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Missouri’s Wine Growing Regions

In Missouri, there are five recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVA). In fact, Missouri is home to the country’s first AVA, according to the Missouri Wine website. These are regions established by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. They include:

  • The Ozark Mountain AVA is by far the largest, with more than 3.5-million acres.
  • The Ozarks Highland AVA is nearly 1.3-million acres and includes the region around St. James.
  • The Loess Hills District AVA is the newest in northwestern Missouri.
  • The Augusta Ava is the first established in US history. It beat out districts in California and Oregon for that honor.
  • The Hermann AVA is 51-thousand acres and consists of Missouri’s most famous wine growing region.

The Grapes In Missouri

The Norton grape was named the official state grape of Missouri in 2003 for it’s impact on the current industry, but also the history behind the varietal. It has been grown in the Show Me State for over 200 years. Early growers found that it was perfectly suited for Missouri’s soil and climate and has thrived here for those reasons. Norton grapes are used to produce many of Missouri’s top rated wines in wineries across the state.

The Norton Grape
Courtesy of Missouri State Archives

In addition to the Norton, these other varieties are grown in Missouri:

Baco noir
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Catawba
Cayuga
Chambourcin
Chardonel
Chardonnay
Chelois
Concord
Couderc Noir
De Chaunac

Delaware
Diamond
Edelweiss
Malbec
Marechal Foch
Merlot
Muscat Canelli
New York Muscat
Rayon d’Or
Riesling
Rougeon
Ruby Cabernet

Seyval Blanc
St. Vincent
Touriga Francesa
Traminette
Valiant
Vidal Blanc
Vignoles
Villard Blanc
Villard Noir
Vivant
Zinfandel

Also Read:
Why France and California owe
Missouri for their wine industries

The 10 Wine Trails in Missouri

  1. Aux Arcs Wine Road
  2. Hermann Wine Trail
  3. Kansas City Wine Trail
  4. Lake of the Ozarks Wine Trail
  5. Mississippi River Hills Wine Trail
  6. Missouri River Wine Trail
  7. Missouri Weinstrasse
  8. The Northwest Missouri Wine Trail
  9. Ozark Mountain Wine Trail
  10. Route du Vin Wine Trail

List of Missouri’s Wineries

WineryCityFounded
Stone Hill WineryHermann1847
Hermannhof WineryHermann1852
Adam Puchta WineryHermann1855
G. Husmann Wine Company Hermann1859
Mount Pleasant EstatesAugusta1859
Rosati WinerySt. James1934
St. James WinerySt. James1970
Pirtle WineryWeston1978
Blumenhof WineryDutzow1979
Heinrichshaus Vineyard and Winery St. James1979
Bias Vineyards and WineryBerger1980
Meramec Vineyards WinerySt. James1980
Crown Valley Winery Ste. Genevieve1984
Les Bourgeois WineryRocheport1985
Augusta WineryAugusta1988
Chaumette Vineyards and WinerySte. Genevieve1990
Beckett’s WineryGlasgow1994
Buffalo Creek WineryStover1994
Westphalia VineyardsWestphalia1995
Stonehaus Farms Vineyard and WineryLee’s Summit1996
TerraVox VineyardsKansas City1996
Baltimore Bend VineyardWaverly1997
OakGlenn Vineyards and WineryHermann1997
Villa Antonio WineryHillsboro2000
Balducci VineyardsAugusta2001
Defiance Ridge Vineyards Defiance2001
Twin Oaks Vineyard and WineryFarmington2001
Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant Holts Summit 2002
Cedar Lake CellarsWright City2002
Charleville Vineyard WinerySte. Genevieve2003
Durso Hills Winery and Bistro Marquand 2003
Wenwood Farm WineryBland2003
Cave VineyardSte. Genevieve2004
White Mule WineryOwensville2004
Amigoni Urban WineryKansas City2006
Cooper’s Oak WineryHigbee2006
Twain’s VineyardBelgrade2006
Lindwedel WineryBranson2007
West WineryMacon2007
Backyard Vine & WineMaryville2008
Chandler Hill VineyardsDefiance2008
Edg-Clif Vineyard & WineryPotosi2008
Fahrmeier Family VineyardsLexington2008
7Cs WineryWalnut Grove2009
Fence Stile Vineyards and WineryExcelsior Springs2009
Van Till Family Farm WineryRayville2009
Black Silo WineryTrenton 2010
LaChance VineyardsDe Soto2010
Belvoir WineryLiberty2011
Lost Creek VineyardMarthasville2011
Viandel VineyardMountain View2011
Apple Creek Vineyard & WineryFriedheim2012
Cave Hollow West WineryHannibal2012
Arcadian Moon Winery & BreweryHigginsville2013
Dale Hollow WineryStover2013
DeLaney Vineyard & Winery Nevada2013
Watertower WinerySte. Genevieve2013
Wildlife Ridge WinerySmithton2013
Timber Ridge WineryStover2014
Weston Wine CompanyWeston2014
Twin Meadows WineryMadison2017
The Peculiar WineryPeculiar2019
Windy Wine CompanyOsborn2019
The Terrace at French VillageFrench Village2020
Waves Cider CompanyColumbia2020
Triple 3 Vineyard Washington2021
Walnut Creek WineryHolt2022
Missouri’s 2022 Best in Class
Courtesy of MissouriWines.org