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February 2008

There’s Nothing Better than a Missouri Wine

Missouri wines just don’t get the credit that they deserve. As director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture, it’s my job to promote Missouri wines – I consider this task a labor of love.

Missourians who aren’t familiar with all of the wonderful and quality wines produced across the state need to look at what we have to offer within a short drive from home. You don’t need to travel to Napa Valley to experience wine making at its best; we have some exceptional wineries right here in Missouri.

The Missouri wine industry is an exciting sector of our agriculture economy and I’m thrilled to have recently attended the 2008 Midwest Grape and Wine Conference. It was a good gathering of industry leaders and was a great opportunity to sample Missouri wines.

Missouri vintners produce a wonderful variety of products; everything from sweet sparkling whites to dry reds and everything in between. If you enjoy wines, take the time to try a few varieties from our Missouri vineyards.

If you’re anything like me, I don’t know much about wine, but I know what I like. My favorite is, of course, the Norton. It is the official state grape of Missouri and it is a fantastic dry red wine - my husband especially enjoys it with lamb. When it comes to whites, I enjoy the Seyval or Vidal. There is just nothing better when it’s hot outside.

You can find Missouri wines at so many local grocery stores, but the best way to enjoy them is at a the winery itself. There are four different wine trails across the state: Missouri River Wine Trail, Hermann Wine Trail, Route D’Vin and Ozark Mountain Region Wine Trail. I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than enjoying the company of friends at any one of these wineries along these trails. But don’t think you have to wait for spring; there are events nearly every weekend throughout the year. You can find a complete winery listing on the Missouri Wines Web site at www.missouriwine.org. (Click on Events.)

I have said so many times before, Missouri is blessed to have a thriving and diverse agriculture industry and Missouri wine is a great facet of our agriculture heritage. I’m looking forward to continuing my quest to educate people on the fantastic, locally produced wines from Missouri.

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