The Missouri River Valley, aka the Missouri Rhine Valley, was the second largest wine producing state in the United States, prior to the 18th Amendment, which enacted National Prohibition in 1920 – the ban of alcoholic beverages. (Ohio was the first!) When the 21st Amendment took effect in 1933 doing away with that nonsense, the country could finally sip wine again (legally), but it forever changed the wine industry in the U.S. and those states that had initially lead the way.
The main Missouri wine regions to visit are Hermann and Augusta, they are neighbors making it easy to visit both. Each is about a 1.5 hour drive from St. Louis.
Spring and fall are ideal times to visit the Missouri wine country. Summer months are perfect for ripening the grapes, but can be sweltering for visitors.
Missouri named the Norton grape as the official state grape. It is one of the most disease-resistant grape varieties with some resistance even to black rot. The grape produces rich, full-bodied red wines with distinctive fragrant and fresh flavors. Sip in more Missouri wine 101.
German settlers brought their love of wine and the Rhine to the Missouri River Valley. The first wine was produced in the town of Hermann in 1846 at Stone Hill Winery, still in existence today.
During this time frame, the German Settlement Society in Philadelphia decided to leave the city to establish a colony where only the German language and customs would be practiced and preserved. They too moved to the Missouri River Valley and founded the town of Hermann. The town’s name is derived from a German folk hero who led a battle against the Romans in 9 AD. (Hermann will later become the state’s second American Viticultural Area (AVA) and a popular wine destination.)
An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is an federally designated wine region in the United States defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) based on specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish the area from the surrounding regions which affect how grapes are grown.
The TTB designates official wine regions based on geography and climate and their effects on grapes produced in the area. Unlike Europe, AVAs are not based on political geographical boundaries and do not have regulations as to what grapes can be produced and aging requirements.
Because AVAs are defined by grape growing conditions rather than political borders, they are not necessarily confined to a single state or county.
As of July 2024, there were 273 established AVAs in the United States. California has the most AVAs, with 152.
The town of Augusta soon followed the grape-growing business, with so many local growers the town formed the first cooperative wine making effort in the Missouri River Valley, the Augusta Wine Company. In 1889 Mount Pleasant Winery was founded in Augusta.
The Missouri River Valley grew to become the second largest wine producing state in the United States, prior to the 18th Amendment, which enacted National Prohibition – the ban of alcoholic beverages. (Ohio was the first largest wine producing state at the time.) When Prohibition took effect in 1919, government agents forcibly removed vines from the local growers and wineries, along with destroying their wine making equipment.
When the 21st Amendment was put into place, repealing Prohibition in 1933, little remained of the wine industry in Missouri. High liquor taxes and license fees lingered for decades preventing the wine industry from truly reestablishing itself. Minus a few.
In 1965 some of Missouri’s oldest wineries began trying to restore the region. Stone Hill Winery began operating again in 1965 and St James in 1970. The families that opened these wineries were instrumental in the creation of the Missouri Wine and Grape Program in the 1980’s. The program helped establish a new tax on wine and provided the establishment of the Missouri Wine and Grape Program. This new group also helped to make Missouri the home to the country’s first designated American Viticultural Area (AVA).
Seven California districts and one in Oregon had filed applications with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; however, the honor went to the 15 square mile area surrounding Augusta, Missouri. The bureau cited the unique soil, climate and wines, as well as Augusta’s long history as one of America’s oldest and foremost grape and wine districts. Napa Valley was the second AVA named after Augusta on February 27, 1981.
The Missouri Rhine Valley, otherwise known as the heart of Missouri Wine Country, is the area along the Missouri River between St. Charles and Hermann. It was the German researcher and explorer, Gottfried Duden who gave the area this name in a book he published in 1829 after extensively researching and exploring the area. The book gave romantic and glowing descriptions of the lower Missouri River Valley between St. Louis and Hermann, Missouri.
It’s believed his book encouraged many Germans to immigrate to the state, resulting in more than 38,000 Germans settling in the lower Missouri River Valley between 1830-1860.
When it comes to the terroir in Missouri it’s important to fully understand the premis behind the meaning of “terroir”. While it does encompass the soil, it also includes a factor of things such as the weather, elevation, fog, rainfall and a number of other things. There isn’t one perfect terroir for growing grapes but rather a perfect setup for specific types of grapes. Something Missouri is excelling at.
Thanks to the prehistoric ice age and past glaciers that cut through the state, Missouri has well-drained highly organic rich glacial soil that is excellent for growing grapes. Weather is also on its side. With cold winters and hot and humid summers, it’s possible to grow unique grape varieties, such as the Norton grape and Chardonel, a cross between Chardonnay and Seyval.
While these may not be grape varietals a lot of people are familiar with, these varietals thrive in Missouri. Which, is frankly what ALL wine regions should be doing…grow what grows well.
In 2003, Missouri named the Norton grape as the official state grape. The Norton grape is also known as Cynthiana and Virginia Seedling. The grape is actually a Vitis aestivalis and was originally found in 1835 near Richmond, VA. (People most commonly know wines from Vitis vinifera grape varieties, such as Chardonnay can Cabernet Sauvignon.) The Norton grape is one of the most disease resistant grape varieties with some resistance even to black rot. The grape produces rich, full-bodied red wines with distinctive fragrant and fresh flavors.
With more than 130 wineries, there is a lot to choose from. We’ve pulled out a few of our favorite Missouri wineries for you to sip into.
The town of Hermann has more B&B’s per capita than any town in the country. In other words, there are a lot of options. More on where to stay in Hermann and in Augusta.
HERMAN
AUGUSTA
You will need a car to get around Missouri wine country. Look for those who are well rated and/or ask your hotel for recommendations.
If you’re looking for things to do besides sipping in the Missouri wineries, we have A LOT OF IDEAS for things to do in Missouri that go well beyond the vines.
Don’t miss getting to know the historic downtown of Hermann and Augusta. Their resemblance to the Rhine Valley is what attracted German settlers to the area and keeps people coming back.
Downtown Hermann is home to several art galleries and museums. Not to mention some great little boutiques for shopping.
Augusta has one of the trailheads on the 240-mile long Katy Trail State Park, the longest developed rail-to-trail conversion in the country. Rent a bike or plan for a hike in-between wine tastings.
Carpe Travel’s wine experts sit with top winemakers from regions around the world. Check out these local interviews and learn more about the people who make your favorite wines!
Elaine Schoch is an award-winning travel writer, wine judge, American Wine Specialist and certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET III). At Carpe Travel she shares wine travel destination guides for ALL WINE LOVERS – from novices to experienced pros – to help them plan their wine adventures, arming them with insider tips, must-visit spots, and things to see and do beyond the vines.
