| Missouri Wine Competition Results Are In
Photo courtesy of James Fashing.
This year's Missouri Governor's Cup, a prestigious award that recognizes the best wine in the state, went to Blumenhof Vineyards and Winery's 2010 Valvin Muscat. The award winning wine was selected at the 2011 Missouri Wine Competition held July 13 and 14. A panel of judges from across the U.S. convened in Columbia, Mo., to taste the 266 wines that were submitted from 35 wineries before handing the top spot to Blumenhof.
Blumenhof Vineyards is located in Dutzow, Mo., near Augusta, which was the first official American Viticulture Area in the U.S. Valvin Muscat is a hybrid grape that was released by Cornell University in 2006. It produces a semi-sweet to sweet white wine.
"I think the grape makes an awesome wine," said Mark Blumenberg, owner and winemaker of Blumenhof Vineyards, of the Valvin Muscat. "I honestly don't feel that anything I did made that wine better. It's all on the grapes. I'm just lucky enough to have guessed that would be a good grape to plant a few years ago. The wine every year has lived up to my expectations."
This year, the competition introduced a new award to its annual lineup: the C.V. Riley Award for Best Norton. C.V. Riley was Missouri's first state appointed entomologist and is credited for salvaging the French wine industry with his Phylloxera resistant rootstock. The 2011 C.V. Riley Award for Best Norton went to Stone Hill Winery's 2009 Estate Bottled Norton.
The Governor's Cup winner was selected from the nine Best of Class honorees:
- Sparkling: Stone Hill Winery Brut Rosé
- Dry White: Augusta Winery 2010 Estate Bottled Vignoles
- Semi-Dry White: Blumenhof Vineyards and Winery 2010 Femme Osage Traminette
- Sweet White: Blumenhof Vineyards 2010 Valvin Muscat
- Dry Red: Montelle Winery 2009 Chambourcin
- Semi-Dry Red: Mount Pleasant Estates 2010 St. Vincent
- Blush: Stone Hill Winery Rosé Montaigne
- Dessert/Fortified: Pirtle Winery Premium Port
- Distilled: Montelle Winery Peach Brandy
The awards were determined by a panel of 9 judges through the process of blind tastings. Throughout the course of the two-day competition, they passed out 38 gold medals, 92 silver medals and 62 bronze medals.
For a complete list of winners, visit the Missouri Wine website.
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A Stomping Good Time
You don't have to be an audacious redhead to hop around in a large grape-filled vat. Just like Lucy did in the 50s, you can do it today. Although it might require a small degree of confidence to sink your bare feet into a heap of ripe, supple grapes and allowing them to squish through your toes, it's all in good fun.
Wineries all over the U.S. roll out the barrel around late summer and into early fall to invite patrons to try their hand, rather, their foot at stomping grapes. The tradition is one of the earliest methods of extracting juice from wine grapes, and the technique is believed to have originated in Rome as far back as 200 BC. Grape stomping is not as harsh of a method as one might expect. The grapes are gently broken apart to release the juices without damaging the grape skins. The resulting juice was then used to make wine.
Although grape stomping has been kept alive through various winery festivals, the true practice was outlawed sometime in the late 20th century, and has since been replaced by mechanical presses. Many wineries that still hold grape stomping events often allow participants to take home a bottle of juice to showcase the fruits of their fancy footwork.
Stone Hill's Grape Stomp 2011 will be held on August 13. Jowler Creek's Norton Grape Stomp will be on Sept. 10. Please check the Missouri Wine and Grape Board's events page to find other great events near you.
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Camping & Wine? Why not!
It's August, and despite the scorching temperatures, summer is beginning to wind down. However, there is still time to get in a little last minute outdoor activity, especially as Labor Day approaches. What better way to spend the last few weekends of summer embracing the open air? There are campgrounds all around the state that offer tent or cabin camping at little to no cost. Many of them are located near water and, better yet, near wineries. Missouri wine is a perfect complement to a relaxing, lazy weekend in the great outdoors. Pack a bottle of Vignoles or Rosé in the cooler to enjoy with dinner grilled over the campfire. Be sure to pack plastic glasses and a corkscrew if necessary. And if you plan on stopping by a few wineries, don't forget your Passport! If floating or canoeing is your thing, you're in luck. Peaceful Bend Vineyard has recently released their Grapes of Raft, a convenient, portable bag of wine. The bag's contents are equivalent to two bottles of wine, and the comfy handle makes the easy-to-carry sack a perfect addition to a day on the river (plus, it's recyclable!). You can find Grapes of Raft at any of these locations. So be adventurous during these last sweet days of summer. Embrace the simpler things in life like a cool stream at your feet, singing birds over your head and a glass of Missouri wine in your hand.
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Wines to make you Blush
Red and white wines get a lot of attention. However, it would be a great injustice to overlook their pink-tinted cousin, Rosé. Although at one time, blush wines may have been automatically passed off as sugary sweet, like red and white wines, Rosé can range from sweet to dry. Many winemakers are jumping on the tasty pink wine wagon and crafting more sophisticated blush wines that appeal to a broader palate. A recent big hit is Cave Vineyard's White Chambourcin, which won a gold medal at the Missouri Wine Competition in July. Stone Hill's Brut Rosé was awarded Best in Class for sparkling wines.
Rosé often combines the best of both worlds: the lightness of a white wine (like Vidal Blanc) and the depth and boldness of a red wine (like Chambourcin). With the broad assortment of Missouri varietals, winemakers have plenty of options when creating Rosés. The wine also pairs well with a wide range of foods, from light fish to heavier pork or beef dishes. It also complements spicy Thai or Mexican inspired foods. So next time you are looking for a wine to share with friends or enjoy on the patio, try a Rosé.
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State Fair Update
Don't Miss Wine 101 and 202 Classes
The Missouri Wine and Grape Board will be teaching not one, but two wine classes at this year's Missouri State Fair. Wine 101 and Wine 202 will be held at the Wine Tent, located across from the Grandstand. The classes are $5 each and are limited to the first 35 people. Sign up is at the wine tent.
Wine 101 covers the basics of wine and wine tasting. Learn the proper techniques to tasting wine, how to read a wine label and the appropriate serving temperatures. Plus, taste a variety of award-winning Missouri wines.
New this year is Wine 202, which will focus on food and wine pairing. Learn what AgriMissouri products go best with Norton, or what veggies and fruits go best with the semi-sweet Vignoles. Sampling of Missouri wines and local food favorites is included.
Dates for the classes:
Thursday, August 11
Monday, August 15
Tuesday, August 16
Thursday, August 18
See you at the fair!
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Locapair
Welcome to the newsletter's latest addition: Locapair. In fervent support of the locavore movement, each month we will pair a Missouri wine varietal with a local food favorite. Hence: Locapair. Enjoy.
Valvin Muscat
This varietal produces a light, semi-sweet to sweet white wine with a distinctly floral nose. It is a relatively new grape that has recently stepped into the spotlight by being crowned with the Missouri Governor's Cup at the Missouri Wine Competition in July. Valvin Muscat is a mid-season grape that produces large juicy berries compacted into small clusters on the vine.
Drink this with: Spicy Chicken
Being the delightfully versatile meat that it is, chicken can be anything you want it to be. The soft fruitiness and subtle spiciness of the Valvin Muscat will pair well with a spicier chicken dish, like this recipe for Cajun-style fried chicken. There are numerous farms throughout Missouri that focus on growing sustainable foods and raise chickens in a healthy, free-range environment. These farms can be found across the state, from St. Louis to Kansas City to Springfield. This website provides a more comprehensive list of locations that offer locally raised meats. Valvin Muscat also pairs well with Asian style pork, peppery fish or light, flaky fish.
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Summer in a Glass
St. James Winery has made it even easier for you to get your daily fruit servings. Fruit wine, which is widely produced by wineries all over the state, has soared in popularity during recent years. What better way to combat the hot summer sun than with a strawberry wine margarita? The recent launch of drinkfruitwine.com has breathed new life into the niche market. Even better news is that fruit wines can be used for more than just sprucing up a glass of lemonade. Try a blueberry reduction sauce on your vanilla ice cream or peach balsamic drizzle on roasted chicken. The wide range of use for fruit wine gives you even more reasons to celebrate summer.
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Vino Vocab
Legs: Refers to the liquid tears that run down the side of the glass after swirling the wine. The higher the alcohol percentage, the longer the wine sticks to the side of the glass, which results in longer legs. |
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The Trophy Case has been updated.
Click here to view the latest awards received by Missouri wines.
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New Wineries
St. Jordan Creek, located in Beaufort, Mo. |
Wine Trail Events
Missouri River Wine Trail: Summer Breeze, Aug. 13 & 14. For tickets and more information, click here. Out and About Missouri State Fair: Aug. 11-21 in Sedalia, Mo. 417 Magazine's Indulge: Sept. 15, in Springfield, Mo. Augusta Harvest Festival: Sept. 16 & 17, with special guest Todd Kliman Santa Fe Food and Wine Festival: Sept. 24 in Lexington, Mo. |
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