Missouri, The Show Me Wine State

You might not have Missouri at the top of your wine destination list, but it has much to be discovered. If you find yourself in the midwest, fall presents some of it's best wine experiences.

Missouri Is Full Of Wineries

September is Missouri Wine Month. Spread throughout the state are over one-hundred-twenty wineries, offering styles of wine to please any taste. My brother-in-law's family owns the DeLaney Vineyard and Winery in Nevada, where they produce wines from nine grape varietals, all planted and developed in a little over a decade. Ten wine trails connect the dots for day trips or weekends of tasting delight.

Grape Varietals Of Missouri

Missouri's grapes may be unfamiliar, with names like Catawba and Cayuga. There are no Cabernet or Chardonnay vineyards, but countless options emerge from the eleven grapes that excel in the state. My favorites are made from the Norton, which produces a bold, dry, red. It is the oldest native grape in the United States, with ties, like most U.S. wine subjects, back to Thomas Jefferson. Some of the best Nortons come out of Stone Hill Winery in Hermann. Historic itself, the winery has existed since 1847, and was once one of the largest winemaking operations in the country. Like many of the wineries, they offer regular tours, and host frequent special events that are open to the public.

If you need further motivation to taste and tour the wineries of Missouri, there is natural beauty to behold. Fall foliage will be breaking out in brilliant color in the coming weeks, adding to picturesque settings on rolling hills alongside rushing rivers across the state.

Missouri offers an experience with all the history, variety, and good wine as more well-known areas. You just have to imagine sipping your Seyval Blanc instead of Sauvignon Blanc while watching the sunset.