The iPhone App is here!
Now you have a wealth of Missouri wine knowledge that fits in your pocket. The app offers a multitude of features including a complete winery listing, varietal information, Missouri wine history and a food and wine pairing guide. You can also access an interactive map that allows you to locate all the wineries in the state, or narrow them down within specific mileage points. Another exciting feature is the wine log. Keep your wine notes in one convenient location and access them whenever you want. You'll be able to store details of the wines you taste, rate individual wines and even store photos of the ones you like! The easy-to-use, FREE app is available on the Missouri Wines website. |
Cheers! It's the holiday season, which means your calendar quickly fills up with family get-togethers, work parties and visiting friends. And often, it's your address on the RSVP line. We know it can get hectic, so we've compiled the perfect survival guide that's guaranteed to make you an entertaining expert. (Even if you only have a few hours to prepare!)
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Pie & Wine
Photo by Ilene Davis There are few things more enjoyable in life than a good slice of homemade pie and a glass of Missouri wine. And though pie is enjoyable anytime of the year, there is something about the autumn months that begs for a slice of warm flaky crust and delicious filling. Click here to find yummy sweet and savory pies and which Missouri wines go best! |
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Getting Creative with Missouri Wines
Photo by Brady Bilbro.
Brady Bilbro is an all around craft maven. As the author of BradyLou.com, she shares her cost-saving tips and craft-savvy ways in easy-to-follow format with plenty of photos. She writes, "I want bradylou.com to be a place where we can all share do it yourself projects that are fun, helpful, and thrifty." We recently asked this Missouri native to create some cute fall crafts out of recycled wine bottles.
Click here to view the results!
For other fun, DIY wine bottle projects, check out this link.
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Wine Tips and Tricks
Get the most from your Missouri wines!
The 3-2-1 Rule
Temperature is important to keep in mind when serving wine. If it's too warm, the alcohol can overpower the characteristics of the wine. Serving wine too cold masks the flavor. Just remember 3-2-1 when it comes to chilling wine.
- 3 hours (45 degrees) for sparkling wines
- 2 hours (55 degrees) for white, late harvest and ice wines
- 1 hour (65 degrees) for red, port and sherry wines
Aging
Wine does improve with age, but don't worry, most wine is ready to drink when purchased. If you plan on letting the wine age, follow these guidelines:
- Whites: 2-3 years
- Reds: 5-7 years
- Sparkling: 5-7 years
- Port, dry reds: 7-10
Wine Tasting: The "5S" Method
The "5S" method is the best way to get the most out of tasting wine.
- See: Examine the wine's color by holding your glass up to the light. The hue can reveal its age. White wines will have a straw or golden hue, red wines will have a brick or deep purple color and rosés will have a salmon or bright pink hue.
- Swirl: Before breathing in the wine, swirl it gently in the glass. The swirling motion increases the aroma of the wine.
- Sniff: After swirling the wine, inhale the aromas. Depending on the type of wine, you'll notice fruity, floral or spicy aromas.
- Sip: Take a small sip, roll it around in your mouth to expose it to all the taste buds while breathing in a little air to again release the aroma as you taste. Notice the taste and the texture. How does it feel in your mouth? It is light and refreshing or full and robust?
- Swallow: Some wines have a lingering finish. Is the taste like the smell? Is the body light, medium or heavy? Does the finish fade out nicely? Like sight and smell, this is another pleasurable bonus from tasting wine.
Storing
Keep your unopened wine in a cool, dark place (away from direct sunlight, and not on top of your refrigerator) with the bottles on their sides to keep the cork moist. Don't feel that you have to drink the entire bottle in one sitting; wine stays fine for several days if re-corked and refrigerated.
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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.
Traminette (tra-men-et)
Traminette can be crafted as a dry, semi-dry or sweet white wine, similar to its parent, Gewurztraminer. The fragrant white wine is often described as having lovely floral aromas. While some Traminettes have spicy undertones, most have a depth of flavor that encompasses peaches and apricots.
Drink this with: Turkey
'Tis the season. Traminette pairs well with light meats, like turkey, chicken and fish. However, the spicy finish also makes it a good wine to try with peppery stew or zesty chili. As we head into the holiday season, most of us will have our minds on the seasonal bird. Check with your local grocery store as some markets will take orders for farm-fresh turkey in time for Thanksgiving. Or, try one of these turkey-based recipes.
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Reopened Winery
The flood waters have receded! Riverwood Winery, located in Platte County, reopened on Oct. 15.
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Congrats, St. Louis Cardinals!
The Redbirds were crowned the 2011 World Series Champions after winning game seven last Friday. And how did the players celebrate the win? With Missouri sparkling wine, of course! Mount Pleasant Winery's bottles of bubbly sat in the Cardinal clubhouse just waiting to be popped after the victory. Read the whole story here.
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Vino Vocab
Age: To lay the wine down and let it mature in the bottle. Most white wines can be aged 3-5 years and tend to turn from a greenish hue to a yellowish-gold. Red wines typically change from purplish to deep red or brick as they age and continue to improve for 5-10 years in the bottle.
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Out and AboutFall Fare: Saturday, Nov. 5, New Haven, Mo.
Kristkindl Markt: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4, Hermann, Mo.
Wine Trail Events
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