Peanut Butter and Concord Cheesecake

The nostalgic flavors of peanut butter and grape jelly are achieved with a fun flare in this delicious cheesecake recipe. Impress your guests and savor each bite when you mix up a perfect crumbly peanut butter crust filled with a classic cheesecake and topped with Concord glaze.

Makes 10-inch springform pan

Time: 1.5 hours and 3 hours of cooling

For the crust

1 3/4 C graham cracker crumbs

1/2 C creamy peanut butter

1/4 C sugar, divided

1 large egg

For the filling

3 (8-ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened

1 C sugar

1 C sour cream

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 large eggs

For the Concord glaze

1 C Concord wine

1 C sugar

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 325°F.
2. In a medium bowl, beat together graham cracker crumbs, peanut butter, sugar and egg with an electric mixer until smooth. In a 10-inch springform pan, evenly press the mix into the bottom and 1 inch up the sides.
3. In a large bowl, beat together cream cheese, sugar, sour cream and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time. Continue beating until mixture is fluffy and then pour into crust.
4. Bake cheesecake for 1 hour or until the center is almost set. Cool for 1 hour on a wire rack and then refrigerate for at minimum 3 hours or overnight.
5. In a small saucepan, mix together wine and sugar until it begins to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the glaze begins to thicken. Remove from heat and allow glaze to cool completely before serving.
6. Drizzle glaze over the entire cheesecake or each slice before serving. Top with crushed peanuts for texture, if desired. Serve with a glass of Concord for an enhanced experience and enjoy!

Summer means it’s barbecue time! Start planning some savory recipes by incorporating Missouri based BBQ sauce, while pairing it with some delicious Missouri wine. From sweet to spicy, experience the best wine for every type of sauce style.

Check out our pairing guide and start grilling now!

And the winners are…

We would like to congratulate our winners from this year’s Missouri Wine Competition and acknowledge the 265 wines that represented all regions of Missouri wine country. Thirty wineries participated in this competition, all contributing to producing the highest quality wines Missouri has to offer.

Each wine that was entered was blindly tasted and evaluated by a panel of seven judges from across the U.S. and one industry judge. Through this process, wines were awarded bronze, silver, and gold rankings. Wines that received a gold medal distinction competed for the honor of a Best of Class award. The top wines from each category then competed for the ultimate recognition, the prestigious Governor’s Cup Award. This award is presented to the best wine in the state.

The winner of the 2023 Governor’s Cup is Stone Hill Winery’s 2020 Old Vine Reserve Norton. The C.V. Riley Award for best Norton went to Stone Hill Winery’s 2020 Old Vine Reserve Norton. The C.V. Riley award recognizes the official state grape and is named after the first state entomologist, who also helped save the French wine industry.

“It’s a great honor to be awarded the 2023 Governor’s Cup, C. V. Riley award and Best of Class Dry Red for our 2020 vintage Old Vine Reserve Norton” says Jon Held, Stone Hill Winery President. “This wine is extremely unique since it’s produced entirely from a pre-prohibition vineyard of Norton vines planted during the 1860’s. This tiny ¼ acre vineyard only yields two to three barrels of wine per year. This precious vineyard was the source of cutting wood for renewed plantings of Norton as the Missouri wine industry was restarting in the 1960’s. It is a special tribute to win with a wine from these old vines since we celebrated the 175^th anniversary of Stone Hill Winery last year. As always, our success is due to all the members of our dedicated team whose efforts continue to produce stellar wines year after year.”  

The Husmann-Jaeger award for best white varietal wine went to St. James Winery’s 2022 Vignoles. This is the first year this award is being presented and it is named after George Husmann and Hermann Jaeger. Both of these influential men were integral in the early development of the Missouri wine industry.

“We are honored to be recognized for the best white varietal wine in Missouri,” says Andrew Meggitt, St. James Winery Executive Winemaker. “Given the changes in our climate, our teams in the cellar and vineyard have been working hard to make adjustments to how we grow grapes and make wine. This award confirms that the changes we are making are increasing quality.”

A big round of applause for this year’s Best of Class winners:

Sparkling: Stone Hill Winery – Blanc de Blancs

Dry White: St. James Winery – 2022 Vignoles

Semi-Dry White: Jowler Creek Winery – 2022 Vignoles

Sweet White: Stone Hill Winery – 2022 Vignoles

Dry Red: Stone Hill Winery – 2020 Old Vine Reserve Norton

Semi-Dry Red: Augusta Winery – 2019 Barrel Select Chambourcin Estate Bottled

Sweet Red: Montelle Winery – Stone House Red

Dry Rosé: Röbller Vineyard – St. Vincent Rosé

Semi-Dry Rosé: St. James Winery – Friendship School Rosé

Sweet Rosé: St. James Winery – Velvet Rosé

Dessert: Adam Puchta Winery – 1855

Late Harvest/Ice Wine – Stone Hill Winery – 2021 Late Harvest Vignoles

Fruit: St. James – Sparkling Blackberry

This was the third year of the label competition, which was judged by an expert panel of judges. This competition helps recognize wineries that have stand-out labels, design elements and overall bottle appearance. The winners of each category are below:

Traditional Label: Noboleis Vineyards – 2022 Amber Vidal Blanc

Contemporary Label: Les Bourgeois Vineyards – Collector’s Series: 2022 Noiret

Alternative Packaging: Noboleis Vineyards – Swirl Raspberry & Papaya Sangria

Best Wine Series: St. James Winery – Explorer Collection: Project 1970, 38 Degrees North, Estate Norton, Vignoles

People’s Choice Award: Dale Hollow Winery – Catawba

Find the complete list of the 2023 award-winning wines here. Make sure to taste these wonderful winning wines next time you’re exploring Missouri wine country.

Summer is in full swing and the temperatures are sweltering. Beat the heat and enjoy your favorite Missouri wines with these delicious frozen treats. Whether you’re sipping on a wine float, or digging into a delicious bowl full of ice cream, these ideas are a refreshing way to cool down in the summer heat.

Ice Cream and Wine Recipes:

• Easy, 3 Ingredient No-Churn Wine Ice Cream
• The Perfect Wine Ice Cream Float
• Decadent Milkshake with Wine
• Peach Wine Ice Cream for the Fruit Wine Fans

Wine and ice cream have amazing pairing potential. Here are some of the flavor combinations we recommend. These work well for floats, milkshakes, or just bowls of ice cream with toppings.

• Chocolate Ice Cream + Chambourcin Wine + Strawberries
• Mango Sorbet + Vignoles Wine + Pineapple
• Vanilla Ice Cream + Concord Wine + Raspberries or Black Grapes
• Vanilla Ice Cream + Vidal Blanc Wine + Melon
• Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Wine + Norton + Cherries
• Vanilla Ice Cream + Sweet Sparkling Wine + Raspberries

Turn your favorite wine into a syrup that is perfect for topping ice cream. It’s so easy! Add 1   part wine to 1.5 parts sugar and bring to a simmer in a saucepan. Simmer until reduced to desired thickness. Let cool and drizzle away! If you are using a sweet wine, you can add less sugar.

Whichever frozen treat you choose to enjoy, don’t forget the Missouri wine! What a delicious way to beat the heat this summer. Cheers!

Peanut butter and jelly are one of life’s inseparable pairs. Yes, they’re both delicious on their own, but put them together and you have a delightful flavor with the power to transport you back to your childhood. So, we have decided to share an adult take on this nostalgic duo, a PB & J Cocktail!

Concord grapes are the quintessential grape flavor. It’s what most of us think of when we recall grape flavor, likely because Concord is the grape used in most grape juices and jellies. In Missouri wine country, it’s also a common wine grape, often made in a sweet wine style. It is the perfect choice for the “J” component of this cocktail. The “PB” comes from Skrewball, a peanut butter flavored whiskey. With just a couple additional ingredients to balance the flavors, this cocktail comes together easily and quickly.

PB & J Cocktail

Servings: 1

Ingredients

2 oz.                Skrewball peanut butter flavored whiskey

1.5 oz              Missouri Concord wine

0.5 oz              Cointreau or triple sec

2 dashes         Bitters

Instructions

1.    Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shaker or jar with a watertight lid.

2.    Add ice and shake until thoroughly chilled, around 10-15 seconds.

3.    Strain into a glass over fresh ice.

4.    Optional: Garnish with a tiny PB & J sandwich

5.    Enjoy!

July is Concord Month in Missouri. It’s the perfect time to sip on a PB & J Cocktail, although this simple cocktail is delicious any time of year. Cheers!

It’s a battle for the best bottle. Wine from across Missouri will compete to be recognized for their quality in the upcoming 2023 Missouri Wine Competition. In two separate competitions, wines are judged for taste, as well as for the best designed label. Experts from around the country bestow awards upon the best and most beautiful wines in the Show-Me State.

Throughout this competition, wine is blindly sampled by a panel of expert judges. Awards to be won include medals and Best of Class distinctions, with the top wine receiving the Governor’s Cup award. In addition, the best Norton in Missouri will be awarded the C.V. Riley award and the best white wine will be awarded the Husmann-Jaeger award.

Alongside the 2023 Missouri Wine Competition, wineries also have the opportunity to compete in the Missouri Wine Label Competition. Wineries from across the Show-Me State have submitted their best label designs to be evaluated by industry experts. The categories are as follows:

• Best Traditional Label
• Best Contemporary Label
• Best Alternative Packaging
• Best Wine Series
• People’s Choice Award – decided by online voting

The time has come, we need your votes. The People’s Choice Award label winner is chosen by you! Voting begins July 10th and ends July 15th. Provide input and help showcase which winery gets bestowed this award. Limited to one vote.

Survey closes at 11:59 PM July 15th, vote now! 

Click here to vote!