Cinco de Vino
Get these festive wine glass charms from this website for your Cino de Mayo celebration.
In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo (the Fifth of May) commemorates the Mexican army's victory over France in the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. In the U.S., the holiday is widely celebrated to honor Mexican heritage, culture and pride. Popular celebrations include street festivals, parades and of course, tasty Mexican food! Traditional Mexican dishes are full of fresh ingredients and complex flavors. What better complement to a Mexican meal than a glass of complex palate-pleasing Missouri wine? The intricate layers and aroma of the vino blends with the depth of flavor of Mexican spices to bring both food and drink to life! Here are some of our recommended pairings to ensure your Cinco de Mayo feast is a hit. Use these tips in the future when preparing Mexican themed dinners, too! Mexican Pork and Tomatillo Stew: Bring out the slow cooker for this dish. The slightly sweet, slightly tart flavor of the tomatillos will pair well with a semi-sweet Vignoles. Mole Poblano Chicken: Sip on a semi-dry Traminette to complement the taste of the spicy, rich poblano. Shrimp with Chipotle-Tomato Sauce: Chipotle is a robust, smoky and spicy flavor. Try this dish with an earthy, medium-bodied Chambourcin. A few other tips: If you're working with spices and flavors that are packed with heat, you usually can't go wrong with a Vignoles or Traminette.
If the dish is light and citrusy, like a fresh salsa, and uses a lot of lime, go with a semi-dry white like a Chardonel or Vidal Blanc.
Avoid wines that are too oak-influenced, as they won't meld as well with the spicy flavors. Refer to renowned Mexican cuisine chef Rick Bayless for more tips on pairing Mexican flavors with wine. Check out these Cinco de Mayo festivals in the St. Louis area, or check the Missouri Wines events page for happenings near you! |
Cheers to Mom!
Although mothers all over the world should be honored and thanked more than once a year, don't miss the opportunity to give an extra big "thank you" to mom or that special lady in your life this Mother's Day, Sunday, May 13.
Plan a weekend winery getaway. Chaumette Vineyards and Winery in Ste. Genevieve, Mo., offers spa services. Relax in style with your favorite glass of Missouri wine! Stop by Jowler Creek for a free tasting and chair massage or enjoy a Mother's Day brunch at Mount Pleasant Winery. Take mom to any winery near you, and toast in her honor.
Here are some other suggestions to surprise mom on her special day: A basket filled with local chocolate favorites Patric Chocolate, Askinose Chocolate, Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates and Bissingers. - Wine decor such as Riedel wine glasses, wine charms, a wine stopper and a decanter.
- A "Local Spa" basket filled with locally made soaps, candles, lotions and Missouri wine.
- A "Missouri-made" snack basket: Include locally made pasta, cheeses, chips and Missouri wine.
This website offers even more ideas for Missouri-made products and gifts. |
Weekend Winery Getaway for two, please
 Scott and Jackie Paterson pose with their Passport Program completion certificate at Hermann Hill Bed and Breakfast in Hermann, Mo.
Scott and Jackie Paterson had a goal. They sipped. They saw. They conquered. The Patersons are the first couple to complete the Missouri Wine Passport Program and reap the reward: a weekend winery getaway. A visit to 95 wineries across the state allowed them to reach Level 7 of the program. They accomplished their goal in only five months.
"We really worked at it," Scott said, laughing. "We set a goal and planned weekend trips and a vacation around the program. We set a goal and accomplished it, and in the meantime got to see the whole state. We discovered Ste. Genevieve which was a real gem for us."
Their endurance paid off with a weekend getaway in Hermann, Mo. The couple started their stay at Hermann Hill Bed and Breakfast before embarking on a winery tour courtesy of the Hermann Trolley. At the end of the day, Scott and Jackie attended a sparkling wine reception at Stone Hill Winery before enjoying a Norton Vertical Dinner at Stone Hill, served at the Vintage Restaurant. The next morning, after breakfast at Hermann Hill, the couple traveled to Adam Puchta Winery, where they enjoyed a tour, a tasting and lunch.
The Patersons liked that the Passport Program encouraged them to visit wineries throughout the entire state, and they enjoyed meeting the people that keep those wineries running.
"Most wineries were smaller but took a chance on a new venture and are doing their best to make it as a new winery. We liked hearing stories of what makes people start wineries. We really enjoyed smaller family-owned wineries," said Scott.
The Patersons recommend the program to anyone interested in Missouri wines.
"Get out and try it! It's a great opportunity to explore Missouri," he says. "Always ask about the passport. Tasting rooms are very busy, but always happy to stamp when you ask them."
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Winery Itinerary
Northwest Region 
Our state is home to five great wine trails, but with more than 118 wineries in the state, there are other wine regions worth putting on your radar. With summer among us, we're featuring a different winery itinerary every month. So, grab your passport, grab some friends, and go!
The northwest part of the state is booming with wineries. Lafayette County is home to five wineries that often work together on events and festivals. If you are looking to experience the countryside and relax in a farm setting, this is the trip for you.
Off of Highway 70, stop at Odessa Country Winery in Odessa and taste their specialty semi-sweet country wines. From there, head up to Wellington and visit La Bella Vineyards and take in great views of their 10-acre lake while sipping their Italian influenced wine. Next, stop by Fahrmeier Family Vineyards in Lexington and relax in their remodeled barn/tasting room on the family farm. Just a few miles east in Dover you will find Terra Beau Winery, occupied in a chapel built in 1858 for pioneers and frontiersmen exploring the west. Round out your wine tour of Lafayette County by relaxing at Baltimore Bend Vineyard in Waverly and discover the legend of the sinking Baltimore boat on the Missouri River. If you are looking to make it a weekend, there are several great B&B's, shops and restaurants in the area.
A special add on option to this winery itinerary is a journey through the Kansas City Metro Area. Amigoni Urban Winery is located in downtown Kansas City in the historic West Bottoms. Albonee Winery and Country Inn can be found in Independence and includes a B&B and winery overlooking the Little Blue Valley. Stonehaus Farms Winery is in Lee's Summit and offers a panoramic view of their vineyard, yet it's just 20 minutes from the city.
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Winemaker Connection
with Shaun Turnbull of Stone Hill Winery
How long have you been making wine? "Since 2000."
How and where did you learn to make wine? "I studied at Elsenburg Agricultural College (which specialize in oenology) in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where I received my degree in Wine Making."
What did you do before becoming a winemaker? "Gave up my social life to study my butt off!"
Describe yourself in three words. "Tall, dark (and) thirsty."
What is your favorite wine to make? "I love making any full-bodied red wine. There is nothing like the evolvement of the red berry into a juicy, mouth watering, three-dimensional-liquid -bliss of complexity. There is so many ways you can express yourself with making a great bottle of velvety deep crimson. You just feel so much more involved with the vinification process. It's a very personal thing."
What is the toughest challenge about winemaking in Missouri? "Definitely the always-changing climate's effect on the vine and grapes. The Continental climate is tough on the vines. It is always a challenge in the winery to get the chemical and organoleptical components balanced. There is always too much or too little of something or other."
Is winemaking an art or a science? Or both? "It's a scientific art or an artful science ... Explanation: Poe-tay-toe vs. Poe-taah-toe."
What is your favorite food and wine pairing? "Personally food comes second to wine. For example, we will have a heavy bodied red with fish and still be happy. Wine is food for the soul, while food only makes your stomach happy. We usually drink what we have a taste for that evening or occasion. Usually if there is food available with the wine, it's bonus!!!"
If you didn't make wine, what would you do? "Write for a gossip publication." |
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LocapairIn fervent support of the locavore movement, each month we pair a Missouri wine varietal with a local food favorite. Hence: Locapair. Enjoy. Catawba (ca-taw-ba) This is a pink grape that was discovered near the Catawba River in North Carolina. Catawba is used in the production of pink and rosé wines. Catawba produces a medium-bodied, sweet, fragrant, strawberry-like wine. The wine is usually pink to orange in color.
Drink this with: Fried Chicken
The medium-bodied, fruity Catawba will go great with the crispy, fried chicken. Serve the dish with sweet barbecue or spicy mustard dipping sauces and you've hit it out of the park.
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Vino Vocab
Table Wine: Generally any wine that is not sparkling or fortified. In the U.S., these wines must also be between 7 percent and 14 percent alcohol by volume.
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