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Little Italy of the Ozarks Festival

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Winemaking, farming, food and coming together for community events have a long history in the St. James area. Known locally as the Meramec Highlands, our region is also fondly known as “Little Italy of the Ozarks” thanks to the establishment of an Italian settlement here more than a century ago.

Join St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company as we celebrate the area’s Italian heritage at our Little Italy of the Ozarks Festival on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20, 2017 at The Gardens. This beautifully landscaped outdoor seating area is located between the winery and brewery (551 State Route B, St. James, MO 65559).

In addition to many entertaining activities, the two-day festival ends on Saturday with a ticketed Traditional Rosati-style Spaghetti Dinner under an outdoor tent where you’ll feel like part of the family.

Buy Tickets Now!

Friday
First, we’ll kick off the festivities in the St. James Winery Tasting Room on Friday night from 5 to 8 p. m. with the release of the new Winemaker Series. This new line of wines is handmade in small batches by our St. James Winery Cellar Crew. Taste complimentary samples of the first four releases, along with Public House Brewing Company food pairings:

  • Chambourcin with Heritage Pasta
  • Dry Vignoles with Margherita Pizza
  • Seyval with Spring Salad
  • The Folly with Pretzel Bites

Next, walk over to The Gardens for a 9 p.m. showing of Under the Tuscan Sun (PG-13) on our huge outdoor screen. The movie features a writer who impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany, Italy in order to change her life.

Saturday
On Saturday, The Gardens open at 11 a.m. Our wood-fired pizza kitchen and regular kitchen will be open all day, serving made-from-scratch food, craft beer, wine, hard cider, wine slushies and non-alcoholic beverages.

Local youth soccer coach and St. James Winery Executive Winemaker Andrew Meggitt will host a Soccer Tutorial on foot skills for all ages from 2 to 3 p.m. to celebrate Italy’s most popular sport.

Kansas City band Red Velvet Crush will be performing pop and rock music from 12 to 3 p.m. Acoustic artist Nicole Nelson from Nashville, TN will perform pop and soulful rock songs with an earthy flair from 5 to 8 p.m.

Starting at 5 p.m. we’ll recreate the Traditional Rosati-style Spaghetti Dinners with a ticketed dinner under an outdoor tent. For $10, you receive a heaping portion of spaghetti in a traditional, local-recipe Italian sauce with meatballs, garlic bread sticks, spring salad, slice of cake and a non-alcoholic drink.

Buy Tickets Now!

EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, May 19

Wine Tasting & Food Pairing
Winemaker Series Release
5 – 8 p.m.
St. James Winery Tasting Room

Outdoor Movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”
9 p.m.

Saturday, May 20

Live Music
Red Velvet Crush | 12 – 3 p.m.
Nicole Nelson | 5 – 8 p.m.

Soccer Tutorial
Foot skills for all ages
2 – 3 p.m.

Traditional Rosati-style Spaghetti Dinner
$10 per ticket
5 – 8 p.m.

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Opening Day at The Gardens

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With warm weather fast approaching, St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company invite you to Opening Day at The Gardens on Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Gardens at St. James is a beautifully landscaped outdoor seating area located between the winery and brewery (551 State Route B, St. James, Missouri). It’s the perfect outdoor getaway to enjoy a glass of wine, hard cider or beer.

Relax with live music all day, try our new summer wines and beer before they are available in stores, get competitive with our lawn games, take a complimentary tour and enjoy our locally sourced foods.

Live Music
• 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Hey Dave
• 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Joe Fry
• 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Shakey Deal

Wine & Beer
Try our new summer releases early.
• Rougeon Rosé Wine
• Peachy Sangria Wine
• Farmstand Peach Ale
• Taproom Sampler 12-pack containing the exclusive 66 Pils Lager

Lawn Games
• Bocce Ball
• Life-Size Chess
• Bean Bag Toss
• Giant Jenga®

Complimentary Tours
Tour our winery and brewery with knowledgeable staff members.
• 12 p.m.
• 2 p.m.
• 4 p.m.

Food
• Regular full menu all day
• Outside pizza kitchen open
• Wine slushies available

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St. James Winery sweepstakes offers float trip down Missouri’s spring-fed waterways

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ST. JAMES, Mo. (March 1, 2017) – St. James Winery is offering people the chance to spend a summer weekend living the region’s outdoor lifestyle. From March 1, 2017 until April 30, 2017, people can enter daily in a sweepstakes to win a float trip for eight people in Missouri’s Meramec River region.

“This sweepstakes allows us show people the unique outdoor traditions we have in the Meramec Highlands region,” said Peter Hofherr, St. James Winery’s CEO. “Our vineyards sustainably grow flavors that reflect the natural character of each of our grape varieties and the special place they are grown. Our intention is to share our area with others so they can experience how the outdoors enrich our lives and how we make your life sweeter with St. James wine.”

Winners of the sweepstakes will receive a trip for eight people the weekend of Friday, August 4, 2017 through Sunday, August 6, 2017. The trip includes:

  • Two (2) night stay in a cabin at Bass’ River Resort in Steelville, Mo. on Friday and Saturday night
  • Dinner and drinks at Public House Brewing Company: St. James Taproom and tour of the Fermentation Campus, which includes the brewery and St. James Winery, in St. James, Mo. on Friday night
  • Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday at Bass’ River Resort
  • Bag lunch and float trip on Saturday at Bass’ River Resort
  • BBQ dinner on Saturday night at Bass’ River Resort
  • Tour of St. James Winery vineyards and lunch at St. James Vineyard Cottage on Sunday

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not increase the chances of winning. Winners must be available for the weekend chosen. If the winner is not available, an alternate winner will be chosen by St. James Winery to receive the prize. Entrants, winner and participants must be 21 year old. View full terms and conditions.

View Full Terms and Conditions

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Champagne Tasting Event on March 17

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When we re-released our Brut Champagne American in the summer of 2016, we shared the story of our champagne-making process and the potential disaster that ultimately led to greatness.

Of the three exceptionally small batches made, Bin 3 was the first to be released in June 2016 with only 18 cases produced. It had a pronounced floral nose, with flavors of bright citrus, peach and honeycomb with a lively effervescence and medium creamy body.

Now Bin 1 and Bin 2, with 4 cases and 12 cases produced respectively, are ready to be released.

Join us at the Brut Champagne American Tasting Event on Friday, March 17, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the St. James Winery Tasting Room in St. James, Mo.

You’ll be the first to taste these two very limited sparkling wines and pair them with cheese, chocolate and fruit. The wines will also be available for purchase that evening, while supplies last.

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Grapes & Grain Fun Run at St. James Winery Vineyards

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Join St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company for their Grapes & Grain Fun Run on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 10 a.m. at the St. James Vineyard Cottage in St. James, Mo.

Run or walk the 5K (3.1 miles) off-road path surrounded by the beauty of the St. James Winery vineyards and farm. For liquid encouragement throughout the race, enjoy small pours of wine or beer at miles one and two. At the finish line, celebrate your success with a commemorative glass full of wine or beer!!

After the race, enjoy complimentary energy-boosting snacks or purchase a picnic kit and drinks. Bring your blankets or chairs if you’d like to stay and listen to a live music performance by Hey Dave from 11-2 p.m. We’ll also have yard games if you are in a competitive spirit.

Dogs are welcome on the course, but they must be leashed and you must pick up after them.

Proceeds from the Fun Run benefit the Friendship School House Foundation, an organization dedicated to engaging and educating the Missouri craft beverage industry and local community on sustainability best practices.

REGISTRATION
Registration for participants is $25 per person. To register download and complete the form or register online. Participants of the Grapes & Grain Fun Run must be at least 21 years old.

EVENT SCHEDULE
9 a.m. – 10 a.m. | Participant Sign-In
10 a.m. | Grapes & Grain Fun Run Starts
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.| Picnic Food & Drinks
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Hey Dave Live Music

Contact Events Coordinator Gina Maben for more information:
E: gina.maben@stjameswinery.com | P: 573-261-3338

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Chili Cook-Off at Public House: St. James Taproom

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Have a crowd-pleasing chili recipe that could win awards?

Love eating chili on cold days?

Public House Brewing Company and St. James Winery are hosting a Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, February 18, 2017. The event will be held at Public House: St. James Taproom in the Mezzanine (551 State Route B St. James, MO 65559).

Event Schedule
11 a.m. | Chili Cook-Off Contestants Arrive

11:30 a.m. | Chili Cook-Off Judging Begins

12 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Free Chili Samples

All Chili Cook-Off contestants will be serving free samples of their homemade chili recipes (while supplies last). Pair them with a Public House beer or a glass of St. James Winery wine for the perfect combination.

12 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Live Music by CUZ

2 p.m. | Chili Cook-Off Awards

Chili Cook-Off winners announced and prizes awarded.
o $100 for first place
o $75 for second place
o $50 for third place

All Day | Special R&D Beer & Bowls of Chili

Try our special R&D beer on tap and order a hot bowl of Public House chili with all the fixings. A match made in heaven on a cold February day.

To Enter the Chili Cook-Off

  1. Download the Chili Cook-Off Entry Form.
  1. Fill out the form, and attach a copy of your ingredient list to the form (for food allergy purposes only – we will not share this publicly).
  1. Bring your form, ingredient list and $25.00 non-refundable entry fee (cash, check or credit card) to any one of our three locations by end of business on Saturday, February 11, 2017.
  • Public House Brewing Company: Rolla Brewpub | 600 N Rolla St, Rolla, MO 65401
  • Public House Brewing Company: St. James Taproom | 551 State Route B, St. James, MO 65559
  • James Winery Tasting Room | 540 State Route B, St. James, MO 65559

Please note: The Chili Cook-Off is limited to the first 20 entries received.

  1. Prepare your chili (minimum of 8 quarts) using the ingredient list you submitted with your entry form.
  1. Bring your chili to Public House Brewing Company: St. James Taproom Mezzanine on Saturday, February 18 at 11 a.m. You must bring:
  • A minimum of 8 quarts of your chili in a working crockpot (must be at serving temperature by 11:30 a.m.)
  • A serving spoon (for filling small 2 oz. sample cups)

We will supply an electrical outlet for the crockpot, table space, sampling cups and spoons for samples. Entries must arrive at Public House no later than 11:30 a.m. or they will not be included in the judging.

  1. Judging starts at 11:30 a.m. with a panel of three specially selected judges. The chili will be judged based on the following criteria:
  • Color – Does the chili look appetizing? Does it look bright and colorful or dull and bland?
  • Aroma – Does it smell good? Does the aroma make you want to dig in?
  • Consistency – How is the meat-to-sauce ratio? It shouldn’t be runny, mushy or overly thick.
  • Taste – How is the flavor? Do the ingredients blend well, or is one too overpowering? Does the first bite make you want another one?
  • Aftertaste – Once you swallow, is there a spicy taste (“bite”) that stays on your tongue? Is it pleasant?
  1. You will serve samples of your chili to the public from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m in the Public House: St. James Taproom Mezzanine. Note: This is a requirement for all contestants in the contest, no exceptions.
  1. Winners of the Chili Cook-Off will be announced at 2 p.m. First place receives $100 cash, second place receives $75 cash, and third place receives $50 cash.

For more details about the event, contact the Events Coordinator Gina Maben at 573-261-3338 or gina.maben@stjameswinery.com.

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Warm Up Winterfest at St. James Fermentation Campus

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St. James Winery and Public House Brewing Company invite you to beat the winter doldrums with fun activities at our first annual Warm Up Winterfest at the St. James Fermentation Campus (540 State Route B St. James, MO 65559) on Saturday, January 28 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

We’ll have live music and dancing demos, a wine and beer tasting contest, winter crafts, and food specials.

Our Warm Up Winterfest Schedule of Events:

Family-Friendly Activities
1 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Winter Crafts

Live Music & Dance
12 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Live Music
3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. | Ozark Spirit Cloggers
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Missouri S&T Swing Dance Club Performance & Lesson
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Shakey Deal Live Music

Winery & Brewery Experience
4 p.m. – 5 p.m. | St. James Winery & Public House Brewing Company Blind Tasting Contest
($5 per person; limited to 30 people)
Identify what wine or beer you are drinking by taste, smell and sight. The fastest wins!
Food & Drink
All Day | Winter Food Specials & Warm Drinks

We’ll offer three delicious soups, deep-fried Bitterballen bites, and hot chocolate, plus our full Taproom menu will be available all day as well.

1 p.m. – 4 p.m.| Hot Chocolate Toppings Bar

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Rock Island Trail State Park Opens First Section

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Congratulations to Rock Island Trail State Park for opening the first 47.5 miles of trail connecting Kansas City to the Katy Trail and St. Louis! Once the trail is completed, the Katy Trail and Rock Island Trail will form a world-class loop showcasing Missouri’s many beautiful landscapes.

champagne-close-upOur Chairman and CEO, Peter Hofherr, sits on the trail’s board and he’s excited about the agritourism opportunities this trail provides. He encourages everyone to get out on the trails and enjoy what rural Missouri has to offer.

To help celebrate the opening of the trail, we provided our Brut Champagne American to present to Governor Nixon during this historic dedication.

Read more here.

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Our Vineyards at St. James Winery Receive Agriculture Stewardship Assurance Program Certification

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The largest vineyards in the state at St. James Winery became the first to receive Agriculture Stewardship Assurance Program (ASAP) certification in the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s new specialty crop category. Pictured from left: Dan Diering, Sam Cobb, George Gillis, Nick Woodworth, Josh Ashby, Karl Richards, Andrew Meggitt, Al Martin, Toby Owens, Dee Anderson and Peter Hofherr. Not pictured are Raul Rosas and Scott Veatch.

Our vineyards, the largest in the state, became the first to receive the Agriculture Stewardship Assurance Program (ASAP) certification in the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s new specialty crop category. ASAP was launched to recognize farmers who are doing the best for Missouri’s land, farms and families.

“Ever since starting the winery and growing grapes, my family has been conscientious of caring for the land,” says Peter Hofherr, Chairman and CEO of St. James Winery. “Agriculture sustains this region’s economic base and we take responsibility for our land by using efficient and sustainable practices. This helps the long-term quality and success of our business, our community and our future generations.”

ASAP is a certification program that champions Missouri farmers who are responsible stewards of the land, provide safe food for consumers, practice environmental stewardship and use science-based technology for growing safe and dependable feed, fuel, specialty crops or fiber in a socially and economic manner. It was launched in 2015.

“This certification validates what we are doing,” says Andrew Meggitt, Executive Winemaker at St. James Winery. “It is very important to our farm crew to be recognized for how much care they take in sustainably growing grapes. Without their attention to detail, we wouldn’t have quality fruit. We all strive to leave the land better than when we found it; that’s the goal every day.”

At 185 acres, our vineyards have been producing grapes since 1973. We use moisture probes at the root zone to efficiently water plants only when needed. We plant buffer strips using cover crops like clover, radishes, winter wheat and rye to control erosion and water loss, and to protect surface water. Switching to more fuel efficient equipment means we use 50% less fuel. Grape waste from harvest goes back to the vineyards in the form of mulch. These examples of best management practices, along with many others, are why we received the certification.

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Life is Sweeter with St. James Wine: History of Our Area

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Our hearts and souls are poured into each bottle of wine. The story of St. James is found in the Italian culture, and the winemaking and farming traditions of the Meramec Highlands. It’s a special place – like no other, where life is sweeter.

Grape and wine production have a long history in the St. James area. Known locally as the Meramec Highlands, our region is also fondly known as “Little Italy of the Ozarks” thanks to the establishment of an Italian settlement in the area more than 115 years ago. The Italians who settled here planted vineyards, and by the 1930s over 1,000 acres of grapes dotted the landscape.

These Italian immigrants were very important to Missouri’s wine industry. Instead of destroying their vineyards during Prohibition like others in Missouri, they formed a fruit grower’s association in order to keep growing and selling the grapes, as well as other fruits, to grocery stores in St. Louis.

During WWII, Welch’s® steps into the story. Welch’s remembered the quality of the area’s Concord grapes. When they received a government contract to supply the military with juice, jams and jellies, Welch’s contacted the Italian immigrants and set up an exclusive long-term contract for supplying them with grapes from 1941 to 1991.

Within Welch’s agreement, the Italians negotiated to be allowed to sell small quantities or quarts of their grapes to individuals. Every year during harvest, these Italian immigrants would set up grape stands along I-44 and Route 66 to sell their fruit to those living in the area and those traveling along the highways. The original Italian families still carry on the tradition to this day.

Throughout the years, making wine from the grapes they grew for family and community consumption was also part of the Italian tradition.

When Jim and Pat Hofherr established the St. James Winery in 1970, they were inspired by the Italian immigrants and the wines they made. Velvet Red, the winery’s first and still best-selling wine, was developed to pay homage to the Concord-based wines made by the Italian community.

The Friendship School House is the winery’s icon and represents a time when the Italians sent their children to the one-room school and where they gathered for community events. In addition to The Friendship School being our icon, it appears as a drawing on the Velvet Red, Velvet White and Pink Catawba labels.

On the Country Red, Country White and our new Concord wine labels, the drawing of the truck driving on Route 66 represents our vineyards, which are right along “The Mother Road.”

Today, Concord grapes still play a staring role in our Velvet Red, Country Red and Concord wines.

Today, through constant research and development, St. James Winery continues to sustainably grow flavors that reflect the natural character of each of our grape varieties and of the special place they are grown – the Meramec Highlands. This is where we make wine to make your life sweeter.

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540 State Rte B
St James, MO 65559

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