Whether you have leftover candy from the Trick or Treaters or you’re looking for something fun and unique to do with your friends and loved ones, these candy and Missouri wine pairings are a real treat!

Normal Cork Spools: Great for twine and embroidery floss

Wine Cork and Wire Napkin Rings: Just in time for holiday entertaining

Napkin Rings | 6 Easy, Useful Ways to Recycle Wine Corks from Missouri Wines 

Wine Cork Monogram Earrings: An easy, unique accessory that makes a great gift

Wine Cork Chip Clip: So simple, you’ll wonder why you never thought of it before

Wine Cork Photo Holder: An adorable and compact way to display your favorite photos

Put those wine corks you’ve had lying around for a rainy-day craft to good use with these DIY ideas. Get a jump start on your holiday gift making and join in the fun on America Recycles Day!

June is National Seafood Month.  It's also Vidal Blanc Month in Missouri.  We thought this called for a Seafood and Wine Pairing guide.  Enjoy!

The holiday season is full of fun events both attended and hosted. While it’s a great time of family, friends and revelry, it can be busy, even exhausting at times. Make this very social season a little easier on yourself by stocking up ahead of time.

Missouri wine is the answer to all of these holiday entertaining questions:

1. What do I bring to so-and-so’s house as a host/hostess gift?
2. How do I take care of beverages for a crowd, easily and quickly?
3. What do I have on hand to please everyone’s palate?
4. How do I make my holiday soiree stand out?

1) Missouri wine makes the perfect host or hostess gift because not only are you showing your appreciation, but you’re also showing them you put thought and effort into their gift. It’s locally made and unique. Wrap the bottle of Missouri wine in a dish towel tied with a fun, seasonal ribbon to make your gift even more memorable.

2) Big-batch winetails like seasonal sangria or mulled wine are the perfect make-ahead beverages for serving a crowd. Plus, the presentation of sangria is beautiful and the aroma of mulled wine is fantastic. It’s a win, win!

3) There are countless Missouri wines and wines in general to choose from. So, how do you know what to have on hand to please everyone’s palate? First of all, it’s quite difficult to please everyone, but you can get pretty close by covering these four bases- a dry red, dry white, semi-dry white, and a sweet red or blush. A couple of options for a good mix:

• Chambourcin, Chardonel, Vignoles, Concord
• Norton, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, Catawba

4) Missouri winemakers like to have fun, just like you do. They make all sorts of fun seasonal wines that will be a hit at your next holiday gathering. Whether it’s cranberry, pumpkin, gingerbread, or chai spice, seasonal Missouri wines are a delicious conversation piece!

Do your future, slightly-overwhelmed self a favor; head out to Missouri wine country and stock up for all your holiday entertaining!

There’s a chill in the air. Fall is here, and to some that means one thing… PUMPKIN! Pumpkin everything. If you love pumpkin and local, award-winning wine, this blog post is for you. Let’s talk about some of the amazing pumpkin products out there and the Missouri wines that pair perfectly with them. There are also a plethora of scrumptious dishes you can make with pumpkin, each deserving a delicious wine pairing. After all… “A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.” – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (famous food critic).

Next time you’re at the grocery store, look for these items and the Missouri wines that go with them:

Pumpkin Spice Latte M&Ms +Traminette

Pumpkin Spice Almonds + Concord

Pumpkin Tortilla Chips and Salsa + Norton

Pumpkin Spice Caramel Corn + Sweet Sparkling Wine

Pumpkin Spice English Muffins (or bagels) and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread + Sparkling Wine (Maybe even a Mimosa...Cheers to Fall brunch!)

Often when people think of pumpkin recipes they think of sweets and desserts, but there’s potential for savory dishes is boundless. Try these recipes, and be sure to remember the Missouri wine!

Pumpkin, Beef and Black Bean Chili + Traminette

Thai Pumpkin, Coconut and Lentil Soup + Vignoles

Chicken, Bacon and Pumpkin Gnocchi + Chambourcin

Pumpkin, Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells + Seyval Blanc

Pumpkin-Sage Cream Sauce + Vidal Blanc

Enjoy Pumpkin Season (oops, Fall) with Missouri wines!

October 8th is National Poetry Day and we think this famous quote from Scottish novelist and poet, Robert Louis Stevenson, pretty much covers it!

Glass is pretty lovely on its own, but it also works incredibly well as a clean, crisp canvas for your creativity. Whether you’re looking to liven up your own glassware collection or make a unique gift for a friend, there are tons of wonderful DIY glass projects from which to choose.

Before you get started on a decorative glass project is right for you, we have a few tips and tid-bits to share.

1. It’s important to prep your glass! Clean your glasses thoroughly. Consider using rubbing alcohol to eliminate any oil or grease from the surface. Other tips on “How to Paint Glass”, here.
2. Different paint types produce different looks on the final product. Here’s a guide to help you decide which type of paint will work best for the end result you’re wanting.
3. The bowl of a wine glass is round, making it a challenge to get a line that looks straight. A great trick is to put water in the glass and use the water line as a guide.

Paint–

For something easy and quick that doesn’t take advanced artistic ability, try this tutorial for a cute dotted design.

An option for the slightly more artistically inclined is this tutorial for a red daylily painted wine glass. The person using the glass gets the best view of this unique design.

For the true artisté or anyone willing to give it a try, this tutorial for hand painted peacock feather wine glasses breaks the project down step by every little step. The results are absolutely beautiful!

Technically chalkboard paint is still paint, right? Create customizable wine glasses with this easy dip and sip tutorial or use this tutorial for a more refined version.

Sharpies can also be used to create functional masterpieces. This tutorial demonstrates several ideas for using sharpies (metallic in this case) to dress up wine glasses.

Glitter undeniably makes everything fancier. The challenge is making sure the glasses are still washable while maintaining the shine that makes glitter so fun. This tutorial says a couple coats will do the trick. While this tutorial says it’s all about sealing it off. Take your pick and sparkle on!

Etched glass is the epitome of class. Don’t you think? With limited supplies you can create some beautiful glassware with this easy to follow tutorial. If you have a Silhouette Design or Cricut, you can take this idea to the next level!

A gilded base is a great way to dress up a champagne flute. This tutorial uses a gold paper doilie and mod podge to make two simple things look exponentially more glamorous.

Choose which project sounds right to you and don’t forget to toast with some Missouri wine in your masterpiece when it’s complete.

Missouri wine pairs well with crafting!

Rosé wines are a bit of a mystery to many people. Let us shed some light on the subject of this delicious category of wine. First off, we need to bust the myth that all rosés are made by mixing white and red wine together. This is not the most common method. Secondly, we need to clarify one hugely important fact: Most wine grapes have clear juice, regardless of the color of the skin. The color of wine comes from the must (skins and seeds).

The majority of rosé wines are made via the skin contact method where red grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period, often called maceration. This time period can range from a few hours to a few days. The must is then pressed and discarded, unlike with the red wine making process in which the skins remain with the juice throughout fermentation.

Rosé wines can vary in color greatly, but they are generally some shade of pink, sometimes with a hint of orange or purple. The longer the juice macerates with the skins, the darker the color. The type of grape also affects the color of the resulting rosé wine. Whatever the shade, they are a pleasing pink color which has garnered them a fair amount of popularity all over the world (and definitely here in Missouri).

The unique flavors, aromas, and characteristics of rosé wines vary based on the grapes used, but overall they are light and fruity. This is due to the winemaking process. Their light, fruity nature makes them a great pairing for many different foods such as salads and vegetables, fish, spicy foods, barbecue, and cheeses. The versatility of rosé wines is another reason they are a crowd favorite.

You may have heard the term “blush” wine and wondered, “Is that the same thing as rosé?”. Well, the answer is a tad complicated. Rosé is a term with a long history whereas the term blush is rather new. A blush wine generally refers to a sweeter rosé wine. Yes, that means not all rosé wines are sweet. In fact there are many dry rosés. Rosé wines can run the entire gamut of sweetness from very sweet to bone dry. Don’t judge a wine by its color.  It’s always a good idea check the sweetness level of a rosé you’re purchasing.

So, we’ve covered how rosé wines are made, where they get their color, unique characteristics and pairings, and sweetness level. What have we missed? Oh, yes. Age! Because of the short time rosé wines spend on the skins, they are meant to be enjoyed young. If you’re used to hearing the-older-the-better with wine… forget it. In the case of rosés, the fresher the better!

Missouri winemakers are no strangers to rosé wines. Due to the nature of rosé wines (enjoy young, remember!) it’s difficult to have a comprehensive list of rosés made in the state, but here’s a start if you’re looking to track down some locally made rosé wines. Another great place to look is our trophy case where you can find award winning rosé wines.

It’s the perfect time of year to explore rosé wines; perhaps with your Valentine?

Missouri rosé wines pair well with Valentine’s Day!

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!