Several transportation services throughout the state will ensure your next trip to Missouri wine country is safe and successful. Use one of these seven services to help you and your friends adventure in style and meet fellow wine lovers along the way.

Augusta Area Trolley: Enjoy a complimentary trolley service between Augusta Winery, Montelle Winery, Mount Pleasant Estates, Balducci Vineyards and Klondike Park. Trolleys are in rotation every 30 minutes. No reservation needed!

Barley Bus: Book one of several different tours around the KC area where you can visit wineries or even breweries and distilleries. Travel in comfort on your next winery adventure in the KC area.

Excelsior Springs Chamber Wine Trolley: The Chamber of Commerce in Excelsior Springs offers a series of Wine Trolley excursions on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from April to November.

Hermann Trolley: The historic German town of Hermann is home to several wineries. Many can be visited by hopping on the Hermann Trolley. The trolley station is conveniently located near the Amtrak station if you’re arriving to Hermann by train.

KATY Bike Rental and Shuttle: Missouri’s first wine country is one of the most scenic places in the state. KATY Bike Rental and Shuttle has several ways for you to travel around the wineries in the Augusta and Defiance areas. 

Ste. Genevieve Trolley: The French-Heritage town of Ste. Genevieve is beautiful and full of fascinating history, as well as several award-winning wineries. The Ste. Genevieve Trolley will meet you at a designated pickup location and take you to different wineries to enjoy for the day.

These trolley and bus services are a great way to explore your favorite parts of Missouri wine country. Tag us on your trolley travels with the hashtag #mowine.

When out-and-about in Missouri wine country, you must find yourself wondering what volume of grapes it takes to get a full glass of your favorite Missouri wine. Use this barrels-to-bottles guide to put your curiosity at ease.

Missouri wine country is always growing. Since September 2020, Missouri has gained seven new wineries. Each unique in their own right, all of these wineries bring diverse ingredients and products that solidify the quality and integrity of Missouri wine today. Learn about these new wineries:

Located in downtown Ste. Genevieve, Brix Urban Winery and Market, LLC specializes in original fruit wines and small batch meads (honey wines) that are made and bottled on site.

ElderBlossom View is a working elderberry farm that produces bottled juice and wine. They also offer beverages and cocktails that feature elderberry products.  

G. Husmann Wine Co. honors Missouri wine heritage and history with the namesake of George Husmann “the father of the Missouri grape industry.” G. Husmann blends wine from their Missouri vineyards with vinfera from their sister vineyards in California, where Husmann also worked to start the Napa wine industry. His home and nursery at Hermann Farm and Museum can be found just down the road from the tasting room on East First Street in Hermann.

Inspired by an evening with wine and friends in the light of a full moon, Luna Umbra Winery came to life. Their wines boast rich complexity from grapes grown on Missouri’s Midwestern soil. Luna Umbra Winery is located on the historic town square in Butler.

Located in the Stover backwoods, Timber Ridge Winery offers a relaxing outdoor space where you will often see wildlife such as deer or turkey. The large outside seating area with a shaded yard and fire pit is perfect to enjoy their wide range of wines.

Twains Vineyard is located in the remote, picturesque Ozark Mountains. Their delectable and flavorful wines pay homage to the area’s hills and valleys. An abundance of native fruits and berries are key to their traditional mountain wines.

WeeksEnd Winery’s wines each tell a unique story about the owners’ love for wine, love for each other and love for their family. Several wine bottles even feature artwork created by family members.

Fall is a perfect time to plan a trip to visit these new wineries. Tag #mowine in your travels on social media.

Missouri wine country not only offers fantastic wines, it also is home to creative artisans who repurpose wine industry materials into home goods and custom gifts. Check out these talented artisans and the products that they offer in Missouri wine country.

Paul Cassimatis – My Big Fat Greek Candle

My Big Fat Greek Candle started almost by accident. Paul Cassimatis’ wife came to him with a Pinterest project – candles made from used bottles. The Cassimatis family has always been a big fan of Missouri wineries, Paul and his wife’s first date was to Stone Hill Winery in 1998, and today, she owns a business in the heart of Missouri wine country — Hermann, Missouri.  So, the couple thought the beautiful blue bottles used for certain Missouri wines, such as Vignoles, would be perfect to try their hand at candle making.

But, when Paul stopped into Hermannhoff Winery to ask for a couple leftover blue bottles he left with a trial order instead. Today, Paul’s candle creations are found in several Missouri wineries from Hermann to Augusta, Missouri, as well as a couple select retail locations and his online Etsy storefront.

Paul stops by each of his client wineries to collect bottles from some of their favorite wines. In his workshop, Paul carefully cuts and hand polishes the edges of each bottle before filling it with high quality wax and wick to make the perfect candle. His candle creations’ colors and scents are selected by Paul and winery staff to appeal to each winery’s patrons. Often, the candles reflect the wine bottle which holds it. For example, bright citrus scents are often used for candles in crisp, white wines with citrus tasting notes, while deep, dry red wine bottles often hold candles with more earthy tones.

Besides being inspired by the beautiful colors, shapes and smells of Missouri wines, and their bottles and labels, Paul hopes to capture some of the Missouri wine memories in each candle.

“I love the wine country and the wine people,” Paul says. “Just the spirit and the whole culture there is this warm, family surrounding; Missouri wineries just feel like family.”

When Paul isn’t creating candles, you may find him playing acoustic sets at some of the same wineries for which he creates candles. Needless to say, Paul loves helping wine lovers of all ages make memories at Missouri wineries, and he knows his candles are the perfect gift for friends and family to help recall those wonderful times spent together sipping their favorite Missouri wines.

Scott Rombach – Basement Projects Woodworking

Scott Rombach’s love for woodworking started in an eighth-grade wood shop class, and his passion for Missouri wine blossomed from some gifted grape vines and visit to Wenwood Farm Winery. A couple years ago, Scott’s appreciation for woodworking and wine intersected when he started creating unique, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by Missouri wines and the materials that make them.

While Scott works fulltime for UPS, he does enjoy using his talents for custom commissioned pieces or even for donated items for causes he supports through his woodworking shop he calls Basement Projects Woodworking.

Some of the creations Scott has made include: a wine map of Missouri that he and his wife, Tonya, pin the wineries they’ve visited, tea candle holder out of a wine staves, wine clock from the top of a barrel, wine table with the wine barrel as the base, wine holders and cork holders.

The Rombachs refer to Wenwood as their gateway winery. Scott still recalls their first visit, where they were greeted by the owner’s dogs — Corky and Shaggy. As avid dog lovers, the couple felt right at home. Tom Kalb provided the tasting that day at Wenwood, and he and Scott bonded over their previous and current UPS employment while Scott learned more about Missouri wines. Wenwood’s wine, winery, owners and staff, along with the experiences it provided made the Rombachs want to see what else was out there, so visiting Missouri wineries became the couple’s new pastime. When they enrolled in the Missouri Wine’s MVP program, the couple kicked it into high gear and started planning road-trips through Missouri wine country. Scott and Tonya enjoy Missouri wineries enough that they started documenting their experience on Rombach’s Missouri Winery Review Facebook page. “Visiting so many wineries gave me an idea to combine two things I love, woodworking and Missouri wine.”

Michele, Leslie and Lisa – Three Crafty Foodie Chicks

Three Crafty Foodie Chicks are best friends who love wine — especially Missouri wines, music and their families. When COVID-19 brought the world to a screeching halt, the friends found themselves with a lot more free time. Wine was always their beverage of choice, according to Michele Cohen, one of the Crafty Foodie Chicks trio. The women loved how enjoying wine was more than taking a sip it was an experience, so they found a way to preserve bottles they adored.

The friends started by creating wine servers before adding candles and flower vases to their offering. There was a lot to learn along the way, and there were a lot of nerves and broken glass before they perfected the process. Today, the trio offers unique serving pieces, flower vases, succulent planters and candles crafted from wine bottles in a way that preserves the beauty of the bottles’ labels. Three Crafty Foodie Chicks even offer custom products made from customers’ bottles holding special meaning.

“All of our pieces are cut and polished by us personally, and we take a lot of pride and take a lot of time to make sure that every piece is amazing,” Michele says.  “There is a unique and organic feel to each piece that we produce.”

The uniqueness of their products echoes the unique nature of each bottle of wine. The friends admire the many different flavor profiles, bottle shapes, colors and labels of each bottle of wine. They’re careful to preserve that when crafting their creations. Three Crafty Foodie Chicks think of sipping Missouri wines as an experience, and its one they like to share.

“We love the unique nature of the varietals that we have here in Missouri and the amazing wineries that produce them.  When we visit a winery, we love to hear the story, each wine has a story of how it was created and how it was named,” Michele says.

 You can follow the Three Crafty Foodie Chicks on their Facebook or Instagram. The trio often offers their creations at festivals and shows, as well as through social media. Their products are also available at the Blooming Daisy Marketplace in Cottleville, Mo.

Robert Tessaro’s childhood was filled with many fun memories on his family’s vineyard. He can still recall the feelings of pruning, picking and processing the Concord grapes that he and his large Italian family grew on their vineyard in St. James, Missouri.

St. James is a place many Italian immigrants found work producing Concord grapes for Welch’s grape juice and jelly.  Robert’s grandfather and great uncle took advantage of that opportunity, both choosing to farm grapes. The Tessaro family immigrated in the late 1890s, their log cabin (which still stands today) was built in 1902 and the vineyard was planted in 1921.

It was an unusual and remarkable year to plant a vineyard as it was in the early years of Prohibition. This vineyard turns 100 this year.

Robert remembers harvest fondly. His father was one of 10 children and the Tessaros had a lot of grapes to grow and harvest, often needing help outside of their direct family. Robert recalls how neighbors, friends and hired hands were needed during harvest. “There were grapes everywhere,” Robert joked. He recalls when loading the grapes, helpers could impressively toss crates across three rows of the vineyard safely. The grapes were then loaded on the Crisco Railway to the newly built Welch’s processing plant in Springdale, Arkansas.

The beautiful property featured the original two-story log cabin, which has a stone foundation, dirt floors and rough finished exterior. It used to boast a big porch that Robert would sit and spend time with his grandfather after long days of work. They utilized the two hand-dug stone wells for water to the house, garden and vineyards as needed.

Another house on the property also stands, owned by Phyllis Meagher. The Tessaros eventually sold the vineyard to the Cardetti family. However, the Tessaro family kept managing the property and continued to grow Concord grapes. Phyllis became interested in the Cardetti vineyard in the late 70s.

Phyllis, who lived in St. Louis at the time, found her soul growing tired of the corporate world. She decided to purchase the vineyard and property in 1980. In 1981, Phyllis decided she wanted to take a year to decide if working a vineyard full-time is something she wanted to do. She ended up opening Meramec Winery along the highway in St. James, as well as selling her Concord crop to Schnucks and other local grocers, which used her supply nationwide. She was also instrumental in starting the Missouri Grape Growers Association and testified before the legislature to support the tax establishing an advisory board for the Missouri wine industry.

Phyllis ended up selling the winery and vineyard several years ago, but still lives on the property and is active in keeping a few vines of her own. Chris Wright purchased the vineyard from Phyllis and notes she is the “hardest working person in this countryside.”

Years ago, Chris attended a wine event where Phyllis was pouring her wine, which was his first introduction to Missouri’s unique varietals. He became captivated by Missouri wine and knew he wanted to be involved somehow. Ironically, he ended up purchasing the vineyard from one of the people who taught him to love the wine he is now helping make. The vineyards today still produce the Concord varietal, but also include Niagara, Seyval, Stark Star, Vignoles and Norton. Chris notes that Norton is his favorite.

“It was so beautiful. That was what sold me on it,” Chris said. “I had to have it.” Chris cites the Japanese Wabi-Sabi philosophy when it comes to this vineyard: View or thought of finding beauty in every aspect of imperfection in nature. Chris retired from the Navy and he hopes to continue finding joy in his retirement by working these vines for years to come.

This vineyard has provided happiness for these owners. Chris looks forward to the future of these historic vines and what they will continue to produce. Phyllis still loves pruning and taking pride in her vines, reminiscent of the days she spent caring for what the Tessaro’s planted. Robert says he wouldn’t trade the world for the memories made with his family and friends on this vineyard. Most people find happiness through enjoying wine. In this case, happiness was given to those caretakers of this centennial farm for those who grew grapes and made it into what it is today.

Missouri wine country offers unique opportunities, delicious wines and endless beauty. We are calling all photographers, regardless of experience level, to help us capture the beauty of Missouri wine country in our inaugural Missouri Wine: Through the Glass photo contest.

Images submitted during the contest will be used in promotional settings throughout the year to showcase all that Missouri wine country has to offer. Share these details with any photographers in your life and grab your camera before heading out this fall.

The winner of the contest will be announced November 23 and will receive a Missouri Wine prize pack and 2 tickets to the Missouri Governor’s Cup presentation at the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City where the winning image will be displayed during the event. All entries are due November 5, 2021 at midnight. A panel of Missouri wine industry representatives will choose top entries which will then be shared on social media for public voting from November 15-19.

Carefully review all rules and complete the submission form upon entry. Enjoy Missouri wine country this fall and good luck!

Download Form Here

Rules:

1. To participate, complete an entry from with your name, address, phone number and email and upload form with photo entry to https://cellar.missouriwine.org/ in the drag and drop section.
2. You are required to provide a unique title and description for each image submitted.
3. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter. No purchase necessary.
4. Photography entry must be taken in Missouri wine country.
5. Limit one entry per person.
6. If photo features a person, the entrant and photo subject, releases rights to photo.
7. The photograph must not contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content.
8. Photographs must be a single work of original material taken by the entrant. Entry will be disqualified if there is significant digital manipulation.
9. By entering the contest, the entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted photograph is an original work created solely by the entrant, that the photograph does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the photograph.
10. When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close up of another person's art.
11. All submissions to the contest remain the property of the entrant; however, as a condition of entering the contest the entrant grants to the Missouri Wine and Grape Board and Missouri Department of Agriculture a perpetual, royalty-free, fully transferable, unconditional, non-exclusive, worldwide right to reproduce any submission an unlimited number of times in any and all media for any editorial, commercial, promotional, or trade purposes. Additional terms and conditions for submissions will be included in the submission process.

August is Missouri’s Vignoles month and it’s time to celebrate this light and fruity varietal with a simple 4 ingredient refreshment! One batch will give you 4 servings of this delicious frozen treat and should only take about 5 minutes to whip up. This recipe uses frozen peaches and strawberries, but any of your favorite fruits will nicely compliment this classic white wine. Get creative or stick to these simple ingredients.

Ingredients

-1 bottle of your favorite Missouri Vignoles wine

-16 ounces (about 2 cups) of frozen peaches

-16 ounces (about 2 cups) of frozen strawberries

-2-3 cups of ice

Instructions

1.Blend ½ bottle of Vignoles wine with 2 cups of frozen peaches and 1 cup of ice. Add ice to thicken as needed.

2.Set mixture aside or pour into glasses.

3.Blend ½ bottle of Vignoles wine with 2 cups of strawberries and 1 cup of ice. Add ice to thicken as needed.

4.Prepare four glasses and layer the peach and strawberry mixtures. (Have fun with layering multiple times, or just split the glass half and half!)

5.Add garnish and straw, if desired.

6.Serve and enjoy!

Share your finished product with the hashtag #MoWine and tag us @missouriwine.

Edg-Clif cares about its roots and not just those that nourish the grapevines at the Potosi, Missouri, vineyard, winery and brewery. Currently, the third and fourth generations care for the land, which has been a family farm for nearly a century. Edg-Clif Vineyard, Winery and Brewery owners Steffie Knapp Littlefield and Cyndy Knapp Keesee were raised on the property. The sisters spent their formative years working and playing among the farm's many barns and buildings.

Steffie and Cyndy's grandfather, Andrew S. Knapp, purchased the property in 1926. Since then, the land served as a hunting retreat, a purebred Hereford cattle ranch, a pasture for bison and today's vineyard, winery and brewery. While the use of   the land may have changed over the generations, Edg-Clif has always been an authentic Missouri family farm. To pay homage to their family's roots and the land, Edg-Clif Vineyard, Winery and Brewery created the Vintage Barn label series,       which garnered the Missouri Wine Label Competition's Best Wine Series award.

  The award-winning labels were created by Steffie's daughter, Katie Knapp Littlefield. Like Edg-Clif itself, the designs hope to highlight the family's farm and the rich history of the property surrounding the vineyard. Even the logo has a connection     to the farm's past, as the log-inspired typography was created as the brand for the family's cattle ranch in the 1930s; at the same time, they dropped the 'e' and 'f' from the farm's name

When tasked with building a brand for the family's winery, Katie, who has spent her career working in global branding agencies, looked to the farm itself for inspiration and began using photography of the numerous barns, cottages and outbuildings to grace the bottles and labels. The resulting labels were not only eye-catching, but conversation-starting as patrons found themselves pulled into the nearly hundred years of family history with each sip.

"When you come to the tasting room and meet Cyndy, Steffie or anyone in the family who's there, you really get the whole story around the farm and that property," Katie says. "It's really a joy for us to share those stories, as well as connect people with where the wine is grown. We have a beautiful vineyard amongst all this history."

These anecdotes come naturally as Edg-Clif wines are paired not only with recommended flavors to enjoy while taking a sip but also a piece of the property's history. For example, a bottle of Sunset semi-sweet blush wine is perfect for a summer evening barbecue, just as the family's barn pictured on the label is the perfect place to watch the sun dip below the Ozark mountain skyline.

The stories behind the labels are often traded in the tasting room and during winery tours, which family members have hosted since the winery opened its doors a decade ago. Although the use of the family farm has changed over the years, the family aspect has not. Each member of the Knapp Littlefield and Knapp Keesee families brings their talents and expertise to the winery. As Steffie jokes, "Cyndy makes the wine, and I make the grapes."

Steffie's degree in horticulture and agriculture gives her the expertise to care for the family's vines before Cyndy creates the wine. Of course, Katie is the in-house marketing specialist. Cyndy's husband, Girard, keeps all the winery's machinery and equipment in top order. Steffie's husband, Stephen, manages the facilities, grounds and rental cottages. Cyndy's daughter, Rachael, brews the family's craft beers, and Steffie's daughters, Carolyn and Maggie, helped rehab all the rental houses. That's not to mention all the extended family, friends and volunteers who help during busy times, such as harvest and bottling.

Edg-Clif's strong family ties make it family-friendly. Children arriving in-tow to the tasting room are often greeted with a popsicle. The winery, vineyard and brewery is also picnic-friendly, making it the perfect place to stop after outdoor adventures in the Ozarks.

At the end of the day, Edg-Clif Vineyard, Winery and Brewery stands out because of their striking labels, award-winning wines, scenic vistas and unique spins on Chambourcin, but most importantly their authenticity. Edg-Clif has been a family farm for nearly 100 years and four generations. Today, it stands as a testimony of Missouri agriculture and its impact on the Knapp family and the community surrounding them.

As Cyndy says, "We're always going to be a farm, and now, we're also a winery. It's worked out beautifully."

Be sure to seek out the Vintage Barn series during your next visit to Edg-Clif Vineyard, Winery & Brewery.

Vignoles — it’s fruity, it’s light, it’s the essential Missouri wine experience. This hardy hybrid grape is celebrated each August during Missouri’s Vignoles month.

August is the perfect time to try a sip of this refreshing white wine. There are more than 250 acres of Vignoles vines in the Show-Me state, and this popular variety is noted for its versatility. From dry to sweet and even late-harvest dessert wines, Missouri winemakers can put their own spin on this great grape.

No matter the style, Vignoles (pronounced veen-yole) is known for its fruity, tropical and sometimes floral aroma. It tastes fruity and light with notes of pineapple, apricot, peach or citrus.

Vignoles is an equally versatile variety when it comes to pairing. Its crisp taste pairs well with a variety of flavors and meals, and it is sure to please every palate. Try pairing a bottle of Missouri Vignoles with any of these:

-Fresh fruits such as apricots and strawberries

-Swiss cheese and pepper jack cheese

-Asian chicken and buffalo chicken

-Pork ribs

-Mexican food

-Seafood curry

-Dishes with chili spices, ginger and chutney

-Crème brûlée and cheesecake

Also, try these refreshing summer bites: berry mint Vignoles pops, 5-ingredient raspberry sorbet, and peaches in wine.

With Vignoles’ ability to please any palate, it’s a must-have variety for all Missouri wine enthusiasts. Vignoles is the essential experience.