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Courtesy of Montelle Winery
Montelle Winery
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Photography by Kristi Foster
Defiance Ridge Vineyards
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Courtesy of Noboleis Vineyards
Noboleis Vineyards
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Courtesy of Augusta Winery
Augusta Winery
Here’s the recipe for a perfect day: sunshine with a bit of a breeze as you and friends or family relax on a patio. Perhaps there’s music playing, but on the best of these days, there’s a crisp glass of wine in your hand. Fortunately, Missouri offers its fair share of wine country destinations. (In fact, last year David and Jerri Hoffman invested more than $125 million to build Augusta into a Midwestern Napa Valley. At that time, the Hoffman Family of Companies had several properties in the area. Now, the company has more than two dozen.) Here are just a handful of nearby wineries with stunning views, live music, and more.
Augusta & Defiance: At Augusta Winery, consider a wine tasting, and enjoy the wine and beer garden. For scenic views, head to Defiance Ridge Vineyard or Montelle Winery, which is the first winery with a brandy distillery in Missouri. They produce four flavors of brandy: apple, peach, cherry, and grape. Dine at Montelle Winery’s Klondike Café, pair one of the wines with seasonal dishes. Augusta's oldest winery, the 125-acre Mount Pleasant Estates, features live music on weekends. In Defiance, Chandler Hill Vineyards is especially picturesque, and Sunday brunch is a popular draw. Other must-tries include Balducci Vineyards, where guests can pair Missouri wines with pizza, wings, or wraps. If you’d rather bring your own food, Noboleis Vineyards is one option. And many of the vineyards, including Sugar Creek Winery, offer live music throughout summer. Check the respective websites or social media pages for details.
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Courtesy of Stone Hill Winery
Stone Hill Winery
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Courtesy of Hermanhhoff Winery
Hermanhhoff Winery
Hermann: Founded by German immigrants in 1837, this town along the Missouri River has long been known for its wineries. Stone Hill Winery offers wine tastings, indoor dining, and retail sale, as well as free, daily cellar tours with the option to tune into virtual tours. Less than 10 minutes away is Hermannhof Winery, notable for its historic brick building and stone cellars. Founded in 1855, Adam Puchta Winery has been family-run for seven generations. The staff takes pride in wine pairings. OakGlenn Vineyards and Winery offers a scenic view of the river and is ideal for outdoor events and entertainment. For something different, consider the newish Black Shire Distillery, which boasts two tasting rooms where guests can sample vodka, American Gin, bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Blackberry Whiskey, Stampede Blended Whiskey, and eau-de-vie.
Courtesy of Cave Vineyard
Cave Vineyard
Here are other establishments just a short drive away (listed in alphabetical order):
Cave Vineyard: With 14 acres near Ste. Genevieve, Cave Vineyard produces a wide variety of wines, including the Chambourcin Dry Red, which pairs perfectly with summer barbecue. Beneath the winery and tasting room is a saltpeter cave, where patrons are welcome to picnic. 21124 Cave, Ste. Genevieve.
Courtesy of Cedar Lake Cellars
Cedar Lake Cellars
Cedar Lake Cellars: At the western outskirts of the metro area, near Innsbrook, this winery includes 400 acres with two lakes, a spacious red barn, and abundant space for special events. Reservations can be made for the outdoor tables and fire pits, in addition to dining and VIP wine tastings. The wine selection is from both California and Missouri; try M-OO-N Route, a sweet white wine with hints of lavender and red apple. Due to high demand, wine tasting availability on Saturdays is subject to change at any time.11008 Schreckengast, Wright City.
Courtesy of Chaumette Winery
Chaumette Winery
Chaumette Vineyards and Winery: This Ste. Genevieve vineyard grows a range of grape varieties, including Norton, Chardonel, Traminette, Chambourcin, and Vignoles. Consider the 2018 Unoaked Chardonel, awarded a gold medal and 93 points by Tastings. The winery is also home to private villas, venues for special events, a restaurant, tasting room, and a swimming pool. (Note: During the pandemic, Chaumette has implemented new safety protocols and is currently not offering typical wine tastings.) 24345 State Rte. WW, Ste. Genevieve.
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Courtesy of Grafton Winery
Grafton Winery
Grafton Winery: Home to a restaurant and a vineyard with nearly 4 acres of grapes, the winery makes its own wine and beer. Order the fruit forward Chardonnay wine for a spring treat. Groups of at least 10 people are welcome to sign up for a tour of the production facilities, as well as a tasting package. 300 W. Main, Grafton, Illinois.
Courtesy of Hidden Lake Winery
Hidden Lake Winery
Hidden Lake Winery: The winemakers at this winery in Aviston, Illinois, are influenced by the area’s German farming roots. This new vineyard wasn’t planted until 2017, so the winery still relies on grapes sourced from nearby Zuckerbach Vineyard, as well as other locally sourced fruits. One popular offering is the Deuce and a Half, a semi-sweet red table wine made from Concord grapes. Hidden Lakes also offers cabins, event spaces, and live music. 10580 Wellen, Aviston, Illinois.
Persimmon Ridge Winery: This under-the-radar winery south of St. Louis is situated at the end of a winding, wooded road near Barnhart. Guests are welcome to bring snacks, though the vineyard also serves brick oven pizzas, cracker and cheese plates, and sausage and cheese plates. Try the Dry Rosé, a blend of Chardonel and Norton grapes. Besides occasional live music on weekends, the winery hosts such events as Paint & Sips and Designer Bag Bingo. 7272 Sheppard, Barnhart.
Courtesy of The Quarry Wine Garden
The Quarry Wine Garden
The Quarry Wine Garden: This newish locale is as much about dinner as it is about drinks. Located just north of New Melle, the pet-friendly winery is a popular spot for guests to dine, sip, and listen to live music. The interior is spacious and inviting, and the patio overlooks a water-filled quarry. 3960 Hwy. Z, New Melle.
Villa Antonio Winery: The wine at this Hillsboro winery is inspired by the traditions of northern Italy. Award-winning dry and sweet wines are available, as well as craft beer brewed on site at Sandy Valley Brewery, plus wood-fired pizza and light food offerings. Outdoor seating is a first-come, first-served. 3660 Linhorst, Hillsboro.
The Weingarten: Using Illinois-sourced grapes, the rustic open-air wine bar serves such offerings as the light Bellevegas Part Deux, a Gewurtztraminer blend with notes of raspberry and watermelon. The venue is also available for private events. 1780 E. State Route 15, Belleville.
Brix Urban Winery and Market: Located in a former residence in downtown Ste. Genevieve, Brix Urban Winery currently produces four varieties of fruit wines (peach, apple, three-berry, and plum cranberry) and five small-batch meads (honey wines), made and bottled on site. The meads are made from local honey and range from dry to sweet. Also recommended are the rotating slushies (such as the Mead-arita and Plum & Cranberry Wine) and the “Brix boxes,” vintage lunch boxes filled with dried fruits, nuts, crackers, dips, and charcuterie. 245 Merchant, Ste. Genevieve.
G. Husmann Wine Co.: Namesake George Husmann played a pivotal role in establishing Missouri as a leading wine producer in the 19th century. The native Missourian traveled to Napa and helped establish the wine industry there as well. Fittingly, the wines at G. Husmann Wine Co. blend wine from its Missouri vineyards with grapes from sister vineyards in California. Husmann’s home and nursery are located within Hermann Farm and Museum (526 E. First), not far from the tasting room. 302 E. First, Hermann.
Twains Vineyard: Located in Washington County, in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, Twains Vineyard specializes in wines made from local fruits and berries. Two guest rooms are available for rental, as is an open-air pavilion. Limited food and non-wine beverage are available in the tasting room. If the website is any indication, then owners Dan and Renee Hopper clearly have a sense of humor: “Made in Belgrade. Sold in Belgrade. Seriously, we live just upstairs.” 10280 Slaughterhouse, Belgrade.
