Oliver House Wine Tasting Event

The sun was out and the gardens were in bloom on Sunday May 8, 2011 when The Jackson Heritage Association could hosted its second annual wine tasting on the lawn of the Oliver House Museum. The wine tasting event is being held each year, the Sunday after the Kentucky Derby which is held on the first Saturday in May. The event featured Missouri wines from Crown Valley, Augusta, and St. James wineries,

The event featured Missouri wines from Crown Valley, Augusta, and St. James wineries and was complimented by hors d'oeuvres from the Gordonville Grill, cheese and cracker trays, fruit trays and chocolate covered strawberries. White table linens, candled tables, stemmed glass ware, tours of the historical house and tours of the historically designed gardens were combined to make the wine tasting an elegant yet informal affair, enjoyed by all who attended. Wine selections were served in the correct wine glass to enhance the wine tasting experience. For those who do not enjoy wine, bottled water and soft drinks were provided. The wine tasting held on the grounds of the museum was the idea of Margie Schwent and Ronnie Maxwell to raise funds for the museums ongoing restoration efforts and to showcase the house and gardens. Events like this bring to the attention of the surrounding community that Jackson does have a historically rich past and that being affiliated with that past and the history surrounding it can be enjoyable. Events like this are also organized so that citizens of Jackson that have lived here all their life and have not visited the Oliver House museum will have a reason to visit the house and grounds.

The gardens of the Oliver house feature a federal style garden gazebo with a brick path leading to it and to a privacy shade garden next to the house. The plantings around the Oliver House have been researched and developed to represent gardens of the era and contain heirloom plants and Missouri native plant selections. The gardens are open to the public seven days a week from dawn to dusk. The Oliver House is open to the public every first Sunday of each month or by special appointment by calling the Jackson Chamber of Commerce at (573) 243-8131. The House and ground are also available to rent for special occasions by calling Pat Fosse at (573) 243-6188.