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 Sangria

• 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!  

Camping is a fantastic way to unplug and get back in touch with nature. Add a little Missouri wine into the mix, and you’re looking at some truly great rest and relaxation. As the weather cools and fall colors emerge, heading out to a calm and quiet retreat sounds more and more appealing. We want to help you get the most out of your next camping trip, so here are some tips and helpful information about camping in Show Me state wine country.

Wineries where you can camp onsite or nearby:

• 7C’s Winery is off the beaten path in Walnut Grove and offers onsite camping and RV parking. They do not have hook-ups, but can offer grills and other amenities along with several wines and meads to taste.
• Cave Hollow West Winery is located within the Mark Twain Cave Complex which has a full-service campground that’s open year-round.
• Baltimore Bend Vineyards is located directly across from the Baltimore Bend Conservation area which accommodates dry/primitive camping.
• Montserrat Vineyards is just a few miles from Knob Noster State Park where you can reserve basic, electric or family camping accommodations.
• Hermann City Park Campgrounds is a great location if you’d like to explore the town and many wineries of Hermann. It is not open year-round, however, so be sure to check for availability.
• Augusta is home to several wineries and the nearby Klondike Park. The park offers camp sites and is a favorite among travelers along the Katy Trail. 
• Hawn State Park is located in Ste. Genevieve County along with several wineries and offers a variety of campsites to choose from.  

Resources for more information and inspiration…

• Camping tips for wine lovers
• Glamping (AKA glamorous camping) sites and tips
• List of camping and RV sites across Missouri

Creating a comprehensive list of every campsite near every winery may not be possible, but we hope this helps you get started with planning your camping in Missouri wine country adventure!

Grape growing and winemaking is not easy, especially not in Missouri. And yet, despite its difficulty, there are 130+ wineries and 425 grape growers spread across the Show Me state. Ever wonder why? The answer is relatively simple. It’s because Missouri winemakers and grape-growers know that some things are worth the work.

Missouri has a long and storied history of winemaking, and in all those years, it’s never been an easy feat. Getting the local wine industry back on its feet after being decimated by Prohibition was no small task either, but through dedication, hard work and perseverance the Missouri wine industry began to thrive. Those early wineries that reopened after prohibition blazed a trail that has been followed by many others who are passionate about making quality wine and undeterred by a challenge.

Growing grapes is an arduous task in most climates, but Missouri’s hot, humid summers and frigid winters increase the difficulty. Local grape growers have discovered many ways to combat these challenges such as cultivating hybrid and native American varietals that are more cold-hardy and can withstand some of the pressures Missouri’s climate raises. Technology and working with researchers in the area also help area vintners produce high quality grapes year after year. There are 1,700 acres of grapes grown throughout Missouri wine country, because without quality grapes, you can’t make award-winning wines.

The hard work doesn’t stop after the grapes are harvested. Winemakers have a bevy of challenges to ensure they make the best wine possible. Missouri winemakers bring home awards from national and international competitions on a regular basis, and it’s not by accident. From state of the art machinery to hours of hard labor, winemakers put in the time to craft delicious wine. Each stage of the process is handled with care from crushing and fermenting to aging and filtering. Winemaking is a marriage of art and science that takes both passion and patience.

In the month of September, we celebrate all of the hard work and dedication of the Missouri wine industry. Raise a glass of locally crafted, nationally awarded wine for Missouri Wine Month, and you’ll know with the first sip why some things are worth the work! 

What you can win:

We will be giving away Missouri Wine MVP sunglasses while supplies last as part of our Missouri Wine Month celebration. Join in the fun by sharing your local wine photos!

How to enter:

1. Follow @MissouriWine on Instagram
2. Post a Missouri wine related photo on Instagram with the hashtag #MoWineMonth September 1- 30, 2017, while supplies last.

Things to note:

• One entry per Instagram account.
• 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 comment on applicable posts and send a direct message to winners about details for receiving their new shades!

If you have any questions, please email missouri.wine@mda.mo.gov.

Vignoles is a French-American hybrid grape that is quite versatile. Our recent wine competition is a great example of the wide variety of styles Vignoles can shine through. The Best of Class dry white wine, sweet white wine and late harvest wine winners were all made from Vignoles grapes. Whatever level of sweetness, wines made from Vignoles often share very fruity flavors, often tropical, and wonderfully fruity and floral aromas. This delightful varietal pairs incredibly well with summer favorites such as spicy foods, tangy salads, fruit and sweet treats.

Spicy Food:

Sweet cuts heat. Semi-sweet or sweet Vignoles wines are a perfect match for your fiery favorites such as Mexican and Asian food or even buffalo wings.

Tangy Salads:

The dressing on a salad is often the most prominent flavor, and a dry Vignoles wine with its acid and fruity flavors is a fantastic match for tangy salads.

Fresh or Grilled Fruit:

You’ve probably read the word fruit or fruity ten times by now so it will come as no surprise that Vignoles is a great match for fresh fruit. It also goes well with grilled fruits such as peaches and pineapple.

Sweet Treats:

There is little more decadent and delicious than Late Harvest Vignoles wine. Bursting with flavor, it is great as dessert by itself or paired with cheesecake, crème brulee or flan.

Discover all the different styles and sweetness levels of Vignoles and how they pair with your favorite foods. Cheers! 

Harvest is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication to cultivating grapes in demanding and often unpredictable conditions. It’s also a time full of excitement and expectation for the wines to come. Harvest is in a way a beginning and an end. It’s relief and excitement all in one. It’s exhausting and exhilarating for those that work in the many vineyards of Missouri wine country.

For many wineries, the excitement is too much not to be shared, and they do this with festivals, celebrations and ceremonies surrounding this bountiful season. It’s an opportunity to bring friends and family together and make memories as another year passes. Take a look inside what Harvest means to several winemakers from around the state. 

When the weather is nice, there’s nothing better than al fresco dining and a picnic is just the ticket. Whether you’re bringing a picnic to a local winery (Yes, many allow you to bring in food, but to be sure call ahead to confirm it’s allowed.), or looking for the perfect Missouri wine to pack in your picnic basket, we have some tips to help you get the most out of your next picnic.

1.Stick to Finger Foods

Finger foods are your friend when it comes to packing a delicious and well-rounded picnic. Consider these great options: veggies or fruit (maybe some dips too), cheeses, deli or hard meats (salami, etc.), pickles, olives, bread (or pita/crackers/chips), dried fruits, nuts, sandwiches, and the list goes on. Don’t forget dessert! There are countless delicious and easy to eat sweet treats to choose from.

2.Know Your Audience

Everyone has different tastes, and that can sometimes be a challenge to accommodate. If you don’t know your group’s tastes specifically, consider a range of dishes or snacks so everyone can have something. Example: A meatless option, a bread/grain-free option, and a dairy free option.

3.Pair the Perfect Wines

If you’re picnicking at a winery, the staff can be a great resource to help you and your fellow feasters select the ideal wines for your menu. If you’re looking for Missouri wines at your local retailer, check out this guide to match up your picnic fixins to local wines.

4.Pack a Picnic Toolbox

Key items that will make any picnic easier: plates, cups/non-breakable “glasses”, napkins/paper towels, trash bag, serving utensils, corkscrew, knife and cutting board. If you have all or most of these, you’ll be pretty well prepared for anything.

5.Cozy and Comfortable is Key

A washable blanket is likely the most important thing for creating a comfortable and welcoming picnic atmosphere, but consider throwing in a few pillows and bringing a speaker for music to make it extra cozy.

Follow these tips and you’ll be set for the perfect picnic with Missouri wines. Cheers! 

Wine country is closer than you think. Missouri is home to more than 130 wineries and 11 wine trails. There’s fascinating history, breathtaking views, and of course who can forget about the delicious, award-winning wine? Everyone can find something appealing about Missouri wine country. Here are some ideas to inspire your next vino adventure.

Like antiques? Northwest Missouri has 20+ wineries and a plethora of antique shops to explore. Towns such as Weston and Excelsior Springs have several wineries and some great boutiques and shops. In Excelsior Springs you’ll also find a little gem of a store called Willow Spring Mercantile, which boasts the largest selection of local wine from all over the state.

Love history? Hermann and Ste. Genevieve are must-see towns. Hermann is drenched in historic charm and German heritage. While there, you can tour the historic underground cellars at Stone Hill and Hermannhof Wineries as well as a number of museums and historical sites. There are several wineries in the area, each with their own unique and fascinating connection to the past and Missouri’s winemaking history. Ste. Genevieve is itself very historic as the oldest township in the state. There are wonderful relics of the French heritage the town was built upon as well as its evolution over the years. There are several wineries in the area, each with captivating stories to intrigue and entertain.

Looking for a world-class view? It’s hard to beat Augusta. There are good reasons it was named the first ever designated winemaking region in the U.S. (American Viticulture Area). You’ll find quaint small town charm and many wineries nestled on Highway 94, just southwest of St. Louis and breathtaking views of the Missouri River Valley, rows upon rows of vineyards, and picturesque farmland. Nearby in Defiance and Dutzow, you’ll discover even more award-winning wineries.

There are so many wonderful wineries in the Show Me state, and each has a unique and fabulous experience to offer you. Use these ideas as a jumping off point to plan your foray into the interesting, beautiful and delicious Missouri wine country. 

Vignoles is a popular white wine in Missouri. It’s super fruity and refreshing and pairs well with a long list of foods. Fresh fruit is a particularly good match for Vignoles. Fresh peaches are featured in this recipe for Peachy Vignoles Trifle, and it’s sure to be a huge hit at your next gathering. Vignoles wines are made in a wide range of sweetness levels but the most common is semi-sweet, which is what we used in this simple and quick treat.

Peachy Vignoles Trifle Recipe

Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 12-16 people

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups- Missouri Vignoles (semi-sweet, fruity white wine)

¼ cup- Granulated sugar

5 large- Peaches (Optional: 1 extra for garnish)

1 package- Instant French vanilla pudding

2 cups- Milk (amount may vary slightly depending on the pudding brand)

2 cups- Heavy whipping cream

4 tbsp- Powdered/confectioner sugar

2 tsp- Pure vanilla extract

1- Pound cake (Frozen is fine, but thaw it before preparing the trifle. Or make your own.)

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, bring wine and sugar to a low boil and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 10-12 minutes. Let cool when finished. While the wine is simmering, prepare your other layer components.
2. If you prefer your peaches skinless, wash them and cut a shallow X in the bottom. Submerge them in boiling water for one minute. Carefully remove them from the boiling water and put them directly into a bowl of ice water. Once they’ve cooled, the skins will slide right off.   If you don’t mind the skin on your peaches, skip this step and go right to removing the pit and chopping the fruit into bite size pieces.
3. In a large bowl, prepare the French vanilla pudding according to package instructions.
4. Cut pound cake into one inch cubes.
5. In a medium bowl, beat cream, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar until stiff peaks are formed. (Not sure what constitutes a stiff peak, check out this guide.)
6. Fold half of the whip cream into the pudding just until mixed.
7. When the Vignoles syrup is cool, stir it into the peaches.
8. Begin layering your trifle! Make a nice full layer of pound cake, top with peaches and half the juice/wine/syrup liquid. (This yumminess will soak into the pound cake and be amazing.) Add a layer of creamy pudding, then repeat: cake, fruit/juice, pudding. (Optional: At this point in the process, you can add thin slices of peach around the top of the dish for a lovely garnish.)
9. Spoon or pipe the remaining whip on top to finish it off.

This dessert is delicious immediately or can be made up to a day ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator.

Enjoy a heaping scoop with a glass of Missouri Vignoles. Cheers!