You should be aware of the intriguing wine culture in Augusta, Missouri.
The Midwest is a good option for oenophiles looking for a hidden wine region, especially Augusta, Missouri, which is located approximately an hour west of St. Louis.
I just traveled to this undiscovered gem at the annual Augusta Harvest Festival, and I was pleasantly delighted right away.
I went to Swingin' in the Vines on my first night there. The Harmonie Verein, a venue that was initially constructed by the first German settlers in the region, appeared to be the gathering place for the 300-person town as well as festival guests. The venue's current goal is to conserve and advance cultural arts in the greater Augusta area.
From Harmonie Verein, our group rode a hay cart to Honey Bee Vineyard, a private, family-run estate with stunning vistas. On nine acres, it cultivates Vidal blanc grapes for sale to other wineries and looks out into the picturesque, well-known Katy Trail, a 237-mile former railroad line that traverses the majority of Missouri.
When I got there, I got a picnic basket for two (which, of course, included a bottle of Missouri wine) and enjoyed being outside with the Augusta community, who were drinking wine and enjoying the crisp fall air beneath the stars.
I was impressed with Missouri's wines as a native of California who has had the opportunity to sample wine in both Napa and Sonoma. But winemaking is not new to the state, including Augusta, Hermann, a nearby town, and the other statewide AVAs.
More than 130 wineries can be found in Missouri, many of which trace back to the time when German immigrants established the wine industry nearly 200 years ago. Missouri native George Hussmann assisted in preserving French winemaking in the 19th century when a parasite infested France's grapes. After identifying the problem, a Missouri entomologist found Native American rootstocks that were resistant to the louse's spread and grafted French vines onto them to ensure the production of healthy grapes. Then, tens of millions of Missouri rootstock cuttings were sent back to France, preventing a worldwide winemaking catastrophe. (Statues can be seen at Montpelier, France, honoring this rescue.)
Missouri is older than California's Napa Valley because it was the first state to be classified as an American Viticultural Area (AVA). During Prohibition and the years that followed into the World Wars, the Missouri wine industry faced tremendous setbacks and difficulties, but in recent decades, it has made a spirited recovery, with American varietals and local grapes taking center stage in bottles of reds and whites alike.
Missouri's $3.2 billion economic benefit from the sector is still growing. A former Show Me State local recently made a large investment in the wine and hospitality industries. With a $150 million investment, David Hoffmann and his business, the Hoffmann Family of Companies, made a wager on the sleepy town of Augusta.
The company wants to make the area home to the biggest vineyards in the Midwest, and even better, David and Jerri Hoffmann, who are both from Washington, Missouri, are striving to make the town and its surroundings a popular wine destination for tourists from throughout the country.
Additionally, because Augusta's AVA is located in such a small region, it offers something that well-known Napa does not: a free wine trolley system. Around noon, the free trolleys start running, and the last loop begins about an hour before the wineries' closing times. No reservations are required to board, and riders are free to board and disembark at any time and at any location. Every 30 minutes or so, the trolley does a continuous circle around each location, picking up and dropping off passengers.
The Hoffmanns have purchased six vineyards totaling more than 1,500 acres as part of the projected investment, along with four wineries in the Augusta area, including Mount Pleasant Estates, Augusta Winery, Balducci Vineyards, and Montelle Winery.
Balducci Vineyards is surrounded by picturesque hills, mouthwatering cuisine, and, of course, exceptional wine. When guests arrive, they are welcomed with a welcoming orange interior and expansive grounds with a variety of seating and exploration places. From May through November, there is live entertainment every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday along with a bocce ball court and food from the kitchen. (Tip: Enjoy a bottle of wine with their must-try toasted ravioli.)
From its perch above Osage Ridge, Montelle Winery offers expansive vistas of the Missouri River Valley and beyond. It was established more than 50 years ago and is a wonderful location to take in the scenery while enjoying a beautiful bottle of wine.
On the north bank of the Missouri River, historic Mount Pleasant Estates is surrounded by a lush, grassy landscape and has been producing wine for 150 years. Award-winning wines are available for visitors to sample while seated on a bluff with a view of the Missouri Rhineland.
Join Augusta Vineyard Tours for a behind-the-scenes ATV experience that offers insight into what it takes to create wine in the area if you're particularly interested in learning about winemaking. Participants will discover the locations of the grapes' cultivation, bottling, and storage.
In addition to its wineries, Augusta's entire town has recently undergone a restoration. Visitors can enter the charming Augusta Bakery & Coffee Shop or peruse the local goods at The Augusta Emporium, which is housed in an 1880s-era structure. There is also Gallery Augusta, which showcases a changing selection of works by American artists, and The Augusta Clothing Company, which offers "wine-country" apparel and accessories. Visit the local visitor center for additional suggestions for things to do.
Before the Hoffmans, Augusta was primarily popular as a day trip, but now some of the structures make for quaint lodgings. This offers visitors and locals the chance to experience a dreamy, wine-soaked getaway in a location they would not have previously considered.