River bluffs, wooded valleys, and rows upon rows of vineyards. These are the breathtaking views you’ll find in Missouri wine country and there is no more beautiful time to see them than autumn when all the leaves are a bright array of yellows, oranges, and reds.

There are so many wonderful ways to take in the fall foliage in local wine country. You can immerse yourself by riding among the trees on the Katy Trail where you’ll find 18 wineries along the route. Or you can hop on a train and watch the season’s colors zoom past you on your way to wine country. Or simply hop in your car and set out for a day trip or weekend getaway. There are 130+ wineries to choose from when planning your vino adventure.

However you decide to arrive, a Missouri winery is the perfect place to soak in the season. Sit back on a patio or deck with a glass of award-winning wine in hand and take a moment to let the wonder of nature’s transitions wash over you.

See you in Missouri wine country where you’ll find a fall foliage feast for your eyes! 

Hosting a Halloween get-together at your crypt? Make sure you have the perfect refreshment for your favorite ghouls and goblins. The Witch’s Curse Wine Cocktail is a sangria that is easy to make. (The recipe only requires a few ingredients.) Put a spell on your guests with this delightful potion. 

The Witch’s Curse Wine Cocktail Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes
Chill time: 4 hours

Ingredients
• 1 bottle of Norton, a bold red wine*   
• 2 cups pomegranate juice
• ¼ cup Cointreau or orange liqueur
• 2 cups sparkling water
*You can adjust the sweetness level of the Sangria by choosing a sweet Missouri wine.

Directions:
• In a pitcher, combine the Norton, pomegranate juice and Cointreau or orange liqueur. Stir well.
• Chill the mixture in the fridge for 4 hours, preferably overnight. 
• Add sparkling water to the chilled mixture. Stir well.

You can dress up your wine glass rims with sugar and red food coloring. For an even creepier effect, mix corn syrup and red food coloring and drizzle some on the side of your glasses for a fake blood effect. To tone down the fear factor, add chopped fruit like oranges, lemon or pomegranate arils.

Serve the sangria chilled and watch it become a spine-tingling sensation! 

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:

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.

• 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.

• • 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

• 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 

• 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.

• 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.

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

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! 

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! 

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!

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

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

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! 

Extra! 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!

September 27^th 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. 

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 WineStein Trail is located in the northwest part of Missouri. Along the trail you will enjoy the beautiful scenery of small-town Missouri between each of the locations. Whether you’re following the trail on your own or attending an event, you’re sure to have a good time.
  • Wineries on the trail:
    • Backyard Vine & Wine
    • Black Silo Winery 
    • Grindstone Valley Winery 
    • Tipple Hill Winery 
• The Meramec River Wine Trail is nestled between the beauty of the Ozark Highlands and the picturesque waterways of the Meramec River. Visit the trail to sample the varying styles and history each area has cultivated.  
  • Wineries on the trail:
    • Belmont Vineyards & Winery
    • Eagles' Landing
    • Heinrichshaus Vineyard & Winery
    • Meramec Vineyards 
    • Peaceful Bend Vineyards (Reopening in an interim tasting room on September 30^th while rebuilding from a fire last fall.)
    • Red Moose Vineyard
    • St. James Winery
    • Three Squirrels Winery 

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 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.