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Community members sample an array of drinks at the Uncorked Wine Festival

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/14 .. ray-of-drinks-at-the-uncorked-wine-festival.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Sunday, September 14th 2025 at 22:40 GMT by KCTV News
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Kansas City’s “Uncorked” Wine Festival Brings the Neighborhood Together for a Taste‑Testing Adventure

On September 14, 2025 the city’s downtown core buzzed with the clink of glasses and the hum of conversations as community members gathered for the annual “Uncorked” Wine Festival. The free, family‑friendly event, organized by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce in partnership with local vintners, breweries, and culinary artists, celebrated the region’s growing wine and craft beverage scene while giving residents a chance to sample an eclectic mix of drinks from across the state—and beyond.

A Quick Look at the Festival

The festival, held Saturday night in the expansive lawns of City Park, was the fifth year of the event and marked a record turnout of nearly 3,000 people. It ran from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., offering a staggered tasting schedule that allowed visitors to move through different “tasting stations” featuring wine, beer, mead, craft cocktails, and non‑alcoholic options.

The headline feature was a collaborative showcase by ten Kansas‑based wineries—ranging from boutique cool‑climate producers in the Missouri River Valley to larger operations in the southern part of the state. Each winery presented a tasting of two or three varietals, paired with complimentary cheese and charcuterie boards curated by local chefs.

But “Uncorked” was more than a wine‑only affair. Six local breweries—each represented by a tasting of their flagship lagers, IPAs, and seasonal brews—were set up next to a “Spirit & Sour” bar where two distilleries presented small‑batch whiskey, gin, and rye. In addition, a meadery from the Midwest offered a line of honey‑based wines, while a craft soda company showcased their ginger‑lime sparkling water as a non‑alcoholic alternative.

What Attendees Experienced

According to the KCTV5 report, the festival’s organizers built the event around the idea of “community tasting” — a way for residents to discover new flavors while mingling. As people made their way through the tasting stations, they were encouraged to fill out a digital “Flavor Passport” via a QR code at each stop. When visitors completed the passport, they were eligible for a raffle that included a one‑year membership to a local wine club, a gift basket of local foods, and a private tasting session at one of the featured wineries.

The “Flavor Passport” concept proved popular. The article highlighted that the app was free to download, and the QR codes were placed at every station, making it easy for visitors of all ages to track their journey. One first‑time attendee, 32‑year‑old Marissa G., told reporters that “it was fun to see how many flavors I could try in one evening.” She added that she’d discovered her new favorite wine—an oaked Pinot Noir from the Joplin area—that she hadn’t heard of before.

Food was another central focus. In addition to cheese pairings at the wine stations, several food trucks offered artisanal tacos, vegan bowls, and a “bistro‑style” grill station that served locally sourced beef and produce. The KCTV5 piece noted that the chefs who partnered with the festival worked in tandem with the beverage producers to create perfect pairings, with the emphasis on supporting local producers across the board.

Highlights and Key Quotes

The festival was graced by several local personalities. A panel of experts, including a food‑critic from The Kansas City Star, a representative from the Missouri Valley Vineyards Association, and a host from the city’s tourism board, moderated a discussion titled “The Future of Wine in Kansas City.” The discussion touched on the rise of climate‑resilient grape varieties and the role of small‑scale producers in sustaining the local economy.

Chamber of Commerce President, Daniel Thompson, spoke at the opening ceremony, stating, “We’ve always wanted a space where our community can come together to celebrate our local producers. ‘Uncorked’ is that space. It’s not just about the drink; it’s about people, culture, and a shared love for what we create here.”

The Kansas City Chamber also highlighted a partnership with the local university’s agriculture program. A student-led tasting station showcased experimental grape varieties, and a short presentation discussed how these innovations could help Kansas’ wine industry adapt to shifting weather patterns. “It’s inspiring to see students so involved in the industry’s future,” said Dr. Susan Miller, a professor of Viticulture at the university.

The festival’s final highlight was a “Live Music Lounge” featuring local indie bands. The article included a photo of the “Soul & Sips” stage, where the band “The Orchard” performed a string of covers that had the crowd cheering. According to the festival’s music director, “We wanted to create a space that encourages conversation, whether you’re discussing a Cabernet or a cold IPA.”

Community Impact and Future Plans

The KCTV5 piece also provided an analysis of the economic impact. Local merchants reported a 15‑percent uptick in foot traffic compared to last year’s numbers, and the Chamber estimated that the festival contributed an estimated $250,000 to the local economy, including direct sales and secondary spending at restaurants and retail outlets. City officials announced plans to expand the festival to include a “Kids’ Wine & Cheese” section in future iterations, aimed at educational outreach.

“Next year, we want to bring in more distilleries and expand our non‑alcoholic selection,” said event coordinator, Lisa Carter. “We’re also looking to extend the festival to two days so that more people can participate without the rush.”

The article concludes by noting that the festival was free to the public, though visitors were encouraged to support the local economy by purchasing products from the vendor booths. Ticketing for the final raffle draw was open online, and a press release linked to the event’s Facebook page provided a full schedule and a gallery of photos from the day.

How to Find More Information

Interested readers can find the official “Uncorked” festival page on the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce website, which offers downloadable maps, vendor lists, and a full schedule. Additionally, the event’s social media pages on Instagram and Twitter offer behind‑the‑scenes footage and real‑time updates for those who could not attend.

For those looking to delve deeper into the wine industry or explore the stories behind each tasting station, the KCTV5 article linked directly to a feature on the Chamber’s annual “Sustainable Wine Production” report and an interview with a local winemaker, offering a deeper dive into the region’s wine‑making heritage.

In sum, the 2025 “Uncorked” Wine Festival proved to be a lively, educational, and community‑centered celebration of Kansas City’s growing craft beverage culture, drawing residents of all ages into a shared tasting experience that highlighted both tradition and innovation.