LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — Lake locals and visitors can sample some of the Show-Me State's best wines and beers at the Midwest Wine & Brew Festival, from 2 until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20 at The Lodge of Four Seasons, 315 Four Seasons Drive in Lake Ozark.

Missouri has long been known as a major producer of fine wines and easy drinking beers. In fact, when the country of France experienced a crippling grape blight in the early 20th century, it was Missouri that came to the rescue by sending grafts of blight-resistent grape vines across the seas to supplement the bleeding nation's grape crop. And, of course, Missouri was the birthplace of Annheuser-Busch, which began producing Budweiser in 1876 and quickly became the leading brewer in the US.

Missouri's beautiful and fertile countryside still produces some of the best wines in the nation, including the state's own Norton grape, and the Show-Me State has quickly established itself as a leader in the micro-brewery scene as well. This all goes to reason that the Midwest Wine & Brew Festival is a can't-miss event for seasoned connoisseurs and amateur aficionados alike.

"Last year, we had around 450-500 people come out to enjoy the different offerings from the excellent wineries and breweries from around the area, and everyone was really impressed with the quality of the products," says Jamie Beitzell, marketing, events and visitor center coordinator at the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. "We're hoping that we surpass those numbers this year. We've gone out of our way to bring in new participants and vendors, and we have a new host venue in The Lodge of Four Seasons, so we're really excited about it. It's going to be a great time and a lot of fun."

The event, presented by the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, will feature over 20 different vendors representing some of the state's most popular wineries and microbreweries, as well as a meadery and a local distillery that specializes in six different types of moonshine. All vendors will have their wares available to sample and purchase. Lake-area restaurants also will be on hand to offer light fare as a perfect complement to the wine and brew samples.

Advance tickets for the festival are available for $15 and will include a tasting of all of the wines and beers, as well as a souvenir wine glass. Tickets bought the day of the event are $20. For more information, call the Lake Area Chamber at 573-964-1008. Or, visit the Wine and Brew Festival page on the Chamber's website (www.LakeAreaChamber.com) to purchase tickets.

Ozarks Wine Trail features a handful of stops, inviting visitors to sample area wines and enjoy vineyard views. They feature a pastoral setting (Seven Springs Winery and Shawnee Bluff Vineyard), in-town convenience (Golden Rock Winery), and scenic lake views (Shawnee Bluff Winery). Visitors will find a variety of vintages for tasting and amenities such as food to complement the wine, a gift shop, picnic tables and more. Each stop along the trail has its own unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes to excite the senses and create lasting memories.

And, for those looking to spend the weekend sampling the Lake's best vintages, there are many different lodging options to complete the perfect "sip and stay" getaway. From large, full-service resorts to smaller, family-owned resorts, bed and breakfasts, campgrounds and RV parks, to chain hotels and independent motels, condominiums and vacation homes, the Lake has it all. Many of the Lake's lodging properties offer different specialty discount packages throughout the year. For a complete list of lodging options, please check out the "Places to Stay" tab on www.FunLake.com.

For more information about all the fun activities, events and dining options at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) at 1-800-FUN-LAKE, or visit the CVB's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com.