One of the best things about having such a varied group of wineries in the state are all the unique and exciting events they host. Check out this calendar for event listings at area wineries or where Missouri wines will be featured. You’ll find everything from DIY craft nights, to yoga in the vineyards, to wine festivals.

We hope these tools help you plan your next trip to explore Missouri wine country, and don’t forget you can earn rewards just for visiting participating wineries as an MVP. Click here for more info about the rewards program. 

Discover New Wineries and Trails in Missouri Wine Country

September 21, 2017

Discover New Wineries and Trails in Missouri Wine Country

Prior to Prohibition, Hermann alone was home to more than 60 wineries. While it took several decades to recover, Missouri wine country is back in full force and continues to grow and evolve. There are more than 130 wineries to discover across the Show Me state, six of which are new. One great way to explore Missouri wine country is through wine trails, a grouping of wineries that have come together to offer a unique and exciting local wine experience. There are now 12 wine trails in the state, two of which are brand new. Whether you’re new to the Missouri wine scene or a loyal Missouri wine enthusiast, there is always something new and interesting to discover at area wineries.

New Missouri Wineries

  • Backyard Vine & Wine is located in the Northwest corner of Missouri just outside of Maryville and offers a variety of wines. Their varietal wines are produced from grapes grown on the property and range from sweet to dry. Guests may enjoy their wines outdoors with beautiful country views or in the tasting room built from wood sourced on the property.
  • Dale Hollow Winery is a family-owned and operated winery located in Stover. The winery’s vision began with two brothers, Asher and Jesse. The 12 acres of vineyards overlooked by the winery include eight red and white varietals. They believe good wine starts with quality grapes, and their mission is to achieve this through hard work.
  • Four Horses and a Dog Vineyard & Winery is a small winery in Excelsior Springs. They grow Chancellor, Chambourcin, Noiret, Crimson Cabernet and Vignoles grapes from which they produce award-winning wines ranging in sweetness and style. Their indoor tasting room opened in April, but they prefer to focus more on outdoor "with the vines" tastings. 
  • Hummingbird Vineyard and Winery in Mexico is a small and self-proclaimed “just-finding-its-way” winery determined to grow and use only Missouri grapes. The winery is located in the country down a quiet gravel road where you can relax and enjoy nature while sitting in the shade or sun, enjoying a glass of local wine. 
  • Lake Creek Winery is a beautiful place with picturesque views, patios, gardens and a fully restored farmhouse.  The winery offers Missouri wines with attention given to producing wines that stand the test of time and pay homage to the region and the owners’ German heritage.
  • Lewsi Winery isn’t exactly new, but rather has been reimagined in a new location. Lewsi Winery moved across the state from southwest to southeast and is now a small mom and pop operation located in historic downtown Sainte Genevieve. Their wine is hand crafted in small batches to ensure the highest quality, satisfying pallets from dry to semi-sweet. The winery includes an adjoining store of upcycled items “for the love of wine” which is called Lewsi Re_Wined.

New Missouri Wine Trails:

The history of Missouri wine country gives the local wine industry a strong and fascinating foundation, but our future is motivated by the passionate and hardworking wineries in the state. Head out to wine country and discover why Missouri wine is worth the work. 

Harvest in Missouri Wine Country

September 18, 2017

Harvest is a crucial time for winemakers in Missouri. The grapes they hand pick or machine harvest are the result of a year's worth of hard work and have the potential to make amazing wine. In this video, three Missouri winemakers share with us the excitement and challenges they experience during harvest time.

 

 

Lake Creek Winery

Lake Creek Winery is a beautiful place with picturesque views, patios, gardens and a fully restored farmhouse.  The winery borrows its name from the original region, settled by Germans, called Lake Creek. During these early years the region was recognized for its grape growing attributes offering similar climate and soils to those found in wine growing regions in Germany. Today Lake Creek Winery offers the very best in Missouri wines with attention given to producing wines that stand the test of time and pay homage to the region and the brother’s German heritage.

Contact

Signature Sangria – 3 Ways: Red, White & Rosé

September 14, 2017

Signature Sangria - 3 Ways Sangria is thought to have gotten its name originally from the Spanish word sangre meaning blood because of its color.  The most traditional recipes call for red wine, fruit, juice and brandy, but Sangria has become one of the most versatile and varied beverages out there. The customization is pretty much limitless and it’s hard to come up with a combo that doesn’t work for someone’s tastes. Despite all of the potential variations, we have some tips and tricks to make delicious sangria every time.

Red Wine Based Sangria

Whether you’re making sangria with Norton, Chambourcin, Concord or an award-winning Missouri red wine blend, here are some tips to keep in mind.

  • Sweetness: You’re looking for balance here. If the wine you’re using is sweet on its own, you won’t want to add a lot of additional sweetness. Consider adding more tart or neutral flavors. If your base wine is dry, you may want to add some sweetness.Add sweetness: fruit juice, lemon-lime soda, sweet liqueurs, etc.
    • Maintain or lessen sweetness: club soda, tart juice (cherry, pomegranate), dry sodas
    •  
  • Fruit: Fruit is a great addition to any sangria, and you can even read the wine label for a little help selecting your fruits. Many wines have tasting notes and if there are fruit flavors listed such as berry, cherry or the like, those are great ideas for your sangria. Apples and citrus fruits such as oranges and lemons are a great go-to as well.
  • Fortification: Many sangrias are fortified with a liqueur of some kind. When red wine is your base, brandy is a great choice for this. It’s traditional for a reason.

White Wine Based Sangria

Sangrias made with a base of white wine tend to have a more delicate flavor profile. Because of this they are able to allow for really fun and unique combinations. Some examples: Sweet Tea Sangria, Apple Cider Sangria, Tropical SangriaSignature Sangria – 3 Ways: Red, White & Rosé

  • Sweetness: This is similar to red wine in that you decide how much sweetness to add in consideration to how sweet the base wine is to start with.
    • Add sweetness: Juice or nectars, apple cider, ginger beer, clear or fruity sodas
    • Maintain or lessen sweetness: seltzer, tonic water, dry sodas, fruit flavored waters
  • Fruit: Whatever works best with the flavors of the wine or the most prominently flavored addition (cider, etc.) is the fruit you should use. Could be anything from tropical fruit, to peaches, to apples and in between.
  • Fortification: This is quite flexible. Fruity brandies still work well, but flavored vodkas and rums work as well.

Rosé Wine Based Sangria

Rosé wine is often light and refreshing and that’s what works best with the sangrias made from them.

  • Sweetness: Many rosés are sweet, but there is a growing number of dry rosé wines around Missouri wine country. Again, you’re looking for balance.
    • Add sweetness: light soda, lemonade, light juices
    • Maintain or lessen sweetness: sparkling water, dry soda, tonic water
  • Fruit: Think light and refreshing- Strawberries, raspberries, lemons, etc.
  • Fortification: Rosé based sangria’s may not need any added fortification if you’re wanting to keep them nice and light.

Additional tips:

  • Fruit wines are a delicious addition to most sangria recipes.
  • Bubbles are your best friend. Carbonation in either the form of sparkling wine, soda, seltzer, etc. can be a great addition to most sangria recipes.
  • Patience is a virtue. Excluding the bubbly ingredients, most sangrias will benefit from mixing the ingredients ahead of time and allowing them time to meld for at least a couple of hours.

Cheers to your next sangria adventure with your favorite Missouri wines!  

Get Our Newsletter

Our bimonthly newsletter contains exciting information on upcoming events in wine country, tasty recipes to recreate at home and even occasional giveaways.

CAPTCHA

Request A Winery Guide

Use our guide to plan your next adventure in wine country. It contains a listing of Missouri wineries, map and key information to expand your wine knowledge.

I would like to receive your newsletter and other promotions
CAPTCHA