It’s spring, you know what that means… new life! And that is exactly what is happening in the vineyards of Missouri wine country with “bud break”. Bud break is the start of the annual growing cycle for grape vines. It is quite an exciting time because it’s really the first sign of life in the vineyards.

So, what exactly is bud break? It’s pretty much what you might imagine from its name. Tiny buds on the vine start to swell and eventually shoots begin to grow from the buds, breaking through if you will. Buds are the small part of the vine that rest between the vine's stem and the petiole (leaf stem). From these buds will come all of the new cycle’s growth, and finally its bounty.

Like most plants varieties, every grape varietal has its own appearance during bud break, ranging from fairly plain to downright ornamental. Bud break on a Norton (the state grape of Missouri) vine is pictured.

It’s an exciting and beautiful time to get out to Missouri wine country. If you’re interested in seeing bud break in action, contact a local winery. Some offer vineyard tours, but hurry because this phase won’t last long before we’re off to the next.

Yes, traditionally Easter baskets and the sweet treats they contain are for youngsters, but just because you’re a grownup now, doesn’t mean you can’t have an holiday treat of your own. Whether there is a piece or two leftover from assembling your little ones’ baskets or indulging in a reward just for you, try pairing these Easter candy favorites with Missouri wine.

•  Chocolate Easter Bunnies of all shapes, sizes and flavors have a Missouri wine that pairs perfectly!

White Chocolate + Sweet Sparkling Wine

Dark Chocolate + Norton

Milk Chocolate + Your favorite Missouri fruit wine (We recommend Raspberry or Cherry.)

•  Cadbury Crème Eggs + Blackberry Wine
• Peanut Butter and Chocolate Eggs + Concord (think adult PB&J)
•  Jelly Beans + Catawba
•  3 Musketeers + Chambourcin
•  Marshmallow Peeps + Late Harvest Wine
•  Starburst + Vidal Blanc

Missouri wine pairs well with a sweet Easter treat!

Many Missouri wineries make quality, award-winning fruit wines, and they're not just great for sipping. Try using them to shake up the traditional cocktail or take your baked goods to the next level. Does the term "fruit wine" have you a little confused? Fruit wine covers pretty much any wine made with fruit other than grapes.

Missouri has more than 125+ wineries and many of them have grouped together in their areas to form ten wine trails. Pre-made wine adventures… yes, please!

The Hermann Wine Trail   
This trail is known for thematic events where each winery on the trail features a different Missouri wine and food pairing, such as the Berries and BBQ Trail and Bacon Trail. 

Route du Vin
Located in the Ste. Genevieve area, this trail has a French influence and hosts events like progressive dinners and Jour de la Terre. 

Northwest Missouri Wine Trail
The area north of Kansas City has a trail consists of eight wineries and winds through some charming towns with a lot to offer whether you’re a wine lover or just have a case of wanderlust.
Photo credit: Brian Morrow

Missouri River Wine Trail
Running though the middle of the Show-Me State, this trail offers amazing views of the Missouri River and wines as unique as the people who make them.

Kansas City Wine Trail
The wineries on this trail are all within a short drive (or right in the middle) of Kansas City. Wine country really is closer than you think!

Missouri Weinstrasse
The Weinstrasse is located in the middle of the first area ever designated as an official American Viticulture Area, Augusta, Mo. Taste the wines and you’ll know why it came first!

Ozark Mountain Wine Trail
Situated in southwest Missouri, this trail winds through picturesque terrain from Joplin to Seymore. Looking for a break from the hustle and bustle, look no further. 

Mississippi River Hills Wine Trail
The family-owned wineries along this trial invite you to sample the many varieties the region has to offer while you enjoy the beautiful river hills countryside. 

Aux Arcs Wine Road
The Aux Arcs Wine Road takes its name from the original French name given to the region, known today as the Ozarks. Winemaking tradition goes back a long way in Missouri. 

The Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail [link: www.lakeoftheozarkswinetrail.com]
The Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail offers scenic beauty paired with fine wine and gourmet food to make for a memorable experience regardless of the season. 

Missouri boasts more than 125 wineries in the state and 29 of them are in the backyard of the state’s major metropolitan areas. So, next time you find yourself in St. Louis or Kansas City, take a quick trip to wine country. (All wineries listed are within a 45 mile radius of the city centers.)

1. Little Hills Winery & Restaurant – St. Charles

  via 26 Wineries To Visit While In St. Louis Or Kansas City.

Winter, with its freezing temperatures, snow and ice, can be a challenge to get through. Port-style wine is a welcome refuge from the cold. During this time of year, a medium to full-bodied port-style wine is easily enjoyed next to a crackling fireplace or while curled up under a warm blanket.

Port has been around for more than three hundred years. It gets its name from its place of origin in Porto, Portugal. While the British were at war with France in the 17th and 18th centuries, they looked to Portugal to fill their wine needs. Exporters added brandy to the delicate Portuguese wine to prevent it from spoiling on the lengthy journey to England. They soon discovered that the brandy made the wine sweeter and gave it a fuller body. A 2005 wine trade agreement between the US and the European Union stated that American wines could no longer use the name port on new wine labels. Existing brands were allowed to continue use of the name under a grandfather clause.

To make port-style wine, brandy is added to fermenting wine. The high alcohol content of the brandy ends the fermentation process early, and some of the natural sugar from the grape juice is retained. Ruby, tawny and vintage are the three main types of port wine. Ruby port is enjoyed younger. OOVVDA Winery makes a Chambourcin Ruby Dessert Wine in this traditional style with no oak. In contrast, some tawny ports are left to mature in oak barrels for several years. Mount Pleasant Winery produces an award-winning Tawny Port with notes of butterscotch, peaches and praline pecans. When talking about port, the title of "vintage" doesn’t just refer to the year of the grape harvest. Rather, it means a style that is a blend of the best grapes from a single year.  After about two years of barrel-aging, it is bottled quickly without being filtered. Augusta, Chaumette and Adam Puchta wineries are among the producers of award-winning vintage-style Missouri ports.

St. James, Montelle, Jowler Creek and Les Bourgeois are a few of the Missouri wineries that use Norton grapes for their port-style wines. This is why the flavors of red and black fruits, vanilla and chocolate are common. Sipping port by itself is a treat, but it is also delicious with high-quality Missouri chocolates. The strong-brewed coffee in the batter of double chocolate bundt cake makes it a dessert that is bold enough to match with port. Dark chocolate flan provides a bittersweet balance to luscious port. Salty, nutty cheeses like Stilton, Montgomery cheddar, Gouda and Gruyere also love the richness of Missouri port-style wines such as those from Pirtle and Stone Hill wineries. Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery, Oak Glenn Winery and Fence Stile Vineyards & Winery are three Missouri producers of white port.  The wine's aromas of fruit and honey pair well with spiced almonds or apple slices as a snack before dinner. Try it drizzled over cheesecake for decadent dessert.

With an award-winning Missouri port in your glass, winter doesn't seem so bad.

Missouri port pairs well with winter!

The temperatures are finally rising after what seemed like a never-ending winter. As the bright colors of Spring begin to emerge and the light breeze wafts the smell of new growth past, you know it’s about that time… time to once again enjoy the outdoors. Is your patio, deck or porch ready for the new season? Here are some great DIY ways to take your outdoor entertaining to the next level:

Pallet Wine Rack – Repurposing wooden pallets is all the rage. Why not join in the fun with this useful and outdoor friendly wine rack. (Source: Virginia Sweet Pea)

Recycled Wine Bottle Bird Feeders – Prep your patio for ultimate bird-watching enjoyment with these beautiful and eco friendly bird buffets. (Source: The Garden Roof Co-op)

Mountable Wine Bottle Torches – The days may be getting longer, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had after dark, especially when you have these awesome wine bottle torches to light the way. (Source: Design Sponge)

Wine Barrel Ice Chest- This DIY project isn’t as difficult as it sounds. The hardest thing may be getting your hands on a wine barrel. It’s totally worth it though, because not only will it keep your beverages cold as the temperatures begin to rise, but it also serves as a great conversation piece for those backyard get-togethers. (Source: BobVila.com)

Wine Bottle Candle Covers – There is just something wonderful and whimsical about candlelight. Keep your candles lit outside with these candle covers made out of recycled wine bottles. (Source: Invite & Delight)

Outdoor Wine Glass Holders – Ever feel like you could really use a third hand. This super simple DIY project will provide just that while you enjoy spending some time with Mother Nature. (Source: Catch My Party)

Missouri wine pairs well with DIY projects and getting back outside!

Pi Day appeals to mathematicians and foodies in equal measure. The ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter is deliciously honored each year with appetizing pies.

People are fascinated by Pi, also known by the Greek symbol π, because it has no limits or patterns. Pi is often shown as 3.14159, but it has been calculated out to more than one trillion digits past the decimal point. Pi is commonly used in geometry formulas for finding the area of a circle or the volume of a cylinder.  The first large-scale Pi Day celebration was held in 1988 in San Francisco. Congress officially recognized Pi Day 21 years later in 2009. It is celebrated each year on March 14 in honor of Pi's first three numbers.

The possibilities are nearly as endless as Pi itself when it comes to pairing pies with Missouri wines. For a main course, chicken pot pie is a comforting dish that pairs well with Chardonel. This dry, full-bodied white wine is also a match with scrumptious lobster shepherd's pie. Cajun-style meat pies are a fried, handheld snack filled with seasoned ground beef, onions and chilies. Try this Louisiana original with the spicy, berry flavors of Norton, or tame the heat with a semi-sweet Traminette. Who could forget one of the most popular circular foods? Pizza pie! Pair wine with pizza by matching the sauce to a Missouri wine.

Ready to explore pie's sweeter side? Classic apple pie strikes a tasty balance with the natural acidity of Traminette. It's also nice with a mature port-style wine. The sugary-tart perfection of key lime pie is delightful with the sweet, citrus flavors in Vignoles. Fresh fruit cobblers embrace the earthy, cherry aromas of Chambourcin. A glass of Concord wine and a slice of grape pie is a double dose of jammy goodness.

It's easy as pie to enjoy Missouri's award-winning wines on Pi(e) Day.

Missouri wines pair well with Pi(e)!

Did you know wine is produced in all 50 states? That’s right, wine country is closer than you think. And just like different countries offer unique styles and varietals of wine, so do different regions. Often the styles of wine you’ll find in a specific area or state are defined not only by the climate and growing conditions, but also by the winemaking style local vintners have developed over the years. For example, Missouri wine doesn’t taste like California or French wine or any other kind of wine. It tastes uniquely like Missouri wine, and has been garnering national and international acclaim for years. Similar stories can be found in many states in the Midwest.

Regional wine markets have grown exponentially. The number of wineries in the US has quadrupled in the last 10 years according to research done by the University of Missouri. With this growth, attention is being paid to the exciting offerings available in different areas of the country. Whether it’s a Missouri Norton, Michigan Riesling, Ohio Ice-wine or Indiana Traminette, regional wine with a local flare is making waves. DrinkLocalWine.org, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2008 with the purpose of telling the story of local wine. Its founders, Jeff Siegel (A.K.A Wine Curmudgeon) and Dave McIntyre (wine columnist for The Washington Post) are dedicated to the LocaPour movement, encouraging wine-lovers to support their local wineries through campaigns such as Regional Wine Week, held annually in the late fall.

Jeff and Dave aren’t the only wine enthusiasts heralding the importance and benefits of regional wine. The movement is growing, and slowly but surely, more people are giving local wine a chance. Another excellent opportunity for regional wine to strut-its-stuff is through the Jefferson Cup Invitational, hosted by renowned wine expert, Doug Frost (MS/MW). From its creation 14 years ago, the goal of this wine competition has been to create a more equitable contest for wineries from less-famed states to compete, culminating in the showcase of America’s best wines. The Midwest consistently brings home Jefferson Cups, supporting the reality of increasing quality and notoriety of regional wines.

Do you have a thirst for local wine? Join the LocaPour movement by supporting your local wineries. Drink local!