Nine industry experts blind-tasted hundreds of Missouri wines at the 2015 Missouri Wine Competition, and according to them, these 12 wines rose to the top of the pack as the Best of Class. Head out to wine country or your local retailer and give these wines a taste before they’re gone!

Meet the rest of the 2015 Best of Class winners:

• Governor’s Cup (Best Overall): 2014 Vignoles, St. James Winery – St. James
• C.V. Riley Award (Best Norton): 2013 Savage Norton, Chandler Hill Vineyards – Defiance
• Sparkling: Brut Rosé, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Dry White: Dry Vignoles, Adam Puchta Winery – Hermann
• Semi-Dry White: 2014 Vignoles, St. James Winery – St. James
• Sweet White: 2013 Vignoles, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Dry Red: 2012 Chambourcin, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Semi-Dry Red: 2013 Steinberg Red, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Sweet Red: Stone House Red, Montelle Winery – Augusta
• Rosé: Dry Rosé, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Fruit Wine: Raspberry, Windy Wine Company – Osborn
• Dessert/Fortified: Cream Sherry, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Late Harvest/Icewine: 2013 Vidal Ice Wine, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Distilled Product: Cherry Brandy, Montelle Winery – Augusta

Football season is upon us. Cheering on your team, gathering with friends, and making memories; what could be better? Tailgating is a tried and true tradition for most football fans, and it is a great time… if you’re prepared. We’ve got some tips to help you stay at the top of your tailgating game this season.

1. Make a game plan early. Planning and preparing ahead of time means when it comes time for the actual tailgate you can relax and enjoy. Make a checklist of all your tailgating needs and pre-pack as much as you can. Some ideas: A tool box full of all your tailgate utensils (don’t forget the wine opener!); plastic totes or drawers packed with glasses or cups, plates, napkins, foil, bags, etc.; a mini first aid kit in a recycled pill bottle or mints tin.
2. Chill everything first. If you’re serving wine you prefer chilled, chill it in the refrigerator before you pack it in the cooler. It will keep your ice from having to work too hard and melting quicker. Also consider freezing bottles of water to use as ice. When they melt, you’ll have cold water to drink!
3. Keep your wine cool with frozen grapes. Drop a couple frozen grapes in your glass of wine to keep it cool on a hot game day without watering it down and changing the flavor.
4. Mix up personal sized sangria in mason jars. They are easy, cute and delicious! And you don’t have to worry about that big, awkward pitcher falling over on the way to the stadium.
5. Go for plastic or acrylic wine glasses to avoid breakage.Glass is beautiful and elegant, but the tailgate might not be the best place for your fancy wine glasses. Invest in an inexpensive set of wine ‘glasses’ made of a less shatter-prone material.
6. Keep bugs out of your vino with repurposed cupcake liners. An overturned cupcake liner fits nicely over most wine glasses or jars and keeps those pesky insects out of your delicious beverage.
7. Choose food friendly wines. If you’re not sure what foods will be served at the tailgate or other guests’ preferences, opt for wines that will go with a wine range of foods. A medium-bodied Chambourcin will pair well with most meats off the grill (burgers, brats, etc.). A semi-dry Vignoles will be great with other traditional tailgate foods such as nachos and hot wings. A nice rosé wine is also a good choice to match up with a variety of dishes. For more help pairing food and wine, check out this guide.

We hope these tailgate tips help you get the most out of football season!

Cooking with wine can add flavor and depth to your dishes. (Not to mention it gives you an excuse to open a bottle of wine and enjoy a glass while you’re cooking.) September is National Chicken Month as well as Missouri Wine Month; talk about a perfect pairing!

Wine is used in three primary ways when cooking… as a marinade ingredient, a cooking liquid (think simmer or braise), and flavoring in finished dishes (sauces, primarily). Some things to remember when cooking with wine:

• The golden rule of “Drink what you like” extends to cooking. Don’t cook with a wine you wouldn’t drink. Cooking a wine is going to intensify the flavors, and if you didn’t like it before, you certainly won’t after.
• Adding wine to a dish just before serving it can result in harsh flavors. Allow your wine to cook with the dish for at least a few minutes.
• If you’re using the wine in a marinade, acidity is key. Be sure to select a wine with a decent amount of acidity to get the benefit of tenderizing the meat as well as adding flavor and complexity.

Try out these recipes that show the simple, classic ways to use wine to transform and enhance chicken dishes:

• It’s grilling weather in Missouri and this recipe for Wine-Marinated Grilled Chicken is a must-try. Use a dry Missouri Vidal Blanc wine for the acidity and citrus flavors.
• Braise chicken in red wine (You read that correctly; white wine and white meat is not a hard and fast rule) with this Classic Chicken in Red Wine A Missouri Chambourcin is perfect! Once the dish is served, pair with the same Chambourcin you cooked with or shake it up with a Chambourcin rosé wine.
• Simmer chicken in white wine in this simple, one-pan Skillet Chicken A Missouri Chardonel is the ideal choice for this dish, both for cooking and sipping alongside the meal.
• This recipe for Chicken in a Creamy Parmesan and Sundried Tomato Sauce is a great example of adding wine as a flavor enhancer. Try it with your favorite dry Missouri white wine.

Chicken sometimes gets a bad reputation as boring or plain, but that’s just not true… if it’s prepared well. Chicken is a lean protein that offers mild flavor that can be used as a blank canvas for truly delicious culinary creations. Adding Missouri wine to the mix is a way to ensure a tasty meal. Try it out and enjoy!

Missouri wines are as unique as the people who make and enjoy them. They range from bone dry to decadently sweet and everything in between. You’ll find earthy, savory flavors in some and light, bright acidity in others. The broad variances are part of what make Missouri wines so great with food. There’s a Missouri wine to go with any and all of your favorite fare. Use this infographic as your guide when pairing food and wine. Happy Missouri Wine Month!

Halloween is just around the corner. If you haven’t figured out your costume yet and you love wine, these easy, DIY ideas are for you.

A Bunch of Grapes

Some balloons, felt and creativity is about all you need for this costume… and strong lungs. Get the instructions here.

Bacchus (Roman)/Dionysis (Greek)- God of Wine

A DIY toga out of a sheet is the classic last minute costume. Amp it up with fake grapes and leaves and accessorize with a wine goblet or empty wine bottle.

Wine Barrel

This is maybe a little more work than some other last-minute DIY costumes, but it’s a functioning wine barrel and will impress everyone. If you’re up for the challenge, get the instructions here.

A Wine Snob

Grab that blazer from the back of your closet, throw on an ascot (a scarf tied and tucked into your shirt works too) and an oversized glass of red wine and you are good to go!

Your Favorite Bottle of Wine

Print or recreate an oversized label from your favorite bottle of (Missouri) wine, attach it to the front of burgundy clothes and make a cork hat. Done and done!

Enjoy Hallowine. Cheers!

Missouri is home to 10 great wine trails, but with more than 125 wineries in the state, there are additional wine regions worth putting on your radar. Labor Day weekend is nearing, and we are featuring a few wine itineraries to help you plan your escape. So grab some friends, relax and get away to Missouri wine country!

The Metropolitan Triangle Tour

Many of Missouri’s 125+ wineries are in the backyard of the state’s major metropolitan areas. Start your journey on the east side of the state in St. Louis then travel southwest to Springfield and Branson and end up at the western border in Kansas City, Missouri. While making your way through this triangle of food, music, and city life, be sure to venture into the nearby wine countries of these metro areas. Click here for the full wine-tinerary.

The Great River Road Tour

Discover life on the Mississippi River through prominent historic sites and quaint Missouri wineries nestled along the river. Formed in 1938 from a network of roads and highways, the Great River Road allows travelers to follow the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana. One of the greatest sections of this river road is its path through the Show-Me state. Click here for the full wine-tinerary.

The Heart of Missouri Tour

Discover unique small towns and the hidden treasures they offer on this tour through the heart of Missouri. A journey through the area’s wine country is worth making. The Missouri River Wine Trail, featuring eight wineries and special events, passes through quaint Mid-Missouri towns across the state’s central section of the river. Many of Missouri’s greatest towns and historical sites are located along the route. Click here for the full wine-tinerary.

Whether you use these wine-tineraries or blaze your own trail, now is the time to explore Missouri wine country!

September is arguably the best month of the year in Missouri. The weather is great, there’s a ton to do, and last but definitely not least… it’s Missouri Wine Month! There’s certainly plenty to celebrate in Missouri wine country this September. Harvest has begun, festivals and special events abound, and there’s a whole new class of award-winning wines to taste.

According to a recent study, the local wine industry is on the rise in almost too many ways to count. The annual economic impact of wine and grapes on the state is $1.76 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a B. Whoa! The industry supports nearly 15,000 full-time jobs and produces 1.25 million gallons of wine every year. With 1,700 acres of grapes and 425 growers, harvest is a very exciting time in the vineyards of Missouri.

The 2015 Missouri Wine Competition winners were announced recently, and there are some truly spectacular wines in the lineup. You’ll definitely want to try these vintages before they’re gone!

Harvest festivals, grape stomps, wine releases, and special tastings and dinners… there are so many ways to enjoy Missouri wine this month, and we want to see your favorites! We will be giving away exclusive “Drink Local” t-shirts to two lucky winners every week in September. Entering is easy; just post a Missouri wine related photo on Instagram with the hashtag #MOWineMonth, and you will be entered to win!

Giveaway Details:

How to enter to win: (It’s super easy!)

• Follow Missouri Wines on Instagram @MissouriWine
• Post a Missouri wine related photo (glass of Missouri wine, yourself at a winery, cradling your favorite award-winning wine, etc.) with the hashtag #MOWineMonth in the caption no later than 5pm CST on September 29th, 2015.

Things to note:

One entry per Instagram account. Each account can only win once during the month-long giveaway. However, each week, the non-winning entries will be put back in the running for the next week’s drawing.

If your account is set to private, we won’t be able to see that you posted an entry. So, you’ll need to make your account public for the duration of the contest to be entered.

We will announce two winners on each of the following Wednesdays:

• September 9^th, 2015
• September 16^th, 2015
• September 23^rd, 2015
• September 30^th, 2015

Winners will be notified via private message on Instagram and tagged in a post announcing the winners on @MissouriWine’s Instagram account.

Shirts will be sent out within 30 days of the giveaway end date on September 30^th.  Available sizes are S, M, L, XL, 2XL.

Per Instagram rules, we must mention this is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm they are 21+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.

There’s nothing else quite like a getaway with your girlfriends. Whether it’s the side-cramp-inducing laughter, the overwhelming support or the everlasting memories made, we know time with your girlfriends is cherished. There is no better place to sit back and enjoy your favorite gals than Missouri wine country.

You can hit the trail, the wine trail that is, on one of Missouri’s ten wine trails. All different and wonderful in their own ways and offering everything from quaint town squares, to breathtaking views, to swanky city locales, to picturesque countryside. One of the wine trails even hosts an annual event honoring those female friendships that mean so much, Diva Weekend on the Route du Vin Wine Trail.

Often the journey is just as important as the destination. So why not make that part fun and exciting too? If you and your gal pals enjoy cycling, hop on a bike and explore the Katy Trail. There are many wonderful wineries along the way. Or take the train to wine country. Talk about a memorable way to travel! All aboard; next stop, wine country!

However you choose to get there, Missouri wine country has so much to offer. There are of course the award-winning wines to taste, winemakers to talk to, delicious food to pair with your new favorite wines and beautiful vineyards to see. Then on top of all that you’ll find shopping, from boutique to antique, near most wineries, and there’s no shortage of fascinating history in wine country.

There’s so much to do and see, you may need more than a day for your girlfriends’ getaway. So, where should you stay? There are several wineries that offer onsite accommodations. Or there’s always the exciting new trend of glamping (Yes, that means exactly what you think… glamorous camping!).

When planning your next adventure, look no further than Missouri. Wine country is calling; will you answer?

Vignoles is a very versatile grape, demonstrated by the fact that three different Best of Class categories at the recent Missouri Wine Competition were swept by Vignoles wines, claiming the honor of best dry white wine, semi-dry white wine and sweet white wine. This amount of variance in style and sweetness makes Vignoles a powerhouse of both flavor and pairing potential.

Dry Vignoles wines often retain the intense fruity aromas the grape is known for, but despite this fruitiness on the nose, they have a delightful dry, crisp flavor often with notes of pineapple and citrus fruits. Their vibrant acidity makes them delicious for summer sipping on the patio. Dry Vignoles wines pair perfectly with Swiss cheese and rich Mexican and Asian dishes that benefit nicely from the bright acidity. You’ve never met a better match for pineapple fried rice!

Semi-dry and semi-sweet Vignoles wines are full of fruit from start to finish. They maintain the pineapple, strawberry and citrus aromas expected from Vignoles and their slight sweetness carries the fruit forward flavors through to the end. Semi-dry and semi-sweet Vignoles wines are the perfect accompaniment to all your spicy food favorites such as Buffalo wings, Thai food, Indian favorites and Cajun recipes. Sweet cuts heat, and there’s just enough in Vignoles to make it the ideal pairing.

Sweet Vignoles wines share most of the same characteristics as the semi-sweet, but their residual sugar is higher, making them a great match for sweeter, fresh fruits like strawberries, apricots and peaches. Fruity desserts are also delicious paired with a sweet Vignoles.

August is Vignoles Month, and there’s certainly a lot to celebrate! Let us know what your favorite Vignoles pairing is on social media with the hashtag #VignolesMonth.

*BONUS*

Dessert Late Harvest Vignoles wines are not to be confused with sweet Vignoles wines. They definitely deserve their own category. They get their luscious, decadent sweetness and their name from how they are made. The grapes are allowed to ripen longer than others and harvested after they’ve developed extra sweetness. These wines are very full bodied and complex. You would be hard pressed to find a better match for rich desserts such as panna cotta, crème brûlée and cheesecake.

Harvest is a really big deal in wine country; and for good reason! It’s a year of hard work coming to fruition, and at the same time, it’s the beginning of another lengthy yet exciting journey from grape to glass (AKA the winemaking process). Grape harvests in Missouri generally begin in late August and continue through the middle of October. During this time, dedicated grape-growers spend long hours (candidate for understatement of the year) harvesting the fruit they’ve spent the last year nurturing so we can enjoy our favorite award-winning, delicious wines.

In Missouri, there are 1,700 acres of grapes, tended by 425 grape growers. In a recent study, we were ranked in the top ten grape producing states in the U.S. Yields can vary greatly from year to year and vineyard to vineyard. On average each acre yields three to four tons of grapes. In 2013 this led to the production of 1.25 million gallons of wine. Impressive, right?

If you’d like a more in depth look at harvest in Missouri wine country, watch this episode of Feast TV in which you can go on a day of harvesting Norton grapes with Stone Hill Winery’s vineyard manager, Nick Pehle.

Harvest is a lot of long hours and hard work for those in the vineyards of Missouri wine country, but it’s often been said that nothing worth doing is easy. We certainly think the fruits of their labor are well worth it. How about you?