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Missouri wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in Missouri. German-American immigrants in the early-to-mid-19th century founded the wine industry in Missouri, resulting in its wine corridor being called the Missouri "Rhineland". Later, Italian American also contributed to the state's wine production. In the mid-1880s, wine was produced by volume in Missouri more than in any other state and just before Prohibition, Missouri was the nation's second-largest wine-producing state. Missouri had the nation's first American Viticultural Area (AVA) established on June 20, 1980 named Augusta AVA. There are now four AVAs in Missouri. In 2017 there were 125 wineries operating in the state of Missouri, up from 92 in 2009. 2017-2018 Missouri Blue Book p.930
In the mid-19th century, the phylloxera louse destroyed much of the Vitis vinifera grape crop in Europe, especially France, after a Frenchman transferred American wine grapes carrying phylloxera to France. Missouri's state entomology, Charles Riley, found that American were resistant to the pest. He directed selling millions of rootstocks to vineyards around the world, to which their grape varieties could be grafted. This saved the French wine industry as well as others. The city of Montpellier erected statues honoring these events, as well as Riley's scientific colleague J.É. Planchon.
Before Prohibition, Missouri was the second-largest wine-producing state in the nation. The new amendment forced the shutdown or abandonment of all wineries except that at St. Stanislaus Seminary, in Florissant, which was permitted to make wines. The wine industry was destroyed for decades.
Revival of the state's wine industry started in 1965 with the reopening of Stone Hill Winery (originally established in 1847) in Hermann by Jim and Betty Held, followed soon by the opening of Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta on the north side of the river. By 1974, Jim Dierberg was restoring the Hermannhof Winery, which had originally been opened in 1855.
The federal government has recognized the importance of winemaking to regional and national economies. The region received the first certification issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury as a distinct American Viticultural Area in 1972. The certification recognizes an area's terroir, the topography, soil, climate and other unique characteristics that grow grapes to produce unique wines. A distinct area was recognized on the north side of the Missouri River in southwestern St. Charles County when Augusta AVA was established in 1980. The Hermann AVA, on the south side of the river located in Gasconade County, was established in 1983.
Italy introduced wine production in the Rolla, Missouri area. This is now within the Ozark Highlands AVA, designated in 1987 and including parts of several counties, from southern Gasconade County to Texas and Dent County counties further south.
The three smaller AVAs are sub-appellations within the Ozark Mountain AVA encompass southern Missouri below the Missouri River, northwestern Arkansas, and northeastern Oklahoma.
The most prominent Missouri-grown variety is Cynthiana/Norton, believed to be a variety of Vitis aestivalis. Other varieties grown include native American grapes, Concord grape and Catawba, as well as Hybrid grapes such as Vignoles, Seyval blanc, and Chambourcin. Recently, there has been more interest in planting Vitis vinifera grapes varieties, especially the fine European grapes: Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Petit Verdot and Mourvedre.
A state tax on wine imposed in 1984, now 12 cents per gallon, supports the state Missouri Wine and Grape Program, which provides scientific and marketing support for Missouri wines. The state hired a viticulture to assist in restoring the wine industry. Missouri State University's fruit experiment station began working with winemakers to determine grape varieties suitable for Missouri's climate. The state government hopes to encourage the local wine industry by promoting Missouri regionalism: integrating grape agriculture with winemaking, the restaurant business, and tourism.
Missouri State University's Mountain Grove Cellars, part of the Missouri State University - Mountain Grove Campus Fruit Experimentation Station - is a wholly university-owned and operated wine grape producing vineyard.
The University of Missouri's Grape and Wine Institute (GWI) researches best winemaking and grape growing practices and how they impact the growth of the wine industry in Missouri and the Midwest. The University of Missouri has had some interest in developing a grape-growing education program. Many of the grape growers and winemakers received some instruction from California universities to supplement their studies.
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