Brewers and winemakers in St. Charles County have become a must-taste and see destination for local residents and visitors from around the country.
Much of the local winemaking activity is focused in Augusta and Defiance, including establishments that provide scenic views from bluffs that overlook the river. Visiting multiple wineries could be part of a day trip, as Augusta is also near many nearby scenic locations, such as the Katy Trail, Daniel Boone Home and the Lewis & Clark Trail.
The wineries include:
Quarry Wine Garden in New Melle is a new winery that provides tastes of Missouri and California wines. It serves lunch and dinner and often hosts musical performers on the weekends.
Defiance Ridge Vineyards is at the beginning of the Missouri Wine Country corridor near Highway 94. The 42-acre property includes a vineyard, lake and lush garden landscape as well as breathtaking views of the Missouri River Valley.
Mount Pleasant Estates, an Augusta winery, grows its grapes locally and is the largest purveyor of Augusta Appellation wine. Guests can enjoy a meal at the Appellation Café with a view that overlooks the Missouri River Valley.
Balducci Vineyards is led by the Balducci family, which has roots in California winemaking and opened in 1987 in Augusta. The award-winning establishment hosts entertainment on weekends and is the site for many special events.
The number of microbreweries across the country has exploded and St. Charles County is no different. Here’s a look at several of them:
Third Wheel Brewing, the first local brewery in St. Peters, delivers an inviting culture of beer, food and friends. Housed in a 10,000-square-foot facility, the brewery and tasting room provide a wide-open space anchored with a large U-shaped bar and plenty of taps.
Trailhead Brewing Company, a full-service brewery in St. Charles, offers a full menu of food designed to complement the beer, but you don’t have to be a beer lover to enjoy a night at Trailhead.
Two Plumbers Brewery + Arcade, a small brewery in St. Charles that brews many different styles of beer, is open to 21 and older clientele. It also has more than 40 arcade and pinball games inside the taproom.
Exit 6 Pub and Brewery takes its craft beers seriously. The Cottleville establishment offers 70 craft beers, 23 beers on tap and five made on premises, but no “macro” beers. No food is available, but you can bring it in or order in.
Good News Brewing Company is the classic story of homebrewers realizing their dreams. Good News in O’Fallon offers a small but delicious beer menu, but is becoming more known for its wood-fired pizzas.
Missouri Beer Company is a production brewery and tap room located at the site of the original O’Fallon Brewing Company.
Friendship Brewing Company offers at least 25 rotating taps made up of both house beers as well as local, regional, national and international guest taps. It has become a staple of Wentzville.
The William K Busch Brewing Company recently unveiled plans for a new brewery and distillery in St. Charles County. Billy Busch whose ancestral legacy includes founders of Anheuser-Busch Brewery, is president & CEO. Construction is expected to be complete in 2020.
Local distilleries have also established themselves in the county, including St. Louis Distillery (known for Cardinal Sin Vodka) in St. Charles and Distillery of Defiance, famous for its Judgment Tree Vodka.