America's first wine-appellation state: historic Hermann, the pioneering Augusta AVA, and the robust Norton grape. Updated for 2026.
Missouri is the birthplace of the American wine appellation and one of the country's most historically important wine states, a legacy most visitors never learn in school. Augusta, in the Missouri River hills just west of St. Louis, became the first federally designated American Viticultural Area in 1980, eight months before Napa Valley. The roots run far deeper: German immigrants planted vines around Hermann and Augusta in the 1830s and 1840s, and by the late 19th century Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the nation, its wineries winning international medals before Prohibition devastated the industry. Today a proud revival centers on two historic river regions, the Augusta AVA and the German-heritage town of Hermann, where the hardy native Norton grape (Missouri's official state grape) makes the robust red that is the state's signature.
Below are the Missouri wineries we recommend most, spanning historic Hermann, the pioneering Augusta AVA, the Katy Trail bluffs, and the Ozark Highlands. Current as of October 2026.
Missouri's historic benchmark
Founded in Hermann in 1847, Stone Hill grew into one of the largest wineries in the United States before Prohibition, its wines winning gold medals at 19th-century world's fairs. Revived by the Held family in 1965, it remains Missouri's most historic and awarded winery, renowned for Norton, the state grape. The essential first stop.
Good to know: Tastings and tours; historic estate. Hermann.
Our tip: Taste the Norton and tour the historic cellars; Missouri's benchmark winery.
Bluff-top views in Augusta
Perched on a bluff above the Missouri River in the Augusta AVA, Montelle pairs a well-rounded range with sweeping valley views, one of the most scenic and popular wineries in the country's first designated wine region, an easy, rewarding stop west of St. Louis.
Good to know: Tastings; bluff-top estate. Augusta.
Our tip: Taste with Missouri River views; one of Augusta's most scenic wineries.
Historic German-heritage cellars
A National Historic Site in Hermann dating to the 1850s, Hermannhof pours its wines in atmospheric stone cellars that recall the town's German winemaking roots, a characterful, history-rich stop known for both Norton and traditional German-style whites.
Good to know: Tastings; historic cellars. Hermann.
Our tip: Taste in the historic stone cellars; German heritage and Norton in Hermann.
One of America's oldest family wineries
Founded in 1855, Adam Puchta is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in the country, a quietly serious Hermann producer known for Norton and Port-style wines, a warm, authentic stop that connects visitors to Missouri's deep winemaking history.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Hermann.
Our tip: Taste the Norton and Port-style wines; one of America's oldest family wineries.
A cornerstone of the first AVA
In the heart of Augusta, the country's first designated wine region, Augusta Winery is a well-regarded, welcoming producer with a strong range of estate-driven wines, a quality-first anchor for exploring the historic Augusta AVA west of St. Louis.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. Augusta.
Our tip: Taste the estate range in the heart of the first U.S. AVA; welcoming and solid.
Blufftop over the Missouri River
Set on a dramatic bluff above the Missouri River at Rocheport along the Katy Trail, Les Bourgeois is one of the state's largest and most visited wineries, pairing an approachable range with one of Missouri's most spectacular views, a must for a central-Missouri wine day.
Good to know: Tastings and dining; blufftop. Rocheport.
Our tip: Taste on the blufftop above the river; one of Missouri's most spectacular settings.
Missouri's most-awarded producer
A large, long-established winery in the Ozark Highlands town of St. James, this is one of Missouri's most-awarded producers, known for Norton and a broad, crowd-pleasing range from dry reds to sweet and fruit wines, an easy, popular stop off Interstate 44.
Good to know: Tastings; winery. St. James.
Our tip: Taste the award-winning Norton and broad range; Missouri's most-awarded winery.
German-style wines in Dutzow
A family estate in Dutzow near the Augusta AVA, Blumenhof reflects its owners' German heritage with a well-made range of both German-style whites and Missouri classics, a welcoming, down-to-earth stop along the Missouri River wine country.
Good to know: Tastings; estate. Dutzow.
Our tip: Taste the German-style whites and Missouri classics; welcoming and heritage-rooted.
Missouri's wine country clusters in a few historic areas, most within easy reach of St. Louis or Columbia. The Augusta AVA, about 35 to 45 minutes west of St. Louis in the Missouri River hills (Augusta, Dutzow, Defiance), makes an easy day of scenic, bluff-top tasting in the nation's first wine region. Hermann, roughly an hour and a half west of St. Louis on the Missouri River, is the German-heritage heart, walkable, historic, and home to Stone Hill, Hermannhof, and Adam Puchta. Farther west, Les Bourgeois at Rocheport anchors central Missouri along the Katy Trail, and St. James sits in the Ozark Highlands off I-44. Pick one area per day, plan three or four stops, and visit spring through fall; Hermann's festivals (Maifest, Oktoberfest) and the autumn harvest are especially lively.
Do not overlook Norton; this hardy native grape is Missouri's signature red and tastes unlike anything from the West Coast, so give it a chance rather than defaulting to familiar varieties. Do not try to combine Augusta, Hermann, and the Ozarks in one day, they are spread across the state, so choose one area. And do not expect a dry-wine-only lineup; many Missouri wineries also make sweet and fruit wines, so ask for the dry Norton and estate whites if that is your preference.
Which are the best wineries in Missouri?
A well-rounded list spans the state's historic regions: the benchmark Stone Hill, the German-heritage Hermannhof and Adam Puchta in Hermann, the scenic Montelle and the welcoming Augusta Winery in the pioneering Augusta AVA, the spectacular blufftop Les Bourgeois at Rocheport, the most-awarded St. James Winery in the Ozark Highlands, and the German-style Blumenhof in Dutzow.
What wine is Missouri known for?
Norton (also called Cynthiana), a hardy native American grape that is Missouri's official state grape and makes the robust, distinctive red the state is known for. Missouri also makes German-style whites (a nod to its immigrant heritage), other dry reds, and popular sweet and fruit wines. The state's wineries, led by historic Hermann and the pioneering Augusta AVA, have a deep, proud winemaking tradition.
Why is Missouri historically important for American wine?
Because it helped define American wine. Augusta became the first federally designated American Viticultural Area in 1980, eight months before Napa Valley. German immigrants planted vines around Hermann and Augusta in the 1830s and 1840s, and by the late 19th century Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the country, with wineries like Stone Hill winning international awards, until Prohibition devastated the industry. Today's wineries carry on that revived legacy.
Where is Missouri wine country?
Mainly in a few historic areas near the Missouri River. The Augusta AVA lies about 35 to 45 minutes west of St. Louis (Augusta, Dutzow, Defiance); the German-heritage town of Hermann is roughly an hour and a half west of St. Louis on the river; Les Bourgeois anchors central Missouri at Rocheport along the Katy Trail; and St. James sits in the Ozark Highlands off Interstate 44 toward Rolla.
What is the Norton grape?
Norton (also known as Cynthiana) is a hardy grape native to North America and the official state grape of Missouri. Unlike the European vinifera grapes behind most familiar wines, Norton thrives in Missouri's humid, four-season climate and makes a deeply colored, robust, full-bodied red with bold dark-fruit flavors. It is the signature of Missouri wine, and historic producers like Stone Hill and St. James are especially known for it.
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