Appeared in WineMaker Magazine in 2008.

In 1993 the Westfall family purchased a160 acre farm in Cook Station, recuperation Missouri, along the Meramec River and approximately 90 miles from our home in St. Louis, MO. This property is located in the Missouri Ozark Highlands AVA district. The elderly man we purchased the property from told me of an abandoned one acre vineyard on top of the hill that had the old “stone” vineyard post from the St. Stanislaus Seminary which was once located in North St. Louis, MO.  I didn’t give this much thought, or even explored the vineyard for almost two years following our conversation.

Eventually, while clearing several rows in the vineyard to plant apples trees for a Cub Scout project with my sons Zachery and Benjamin, I noticed that many of the old Concord grape vines were still alive. These vines had extended in excess of 40 feet into the trees surrounding the vineyard.  We proceeded to clear a half acre of the vineyard of the trees and brush, leaving the Concord grapes vines untouched.

Later that year, I had the pleasure of attending a winery tour in Napa Valley, California which lead to my interest in growing grapes and making wine.  Upon returning to St. Louis, I researched and found the Missouri Winemaking Society and the Missouri Grape Growers Association. The Missouri Winemaking Society was established in 1977 as a non-profit organization to focus on developing amateur winemakers as a hobby while increasing appreciation for wine.  Meetings are held each month with special speakers discussing and sharing their craft.  They also sponsor an annual Wine Fair with excellent participation by members and non-members alike.  Several of the members have gone on to open their own successful wineries.

While attending a winemaking meeting and discussing my newly found vineyard, I related the story of having discovered the beautiful exposed aggregate “stone” vineyard post from St. Stanislaus Seminary.  Several of the members became very excited and relayed how this historical winery was the only Missouri winery, as well as one of the few cellars that were allowed to remain in operation during prohibition.  The Jesuits at St. Stanislaus novitiate made “Florissant Valley Wines” for alter wine for their churches. We have a copy of a photo of the vineyard post with their caretaker who joined the Seminar in 1936. The vineyard was destroyed in the early 1960s.  At St. Louis University, there is a museum with a display about the history of the Seminary and their vineyard.

Since discovering the posts and clearing the one acre of Concord grapes on our property, we have extended the vineyard to include Chardonel, Vignoles and Vidal Blanc. With each year I have a deeper appreciation for the art of viticulture and winemaking. Many of our wines have won awards in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Missouri itself has a rich history of wine making going back prior to 1846.  In 1847 Missouri boasted the third largest winery in the world. Missouri has the first registered AVA district in the United States.  The Missouri wine industry has been alive for over 160 years and has made a tremendous comeback.  Today Missouri continues to produce international award winning wines.  With the help of the Missouri Winemaking Society, my family and friends, maybe someday we can boast of owning our own winery.