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Have a Sparkling New Year!
It's time to break out the bubbles and toast to family and friends! Revisit memories of the past year and look forward to new ones as you celebrate the arrival of 2013 with a flute of Missouri sparkling wine. Although Missouri sparkling wine is delicious by itself, get creative with your bubbly by whipping up a sparkling wine punch to serve at your New Year's gathering. There are many recipes from which to choose, and all are sure to wow your guests. Plan to host a New Year's Day brunch? Missouri bubbles will make the first day of the year sparkle! Try this Semifreddo Bellini (peaches and sparkling white) with this savory Canadian-bacon strata. Or serve these light and fluffy herb-filled omelets with this Lemon Drop sparkling wine punch. This is also a perfect opportunity to finish up the leftover sparkling wine from the night before. Remember that even though sparkling wine gets a lot of attention around the holidays as we celebrate family, friends and new beginnings, it can and should be enjoyed beyond just special occasions. Sparkling wines can be made with a single varietal or by blending grapes and will range in residual sugar (for example, Brut is dry and unsweetened). In Missouri, wineries produce a delicious variety of sparkling wines that can be found at pleasantly affordable prices. Check out Missouri's sparkling wine award winners and visit a winery near you or your local grocery store to pick up a bottle today! |
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January is Norton Varietal Month!
Clusters of Norton grapes hang from the vine. Photo by James Fashing.
Be bold this new year! January is Norton Varietal Month, and Missouri Wine invites you to sip and share the state's flagship wine. As the official state grape, Norton boasts bold, dark berry flavors mingled with spicy overtones and an oak influence. This rich, full-bodied dry red wine is the definition of an all-American wine.
Norton is food friendly, best paired with foods of the Midwest: smoked meat, wild game, barbecue and lamb. It also complements dark chocolates, strong cheeses such as blue and Cheddar, and spicy seafood like blackened fish. This wine is the perfect accompaniment to a steak dinner or an evening by the fireplace.
The Norton grape, also known as Cynthiana (sin-thee-ana), is the quintessential winter wine. Rich, bold flavors will warm you as you welcome in the new year, and the spicy aromas of the wine are especially inviting on a dark, chilly winter evening. Enjoy Norton over laughs with friends or with a warm blanket and a good book.
In 2003, Norton was declared Missouri's official state grape. Although it originated around 1830 near Richmond, Va., Norton made its way to Missouri by way of German immigrants who settled in Hermann, Mo. It is believed to be the oldest grape variety still commercially grown in the U.S. Norton continues to be praised for being a hardy, disease resistant and vigorous vine that can withstand the extreme temperatures of Missouri.
Beat the winter blues by exploring Missouri Wine country and sampling this great wine with friends, or pick up a bottle and warm up with friends on a chilly winters eve. Cheers! |
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New Year, New Adventure, New Passport Program!
2013 brings a new year and new adventures! We're excited to announce there's a new way to travel the world of Missouri wine-and new rewards to earn. With nearly 120 wineries in the state, there are still lots of wineries to see and wines to sample. Are you up for the challenge? To find out what's new, visit our website. There you'll find details, instructions and rewards for the new program. The fun starts in 2013! |
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Read Between the Vines:
A list of some of our favorite wine books
 Photo courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.
Expand your wine knowledge this year with one of these entertaining and informative books! What better way to spend a winter night than sipping a warming glass of Norton and brushing up on your wine wisdom? Kevin Zraly's Complete Wine CourseCost: $19 Wine educator Kevin Zraly has revised what is called the most popular wine course to reflect updated vineyard information and flavor profiles. He has also added a Best of the Best chapter and more than 20 smart phone tags throughout the book.
Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, including their Origins and Flavoursby Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, José Vouillamoz Cost: $110 This book shares comprehensive details on all vine varieties currently making wine in commercial circulation, including their origins, how they grow, where they are planted, how their wines taste and more.
The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson
Cost: $39 - $69
First published in 1994, this third edition exhaustively covers any wine-related topic imaginable, from regions and grape varieties, to viticulture and oenology, to the history of wine and much, much more.
The Curious World of Wine
by Richard Vine
Cost: $13
Author Dr. Vine shares tales from the world of winemaking, from the funny to the surprising to the quirky. This book is an entertaining read for any wine-lover, whether you're a novice or a connoisseur.
How to Love Wine: A Memoir and Manifesto
by Eric AsimovCost: $16
Feeling a little anxious about diving into the wine world? This book is for you. The author, a New York Times wine critic, provides tips on how to move past the uncertainty that some feel when considering purchasing or tasting wines.
Pairing With the Masters: A Definitive Guide to Food and Wineby Ken Arnone, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan
Cost: $23
A Master Chef and a Master of Wine come together to create the ultimate food and wine pairing guide. This book is perfect for everyone, from the wine expert to the wine novice.
The New York Times Book of Wine: More Than 30 Years of Vintage Writing
by Howard G. Goldberg, Eric Asimov
Cost: $16
Throughout the years, the New York Times has showcased some of the best wine writing from some of the most well-known wine writers in the world. This book covers everything from winespeak, to pairing, to wine gadgets and much more.
Missouri Wine Book Section
A Tour of Missouri Wineries
by Jonathan Eccher, Jeremy Hollingshead
Cost: $15
Learn everything you ever wanted about Missouri wineries and vineyards from this book. The authors provide a fun look into the history of Missouri's wine industry, Missouri wine varietals, and the winemaking process.
Missouri Wine Country: St. Charles to Hermann by Dianna Graveman, Don Graveman Cost: $16 As the title suggests, this book takes a historical look at the first official American Viticulture Area and Missouri wine country between St. Charles and Hermann. The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American WineBy Todd Kliman
Cost: $10
This book tells the wild story of the Norton grape, which rocked the wine world of the 19th century and continues to do so today. Find out how Missouri's state grape has impacted the world.
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Winemaker Connection
with Carol Warnebold of OakGlenn Winery
Carol Warnebold has been making wine for nearly three decades. She and her husband, Glenn, own and operate OakGlenn Winery, located in Hermann, Mo.
How long have you been making wine?
"Our winery opened in 2000 to the public. I have been making wine most of my adult life."
How and where did you learn to make wine?
"As a novice, I made wine unprofessionally, in my kitchen for over 30 years."
What did you do before becoming a winemaker?
"I retired from Ford Motor Company where I worked in marketing, sales, service and litigation."
Describe yourself in three words.
"German, Female, Wine-Lover"
What is your favorite wine to make?
"White Port"
What is the toughest challenge about winemaking in Missouri?
"Chemistry"
Is winemaking an art or a science? Or both?
"Winemaking is first a passion to achieve excellence. Education is essential to perfect the art of making wine."
What is your favorite food and wine pairing?
"I was raised on a cattle farm and enjoy beef (steaks, roasts, ground beef) with a nice glass of Norton wine. My mother made fabulous deserts so I also have sweet inclinations. White Port drizzled over pound cake with fresh fruit and whipped cream is my favorite topper to an excellent meal."
If you didn't make wine, what would you do?
"I think I would be unhappy." |
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Locapair
Norton/Cynthiana (sin-thee-ana)
This rich, full-bodied dry red wine is the king of all-American wines. Powerful and bold, expect dark berry flavors mingled with spicy overtones and oak influence. It pairs well with smoked meat, wild game, barbecue and lamb, as well as rich cheeses and dark chocolates. The Norton grape is also known as Cynthiana.
Drink this with: Beef Chili
What better way to spend a cold winter evening than with a steaming bowl of chili and a tempting glass of rich Norton? Check your local grocery store for Missouri-grown produce and beef. Pick up a bottle of Missouri Norton and you're on your way to a perfect winter evening!
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Vino Vocab
Sparkling wine: Effervescent wine that contains significant levels of carbon dioxide.
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Award Winners
Have you visited our trophy case lately? Click here to view the winningest Nortons and other Missouri wines of 2012.
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