Augusta AVA Wine

Augusta, Missouri holds a singular distinction in American wine: it was the first place in the United States to receive a federally designated American Viticultural Area, beating Napa Valley by several months in 1980. This quiet river town on the Missouri River bluffs between St. Louis and Hermann has been growing grapes since German immigrants settled here in the 1830s, recognizing the limestone escarpments' resemblance to Germany's Mosel Valley. Today, Augusta Winery, Montelle Winery (perched on a dramatic bluff overlooking the Missouri River), and Mount Pleasant Winery anchor a wine trail that draws St. Louis weekenders to taste Norton, Chardonel, Vidal Blanc, and Chambourcin produced from soils that carry genuine historical weight. Augusta is a pilgrimage for anyone who cares about the story of American wine.