About Riverbird Winery
Riverbird Winery is the newest venture from the family behind Shawnee Bluff, opened in 2025 inside one of the Lake of the Ozarks region's most storied buildings. The hillside lodge above the Big Niangua River was built around 1930 as a private fishing retreat by St. Louis industrialist Hugo Urbauer, constructed of hand-quarried local stone, and once hosted the Mozark Millionaires Rod and Reel Club. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the restoration has aimed to preserve the character of the century-old lodge while opening it to guests.
Today Riverbird pairs small-batch wines with a scratch-kitchen bistro menu built around Missouri-grown meats, with vegetarian and gluten-free options, served with sweeping views over the river. Wine tastings, wine by the glass or bottle, brunch, and event hosting round out the experience. The winery sits within the Ozark Mountain AVA, established in 1986 and spanning parts of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma as one of the largest appellations in the country, a region where Norton and cold-hardy hybrid grapes lead the plantings.
