Given its agricultural background, it’s no surprise that central Missouri also has several wineries that attendees can enjoy.
In Jefferson City, the Canterbury Hill Winery & Restaurant features not just wines but also signature cocktails and the newest trend in summer wine consumption, the slushie. Try the house-named Canterbury’s Tale dessert wine, which is the winery’s top selling wine, the delightfully fruity White Knight wine or the intriguing Medieval Mist, a dry white wine made without the typical oak. Under new ownership, the facility offers live music, a large outdoor area for seating, plus a full lunch and dinner menu and four different areas for groups.
Near Columbia above the Missouri River Valley, Les Bourgeois Vineyards features award-winning wines like the Pink Fox, a gold medal blush made with Catawba grapes, and the full-bodied dry red Norton wine, along with an impressive list of other awards from several international competitions. Group events are welcome in the A-frame, an outdoor deck area, or the Blufftop Bistro, which features a full menu of on-site delicacies for each meal, from house-smoked meats to veggies grown in the garden. Fresh seafood and pasta round out the selection. Groups of 25 or more can use the winery’s spaces for private events.
Perhaps the most whimsical winery in the Lake of the Ozarks area is Casa de Loco, located on the site of a former mental health center in Camdenton. Wines often have fun names like Call Me A Cab and LabottleMe, and it also offers custom labeling for private events. In addition to wine tastings, it features murder mystery dinner theater in season, float trip packages and overnight luxury accommodations. Also in the area is Seven Springs Winery, unique due to its shuttle service for small groups. The winery and vineyards are located on 160 acres, and the outdoor patio overlooks an amazing view of the hills below. A light menu of soups, sandwiches and cheese is also available to accompany wine tastings, and the facility welcomes meetings and group events.
