Enjoy the Missouri Wine Festival in Excelsior Springs this weekend. Photo courtesy of visitesprings.com.

Summertime and the living's easy ... with so many festivals from which to choose! From music to food to spirits, Missourians have access to an abundance of fairs and festivals across the state. Fast approaching this month and next are several great festivals that you won't want to miss! 

Coming up this weekend (Sat., July 21) is the Missouri Wine Festival in Excelsior Springs, Mo. This event is a gem of a festival in the state. Set in the beautiful historic Elms Hotel & Spa, you'll stroll through the festival while sampling wines from a variety of Missouri wineries and checking out the great artwork created by local artists, all while enjoying some great local music! Get your tickets today!

Another wine festival to check out takes place on Saturday, August 11. The 19th Annual Missouri Wine Festival at the Country Club Hotel & Spa in Lake Ozark, Mo., will host several local and regional wineries that will offer a variety of wines for tasting. 

Of course no festival experience would be complete without the fare that goes with it. Sip on a sweet Catawba with those ice cream treats and a semi-sweet Vignoles with the rich, creamy snacks. Going for the classic burger or brat? Sip a Chambourcin. And of course, nothing beats the heat like a crisp, cool glass of Missouri sparkling wine. 

And just for fun: Think you've seen the craziest fair food? Don't be too sure ... check out this list compiled by Food and Wine of some of the wildest fair eats across the U.S.

Stay cool and have fun this summer while touring Missouri wine country and beyond! 

Maryann Napier (right) and friend Tina Robinson enjoy wine and dinner as part of the reward for completing the Missouri Passport Program. 

In June, Maryann Napier and a friend traveled to the Northwest region of the state to redeem her reward for completing the Missouri Wine Passport Program. The level 7 reward - awarded for visiting 95 different Missouri wineries - is a weekend winery getaway for two.

The ladies stayed at The Murphy House Bed and Breakfast in Weston, as they traveled the region to visit Pirtle Winery, Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery and Riverwood Winery.

Napier said each winery had a special treat for her, whether it be a food and wine pairing or a souvenir glass. For dinner, she dined on cedar plank salmon at The Vineyards restaurant in Weston. "I thought my weekend was perfect," she said.   

When asked about her Passport Program experience, Napier said: "Visiting all the wineries was a reward in itself. Each visit was unique and fun. The rewards were well worth it. I've learned a lot about wine and wine making. I'd love to do it all again. Because Missouri wine country is still growing, there are still wineries I've yet to visit and plan to make it to all one day. I wouldn't have made it a point to take this wonderful journey if it wasn't for the passport program. I tell everyone about my experience with excitement and encourage people to do the same by taking a long weekend vacation and hitting as many wineries as possible."

Sign up for the Passport Program today! 

Our state is home to five great wine trails, but with 120 wineries in the state, there are other wine regions worth putting on your radar. With summer in full swing, we are featuring a different winery itinerary each month. So, get your passport, grab some friends, and go!

Check out this gorgeous vineyard view at Rolling Meadows Vineyard and Winery.

Northeast Area    

If your summer plans have you driving east on Interstate 70, there are several wineries to program into your GPS and include in your trip. If you don't have time venture into Hermann but still want to experience Stone Hill Winery wines, stop by their New Florence facility at exit 175 halfway between Columbia and St. Louis. The location also functions as their sparkling wine production facility, so you will also learn the methods of traditional champagne making.

A little closer to the gateway arch is Rolling Meadows Vineyard and Winery in Warrenton. This small boutique winery specializes in four varietals that you won't want to miss. Just a bit south in the town of Marthasville, Lost Creek Vineyard awaits you. Between the pastoral views and the relaxing atmosphere, you'll forget you are so close to city life.

It is worth mentioning that from Marthasville, you are just a few miles from Augusta wine country on Highway 94 and historic Hermann on Highway 19. Alas, back to traveling east on I-70, you'll find a great place for wine and food at Little Hills Winery on the the cobblestone Main Street of historic St. Charles. Eat inside the historic building or dine outside in the outdoor garden.

Don't forget your Missouri Wines iPhone and Android app for easy navigation! And as always, call ahead to confirm winery hours and events.

Winemaker Connection  

Michael Amigoni of Amigoni Urban Winery is the latest winemaker to be featured in the Winemaker's Connection. Here's what he has to say! 

How long have you been making wine?

"I have been making wine for 17 years. We started growing vinifera Cabernet Franc in my backyard in Leawood, Kansas over 15 years ago."

How and where did you learn to make wine?

"Short weekend courses with UC Davis instructors and other formal wine chemistry sessions."

What did you do before becoming a winemaker?
"Computer programming. I believe that someone who likes math like I do will fit into winemaking. I calculate everything in metric and if you tell me you have a 1000 gallon tank, I would look at you cross-eyed and think, you mean a 3,800 liter tank?"

Describe yourself in three words.

"Vinifera, passionate, urban."

What is your favorite wine to make?

"Cabernet Franc and Mourvedre."

What is the toughest challenge about winemaking in Missouri?

"The growing side, we grow 100 percent vinifera, and it is double the work of hybrids. We have figured out more and more every year on how and what varieties and clones of vinifera work in our climate. The winemaking is easy, the fruit comes in low acid and that is a good problem. We move the acid to the right level and the PH is then exactly were we want it."

Is winemaking an art or a science? Or both? 

"Both. Once you learn the science and chemistry of winemaking, then you can move to the art. The art is extraction levels, yeasts, barrels ages, cooperage and other factors."

What is your favorite food and wine pairing?

"Green Dirt Farm Dirt Lover's Cheese with Cabernet Franc."

If you didn't make wine, what would you do?

"Make pasta in a shop in Greve, Italy."