Missouri wineries expand in region

Missouri wine-making has made quite a comeback since the early 19th century when the nation's wine manufacturing and distribution was centered in St. Louis. Today, Missouri boasts more than 40 wineries, and many are found throughout Southeast Missouri.

Here's a look at wineries in our region:

• River Ridge Winery near Commerce produces dry, semi-dry and dessert wines from grapes grown on the rolling hills behind the winery in Scott County. Visitors wishing to purchase wine can sample the varieties in the wine-tasting room.

"While people are tasting wine, we offer suggestions on what to eat with different wines, and we have gift baskets with food items," says Joannie Smith.

The winery has expanded over the years. There is a pavilion where visitors and drink wine and dine in the shade, and there's a two-tiered patio with a fire pit. In the Fermentation Room Cafe, "people can see how we make wine while eating a Reuben sandwich or other sandwiches off our menu."

Musical entertainment is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through October. The winery is open year-round from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

• Sainte Genevieve Winery is located in the historic district of Ste. Genevieve. The tasting room is located in a beautiful 5,000-square-foot, turn-of-the century home at 245 Merchant St.

Sainte Genevieve Winery is a family-owned business established in 1984 by Chris and Hope Hoffmeister. Their daughter, Elaine Mooney, recently returned to the winery after studying wine-making at California State University at Fresno.

The family likes to market estate bottled wines while continuing to offer a wide variety of fruit wines. Sainte Genevieve Winery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for complimentary wine tasting and purchasing.

• Visitors to Crown Valley Winery in Ste. Genevieve County can get guided tours of the scenic 300-acre winery and vineyard about 62 miles north of Cape Girardeau. More than 120 acres at the vineyard are planted with seven varieties of grape.

Visitors can see the wine storage and fermentation area from a stone bridge walkway found through the rear of the winery's gift shop. Beneath the bridge are rigid rows of 39 stainless-steel tanks that hold 110,000 gallons of wine in various stages of fermentation. Also on the lower level are the wine-aging cellars and a high-tech bottling facility, with 300 oak barrels. Each barrel holds 58 gallons of wine, enough to fill 300 bottles.

In the winery's main tasting area deli sandwiches, cheeses, sausages and crackers are available to complement wines. An outdoor covered patio affords a view of the vineyard, which is peppered with several small lakes.

Crown Valley Winery is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.

• Charleville Vineyards has a tasting room and gift shop at North Main and Washington streets in Ste. Genevieve. The winery is owned by Jack and Joall Russell. The tasting room and gift shop are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The vineyards are open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The winery is about 25 miles west of Ste. Genevieve near Coffman in an area historically known as Clearwater.

• Cave Vineyard derives its name from the saltpeter cave on the property. According to local folklore, the cave was used by Jesse James as a hideout after he robbed the Ste. Genevieve bank in 1873. Today, the cave is inhabited primarily by wine enthusiasts enjoying the sounds of a babbling brook and the taste of quality wines.

Marty and Mary Jo Strussion care for the 14 acres of grapes on the property. The Strussions operate one of the newest wineries in the region.

"Owners of other vineyards and wineries were helpful in getting us started," Marty Strussion said. "We share a lot of information, and there is good communication among our group."

Strussion attracts customers with his diverse wines. "Tastes vary among people, and any type of wine will appeal to someone."

The winery is open Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Monday.

• The rich and romantic heritage of France runs deep at Chaumette Vineyards in the heart of Ste. Genevieve County. Just a few miles from the historic river port, amid graceful hills, luxurious views and carefully tended vines, Chaumette is located on 310 acres of lush meadows and quiet splendor. The owner is Hank Johnson.

The winery is open from 10 am. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The winery is at 24345 Route WW. The two-lane road takes you south from the main highway through shaded groves of oak trees and stands of elm, maple and dogwood.

• An enjoyable small winery at Altenburg-Frohna is nestled in the rolling hills of southern Perry County. Bob and Cheryl Breuer operate Tower Rock Winery. More than 1,200 grape vines produce red and white French hybrid wines, as well as seasonal fruit wines.

"Our garden, lake and vineyard are just outside the winery. It's a great spot for family and friends to gather and enjoy the scenery and atmosphere," says Cheryl Breuer.

Tower Rock Winery features a light picnic fare of locally-made cheeses and sausages. "We also have a lot of locally-made products that people are impressed with," says Breuer. "Some things make nice souvenirs for visitors."

Tower Rock Winery produces about 5,000 bottles of wine per year. It is open from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

• Another small winery in southern Perry County is at Brazeau. Hemman Winery makes wines in the German tradition with modified recipes that have been passed down through several generations of the family.

"My father-in-law, Albert, has made wine for years, a sweet, German-style wine that we all love," says co-owner Bonnie Hemman. "The family talked about opening a winery for many years, and we finally did. Albert learned to make wine from his mother, and his mother learned the art from her father who lived in Germany.

"We make sweet and semi-sweet wines," says Hemman. "Our wines are made from fruit like plums, apples, dewberries, apricots, peaches, blueberries, cranberries and rhubarb. They are definitely home-style wines."

The winery is inside a 150-year-old building in Brazeau, which is three miles north of Frohna on Highway C. It is open on year-round from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.