A Halloween Soriee - Missouri Wine Style
Photo by David Malosh, courtsey of Food & Wine.
It's the most frightful time of the year! Halloween is just around the corner and is a great excuse to tap into your inner monster - a friendly monster, of course! Missouri Wines has pulled together some fun ideas for your ghoulish gala that are guaranteed to be a success. It will be a hauntingly good time!
Refreshments
We love the idea of serving a Swampy Sangria using a dry white Missouri wine such as Seyval Blanc and a Missouri sparkling. Spook-up the serving bowl with fake cobwebs and spiders!
For a sweet, easy treat, serve popcorn balls with Missouri sparkling wine! Mix in some orange and yellow candy-coated chocolate pieces for an extra Halloween themed kick.
Black Widow Goat Cheese Log (pictured): Dazzle guests with this classic, yet edible, Halloween decoration. The savory, creamy goat cheese will pair well with plain crackers or bread sticks and a sparkling wine or a semi-dry Vignoles.
Spiderweb Cupcakes: This recipe is slightly more involved, but the result is fantastic. Pair the velvety cake with a dry red like Chambourcin.
Check out these other creepy, crawly recipes from Food & Wine for more great ideas.
Entertainment
Wine bottle ring toss: This is a simple, fun activity that is easy to play with a group or one-on-one. Set up 12 (or fewer) recycled wine bottles - six on either side - about 10 feet apart. Use canning lids or rings made from rope or plastic and try to toss the ring around one of the bottles opposite of where you're standing. You can devise your own scoring system, or just play for fun. Offer small prizes like wine cork key chains or wine glass charms to the winners!
Pin the tail on the witch (or black cat): Adults can play this game, too! It's simple and always good for a laugh. Check your local Halloween specialty store for a large image that you can hang on your wall. Save an unopened bottle of Missouri wine to reward the winner.
Pumpkin painting: This activity can get a little messy, so be sure to give guests the heads up. Set up a station (outside is best) and set out paints, patterns and other crafts and let your guests get creative! (Be sure to include on your invitation that it's BYOP -bring your own pumpkin.)
Click here for a list of additional game ideas.
No matter what games you play, you're sure to have a great time! Happy Halloween from Missouri Wines!
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Missouri Seasonal Wines - Part 2
Get crafty with your corks! This fall decoration can be found on Etsy.
Fence Stile Vineyards & Winery
Fence Stile will be releasing Ishq, a late-harvest style wine. The winery will also offer custom blended mulling spices for their Sweet Enchantment wine.
Les Bourgeois Winery & Vineyards
Les Bourgeois will release their Burning Barrel Norton Reserve this fall.
Twin Oaks Vineyard and Winery
This season, Twin Oaks will release their Wolf Creek wine, which was created by adding sugar to their fruity, earthy Chambourcin to create a complex, sweet wine. The winery will also release the Razzle Dazzle wine, which blends their Norton with sweet Raspberry.
Next month, we'll have even more spicy, seasonal wines to share with you! And remember, keep an eye out at a winery near you to see what other seasonal goodies will be available this year!
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Missouri Seasonal Wines - Correction
In our October - First Edition newsletter, it was mistakenly reported that Chaumette Vineyards & Winery was to offer a Spiced Apple Wine. It is West Winery, located in Macon, Mo., that is offering a Spiced Apple Wine this season. We apologize for the error. West Winery's apple wine with added spices is the perfect drink to enjoy on a fall evening or at your Halloween bash!
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Ladoga Ridge's "B cause" wine, photo courtesy of Ladoga Ridge Winery.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To show their support, our Missouri wineries are hosting special events that are specific to promoting awareness of breast cancer. Be sure to check our events page for more happenings in your area.
Casa De Loco Winery
Casa De Loco has Bluff Blush, which is a wine inspired by Candy Coburn who is an advocate for breast cancer awareness. It was created in collaboration with winemaker Larry Owens. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research and prevention.
Drink Pink with Crown Valley Winery
From Oct. 15 - 31, Crown Valley will accept cash donation for the local American Cancer Society Charity. Sip on any of their pink drinks, such as their Pink Moscato, Sparkling Rose, Royal Blush and more! Click here for more info.
Ladoga Ridge Winery
On Sunday, Oct. 14, Ladoga Ridge held their "B cause" (breast cancer awareness) event, complete with raffles, refreshments and a balloon release. Proceeds will benefit three local breast cancer awareness organizations. Ladoga Ridge also donated four cases of their B cause wine to "A Pink Carpet Event" in Parkville, Mo., where the wine brought in $4,500 for The Spelman Medical Foundation to pay for people who are under-insured to have mammograms.
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State Fair Recipe Winners
Here are the second place winners from the Missouri Wine Just Desserts contest and Cooking With Missouri Wine contest from the 2012 Missouri State Fair. We had some delicious entries and here are the ones that rose to the top! Check out next month when we bring you the our third place winners. Enjoy!
Cooking With Missouri Wine 2012
Second Place:
FRENCH ONION SOUP
Stacy Robb, Sweet Springs, Missouri
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 to 4 pounds yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
8 cups beef stock, divided
2 cups dry white Missouri wine (such as Les Bourgeois Solay)
1 baguette (long, skinny loaf of French bread)
Butter, for bread
8 slices Provolone cheese
Put butter and oil in a large stockpot; heat until butter is melted and stir to mix. Add onions; cover and cook about 20 minutes, or until onions are soft.
Add sugar, salt and pepper. Continue cooking until onions are very soft and golden in color. Sprinkle flour over onions; cook and stir about 2 minutes. Add 2 cups of the beef stock; stir well, then add the remaining 6 cups beef stock and the wine. Simmer about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Slice the baguette into 8 (1-inch) slices. Butter both sides of each slice of bread, then toast in preheating oven until lightly browned on both sides.
Place a slice of toasted bread in bottom of each oven-proof bowl. Fill bowls with soup. Put a slice of cheese on top of each bowl of soup. Place bowls on baking sheet and bake in 425-degree oven until cheese is melted and brown. (This can be done in a microwave oven, but the cheese will not brown.)
Serve soup hot, with any remaining French bread on the side.
Yield: 8 servings.
Just Desserts Contest 2012
Second Place:
STRAWBERRY PARFAIT
Pam Steen, Leeton, Missouri
1 cup heavy or whipping cream
� cup granulated sugar
1 � cups sweet white Missouri wine (such as St. James Velvet White), divided
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
3 cups sliced strawberries (sweetened to taste)
Beat the cream in a chilled medium mixing bowl on high speed of electric mixer, adding sugar gradually, until cream starts to thicken. Gradually add half of the wine, lemon juice and lemon peel and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Put the strawberries and the remaining wine in a bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight.
To serve, layer the whipped cream mixture and the berry mixture in chilled parfait glasses. If desired, garnish each serving with a sprig of mint, a slice of lemon, and a slice of strawberry. Serve at once.
Yield: 6 servings.
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Winetinerary
Route du Vin and Beyond
 Take in this unique view at Cave Vineyard in Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
While our state is home to seven great wine trails, there are plenty of fantastic wineries to visit that are off the beaten path, too. This month we feature the Route du Vin Wine Trail and the surrounding wineries in the area. So, download the Missouri Wine app, grab some friends, and go enjoy the changing of the season with Missouri wines!
Take in the beauty, the French heritage and the fine wines that the Ste. Genevieve area has too offer. Start the trail at Sainte Genevieve Winery and experience the true warmth of history at this family-owned winery before traveling to Cave Vineyard, which is nestled comfortably in a natural cave. Next check out Charleville Winery and take in the gorgeous view from the deck. Stop by Chaumette Vineyards & Winery and enjoy a meal at the Grapevine Grill before heading on to Twin Oaks Vineyard & Winery, in Farmington, Mo., where you can relax by the fireplace indoors or outside on the inviting porch. Your final destination is Sand Creek Vineyard, in Farmington, Mo., where you can sip wine on the veranda or in their spacious tasting room. Enjoy a snack while you're at it!
There are plenty of other wineries to check out on your way through Route du Vin. While in the Ste. Genevieve area, stop by Crown Valley Winery and Crown Valley by Engler Park, the first true Champagne House in the Midwest. Next head to Weingarten Vineyard and try a pizza from their wood-burning oven. A little southwest of Ste. Genevieve you'll find Buck Mountain Winery and Vineyard, located in Doe Run, Mo., which grows a multitude of grapes. Then it's time to head to Park Hills, Mo., to St. Francois Winery located in the Historic Missouri Parkland. Relax on their patio before visiting Villa Antonio Winery, in Hillsboro, where you'll taste true Italian-style wines. Next up is Edg-Clif Farms and Vineyard, in Potosi, and take in the rolling hills of the Ozarks. Finally, head southwest to Don Virgilio Winery & Vineyard, in Seymour, Mo., for a small, family-owned winery experience.
Remember, there is no right or wrong way to make your way through Missouri wine country, though it is a good idea to map out your path and double check winery hours. Download the Missouri Wine app to make your trip even easier. Have fun, relax and enjoy all that Missouri wineries have to offer!
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Winemaker Connection
with Scott Pirtle of Pirtle Winery
In this month's Winemaker Connection, we feature Scott Pirtle of Pirtle Winery, located in Weston, Mo.
How long have you been making wine?
"I started helping my dad make wine over 30 years ago. I made winemaking my full-time job 17 years ago."
How and where did you learn to make wine?
"I learned most of my winemaking from my father, Elbert Pirtle. I have also taken classes and learned a lot through personal experience."
What did you do before becoming a winemaker?
"Sales."
Describe yourself in three words.
"Curious, innovative, humorous."
What is your favorite wine to make?
"Port. I love its complexity and challenge."
What is the toughest challenge about winemaking in Missouri?
"Making wine is not my hardest challenge in this business. Keeping up with all of the paperwork and making sure that you are always compliant is probably the most challenging."
Is winemaking an art or a science? Or both?
"Both. I have formulas that I have used for many years but from season to season, flavors will vary and that is where the art comes in. It is also an art to be creative to come up with new wines from time to time to keep things fresh and exciting."
What is your favorite food and wine pairing?
"A great filet mignon with a nice bottle of our Norton."
If you didn't make wine, what would you do?
"I might add micro-distilling to my resume."
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Passport Program Update
Time is running out to receive credit for your current Missouri Wines passport. On December 31, the Missouri Wines passport program will come to an end.
Current participants have until the end of the year to acquire stamps and codes, and enter them into the online program to receive credit for your winery visit. Thank you for making this program such a success!
We are excited to announce that a new program will begin in 2013. Stay tuned for details! If you have any questions, please call 800-392-9463 or email missouri.wine@mda.mo.gov.
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Locapair
Concord (kahn-cord):
Discovered in Concord, Massachusetts, Concord is called America's original dessert wine. However, Concord can be enjoyed anytime! This wine is known for its deep, purple color, intense fruity flavor and classic sweetness. This wine goes well with spicy dishes and sweet desserts!
Drink this with: Spicy Barbecue Shrimp Skewers
The fruity characteristics of Concord will compliment the spicy flavors of the shrimp. The light char from the barbecue grill makes this a great pairing for the season.
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Hay rides, jackets, crunchy leaves, cider ... that's right, it's fall! Time to pull your warm clothes out of the closet and start taking advantage of all the wonderful things this season has to offer. Aside from pumpkin patches, corn mazes and caramel apples, there are plenty of fall-themed festivals that are happening right now and right near you! VisitMo.com has a great comprehensive list of upcoming festivals, along with handy contact info and driving directions.
Click here to visit their website and start planning your next fall festival getaway. Be sure to check out those Missouri winery events along the way!
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Vino Vocab
Mellow: A wine is considered to take on this characteristic after some of the harsh fruit flavors have been softened with age.
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