While more and more of us are trying to eat local fresh ingredients, why not pair them up with local Midwest wine? This helps your local community and the Midwest has a huge variety of cold-climate grapes. As you think of your feasts for this fall, here are a few Missouri and Illinois wine pairing ideas:

Chardonel:
Chicken, halibut, sea bass, fish tacos, portabello mushrooms, apples, Havarti, Gouda, almonds, pesto, rosemary, tarragon and basil

Vignoles
Salmon cakes, Asian chicken, spicy Mexican, spicy pork ribs, strawberries, apricots, Swiss cheese, candied walnuts, ginger, and cheesecake

Catawba
Tuna, crab, chicken, cold cuts, pork chops, french fries, melon, grapes, cherries, baby Swiss, jalapeno jack, rosemary, cinnamon, sweet BBQ, spicy mustard, ice cream and pralines

Chambourcin
Swordfish, pasta with red sauce, pork loin, short ribs, sausages, kraut, brie, camembert, walnuts, mushrooms, figs, applesauce, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, mushroom red sauce, and chocolate cake

Norton
Grilled Salmon, blackened fish, lamb, smoked meats, venison, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, hazelnuts, caramelized onions, tomatoes, black cherries, rosemary, pepper, nutmeg, garlic, BBQ, berries, dark chocolate and spiced cake.

Concord
Spicy seafood, pork chops, orange chicken, cheddar cheese, aged cheeses, candied nuts, poached pears, figs, nutmeg, and chocolate truffles.

Traminette
Trout, pork tenderloin, turkey, seafood like shrimp, portabello mushroom ravioli, salads, mild cheeses and Asian cuisine

Don’t forget to support your local Missouri and Illinois grocers! If you like this, you should also read the wine and appetizer pairing I attended at Eckert’s in Belleville, IL.

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