4 Popular Wineries and Vineyards in St Louis

St. Louis is famous for a lot of things: gooey butter cake, toasted ravioli, the iconic Gateway Arch, and a diehard sports fan base that will argue with you for hours about the Cardinals’ best season. But what a lot of visitors and even long-time locals don’t realize is that the city and its surrounding suburbs sit in the heart of Missouri’s historic wine country, a region that’s been producing approachable, delicious wines since the 1800s. You don’t need to drive three hours to Hermann or the Lake of the Ozarks to find a great wine experience, either—these four local wineries and vineyards offer something for every type of sipper, whether you’re a total newbie who only drinks wine spritzes, or a serious oenophile who can tell the difference between a 2018 and 2019 cabernet franc just by the smell.

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I’ve spent years exploring wine spots across the Midwest, and the St. Louis scene stands out for how unpretentious and welcoming it is. Most of these spots don’t have stuffy dress codes, overpriced tasting flights, or snobby staff who roll their eyes if you don’t know the difference between terroir and tannins. Instead, they’re focused on making great wine, creating fun spaces, and making sure every visitor leaves happy, whether you’re there for a quick hour-long tasting or a full afternoon of food, drinks, and live music.

1. Sugar Creek Winery

Sugar Creek Winery is the kind of spot you bring your friend who says they “hate wine” and walk away with them buying three bottles of peach wine. Family-run and operating for more than 20 years in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood, it’s got zero fancy vibes: you can show up in sweatpants and flip flops, no one will give you a second glance. They specialize in approachable, fruit-forward wines that are perfect for new drinkers, but they also have a solid line of dry reds and whites for people who prefer less sweet options. Their big outdoor patio has fire pits, cornhole boards, and shaded seating, so it’s perfect for casual hangs, date nights, or even birthday parties with a group of friends.

They also host seasonal events, including live music every summer weekend, a fall pumpkin patch and hayrides on the patio, and a December mulled wine festival that draws crowds from across the metro area. Their wine club is super low-commitment too, with options to get a quarterly case of their most popular wines for a discount, so it’s a great pick if you find a wine you love and want to stock up without paying full price.

• Best time to visit: Late September through early October, when the weather is crisp and sunny, their fall harvest wines (including the fan-favorite spiced apple riesling) are freshly released, and the pumpkin patch and hayride activities are in full swing.
• Booking tip: If you’re coming with a group of 6 or more on a weekend, book a reserved patio table two weeks in advance, especially if you’re planning to stay for live music. Walk-ins often wait an hour or more for seating during peak fall and summer weekends.

2. Mount Pleasant Winery

Tucked in the rolling hills of Augusta, just 45 minutes west of downtown St. Louis, Mount Pleasant Winery is a favorite for people who want a laid-back day trip with a side of history. It’s one of the oldest operating wineries in Missouri, with roots going back to the 1800s, but it’s kept all the charm of a historic spot without any of the stuffy rules. They specialize in dry, European-style wines, so if you usually cringe at super sweet dessert wines, this is the place for you. Their petit manseng and dry rosé are local legends, and their huge outdoor space has bocce ball courts, a picnic lawn, and shaded oak tree seating.

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One of the best parts of Mount Pleasant is how family-friendly it is, a rare perk for most wineries. They have a small playground for kids, and they sell non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice for anyone who doesn’t drink wine, so it’s a great spot for a multi-generational day trip. Their indoor tasting room has floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the vineyards, so even on a rainy or cold day, you can sip wine while watching the vines sway in the wind. They also host monthly wine and food pairing events, where local chefs pair their wines with everything from wood-fired pizza to curated charcuterie boards, so you don’t have to plan the food part of your trip yourself.

• Best time to visit: Late May to early June, when the vineyards are in full bloom, the weather is mild and sunny, and they host their annual Rose Festival with free tastings of all their new rosé releases and local food vendors.
• Booking tip: Food pairing events sell out 2 to 3 weeks in advance, even for weekday dates, so book tickets as soon as the schedule is posted each month. If you’re bringing a dog, let staff know when you book so they can set up a spot with a water bowl for your pup on the dog-friendly patio.

3. Chaumette Vineyards & Winery

If you’re looking for a winery with the most scenic views in the St. Louis area, Chaumette is the one to pick. Perched on a Ste. Genevieve hilltop just an hour south of the city, you can see for miles over the Mississippi River valley and their 140 acres of terraced vineyards. It’s a bit more upscale than the first two spots on this list, but it’s still totally approachable: no fancy dress code is required, and basic tastings start at just $12, which is a steal for the views you get. They specialize in dry reds and whites, with their cabernet franc and buttery chardonnay being top sellers, and their on-site kitchen serves small plates like cheese boards, flatbreads, and truffle fries, so you can turn a quick tasting into a full afternoon.

This spot is perfect for special occasions, whether that’s an anniversary, birthday, or even a small, intimate wedding (they host private events on their patio if you’re looking for a unique, scenic venue). They also have a wine club that gives members exclusive access to their library wines, vintages aged 10 years or more that aren’t available to the general public, so it’s a great pick for serious wine lovers who want to try something rare. Even if you’re just popping in for a quick 30-minute tasting, the view alone is worth the hour-long drive from St. Louis.

• Best time to visit: Mid-October, when fall foliage is at its peak, the vineyards turn bright red and gold, and the cool, crisp weather makes sitting on the outdoor patio comfortable enough to stay for a few hours.
• Booking tip: Weekend tastings between May and October sell out 2 to 3 weeks in advance, so book your slot online as early as you can. Walk-ins are only accepted before 2 p.m. on weekends during peak season, and even then you’ll likely wait 45 minutes or more for a table. Note that outside alcohol is not allowed on the property, so you’ll need to purchase a bottle of wine from them if you want to bring a picnic.

4. Les Bourgeois Winery

If you want a laid-back afternoon with scenic river views and no stuffy wine snobbery, Les Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport is the spot to check out. Just 45 minutes west of downtown St. Louis, right on the banks of the Missouri River, it’s one of the most popular day trip destinations for St. Louis locals, and for good reason. They have a huge, shaded outdoor patio with picnic tables, Adirondack chairs, and fire pits, so you can spread out with a group of friends and stay for hours without feeling cramped. They specialize in sweet and semi-sweet fruit wines, dry reds, and crisp whites, and their Concord grape wine is a nostalgic favorite for people who grew up drinking it at family gatherings. They also have a small food menu with pretzels, cheese boards, and sliders, so you don’t have to pack a picnic if you don’t want to.

This spot is perfect for low-key days where you don’t want to plan a whole fancy itinerary. They host summer weekend live music, an October fall festival with pumpkin carving and apple cider, and a December holiday market with local handmade vendors. It’s also dog-friendly, so you can bring your furry best friend along to hang out on the patio while you sip. If you’re looking for a winery that feels more like a backyard hangout than a fancy tasting room, this is the one for you.

• Best time to visit: Mid-June through early August, when the weather is warm enough to swim in the Missouri River (they have a small public access point right next to the patio) and their summer concert series is in full swing.
• Booking tip: If you’re coming with a group of 8 or more on a weekend, reserve a picnic table two weeks in advance online to guarantee seating, because walk-ins often wait 45 minutes or more for a table during concert weekends. Their pet-friendly patio fills up fast on nice weekends, so let staff know you’re bringing a dog when you book so they can save you a spot with extra shade.

No matter what kind of wine experience you’re looking for, the St. Louis wine scene has something for everyone, and the best part is how unpretentious and welcoming every spot is. You don’t need to be a wine expert to have a great time, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a tasting flight, and you don’t even need to drive more than an hour to find a spot with stunning views and delicious wine. The next time you’re planning a day out in St. Louis, skip crowded downtown tourist traps and head to one of these local wineries—you’ll leave with a new favorite wine and a bunch of happy memories, guaranteed.