Wine For Dessert (Literally)

I feel like I can't be the only with this dilemma. There is nothing worse than finishing a big Thanksgiving meal and looking at all those desserts, knowing that you do not have any more room for any of those delicious pies, cakes, and cookies. You try to walk off some food and make space, bust out the sweat pants, or just gorge yourself anyway, but none of these are ideal.. Well, I have found a solution, and it's wine! Pumpkin Pie Wine, that is, from Wenwood Farm Winery in Bland Missouri. This wine is the closest I've ever come to drinking a liquid version of pumpkin pie with a bonus of alcohol.

This wine can be chilled, served at room temperature, or slightly warmed to enhance the mouth-feel and aroma of the pumpkin pie awesomeness contained within. You could even go crazy and try putting some whipped cream on it! (Let me know how that works out for you. I'm very curious, yet unwilling to risk possibly ruining my wine.) I have tried a few pumpkin wines this year, but this is my first pumpkin PIE wine. Just sit back in your stretchy pants, pour yourself a glass, and enjoying drinking your pumpkin pie dessert.

Fall is also the season for mulled wines. All you need is a good base wine warmed up with sugar, spices, and citrus fruits. Edg-Clif's Hollyberry Red is the perfect wine to make a Holiday Treat Mulled Wine. The holiday gift wine comes complete with a gift tag and the mulled wine recipe. It's fun, easy and a great indulgence on a chilly day relaxing by a warm fire. The best way to warm your wine is too use a crock pot and share with good friends.

There are also times when I feel like I have to choose... wine or dessert? I usually pick wine (priorities), but now I don't have to. In the small town of Hermann, Missouri, I have made a wonderful discovery at Jillsie's Bistro & Boutique Cafe. Along with numerous lattes, smoothies, and breakfast delights, you can also order Norton Ice Cream. Yes, you read that right, and no, it's not just Norton flavored ice cream.

Real Norton wine from Stone Hill Winery is an ingredient in this splendid treat. This homemade ice cream is a beautiful lavender hue. When you taste it, you will immediately taste pure, simple homemade ice cream, and it finishes as if you just took a sip of a delicious Norton.  Stone Hill's Norton really enhances the vanilla and is not at all overpowering. Jillsei's has combined wine and ice cream, and it's pure genius!

So there you have it; these three excellent options to finish off your Thanksgiving dinner with that incorporate fabulous Missouri wines. What is your favorite wine-related dessert? Please share with on MO Wine Please's Facebook page.

Midwest Wine & Brew Festival

If you're like me you love more than just wine and events like the Midwest Wine and Brew Festival are the perfect spot to get your winery AND hoppy!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

2 - 6pm

The Country Club Hotel & Spa

301 Carol Road, Lake Ozarks, MO 65049

The Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual Midwest Wine and Brew Festival.  This event brings together a wide variety of wineries, breweries, vendors, and area restaurants that are sure to please even the most picky of pallets.  $15 in advance or $20 at the door, gets you all the wine, beer, and food you can handle, as well as a keepsake wine glass.

Wineries include:

Adam Puchta Winery - Visited Adam Puchta recently and enjoyed every single one of their wines (the Vingoles still dances on my tongue).

Les Bourgeois - Les Bourgeois is one of those wineries that you can't go wrong with and their table will be one that'll be hard to leave.  Please oh please bring the Brut!

Peaceful Bend Vineyard - We don't know too many people that have met the pleasant winery owners, but we've been there numerous times and their play on the Missouri varietals is one worth enjoying.

Seven Springs Winery - Seven Springs is a beautiful place and their wine matches it splendidly.  Did I mention their Chardonel is rediculously good?

Serenity Valley Winery - The winery is absolutely gorgeous and their wines match the place beautifully.  Looking forward to another go around with their line-up.

Summit Lake - We are extremely excited about the prospects of enjoying Summit Lake again.  We were under the impression it had gone extinct.  Good news for us!

Wenwood Farm Winery - Wenwood is still on our places of need to visit, but perhaps this tasting event will compel us to make haste!

Westphalia Vineyard - Sulfite free and complex; Westphalia never fails to impress

Breweries

Horseshoe Bend Brewing Co - Excellent, small brewery near Osage Beach, swing in for a chat with the brewer and a pint of his delicious beer.

Missouri Eagle LLC

Ozark Distillery - Never been to this place, but cannot wait to try some delicious spirits!

Piney River Brew Co - We have had the chance to sample Piney's beer (try the Missouri Mule IPA) 

Springfield Brewing Co - Enjoyed some of Springfield Brewing Co's beer at a taste back in the spring and are eager to enjoy it again!

There will also be live entertainment by Shawn C so get your friends and family together for a fun evening on the lake.

For more information, check out www.lakeareachamber.com or call 573-964-1008.  Hope to see you there!

Missouri Wine Festival

If you are looking for something to do this weekend, look no further than the Missouri Wine Festival happening in Excelsior Springs, MO on June 21-22.

This annual festival is held in Excelsior Springs during the summer time and celebrates over 50 Missouri wines, live music, over 30 art and craft vendors, hosts wine and cheese classes, and cooking demonstrations.    The cost is $5 for the festival or $20 in advance for 10 wine samples ($25 at the gate).  You can buy your tickets online

Here is a list of the wineries that will be participating:

Baltimore Bend Vineyard
Cooper's Oak 
Fence Stile Vineyard and Winery
Jowler Creek 
Ladoga Ridge Winery
Les Bourgeois Vineyard
St James Winery 
Serenity Valley Winery
Stone Hill Winery
Wenwood Farm Winery
Westphalia Vineyard
Windy Wine Co.

For accommodations  check out the map of local hotels.  Note that you are not far from Kansas City, but staying local would be the best route for safety reasons (wouldn't want that wine getting the best of you).

For more information and for registration, check out the event home page: Missouri Wine Festival