A Place in the Country by Bill Ziercher

CELEBR A TING WINEMAKING IN MISSOU R I

AUGUSTA WINERY

5601 High St., Augusta 888.667.9463 augustawinery.com Located in the Augusta AVA, this winery is a vital stop for the wine connoisseur and amateur alike. The winery specializes in estate-bottled wine, meaning the entire process, from growing the grapes to bottling the blends, takes place on the property and within the Augusta AVA. Their knowledgeable, friendly staff members take customers on a tasting tour of their award-winning wine list daily. Enjoy live music Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at their open-air Wine & Beer Garden April through October. Make a weekend of it! The winery is within walking distance to many popular B&Bs and hiking and biking on the Katy Trail. Take the complimentary trolley to the three other wineries within the Hoffmann Family of Companies.

BALDUCCI VINEYARDS

6601 S Highway 94, Augusta 636.482.8466 balduccivineyards.com A sprawling vineyard on 76 acres of rolling hills and vistas operating for over 20 years, Balducci Vineyards has been voted favorite winery for the past 14 years by a local readers' poll. The winery also boasts numerous award-winning wines featuring Missouri grown grapes. Enjoy live entertainment Fridays through Sundays Spring through Fall, life-sized games, a bocce ball court, and plenty of room to enjoy a day outdoors. Plan your special events and weddings and wow your guests in the rustic chic barn. Don't miss the craft beer options aplenty, along with a full menu of sandwiches, salads, appetizers, and handmade pizzas - order the deep dish, it's worth the wait! Visit the website for hours and directions and catch a ride on the Augusta trolley to visit their sister wineries as well.

MONTELLE WINERY

201 Montelle Drive, Augusta 636.228.4464 montelle.com Situated 500 feet above the Missouri River Valley within the Augusta AVA, Montelle offers a breathtaking view of rolling hills, forests and the river valley just a few minutes down the road from its neighboring historic town, Augusta. The winery café offers daily lunches with items like fresh salads, sandwiches, wraps and pizzas, and bistro specials for the Summer and Fall extended evening hours. Melodies of live music dance on the Osage mountainous air on weekends through the Fall. With covered and climate-controlled seating, Montelle can be enjoyed yearround. Their banquet room is a perfect setting for micro-weddings and other memorable events. Montelle, also part of the Hoffmann Family of Companies, offers a complimentary trolley to its sister wineries and activities in downtown Augusta.

MOUNT PLEASANT ESTATES

5634 High Street, Augusta 636.482.9463 mountpleasant.com Mount Pleasant Estates is rich in history with more than 150 years of winemaking excellence. Experience the serenity of relaxing on the patio with the views of the sweeping vistas and Missouri River Valley. Discover the charm and history of old world winemaking in the richness and variety of Mount Pleasant's award-winning wines. Visitors to the winery in Augusta enjoy tasting wine in the spacious 4,000 square-foot tasting room. There is entertainment year-round including live music on weekends in the summer and fall, cellar tours, wine dinners, holiday-themed events and more. With the rolling hills of the Augusta Appellation, beautifully landscaped grounds, historic structures, bronze statues, recently renovated ballroom, and impressive cellars, Mount Pleasant is an elevated event venue unlike any other. Visit for the day, the weekend, or book a private event to make memories in America's first wine region.

CELEBR A TING WINEMAKING IN MISSOU R I CHANDLER HILL VINEYARDS

596 Defiance Road, Defiance 636.798.2675 chandlerhillvineyards.com Chandler Hill Vineyards is a truly unique, magical setting. Located on 40 acres in Defiance—only 30 minutes west of St. Louis—the winery transports you to an environment of elegance, charm and tranquility. Chandler Hill features a spectacular hilltop tasting room, with a majestic reception hall displaying a magnificent wood-burning fireplace and celestial windows. Chandler Hill's 4,500-square-foot terrace boasts panoramic views of sunsets, rolling hills and scenic lake. Whether it’s a weekend of wine tasting and live music or the beauty of a wine country wedding, Chandler Hill provides a wide range of experiences, culinary events, and full-service amenities. Award-winning wines, a tasting bar that serves as a satellite tasting room for Perennial Artisan Ales, an exceptional culinary team serving brunch, lunch and dinner, and a full-time event management team creating remarkable weddings. Visit Chandler Hill and discover why it has been voted best winery destination multiple years in a row.

STONE HILL WINERY

1110 Stone Hill Highway, Hermann 573.486.2221 stonehillwinery.com Established in 1847, Stone Hill Winery in Hermann is Missouri’s oldest and most awarded winery. The historic winery was once the second largest winery in the United States until Prohibition. Reopening in 1965, it reestablished the Missouri wine industry and continues to produce wines from their own vineyards in and around Hermann. The property has been restored to showcase its original German American mid-18th-century architecture. Tours of the underground cellar system, the largest series of arched underground cellars in the country, are a must-see. As you walk through the cellars, you will see firsthand how wine is made. The Vintage 1847 Restaurant is a unique culinary destination. Focusing on German and American cuisine, it is situated within the original barn and horse stables. The Sherry House is the event space and often hosts live music on weekends. It is the perfect place to sit and relax with a glass of wine looking over the vineyards and the rolling hills of Hermann.

WINS BIG AT MISSOURI WINE COMPETITION

Governor’s Cup C.V. Riley Award 5 Best of Class 14 Gold

stonehillwinery.com

LOST CREEK VINEYARD

21356 Gore Creek Road, Marthasville 636.932.4142 lostcreekvineyardmo.com Lost Creek Vineyard is a family-owned winery and one of Missouri wine country's best hidden gems. Lost Creek’s endeavor started 28 years ago when the Frichtel Brothers purchased the vineyard to grow some of Missouri’s leading varietal grapes. Keeping the vines within the family, they brought on Lawrence Frichtel, son and nephew of the brothers, as a vintner and as vineyard manager. Lost Creek has one of the state’s most certified staffs that reaches from the tasting room, vineyard and to the cellars. Their dedication to the art of wine making has led them to receive accolades, from being named “Missouri Winery of the Year” by the New York International Wine Competition for their Chardonel, as well as receiving a gold medal for their Chambourcin at the International Women's Winemaker Competition in Sonoma County. Their international awards have proven the quality of their wine that transfers over to the customers' experience.

Lost Creek Vineyard

CELEBR A TING WINEMAKING IN MISSOU R I

MCKELVEY VINEYARDS

8901 State Highway YY, New Haven 573.459.6123 mckelveyvineyards.com McKelvey Vineyards is on a 60-acre farm that once produced some of the best wines in the region. During prohibition, the winery closed, and the vineyards were removed. In 2016, owner Patricia McKelvey began the process of restoring the old farmhouse and vineyards to their former grandeur. The property is now open to the public, with an all-season pavilion, event center and guest lodging. McKelvey Vineyards serves more than unique and enticing wines. Their experiences are just as delicious, offering exclusive dinners, exciting day trips, fascinating tours, and weekend getaway packages that you won’t find anywhere else. They are bringing renewed life to this land that is part of Missouri’s time-honored wine making history. Lush landscapes and sophisticated charm compose the perfect setting for weddings, anniversaries, receptions, celebrations of life, holiday parties and more. From intimate gatherings to extravagant affairs, the service is exceptional and the photo opportunities are endless.

ST. JAMES WINERY

540 State Route B, St. James 800.280.9463 stjameswinery.com Founded in 1970 by Jim and Pat Hofherr, St. James Winery has been focused on creating delicious, high-quality wine for over 50 years. This vineyard, positioned in the center of The Meramec Highlands, provides winemaking conditions unlike any other region in the world. The distinctive weather patterns and the unique soil in the vineyards are exactly what are needed to make wines that continue to create fans from around the world. You and yours are invited to take a trip down Historic Route 66 and experience one of Missouri’s oldest and most treasured wineries. From wine and beer tastings, locally sourced dining, events and traditions, there is a little bit of everything at the St. James location. If travel is not currently in the cards, you are invited to visit online to shop the St. James wines and learn more about what drives Missouri’s most awarded winery.

NOBOLEIS VINEYARDS

100 Hemsath Road, Augusta 636.482.4500 noboleisvineyards.com Situated on 84 acres in the first designated AVA in the country, Noboleis Vineyards offers panoramic views of the historic, rolling hills of Augusta. Enjoy a Wine Flight on the hilltop pavilion or sidle on up to the bar in the Tasting Room for a more in-depth, guided tasting with one of the highly trained staff members. Order pizzas or appetizers from the menu or pack your own picnic basket to enjoy at your leisure. Whichever route you choose, your hosts are there to ensure that you have the best time during your visit to Noboleis. As truly a family owned, family grown business, it is their hope that every guest has a memorable experience whether visiting for the very first time or a returning customer! Plus, enjoy live music every Saturday and Sunday from 12-4pm, now through October. They can’t wait to see you!