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Home Page2005 Katy Trail Ride -- Fun Facts
Day 1 - June 20, 2005 - Clinton to Pilot Grove
Riding Missouri’s Weinstrasse is the title for the 2005 Katy Trail Ride. This year’s ride gives participants a chance to experience Missouri’s wine road that is throughout the state. Missouri has a history of growing grapes and making wine for almost 150 years. Missouri had a thriving wine production that came to a stop during prohibition until about 30 years ago. Now, Missouri’s wine producers are showing a marked increase in market share, sales, and national and international awards. The more than 50 wineries in Missouri attract more than 2.5 million visitors a year.
Day 2 - June 21, 2005 - Pilot Grove to Hartsburg
Traveling from Pilot Grove to Hartsburg gives cyclists a chance to experience two of Missouri’s premier wineries located right off the trail in Rocheport and Hartsburg. Les Bourgeois has its own trail leading directly from the Katy Trail, about a mile south of Rocheport. While there, visitors have a chance to taste award-winning wine at Les Bourgeois’ blufftop wine garden and bistro.
Day 3 - June 22, 2005 - Hartsburg to Hermann
Hermann is the overnight stop for the third day of the ride. Rich in German culture and history, Hermann has many wineries located through out the town.
Stone Hill Winery was established in 1847 and grew to be the second largest winery in the United States. By the turn of the century, the winery was shipping 1,250,000 gallons of wine per year. However, prohibition in 1920 destroyed the wine industry in Missouri. These days, visitors can tour the winery’s underground cellars, taste award winning wine in one of three tasting rooms and experience the hilltop view of Hermann from the winery.
Hermannhof Winery is located just inside of Hermann and offers a full selection of wine from sweet to dry. The winery building is a National Historic Site that was originally opened as a brewery in 1852. The century-old brick building and wine cellars serve as the foundation for their winemaking. Visitors to the winery can visit the tasting room, picnic areas, terrace and purchase locally made sausage.
OakGlenn Vineyards & Winery is situated on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. The winery was originally established in 1859 by the famous horticulturist George Husmann, who many consider the primary influence in establishing the winemaking industry in America from Missouri to California. The original stonewalls of the house and the wine cellars are preserved as well as five rows of the original Norton vines planted by Husmann. The winery offers banquet/ballroom facilities, complete catering services with reservations for private events and a wine tasting room with snacks and wine-related items.
Adam Puchta established Adam Puchta Winery along the Frene Creek in 1855 two miles southwest of Hermann. After Adam Puchta’s death in 1905, Henry John Puchta, son of Adam, continued the family operation of winemaking along with his son Everett until 1919 when Prohibition closed the winery doors.
Almost 70 years later, one of Everest’s sons, Randolph, and Randolph’s son Timothy, re-opened the winery in 1990. The winery is the oldest family owned winery within the state, and the original Puchta homestead houses the gift shop and tasting room.
Day 4 - June 23, 2005 - Hermann to Augusta
The town of Augusta is the overnight stop for the fourth day of the Katy Trail Ride. In 1980, Augusta was recognized as the first U.S. Wine District, or Viticulture Area #1, because of its unique soil, climate, historical significance and quality of wines produced from grapes in vineyards that date to the 1800s. Augusta vints its wines in small qualities so special care may be given to each lot. There are four family-owned wineries located throughout Augusta for visitors to enjoy.
Louis P. Balducci Vineyards is Missouri’s newest winery and is owned by Rick and Carol Balducci. The winery name comes from the late Louis P. Balducci who was a wine pioneer in the wholesale wine business in Missouri from 1946-1979. Visitors of the winery can taste Vidal, Vignoles and Chambourcin wine that is currently being produced while looking at beautiful scenic vistas.
In 1988, Tony Kooyumjian established the Augusta Winery centrally located in the historic district town of Augusta. The Augusta Winery features high quality wines, ranging from dry dinner wines to sweet dessert wines. While there, visitors can enjoy wine tasting and a gift shop area with wine-related items and locally produced cheese, sausages and bread.
Montelle Winery is located on the Osage Ridge 1.5 miles east of Augusta.. There is wonderful view of the Missouri River, the town of Augusta and the surrounding farms and vineyards. Montelle Winery is a combination of Montelle Vineyard, founded in 1970, and the Osage Ridge Winery, founded in 1984. In 1998, Tony Kooyumjian acquired the winery. There is a tasting room, gift shop, cheese, and sausages and an outside terrace available for visitors to enjoy.
George Munch, who came to the area with his brother, Fredrick, from Germany, founded the Mount Pleasant Winery in 1859. Built from the wood and abundant limestone of the area, the winery and cellars were completed in 1881. When prohibition came in 1920, the winery was forced to close and the vines were removed. In 1966, the winery reopened and the vineyards were replanted with self-rooted vines and grafted European varieties. The original cellars are still used today to age award winning wine. Mount Pleasant is the largest grower of grapes in Augusta Appellation with more than 60,000 vines. Wine tastings are available to the public and in the winter months visitors can enjoy the murder mystery theater.
Day 5 - June 24, 2005 - Augusta to St. Charles
Participants in the 2005 Katy Ride finished their tour of Missouri’s Weinstrasse in historic St. Charles. The Winery of the Little Hills is located on the cobblestone Main Street of St. Charles. The property where the winery sits dates back to 1805, one year after Lewis and Clark left for their expedition. Over the years, the building has been many businesses and has been rumored to have served as a base for whiskey bootleggers during the time of prohibition. Winery of the Little Hills produces some 15 premium Missouri wines all bottled in St. Charles and Augusta. The winery is open year round for lunch and dinner and offers a gift shop with wine and wine-related gifts.
