Stone Hill Winery in Branson, Missouri
Stone Hill Winery is a 160-year-old Missouri wine producer with three locations in the state, including one in Branson. (The company’s main headquarters is in Hermann, in the middle of the state.) The winery touts itself as an interesting mix of old world history and new world technology and literally thousands of visitors tour the Branson location each day, especially during peak tourist season.
Stone Hill Winery was at one time the second-largest winery in the United States. However, the advent of Prohibition had a huge negative affect on the Missouri wine industry and many of the cellars were destroyed or fell into disrepair. It wasn’t until 1965, when Stone Hill was bought by a private buyer, that the winery began to experience a renaissance.
Today, the Stone Hill Winery at Branson occupies a 12,000 square foot building that has been open to the general public since 1986. Guests visit the winery to take advantage of a one-hour tour which educates them as to the specifics of grape growing and cultivating and the process of wine making in general. The tour starts with a short film that focuses on the tradition of Missouri winemaking and continues with a close look at Stone Hill’s main facility in Hermann, which is situated in the middle of Missouri’s winemaking region.
Next, guests are led to the area where Stone Hill Winery makes their Cream Sherry wines and are invited to watch the bottling process of the company’s acclaimed Spumante wines. At the end of the tour, visitors are led to one of six tasting rooms at the Branson facility, where they can taste a bevy of different Stone Hill Winery-produced vintages from dry, full-bodied wines to sweet varieties. Stone Hill produces many kinds of wines suitable to a variety of tastes, including reds, whites, roses, Spumantes, and refreshing dessert wines. (All visitors must be of legal age to participate in the wine tasting.) Tours are free of charge and happen about every 15 minutes or so. The facility is eager to accommodate group tours but suggest that reservations be made in advance so as to insure no wait.
Those who do not wish to tour the Branson facility are nonetheless encouraged to sample the wines available in the tasting rooms. Visitors may also head to Stone Hill Winery’s onsite gift shop where they can purchase most Stone Hill varieties as well as a number of other wine-related items and gifts.
The Branson location of Stone Hill Winery also holds occasional special events at the facility. For example, each June, they sponsor New Vintage Days, which allows guests to come to the winery and taste the latest vintages for that year. The winery also participates in the city’s annual See the World in Branson Days, a 10-day festival that gives the company an opportunity to tout its rich German heritage. German-style wines are the central focus at this time and winery employees dress in traditional German garb.
Stone Hill Winery Branson is open year round except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Sunday hours are limited. In the peak months of mid March through mid October, the winery opens at 8:30 am and remains open until 8 pm.
Useful Links:
http://www.stonehillwinery.com/
http://www.catchwine.com/wineries/missouri/stone_hill_winery_branson/
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