The Missouri wine industry has a rich history dating back to the early 1800's when German settlers began growing grapes and producing wine in Hermann. By the mid 1880's, wine consumers in America and Europe enjoyed 2 million gallons of Missouri wine each year. Prohibition dealt a fatal blow to the industry in 1919 which lasted for many years. Thanks to a couple of pioneering families in the 1960's and 1970's, the Missouri wine industry experienced a rebirth. Today, Show-Me wineries are thriving and continue to earn top awards in national and international competitions. We invite you to learn about the challenges the pioneers overcame to resurrect the local wine industry in this video featuring exclusive interviews with Jim and Betty Held and Pat Hofherr.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXrL9DgIyEc&feature

****UPDATE****

We want to thank all the talented people who submitted their poems into the Missouri Wines Poetry Challenge. Carl Kinsky won the challenge with his poem titled "A Sense of Place." We hope you enjoy his entry as much as we did.

A Sense of Place
by: Carl Kinsky

As every wine lover knows,
A wine's more than just its nose.

A wine's more than just its taste.
A wine's about a sense of place.

A barren vine, stark and still,
Set against an Ozark hill.

Green grape shoots on a prairie slope,
Without any worries, full of hope.

Ripening grapes, lazy, no hurry,
                                                                                         On a bluff above the hazy Missouri.

                                                                                             A hint of color in the tree leaves,
                                                                                            Harvest comes to Ste. Genevieve.

                                                                                            Now I've heard folks praise Zinfandel,
                                                                                             But I'd rather have my Chardonel.

                                                                                            So call me a Missouri Pollyanna,
                                                                                            But pass me a glass of the Cynthiana.

A great poet can do more than just put words on paper. Poets like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Robert Frost have a way of stirring emotions from deep within us. Poetry in books, canvas and songs (“Red Red Wine” by UB40 anyone?) has enchanted us since Shakepeare’s sonnets.  

World Poetry Day is Wednesday, March 21, 2018 and is a day set aside to celebrate our favorite poets and discover new ones. It is also a great time to try our own hand at poetry. Missouri Wines invites you to share your poetry about Missouri wine country with us. Tickle the keyboard or blow the dust off your journal and let the words flow. One lucky poet will receive a pair of tickets to the Farmers’ Table Wine Trail event in Hermann. This special event takes place on Saturday, April 7 and includes delectable wine and food pairings at seven wineries on the Hermann Wine Trail.

Submit your poem via this link by 11:59 p.m. CST on March 27, 2018. Winner will be notified on March 28, 2018.

We even tried our hand at a little poetry and, no, we won't quit our day jobs. 

Always Time For Missouri Wine 

While the horizon’s vivid hues change with the passing of time
Her beauty remains constant
Velvety soft meadows
Never ceasing valleys and peaks
Meandering trails and winding roads

While fog gently rolls in
Her beauty is shrouded 
Mist laces the vines and leaves with dewy droplets
Until the sun shines through
Lifting the veil of cloud from the vineyards

Thus the day finds me
Enjoying the beauty in a glass that comes with hard work and care
Greeted by a hearty handshake and a welcome smile somewhat debonair
And, although not until the end did this poem rhyme
There’s always time for Missouri wine

In honor of International Ask a Question Day (March 14), we wanted to take some time to answer questions we get asked frequently. Most of these questions come to us during events where we are sampling local wines or Missouri Wine 101 classes. Wine is a broad subject with a great deal of information, and Missouri wine has its own long list of facts, figures and details.

Q: Aren’t all Missouri wines sweet?

A: Nope. With more than 125 wineries across the state, Missouri wines are as varied and unique as the people who make them. There are sweet wines, dry wines and everything in between.

Q: Why doesn’t Missouri have Cabernet and Chardonnay?

A: Many varietals of wine you may be used to hearing about or seeing on retail shelves are what you call Vinifera (originally European varieties). Most Vinifera simply can’t handle Missouri’s growing conditions (weather, primarily). So, local vintners focus on native varietals and hybrids that are more hardy and can handle our cold winters and humid summers. Bring on the Norton and Chardonel!

Q: How long is wine good after I’ve opened it?

A: “It depends” is the short answer. A slightly longer and more complicated answer is… it depends on which wine it is. Whites will last 3-5 days after being opened, reds 5-7, and port-style desserts wines for up to a few weeks. More info on how to preserve open wine can be found here.

Q: What kind of Missouri wine should I pair with _________?

A: We have an entire section on our website that can help answer this question! Food and wine pairing is tons of fun and all about trying new things, but this interactive guide is a great place to start.

Q: Why is it called fruit wine when a wine isn’t made from grapes?

A: This question totally makes sense. After all, grapes are a fruit too, right? Yes. However, in the wine world, a wine made from grapes is referred to as wine (plain and simple), and a wine made from other fruits (cherries, blueberries, pineapple, apple, etc.) is called fruit wine. (Don’t look at us. We didn’t make the rules.)

We hope this short Q and A has cleared up some things for you. If you ever have Missouri wine questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out on social media. We’re on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and we are happy to be your resource for all things Missouri wine! 

Originally a religious feast day to honor Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved over the years into a day to celebrate all things Irish across the globe. Whether it’s festivals or special foods, St. Patrick’s Day revelry is a good time for all… unless you forget your green of course! Here is a fun and easy craft project you can do to join in the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Show your Irish spirit with this DIY Cork Shamrock.

Watch this video for a step-by-step, how-to guide:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhAg8ZY0pe4&feature=youtu

Supplies

• 47 used wine corks
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Green acrylic paint
• Paint brush

Instructions

• Plug in hot glue gun to warm up.
• Using this downloadable diagram, arrange your corks into the shamrock shape.
• Begin attaching the corks to each other one by one until you have connected them all in the shamrock shape.
• Once the glue has dried, remove any excess strings left behind from the hot glue.
• Paint the ends of the corks green and let dry.
• Display your festive wine cork shamrock!

Have a great St. Patrick’s Day. Sláinte! 

Mulled wine is a warm, flavorful beverage that can remove the chill from a cold winter’s day. Although there are many mulled wine recipes, here is a simple and delicious version that features Missouri Chambourcin and port-style dessert wine, guaranteed to tantalize your taste buds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivnCPDQiolg

Mulled Wine

Time: 25 to 30 minutes    l    Yield: 4 to 6 people

Ingredients
750 ml (1 bottle) - Missouri Chambourcin
1 cup - Missouri port-style dessert wine
⅓ cup - Brown sugar
½ cup - Mulling spices: cloves, nutmeg, star anise, ginger
1 - Orange

Garnish
1 - Orange
4 to 6 - Cinnamon sticks

Prep work:
Wrap spices in a cheese cloth. Tie with kitchen twine and set the sachet to the side. Slice 2 oranges.

Directions:
Pour the bottle of Missouri Chambourcin into a large pot. Add ⅓ cup brown sugar and 1 cup Missouri port-style wine. Heat on medium for 12 to 15 minutes. Add fresh orange slices and the sachet of spices then cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes. Do not boil. Ladle mulled wine into each glass. Optional: garnish your glass with a fresh orange slice and cinnamon stick. Serve warm and enjoy.

You can combine a variety of spices to create a mulled wine that is perfect for you. Check out this more traditional Missouri Wines' mulled wine recipe here. 

Winter is sometimes thought of as the off season in Missouri wine country, but that isn’t the case for these wineries. They all offer something special for the season and welcome you to come visit any time of the year. In addition to these seasonal specialties, more than 100 wineries across the state offer indoor, weather-proof seating. So, there is no reason to limit your Missouri wine country adventures to the summer and fall.

Head out to Missouri wine country and enjoy some mulled or seasonal wine next to a fireplace. Sounds like a great way to beat the winter blues, doesn’t it? Cheers!  

Many people think of winter as the off season at local wineries, but you’d be pleasantly surprised by the beauty and welcoming atmosphere of Missouri wine country during this chilly season. The views may be different, but that doesn’t make them any less wondrous – from snow covered vines, to a bluff top view of a crawling, ice-filled Missouri river. There are great things happening inside the winery this time of year as well – wines age and mature into the favorites you know and love all while friends and family gather by the fire and enjoy the slower pace that comes with the season. 

St. James Winery	Hemman Winery
Les Bourgeois Vineyards	KC Wineworks
Chaumette Winery	Riverwood Winery
Keltoi Vineyards	Stone Hill Winery

Cheers to a beautiful winter in Missouri wine country! 

The Show Me State loves Chinese food. And why wouldn’t we; it’s delicious! Missourians also love local wine, so here are some great pairing ideas. Match up these locally crafted wines with your favorite Chinese dishes for a delicious dinner! 

If you’re serving several different dishes, the best overall pairings for Chinese food tend to be Vignoles and Traminette. The fruity and floral notes combined with the slight sweetness are a great match for the flavors and spices in many Chinese dishes.

Cheers to Chinese food paired with Missouri wines!