A gift that is homemade is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind and appreciated by the recipient. Plus, it’s usually less pricey and can be a lot of fun! Here are a few ideas for homemade gifts for the Missouri wine fans on your holiday shopping lists.

A chalkboard table runner is a great gift for the host/hostess on your list. It’s perfect for the next dinner party or wine tasting they’re planning, and it pretty much guarantees you’ll get an invite.

[Photo + tutorial from smartschoolhouse.com]

For your foodie friends and family, turn a couple of empty wine bottles into classy and useful oil and vinegar holders. It’s a simple and quick craft, and you get to empty the bottles… win(e), win(e).

[Photo + tutorial from hometalk.com]

The fantasy fans on your list will go crazy for this Harry Potter themed wine cozy. Snuggle a bottle of your favorite Missouri wine in this Weasley sweater cozy and you’ve got a great gift! (A glass of wine is our patronus.)

[Photo + tutorial from popusgar.com]

A personalized wine cork shadow box is a wonderful gift for the sentimental folks on your list. A great way to cherish the good times is to write the date on the cork of a wine enjoyed on a special occasion or just a night of really great conversations. Making memories with Missouri wines!

[Photo + tutorial from sometimes-homemade.com]

Show your Show Me State pride this holiday season by creating a Missouri Made gift basket full of delicious, award-winning local wine, cheese and chocolate. Who wouldn’t want to get that gift?

Give the gift of your time and creativity with these DIY presents this holiday season. Cheers! 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means it’s time for pie and wine. We suggest using Missouri wine of course! A Thanksgiving meal just wouldn’t be complete without a cornucopia of pies to try. As you plan your Thanksgiving feast, keep in mind all of the delectable pies you can pair with Missouri wines. From pumpkin pie to apple pie, we’ve got you covered. Here is our list of Missouri wine pairing options for some of America’s favorite Thanksgiving pies.

Pumpkin Pie + Traminette

Sweet Potato Pie + Traminette

Pecan Pie + Vignoles

Apple Pie + Chardonel

Key Lime Pie + Vidal Blanc

Lemon Meringue Pie + Seyval Blanc

Blackberry Pie + Norton

Blueberry Pie + Norton

Cherry Pie + Chambourcin

Chocolate Crème Pie + Chambourcin

Peanut Butter Pie + Concord

We’re thankful Missouri wineries continue to put in the work it takes to make award-winning wines we can enjoy with others during this holiday season. What Missouri wines are you most thankful for? Share your Thanksgiving wine and pie experience with us on social media by using the hashtag #MOwineandpie.

Missouri is one of the best places to hunt white tailed deer, and many hunters will be harvesting a deer this year. When it comes to cooking venison, a Missouri Chambourcin makes an excellent marinade. Fruity, with notes of cherry and earthy flavors, Chambourcin has lower acidity, which leaves the meat tender. The marinade seasons the lean meat wonderfully, allowing it to remain moist without overpowering its delicious taste. This marinade works great for venison steaks, roasts, and tenderloins. The marinade instructions below were used for a deer tenderloin that was two to three pounds, but adjustments can be made to fit the cut of meat you’re planning to cook.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Missouri Chambourcin

• ½ cup of olive oil

• ½ small chopped onion

• 2 tbsp - Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tbsp - minced garlic

• 1 tbsp - honey mustard

• ½ tbsp - sugar

• ½ tbsp - salt

• ½ tbsp - pepper

• ½ tbsp - Montreal steak seasoning

• 1 deer tenderloin - about 2-3 pounds, trimmed if necessary

Directions

1. Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a bowl.

2. Place tenderloin in plastic bag or glass bowl and pour marinade over, turning tenderloin to coat well. Cover/seal and marinate in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours.

3. Prepare smoker with charcoal and apple wood chips. Place tenderloin on the grill. Pour the excess marinade in a water pan and place it below the tenderloin. Depending on thickness and your preference, smoke for 5 hours turning tenderloin once every hour. Venison is typically served rare to medium rare.

A glass of Missouri Chambourcin pairs perfectly with venison! Try serving mashed potatoes and green bean casserole with this finished venison dish.

This Chambourcin Cranberry Sauce, or Cham-berry Sauce if you’re in a hurry, is easy to make, stores well, and adds tangy flavor to a wide range of dishes. This recipe should definitely make it on to your Thanksgiving table, but it’s also great with pork, as a condiment on sandwiches, served over warm brie, or as simply as spread on your morning toast. Missouri Chambourcin, a dry red wine, really kicks up the flavor and complexity of this sauce. Give it a try today!

Recipe

Time: 30-40 minutes

Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• ½ cup water
• 1 bag (12oz) fresh cranberries
• 1 cup Missouri Chambourcin wine
• 1 medium navel orange 
• 2-3 (1/4 in thick) slices of fresh ginger [or ½ tsp ground]
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Directions:

Zest and juice the orange, reserve.

Add sugar and water to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir and heat until sugar is fully dissolved.

Rinse cranberries, add to pot and stir to coat in the sugar, water mixture.

Place lid over pot and increase heat to a gentle simmer until all cranberries have popped.

While simmering… Peel and slice the ginger (Crush with the flat of a knife or the back of a spoon just before adding to help release the flavors.)

November 12^th marks the 4^th Annual Wine Tourism Day! It’s a day intended to feature wineries and wine related events throughout North America, promote the concept of traveling to wine regions, and bring to light the economic impact of wine tourism. The idea of a Wine Tourism Day was approved by the wine industry at the 2012 Wine Tourism Conference. European Day of Wine Tourism is celebrated the same weekend on November 13, 2016. You can join in on the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #WineTourismDay.

Missouri wine country is proud to celebrate the work it has done over the past few years. The Show Me State wine industry boasts a $1.76 billion annual economic impact and is responsible for $220 million in wine-related tourism expenditures. Nearly 950,000 tourists visit Missouri wineries each year, but that number continues to grow. The increase of tourist visits can be accredited to the growing number of Missouri wineries, continued improvement in wine quality, and more opportunities for visitors to experience Missouri wine country. With ten wine trails and five American Viticultural Areas, there’s a lot to see, do, and taste in beautiful Missouri wine country!     

Missouri wineries are continually bringing home awards from national and international wine competitions. Take a look at our trophy case to discover which Missouri wines have won awards. Wine tasting tours and wine-related events are a great way to try new wines and experience Missouri wine culture. Take a vino adventure and travel to a Missouri winery. You’ll not only enjoy fine wine, but you can earn points for it too! The Missouri Winery Visitors’ Program (MVP) is designed to increase winery tourism by rewarding people for visiting Missouri wineries. For each visit, participants will receive points which are redeemable for various rewards on the MVP website. It’s free to participate, so sign up for an MVP account today at MissouriWineMVP.com!    

Sandwiches may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about wine pairings, but after this, they’ll probably rank a little higher. There are few dishes in the world that are more customizable than the sandwich. That could be why November 3^rd was named Sandwich Day. Use this guide to build your favorite sandwich and find the perfect Missouri wine to pair with it. 

Sandwiches aren’t just for lunch anymore. Enjoy a delicious sandwich and Missouri wine pairing, today! 

Pronounced sham-bor-san, this French-American hybrid grape is an excellent gateway to dry red wines. As the fall season kicks in, many wine-lovers turn to a glass of delicious red wine. Despite the fact that red wine may be enjoyed year round, there’s something comforting about a glass of red wine as temperatures begin to drop. That’s why the Missouri Wine and Grape Board has designated November as Chambourcin Month. Fruity, with notes of cherry, and earthy with soft tannins, this medium to full bodied wine is incredibly food friendly.  It compliments spices fall is known for such as nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove.

The 2016 harvest of Chambourcin is complete and winemakers are currently making this year’s vintage. Missouri wineries throughout the state will be celebrating this varietal by showcasing their Chambouricn wines and hosting special events. How will you celebrate?

November is the perfect time to visit a Missouri winery and give Chamborucin a taste. Share your experiences with us on social media by using the hashtags #Chambourcin and #MOwine.

Popular among Missouri winemakers, this versatile grape was developed by French biochemist Joannes Seyve to specifically withstand colder weather and be more resistant to disease. Seyve often used Seibel hybrids produced in the 1860s, but Chambourcin’s exact parentage is unknown.  It is thought to be a crossing of native North American vines with a Siebel hybrid. The medium-sized grapes are blue-black in color and generally produce large, loose clusters.

Missouri wines made with Chambourcin are collecting awards from competitions all over the nation. Check out our trophy case to find an award winning Chambourcin wine to try!    

Trick or treat!  Did you know some of your favorite Missouri wines pair well with Halloween candy?  Whether you’re planning a Halloween bash or simply want to enjoy a glass, we’ve got you covered.  Here’s our wine and Halloween candy pairing suggestions.

Candy Corn + Chardonel 

Dark Chocolate + Norton 

Mounds (or Almond Joy) + Vignoles 

Pumkin Kisses + Traminette 

Gummy Worms + Pink Catawba 

Peanut Butter Cups + Concord 

Pasta is a favorite on most dinner tables because it’s easy to make, inexpensive and there are limitless options and combinations. What could be better than a delicious bowl of pasta for supper? Pairing it perfectly with an award-winning Missouri wine, that’s what! Bonus… October 25^th is World Pasta Day and the ideal time to find out which pasta and Missouri wine combo is a match for you. 

Fall is finally here! The leaves are changing, the weather is getting cooler, and there are plenty of events to attend. Bring a friend, bring a family member, or come by yourself and experience all that these Fall events have to offer. Below is a list of events you should check out this Fall season. 

October Events

• Feast Taste & See: Go Fish – Oct. 21^st – Come taste and see the beauty and the flavor of local, Midwest-raised fish!  Paired with excellent wines, guests will enjoy fresh seafood and experience live demos from local chefs.

•  Annual Clinton Wine Stroll – Oct. 22^nd - Grab a glass and enjoy 4 hours of strolling, wine tasting, snacks, shopping and fun at the historic downtown Clinton Square.

November Events

• Citizen Jane Film Festival – Nov. 4^th – One of the only film festivals in the nation that highlights the work of female filmmakers returns to downtown Columbia for its ninth year.  Missouri Wines will be providing wine tastings at the opening night ceremony.

• Sip & Shop the Best of Missouri – Nov. 4^th & 5^th – At this upscale, holiday shopping experience guests will discover gifts of exceptional quality and distinctive style, all while sampling great Missouri wines!

• Guess The Grape – Nov. 5^th – Guests will test their taste buds in the tasting room by trying different varieties of wine and will be given raffle tickets for correctly guessing the subtle characteristics, varietal, and price level of each glass.  The event supports the Kansas City Free Eye Clinic, which provides eye care to the low-income and homeless.

• Taste of the Holidays – Nov. 5^th & 6^th – Celebrate the season along the Mississippi River Hills Wine Trail and enjoy holiday foods paired perfectly with featured wines.

• Sip N Soup – Nov. 5^th & 6^th – Savor the flavor of some delicious soup pairings with wine from your favorite Mid-Missouri wineries along the Missouri River Wine Trail.

• Holiday Fare Wine Trail – Nov. 19^th & 20^th – The Holiday Fare Wine Trail will open the holiday season with a celebration of food and wine pairings at Hermann-area wineries, featuring favorite holiday foods.

• Wine Diva Weekend – Nov. 19^th & 20^th – Journey down Ste. Genevieve’s Route du Vin wine trail and be treated to fine wine perfectly paired with a delicious “Diva Treat” at each of the six distinctive wineries within the scenic region.

In addition to these events, wineries throughout Missouri will be celebrating Harvest Season by hosting their own special events featuring live music, wine pairings, and more!  Visit Missouri Wines’ Go-Do page to view more upcoming events.