When people think about American wine country, Missouri is not generally the first state the comes to mind. However, Missouri has a small but thriving wine industry populated 7 wine regions and more than 100 wineries.
The Augusta Region
If you want to visit wineries near St. Louis, then head to the August Region, which is located 35 miles west of St. Louis. The following wineries call the Augusta region home.
- The Augusta Winery - This winery produces a few out of the ordinary wines such as blackberry wine, Chambourcin, raspberry wine, and Seyval Blanc, among others.
- Sugar Creek Winery and Vineyards - Producing an array of red, white, blush, semi-sweet, sweet, dessert, and Port style wines, Sugar Creek Winery also makes a blackberry wine and a raspberry wine.
- Mount Pleasant Branson Winery - Go taste the winery's two top-rated wines, Cabernet Sauvignon Agusta and Merlot Agusta.
The Hermann Region
About 70 miles west of St. Louis, you'll find the Hermann Region. You'll find a number of active wineries here.
- Adam Puchta Winery - This winery produces more than 20 different types of wine including, Jazz Berry, Vidal Blanc, and a dry rosé.
- Stone Hill Winery - In business for over 50 years, Stone Hill produces more than 20 different types of wine including, Vignoles, Moscato, Chambourcin, and blackberry wine.
- Endless Summer Winery - If you like fruit wines, this is the Missouri winery for you because it specializes in them.
- Wenwood Farm Winery - This winery boasts a few out of the ordinary bottles of fruit-infused wines such as cherry-infused Kirsch.
Ozark Highlands
The Ozark Highlands region is southwest of St. Louis. It's a part of the larger Ozark Mountain region and has several wineries.
- Peaceful Bend Vineyard - Located in the Ozark mountains, Peaceful Bend produces Forche Renault, Chardonel, and Courtois, among others.
- St. James Winery - This winery produces over 30 types of wine including fruit wines, sparkling wines, and seasonal wines.
Ozark Mountain Region
Here are a few Missouri wineries in the Ozark Mountain region.
- Keltoi Vineyard - Wines at this winery include reds, whites, and two fruit wines - apple and pear.
- Williams Creek - Try their Vidal Blanc and Catawba wines.
- Westphalia Vineyards - Located on a former brewery, Westphalia Vineyards boast using only Missouri oak barrels to cask their wine.
The Southeast Region
The Southeast Missouri wine region is home to a large number of wineries.
- Crown Valley Winery, Brewery, and Distillery - This is the perfect winery for people who can't decide which they'd rather drink - wine, beer, or spirits. It makes all three.
- Sainte Genevieve Winery - Produces over 20 different types of wine including, Elderberry, Pear, Apple and Concord.
- River Ridge - Give the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon and unoaked Chardonnay a try, but don't forget to take a few sips of the Dessert Golden Muscat.
The Central and Western Regions
The central and western wine regions in Missouri are often referred to as the Central/Western region with an array of wineries calling this region home.
- Stonehaus Farms Winery - Try the Port, Chardonel and Apple Cranberry wines offered by Stonehaus Farms.
- Les Bourgeois Vineyards - Wines here run the gamut from dry to sweet and include the semi-sweet category for people who like a little sweet in their wine without it being cloying.
Missouri Wine Making History
Back in the 1800's, German settlers traveled from the east coast of the United States, going west. Turns out, one of the things they brought with them from the "old country" were vineyard clippings. Settling near modern day St. Louis, these immigrants began planting seeds for food and the wine clippings with which they had so carefully traveled.
The soil in which the seeds were planted ended up not being best for farming vegetables, but the wine vines survived and thrived. By the mid 1800's, the first wine grapes were cultivated and by 1848, Missouri wineries bottled over 1,000 gallons of wine. A few years later, over 500 acres vineyards were planted and the wine produced in these small Missouri towns was being shipped all over the state. The state presently has seven main wine producing regions containing over 60 wineries.
A Final Note About Missouri Wineries
As you can see, there is no need to travel all the way to the west coast to enjoy good wine. With more than 120 wineries in Missouri, the next time you are planning a wine getaway, why not take a wine tasting trip to the heart of the Midwest?
