Stone Hill Winery's 2009 Vignoles won the coveted Governor's Cup award at the 2010 Missouri Wine Competition held July 14-15. The Governor's Cup winner is widely recognized as the best wine in the Show-Me State, earning the top prize out of the 242 entries submitted from 35 Missouri wineries. This is the second consecutive win for Stone Hill Winery, who earned the top spot in 2009. Stone Hill Winery also earned a record seven Best of Class awards in the competition. In total there were 41 Gold, 75 Silver and 72 Bronze medal winners.

 

The Governor's Cup winning Vignoles was selected from a field of 12 Best of Class honorees:
Sparkling - Brut, Les Bourgeois Vineyards
Dry White - 2009 Dry Vignoles, Stone Hill Winery
Semi-dry White - 2009 Steinberg White, Stone Hill Winery
Sweet White - 2009 Vignoles, Stone Hill Winery
Dry Red - 2008 Cross J Vineyard Norton, Stone Hill Winery
Semi-dry Red - 2009 Steinberg Red, Stone Hill Winery
Sweet Red - Mellow Red, Pirtle Winery
Blush - 2009 Spring Rose, Chaumette Winery
Fruit - Blackberry Mead, Pirtle Winery
Late Harvest/Ice - 2008 Late Harvest Vignoles, Stone Hill Winery
Dessert/Fortified - 2006 Port, Stone Hill Winery
Distilled - Peach Brandy, Montelle Winery
 
Award-winning wines will be on display in the Agriculture Building at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia from August 12-22. For a complete list of winners visit www.missouriwine.org 

Norton's biographer is coming to Missouri. Award-winning food and wine editor and author Todd Kliman will visit Stone Hill Winery, Hermann on Friday, August 20 from 6 pm to 8 pm to sign copies of his book about the Norton grape, The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine.

Fresh herbs are at their peak in the summer; basil is especially plentiful. Try this delicious and easy to make pesto. Serve the pesto over tortellini with fresh, sliced cantelope and a glass of crisp, dry Missouri Vidal for a superb summertime treat.

Pesto
3 cloves garlic, peeled 
2 - 3 cups fresh basil leaves
1 cup Parmesan cheese 
½ - ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil 
¼ cup pine nuts

 

In a food processor combine the garlic and fresh basil leaves. Mix. Add the Parmesan cheese. Mix. With the food processor on, slowly add the olive oil. Mix completely. Add the pine nuts. Mix. Serve over warm pasta, or chill and serve later.

Grow some great memories at the 2010 Missouri State Fair August 12 - 22 in Sedalia.

New this year at the Fair is the Cooking with Missouri Wine contest August 12. Create a culinary sensation from scratch using Missouri wine and you could win the $150 first place prize. For contest rules and more info click here  

Enjoy a glass of award-winning Missouri wine and sign up for a wine 101 class at the Missouri Wine tent. Classes are held at 4pm each Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the Fair. The cost is $5 and you receive a complimentary wine glass.

Visit Missouri Wine at our booth in the Agriculture building and check out the display of award-winning wines from the Missouri Wine Competition. 

Missouri River Wine Trail, Summer Breeze, August 28-29 - Say so long to summer with refreshing treats from each of the seven wineries on the trail that covers central Missouri.

Click here for more info.

To check out all of Missouri's Wine Trails and events click here.

Check out these Missouri wine blogs for all the latest on what's happening in the world of Missouri wine: