Have you ever wondered how winemakers transform grapes into wine? Learn about everything that comes after harvest and see how each step goes into making your favorite sips!

In the winemaking process each step involves a variety of important decisions that influence the wine's final style and quality. 

1. Harvest

Grape harvest happens between August and October. The exact timing depends on the grape variety, desired wine style, and vineyard conditions. Factors like grape color, weather, sugar levels, and acidity also influence when a winery decides it is time to harvest! 

2. Destemming and Crushing

Stems are removed, and grapes are crushed to release their juice and skins. 

3. Fermentation

Yeast is added to the grape juice, converting its sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. 

• Alcoholic Fermentation: The primary fermentation that produces alcohol.
• Malolactic Conversion: A secondary fermentation, more common in red wines, that converts malic acid to lactic acid for a softer texture.

4. Clarification/Filtration

The wine is cleared of solids through settling, racking, and filtration.

4. Aging and Bottling

 After step 4, if the wine is not aged it is bottled. Aging the wine is optional and depends on the type and style of wine. Aging occurs in barrels, stainless steel tanks, or even in the bottle. 

Difference in Reds and Whites

• Red Wine: Red wine is fermented with the grape skins and seeds, which give the wine color and more tannins.
• White Wine: The juice is separated from the skins and seeds before fermentation, which results in a lighter wine.
  • Only white wines that are oaked go through Malolactic conversion.

The more you know! Be sure to check out our other blogs, to keep learning more about the winemaking process!

It is always an exciting time when Missouri Wine Country continues to expand! We're adding two new wineries to your must visit bucket list. Travel with us to learn a little bit about each of the new wineries. 

• Chateau Sainte Genevieve – Bloomsdale, Missouri 

Chateau Sainte Genevieve is a family run winery. Sample their array of wines from red to white and dry to sweet. Pack a basket of your favorite snacks to enjoy in their cozy seating indoor or outdoor no matter the weather. They are excited to welcome you into their winery!

• Ozark Viking Meadery – Salem, Missouri 

Ozark Viking Meadery has a great lineup of mead wines ready for you. Pull up a chair near the fire to relax and they will tell you the journey that led them to wine making. Be sure to check out their events calendar to find out where they will be next!

Share with us what new wineries you have discovered! Tag us in your visits using #mowine on socials.

How can we call it wine, if there are no grapes? For this month’s Myth of the Month we are diving into fruit wines, to uncover why, if there are no grapes present, can they still be called wine. Keep reading to bust this myth!

While wine is most commonly known as an alcohol that is made from grapes, fruit wines are still wine. What makes a wine is not necessarily what they are made from, but how they are made.

Wine, by definition, is an alcoholic beverage created through the fermentation of fresh juice from fruits or plants. Grapes are fruit that make wine, as well as strawberries, blackberries or many other fruits you may enjoy. The term wine is used based on the process used to create the alcoholic beverage. Keep reading to learn more about the process!

1. Harvest: Sugar levels are monitored and then the fruit is picked at the ideal time.
2. Crushing and Pressing: The fruit is crushed to release the juice, then pressed to separate the juice from the other parts of the fruit.
3. Fermentation: Yeast is added to the juice, which converts the natural fruit sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This stage is when the juice turns into wine.

While there are more steps to the winemaking process, they differ depending on the winery and style of wine. These three steps are key in making wine, and these steps are the same for both grape and fruit wines.

For some fruit wines, they are labeled as grape wines with specific fruit flavoring. Fruit wines can also be a base of a grape wine and then have the fruit flavoring added into them to make them a fruit flavored wine. But again, they are still wine, because of the 3 key steps listed above. 

Fruit wines are wine. Naming an alcoholic beverage “wine” is based on the process in which it was made, not the ingredients used. Luckily for you, Missouri wineries have a wide variety of grape and fruit wines for you to choose from. Visit Missouri Wine Country to try the wide selection of local fruit wine today!

Let us know what wine myth you want to uncover next using #mowine

Wine country isn’t just a place, it’s an experience. Every corner of each winery tells a story of passion and dedication to furthering the Missouri Wine industry. Let’s share some favorite ways to experience Missouri Wine Country. 

One highlight without a doubt is the food. Sitting in a tasting room, the vineyard, or in the cellar, ready to take your taste buds on a delicious journey. Each dish is a masterpiece, meticulously crafted to complement the wines being poured. Each unforgettable meal leaves you learning more about their story and passion behind the winery. Be sure to visit the winery page for their food offerings as each winery has a unique lineup. 

Wine country festivals are vibrant celebrations of community. Imagine a harvest festival where the air buzzes with music, joyful chatter, and the scent of fall in the air. Local wine being displayed for you to enjoy. It provides an opportunity for you to dive deeper into the local culture and connect with others who share the same passions as you. Independence Uncorked is held in Independence, Missouri. You can enjoy everything from wine, art and shopping along with different food trucks. It is always a fun time had by all so be sure to stop by and check it out!

Of course, you can’t forget the chance to have an elevated tasting at several different wineries across the state. Some wineries may offer seasonal tastings. An elevated wine tasting can be a sensory journey featuring a great lineup of Missouri wines. Experts guide you as you are tasting the wine and show you how pairing it with foods can completely change the wine or food. 

Wanting to experience food, wine and an event all in one? Don’t worry we have a couple wineries with some special events!

-       Noboleis Vineyards: Norton Horizontal Tasting

• September 26th from 6-8pm, as we compare different Norton vintages produced right here at Noboleis Vineyards! During this tasting experience, explore four distinctive expressions, while we guide you through detailed tasting notes, aging techniques, and unique additives that shape each pour. Palate cleansers provided.

-       Stone Hill Winery: Norton Dinner & 10-Year Vertical Tasting

•  April 11, 2026 with a start time of 5:30, the evening begins with a sparkling wine and appetizer reception, then on to their Sherry House for the Ten-year vertical Norton tasting. There you will have the opportunity to taste ten vintages, side-by-side, with head winemaker. The tasting is followed by a three-course gourmet wine dinner. Be one among the first to purchase some of the older Norton vintages.

-       Adam Puchta Winery: Vertical Norton Dinner

• Date and menu to be announced. 6 Course Dinner. This is more than just a dinner to them, it’s a passion, and an experience you won’t want to miss. They look forward to sharing their love of great wine, delectable foods, as well as their history, and their story.

Missouri wineries are full of history. Enjoy a tour around each of the properties to learn and gain a stronger appreciation for everything the wineries have gone through to get to where they are today. 

Traveling around to different parts of Missouri Wine Country you are sure to find something you love and want more of. For a full list of events check out our events calendar!

Hey wine lovers! Get ready to raise your glasses because we are thrilled to announce some exciting updates to our Rewards Uncorked loyalty program. We’re always looking for ways to make your wine experience even better, and these new features are designed to do just that and bring out the competitor in you. Ready to hear what’s new? Let’s go!

Referral Program: Sharing the Love of Missouri Wine Country (and the POINTS too!) 

• We know the best experiences are those shared with friends and family. That’s why we’re introducing a NEW referral program! Now, whenever you invite your friends or family to join Rewards Uncorked, you BOTH get rewarded. Simply send them your link, and once they sign up, you’ll both receive 250 points. Win-win in everyone’s book. More points mean more rewards. Start spreading the word now and get your friends in on the fun with you!

New Rewards: Shhh, They Aren’t Released Yet

• We are getting ready to add a fan favorite, Missouri Wine hats are coming very soon for you to redeem yourself! Another new reward is also coming your way once we have them in our hands. Wine bottle candles! You will get to pick your scent and then the bottle will be a surprise.

Missouri Wine Month Challenge

• When you visit ten wineries and check in during the month of September you will be able to receive a puzzle. This challenge is part of our loyalty program, Rewards Uncorked! You must redeem points for this reward.

Cheers to visiting Missouri Wine Country and leveling up your experience with Rewards Uncorked! 

Missouri Wine Month is here! The Show-Me State has a rich winemaking history that dates back to the 1800s. Missouri was the second largest wine producing state in the U.S. before Prohibition. Pretty cool, right?

What makes Missouri wine “just that good”? The unique terroir that varies across the state of Missouri that provides great conditions for grape growing. Missouri is home to 5 American Viticultural Areas (AVA) with Augusta being named the first ever in the US. Then there are passionate winemakers dedicated to crafting wines that show respect to each individual winery. From dry to sweet, red to white, there is a Missouri wine for every palate. Not to mention fun and exciting events. 

But don’t just take our word for it. Head out to one of Missouri’s beautiful wineries this month. Explore the rolling hills, friendly tasting rooms, and most importantly, delicious wine. Trust us, it’s just that good. You won’t be disappointed when visiting Missouri Wine Country. 

Since Missouri wineries are just that good, we want to reward the wineries along with each and every one of you. When you visit ten wineries and check in during the month of September you will be able to receive a puzzle. This challenge is part of our loyalty program, Rewards Uncorked! You must redeem points for this reward. 

We invite you to celebrate Missouri Wine month by visiting Missouri wine country and experiencing why it’s just that good! Remember to share your photos with us using #MoWine!