Stuff Those Stockings
Wondering what to get that wine lover in your life? Here are our top 10 wine gift-giving ideas. You may want to add a few to your own holiday wish list!
1. Norton Riedel wine glass - Crafted specifically to enhance Norton's unique flavor and aroma properties, the shape brings out the wine's floral notes and rich fruit flavors. Missouri Norton has never tasted better! $30 for a 2-pack. http://www.nortonsays.com/purchase.aspx
2. Mizzou Cellars Norton - You can't give them Norton wine glasses without the wine! Developed by MU's College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources this wine is perfect for MU alumni and Tiger fans. $25 a bottle. http://store.missouriwine.com/Mizzou-Cellars-Norton.asp3. Patric Chocolates - Recently named "Best New American Chocolate" by Food & Wine Magazine, Patric is conveniently located in Columbia, MO. From their Signature 70% blend to the popular 67% Madagascar Sambirano Valley, these chocolate bars are perfect with a glass of dry red wine. $55.99 for the Holiday Gift Pack or customize your own pack. http://www.patric-chocolate.com/chocolate-store?page=shop.browse&category_id=44. Swiss Meat & Sausage Co. Bacon - Bacon is a taste sensation! This local company (Hermann, MO) makes it easy to try and buy with their convenient store locator. We suggest pairing with a glass of Chambourcin. $41.65 for the 3-pack bacon sampler. http://www.swissmeats.com/products/bacon/half-bacon.html 5. Shatto Milk Co. Cheese Curds - If you thought their milk was good, try their cheese! Local cheese with local wine makes a great holiday pairing! Visit the dairy farm in Osborn, MO or find their cheeses at Whole Foods in the Kansas City area. $6.99 for a bag of curds. $13.99 a pound for specialty cheeses. http://www.shattomilk.com 6. Riedel Decanter - Used to awaken aged wines and maturing young wines, decanters are a wine necessity that few splurge on. Find one to fit your price range on their website. All shapes and sizes ranging from $15 to $600 a piece. http://glassware.riedel.com/index.php/riedel/decanters.html?order=price&dir=asc&p=5 7. Missouri Legacy Beef - From steaks to patties, Legacy Beef is not only good - it is good for you. This family-run ranch in Salisbury, MO raises free range cattle, free from hormones and antibiotics. Add some extra health benefits by pairing with a bottle of Missouri Norton! Smoked, sliced brisket all ready to go for $12.99. Select your cut online. http://missourilegacybeef.com 8. Food & Wine Magazine Subscription - Just because Christmas only comes once a year, doesn't mean your gift has to. Provide your favorite foodie with a monthly guide to wine recommendations, creative cocktails, fresh recipes, cooking tips and travel suggestions. Sign up now for $19.99 and receive a 6-month gift subscription free. https://subs.timeinc.net/WI/wi_mgm0807.jhtml?experience_id=234907&source_id=11&_requestid=6171919. Free Range Cookies - Whether you choose their cookies or focaccia bread, you don't have to feel bad about enjoying these carbs on Christmas. Free Range Cookies, in St. Louis, makes gluten free bakery delights using high quality, whole grain, wheat free ingredients. We suggest pairing with Missouri Sparkling wine! Visit their website to find store locations, shop online or download recipes to make your own holiday treats. Oat of the Ordinary Sampler $32.00. http://www.freerangecookies.com 10. Iceless Chiller - This thermal-insulated chiller will keep your pre-chilled wine bottle cool for up to three hours. No moisture, no ice, no peeling wine label. Search the Wine Enthusiast Catalog for other great gift-giving ideas! Online Sale Price: $14.95. http://www.wineenthusiast.com/E/results.asp?Ntt=double+wall+iceless+chiller&N=469&Ntk=Product&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&sl=1using |
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Pair up for the Holidays
 Celebrate this holiday season with local wines! Below are a few suggestions for pairing traditional holiday treats with Missouri wines. Enjoy! Candy Canes & Pink Catawba - The peppermint of the candy and sweet fruitiness of Pink Catawba mingle nicely in your mouth. Roasted Chestnuts & Chardonel - Chardonel complements the nutty, buttery, savory chestnuts. Plus, it's a good incentive to enjoy a glass of Missouri wine in front of an open fire. Latkes & Sparkling wine - Sparkling wine is the perfect partner for this traditional Hanukkah dish. Ham & Chambourcin - This light bodied red complements a juicy ham without overpowering it. Brisket & Norton - Smoked or barbecued, Norton and beef are a natural pair. Gingerbread & Vignoles - Decorate the rooftop while sipping on Vignoles; the sweetness of the wine balances the spice of the ginger. Eggnog & Traminette - Add this floral wine to your favorite eggnog recipe to create a warming holiday treat.
Fruit Cake & Norton Port - Despite its mixed reputation, fruit cake is a delectable dessert served with a Norton Port. Don't stop with these suggestions. Try pairing Missouri wine with your holiday menu and let us know your favorites! For more food pairing ideas visit www.missouriwine.org/pdf/grapetaste.pdf. |
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Holiday Help
Three great MO wines to get you through the season
This time of the year can be challenging, juggling holiday parties, traditional family get-togethers and gift giving. Stock up on the following three Missouri wines and you'll have all your holiday bases covered, from entertaining to gift-giving.
Sparkling wine - It goes without saying that you'll need a bottle of Missouri bubbly to ring in the new year, but were you aware that sparkling wines are also versatile enough to pair with a wide variety of foods as well as make terrific gifts? Have a few extra bottles of Missouri bubbles on hand for that last minute gift or for serving with your traditional holiday meal.
Chambourcin - This food friendly Missouri red wine pairs well with a variety of meats. It's fruity enough to compliment the saltiness of a holiday ham without being bitter while, at the same time, able to complement a roasted turkey with stuffing. Chambourcin is also an excellent medium-bodied "house red" -perfect for parties!
Vignoles - Vignoles is a versatile grape; it makes terrific dry, medium, sweet and late harvest wines. This range of styles make it the perfect go-to-grape for gift giving and food pairing. Enjoying a spicy hors d'oeuvre? Pair it with Vignoles. Looking for the perfect complement to your pumpkin pie? Try Vignoles. Want a special gift for a hard-to-buy-for friend? You can't go wrong with Vignoles.
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Visit MO Wineries
Looking for ideas on how to keep visiting relatives occupied during the holidays? Look no further than Missouri Wine Country. With over 100 wineries in Missouri, there's a tasting room near you. Enjoy an afternoon in scenic wine country where the hospitality is always warm even if the weather may not be. To help map out your tour, check out the winery listing on Missouriwine.org. |
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Jefferson Cups
Two Missouri wineries earned prestigious Jefferson Cup awards at the recent Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition: Adam Puchta Winery's 2005 Estate Bottled Norton and Stone Hill Winery's 2009 Vignoles. In addition to the two Missouri Jefferson Cup winners, four other Missouri wines were nominated for Jefferson Cup consideration: Augusta Winery 2009 Seyval Blanc, Bethlehem Valley 2007 Norton, Crown Valley Winery 2007 Chambourcin and Stone Hill Winery 2007 Norton.
The Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition is open to a select number of wineries across the country that represent the best commercial American wine. This year out of the over 600 wines entered, 70 were selected as possible Jefferson Cup nominees and 20 Jefferson Cups were awarded.
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Trail of Cheers!
Hermann Wine Trail, Say Cheese, December 11-12
Celebrate the season with delightful pairings of cheese and wine. Click here for tickets and more info.
Route du Vin Wine Trail, Deck the Vines, December 11-12
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Join wineries in the Ste. Genevieve area for some holiday cheer. Click here for tickets and more info. |
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Site See
Check out these Missouri wine blogs for all the latest on what's happening in the world of Missouri wine:
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