Missouri Wine Country
Who knew Missouri even had a wine country? A few fun events are happening this month in celebration of libations from this part of America’s heartland.
Stone Hill Winery has three locations in Missouri but special fun is scheduled for their Hermann site on March 20. For $20, registered participants for the Grapes to Glass event will be given a tour of Stone Hill’s vineyard, cellars, tank building and press house. However, the best part will undoubtedly be the wine tasting. Hermann is located among Missouri River’s hillsides, an area compared to the Rhine Valley in Germany. Founded in 1847, the winery was at one time the second largest in the States. Stone Hill’s wines won eight gold medals throughout the rest of that century’s world’s fairs. In the 1920s prohibition came along and destroyed their business, turning Stone Hill’s cool caves (incidentally the largest series of vaulted cellars in the United States) into a haven for mushrooms rather than wine. Along came Jim and Betty Held to the rescue. They bought the winery in 1965 and went about restoring the buildings and underground cellars. At last count, in 2009, the winery produced over 260,000 gallons of wine and remains Missouri’s oldest and most awarded winery.
Should you decide to visit and need a nice place to sleep, or just sleep off the wine, there are many options available . If Stone Hill’s event isn’t quite your glass of wine, the Bias Winery/Gruhlke’s Microbrewery is hosting their annual Celebration of the Gnomes on the same day, March 20. Located in Berger on a 67-acre estate, participants will be provided with a list of items to locate in the search areas. A special Golden Gnome will be hidden somewhere, with its significance to be announced at the end of the event. Sounds like someone is going to get lucky. Gruhlke’s microbrews will be on hand for those who would rather drink beer.
For a winery with a down-home feel, visit River Ridge Winery . Located on an 80-acre farm, this winery has been in business since 1980. Varietals such as Cab Franc, Syrah and Chardonnay thrive in River Ridge’s vineyard. The Fermentation Room Caf © is open daily and offers a comprehensive menu of food comprised from fresh ingredients. Owners Jerry and Joanie Smith promise that you’ll “come as a customer and leave as a friend.”
There are many other wineries to visit in Missouri. Who knew? Cheers!
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Tags: many options available, Stone Hill Winery, visit River Ridge Winery