October 1^st is National Homemade Cookie Day, so we decided we should round up some recipes for delicious cookies made with the only thing that could make cookies better… wine! Baking with wine adds depth to the flavor and richness to your sweet treats. Try these cookie recipes with your favorite local wines, and maybe enjoy a glass while they’re in the oven. You’ve earned it!

These traditional Italian Wine Cookies are great made with your favorite dry red wine and dipped in coffee, hot chocolate or even in a glass of wine.

Try this recipe for a fun take on Ciambelline Cookies made with white wine, and topped with a super simple white wine glaze. If you’re not an anise fan, substitute it with vanilla. The resulting cookies are still quite delicious.

If you’re looking for something a little different, these spicy Dutch Soetkoekies are perfect for you. Make them with a Missouri port-style dessert wine.

As the weather cools down, make some mulled wine with your fave local red wine and save some to bake these Mulled Wine Cookies. They are a soft, fluffy cookie with a delicious mulled wine glaze!

Are you a chocolate and red wine lover? We’ve got the answer… these Dark Chocolate and Red Wine Cookies are decadent and delicious, and perfect with a Missouri Norton wine.

Looking for something a little lighter? White Wine + Lemon Cookiesdefinitely fit the bill. Make them with a citrusy Vidal Blanc.

If you have a favorite cookie recipe, try adding wine to the mix. Baking with wine is rather easy. Here’s a guide to help!

Happy Homemade Cookie Day; enjoy!

Fall (or Autumn if you’re fancy) has arrived in Missouri wine country and we can’t wait to see you. Crisper air, colorful leaves, bon fires and festivals… so many wonderful things to appreciate about Autumn and you can find them all at a local winery. Check out this list of Fall festivals around the Show-Me state, and make plans to enjoy Autumn in wine country. It’s closer than you think!

Nine industry experts blind-tasted hundreds of Missouri wines at the 2015 Missouri Wine Competition, and according to them, these 12 wines rose to the top of the pack as the Best of Class. Head out to wine country or your local retailer and give these wines a taste before they’re gone!

Meet the rest of the 2015 Best of Class winners:

• Governor’s Cup (Best Overall): 2014 Vignoles, St. James Winery – St. James
• C.V. Riley Award (Best Norton): 2013 Savage Norton, Chandler Hill Vineyards – Defiance
• Sparkling: Brut Rosé, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Dry White: Dry Vignoles, Adam Puchta Winery – Hermann
• Semi-Dry White: 2014 Vignoles, St. James Winery – St. James
• Sweet White: 2013 Vignoles, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Dry Red: 2012 Chambourcin, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Semi-Dry Red: 2013 Steinberg Red, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Sweet Red: Stone House Red, Montelle Winery – Augusta
• Rosé: Dry Rosé, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Fruit Wine: Raspberry, Windy Wine Company – Osborn
• Dessert/Fortified: Cream Sherry, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Late Harvest/Icewine: 2013 Vidal Ice Wine, Stone Hill Winery – Hermann
• Distilled Product: Cherry Brandy, Montelle Winery – Augusta

Football season is upon us. Cheering on your team, gathering with friends, and making memories; what could be better? Tailgating is a tried and true tradition for most football fans, and it is a great time… if you’re prepared. We’ve got some tips to help you stay at the top of your tailgating game this season.

1. Make a game plan early. Planning and preparing ahead of time means when it comes time for the actual tailgate you can relax and enjoy. Make a checklist of all your tailgating needs and pre-pack as much as you can. Some ideas: A tool box full of all your tailgate utensils (don’t forget the wine opener!); plastic totes or drawers packed with glasses or cups, plates, napkins, foil, bags, etc.; a mini first aid kit in a recycled pill bottle or mints tin.
2. Chill everything first. If you’re serving wine you prefer chilled, chill it in the refrigerator before you pack it in the cooler. It will keep your ice from having to work too hard and melting quicker. Also consider freezing bottles of water to use as ice. When they melt, you’ll have cold water to drink!
3. Keep your wine cool with frozen grapes. Drop a couple frozen grapes in your glass of wine to keep it cool on a hot game day without watering it down and changing the flavor.
4. Mix up personal sized sangria in mason jars. They are easy, cute and delicious! And you don’t have to worry about that big, awkward pitcher falling over on the way to the stadium.
5. Go for plastic or acrylic wine glasses to avoid breakage.Glass is beautiful and elegant, but the tailgate might not be the best place for your fancy wine glasses. Invest in an inexpensive set of wine ‘glasses’ made of a less shatter-prone material.
6. Keep bugs out of your vino with repurposed cupcake liners. An overturned cupcake liner fits nicely over most wine glasses or jars and keeps those pesky insects out of your delicious beverage.
7. Choose food friendly wines. If you’re not sure what foods will be served at the tailgate or other guests’ preferences, opt for wines that will go with a wine range of foods. A medium-bodied Chambourcin will pair well with most meats off the grill (burgers, brats, etc.). A semi-dry Vignoles will be great with other traditional tailgate foods such as nachos and hot wings. A nice rosé wine is also a good choice to match up with a variety of dishes. For more help pairing food and wine, check out this guide.

We hope these tailgate tips help you get the most out of football season!

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!

Missouri wines are as unique as the people who make and enjoy them. They range from bone dry to decadently sweet and everything in between. You’ll find earthy, savory flavors in some and light, bright acidity in others. The broad variances are part of what make Missouri wines so great with food. There’s a Missouri wine to go with any and all of your favorite fare. Use this infographic as your guide when pairing food and wine. Happy Missouri Wine Month!

Halloween is just around the corner. If you haven’t figured out your costume yet and you love wine, these easy, DIY ideas are for you.

A Bunch of Grapes

Some balloons, felt and creativity is about all you need for this costume… and strong lungs. Get the instructions here.

Bacchus (Roman)/Dionysis (Greek)- God of Wine

A DIY toga out of a sheet is the classic last minute costume. Amp it up with fake grapes and leaves and accessorize with a wine goblet or empty wine bottle.

Wine Barrel

This is maybe a little more work than some other last-minute DIY costumes, but it’s a functioning wine barrel and will impress everyone. If you’re up for the challenge, get the instructions here.

A Wine Snob

Grab that blazer from the back of your closet, throw on an ascot (a scarf tied and tucked into your shirt works too) and an oversized glass of red wine and you are good to go!

Your Favorite Bottle of Wine

Print or recreate an oversized label from your favorite bottle of (Missouri) wine, attach it to the front of burgundy clothes and make a cork hat. Done and done!

Enjoy Hallowine. Cheers!

Missouri is home to 10 great wine trails, but with more than 125 wineries in the state, there are additional wine regions worth putting on your radar. Labor Day weekend is nearing, and we are featuring a few wine itineraries to help you plan your escape. So grab some friends, relax and get away to Missouri wine country!

The Metropolitan Triangle Tour

Many of Missouri’s 125+ wineries are in the backyard of the state’s major metropolitan areas. Start your journey on the east side of the state in St. Louis then travel southwest to Springfield and Branson and end up at the western border in Kansas City, Missouri. While making your way through this triangle of food, music, and city life, be sure to venture into the nearby wine countries of these metro areas. Click here for the full wine-tinerary.

The Great River Road Tour

Discover life on the Mississippi River through prominent historic sites and quaint Missouri wineries nestled along the river. Formed in 1938 from a network of roads and highways, the Great River Road allows travelers to follow the Mississippi River from Minnesota to Louisiana. One of the greatest sections of this river road is its path through the Show-Me state. Click here for the full wine-tinerary.

The Heart of Missouri Tour

Discover unique small towns and the hidden treasures they offer on this tour through the heart of Missouri. A journey through the area’s wine country is worth making. The Missouri River Wine Trail, featuring eight wineries and special events, passes through quaint Mid-Missouri towns across the state’s central section of the river. Many of Missouri’s greatest towns and historical sites are located along the route. Click here for the full wine-tinerary.

Whether you use these wine-tineraries or blaze your own trail, now is the time to explore Missouri wine country!

September is arguably the best month of the year in Missouri. The weather is great, there’s a ton to do, and last but definitely not least… it’s Missouri Wine Month! There’s certainly plenty to celebrate in Missouri wine country this September. Harvest has begun, festivals and special events abound, and there’s a whole new class of award-winning wines to taste.

According to a recent study, the local wine industry is on the rise in almost too many ways to count. The annual economic impact of wine and grapes on the state is $1.76 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a B. Whoa! The industry supports nearly 15,000 full-time jobs and produces 1.25 million gallons of wine every year. With 1,700 acres of grapes and 425 growers, harvest is a very exciting time in the vineyards of Missouri.

The 2015 Missouri Wine Competition winners were announced recently, and there are some truly spectacular wines in the lineup. You’ll definitely want to try these vintages before they’re gone!

Harvest festivals, grape stomps, wine releases, and special tastings and dinners… there are so many ways to enjoy Missouri wine this month, and we want to see your favorites! We will be giving away exclusive “Drink Local” t-shirts to two lucky winners every week in September. Entering is easy; just post a Missouri wine related photo on Instagram with the hashtag #MOWineMonth, and you will be entered to win!

Giveaway Details:

How to enter to win: (It’s super easy!)

• Follow Missouri Wines on Instagram @MissouriWine
• Post a Missouri wine related photo (glass of Missouri wine, yourself at a winery, cradling your favorite award-winning wine, etc.) with the hashtag #MOWineMonth in the caption no later than 5pm CST on September 29th, 2015.

Things to note:

One entry per Instagram account. Each account can only win once during the month-long giveaway. However, each week, the non-winning entries will be put back in the running for the next week’s drawing.

If your account is set to private, we won’t be able to see that you posted an entry. So, you’ll need to make your account public for the duration of the contest to be entered.

We will announce two winners on each of the following Wednesdays:

• September 9^th, 2015
• September 16^th, 2015
• September 23^rd, 2015
• September 30^th, 2015

Winners will be notified via private message on Instagram and tagged in a post announcing the winners on @MissouriWine’s Instagram account.

Shirts will be sent out within 30 days of the giveaway end date on September 30^th.  Available sizes are S, M, L, XL, 2XL.

Per Instagram rules, we must mention this is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm they are 21+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.