JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Autumn is the perfect time to explore Missouri wine country. At last count, Missouri was home to 92 wineries, and the number keeps growing. In addition to producing great wine and juice to drink, wineries provide wonderful vacation opportunities.
The easiest way to begin exploring Missouri wine country is by visiting the state’s official wine Web site, www.MissouriWine.org, or contacting the Missouri Wine and Grape Board at 800-392-9463 and asking for a copy of their current brochure.
The opportunity to interact with winery owners, such as Robert and Lois
Mueller of Robller Winery in New Haven, is one of the benefits of
visiting Missouri wine country.
Many wineries plan Oktoberfest celebrations. The leaves reach their peak of color, making the country drives even more scenic than usual, and the cooler temperatures make it more pleasant to sit around a picnic table overlooking a vineyard. Some wineries allow visitors to help with the grape harvest — a real hands-on experience.
One of the pleasures of wine country is sitting at a picnic table, sipping wine and savoring the view of the vineyards.
Wine trails are a popular way to visit wine country. The trails link regional wineries and offer tips on things to see and do in each area. Many wine trails organize special themed events throughout the year and some offer passport programs and prize drawings. Missouri boasts five main wine trails. CLICK HERE to connect to an interactive wine trails map.
  
Hermann Wine Trail
Winding along the Missouri River between Hermann and New Haven, through the heart of the Missouri Rhineland, the Hermann Wine Trail www.HermannWineTrail.com includes six family-owned wineries, ranging from large to small and old to new. The wineries reflect the area’s German heritage and long history of wine making.
The wine trail sponsors four main events each year: the Holiday Fare Wine Trail, the third weekend of November; the Chocolate Wine Trail, the third weekend of February; the Hermann Norton Wine Trail, the first weekend of May; and the Berries and BarBQ Wine Trail, the last weekend of July.
The trail includes Adam Puchta Winery, Hermannhof Winery, OakGlenn Vineyards and Winery and Stone Hill Winery, all in Hermann; Bias Vineyards and Winery, Berger; and Robller Vineyard and Winery, New Haven.
Missouri's wineries consistently score well in regional and national competitions, as shown by some of the ribbons and medals at Adam Puchta Winery in Hermann.
Missouri Weinstrasse
The state’s first wine road, the Weinstrasse www.MoWeinstrasse.com meanders along the Missouri River near Augusta, through the nation’s first official American Viticultural Area. Augusta received that designation in 1980 – before Napa Valley, California. The trail organizes occasional special events.
The trail includes Augusta Winery, Balducci Vineyards and Montelle Winery, all in Augusta; and Sugar Creek Winery, Defiance.
Route du Vin. Although the previous two trails share a distinctly German influence, French heritage flavors the Route du Vin, or wine route, in Ste. Genevieve County. The wine route www.RDVWineTrail.com offers four special events each year, including the Wine Diva Weekend, the third weekend in November; Romancing the Grape, the second weekend in February; Jour de la Terre (Earth Day), the third weekend in April; and a progressive dinner, the third weekend in May.
The trail includes Cave Vineyard, Charleville Vineyard and Winery, Chaumette Vineyard and Winery – all of which are located outside of Ste. Genevieive -- Sainte Genevieve Winery, located in the city’s French Colonial District,. and Sand Creek Winery and Twin Oaks Winery, both near Farmington. Check the map on the website for directions.
Missouri River Wine Trail
Central Missouri hosts the meandering Missouri River Wine Trail. Although the wineries are scattered throughout the center of the Show-Me State, it is less than 30 minutes from one point to the next, so you can easily visit several of the trail’s wineries in a single outing. The trail organizers plan to hold four special events a year. The next event is the Bounty of the Harvest Nov. 14-15.
The trail includes Les Bourgeois Winery, Rocheport; Native Stone Winery & Bull Rock Brewery, both in Jefferson City; Summit Lake Winery, with locations in Holts Summit and Hartsburg; Westphalia Vineyards, Westphalia; and Cooper’s Oak Winery, Higbee.
The vineyards of OakGlenn Winery are perched high on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, east of Hermann. The winery offers some of the best views in wine country.
Ozark Mountain Region Wine Trail
The Ozark Mountain Region is home to the state’s youngest wine trail, established in 2007, and some of the state’s youngest wineries, too. The trail winds throughout the southwestern part of the state, from Seymour to Joplin. Several of the wineries are close to Branson, and offer a fun day trip during a Branson getaway. Each of these small wineries is family owned and operated; it’s a good idea to verify opening hours before making a trip. The wine trail’s Web site is under development, but you can access the individual wineries via the state Web site, www.MissouriWine.org.
The trail includes Keltoi Vineyard, Oronogo; Le Cave Vineyards, Billings; OOVVDA Winery, Springfield; Whispering Oaks Winery, Seymour; White Rose Winery, Carthage; and Williams Creek Winery, Mt. Vernon.
For more information about Missouri or to get a copy of your Official Missouri Vacation Planner, log on to www.VisitMO.com or call 800-519-4800. |