This Is the Oldest Official Wine-growing Region in the U.S.-and No, It's Not Napa Valley

"Just an hour west of St. Louis, set along some of Missouri's most gorgeous scenery, is the tiny town of Augusta. The population hovers around 300 people, and it's still a hidden gem for most people not from the Show-Me State. However, this slow-paced small town is also home to one of the richest wine-making traditions in the U.S.-so much so that it actually earned the title of the first American Viticulture Area (an official wine-growing region) back in 1980."

"Many of the wineries in the area were founded by German immigrants, including Mount Pleasant Estates. Established in 1859, it's the oldest winery in the AVA. However, the era of Prohibition (which lasted from 1920 to 1933) took its toll on the area, and many vineyards were destroyed. A wine-making revival began in the 1960s, when Mount Pleasant reopened and resumed production. Accolades for its vintages eventually followed, including a gold award from the World Wine Championship for its Missouri Norton."

Augusta, Missouri, sits an hour west of St. Louis with a population near 300 and scenic rolling hills. The region became the first American Viticultural Area in 1980, predating Napa Valley's designation. Settlement began in 1836 by Harold Leonard and the town incorporated as Augusta about 20 years later. German immigrants established many local wineries; Mount Pleasant Estates was founded in 1859 and is the oldest in the AVA. Prohibition (1920–1933) destroyed many vineyards, but a revival in the 1960s restored production when Mount Pleasant reopened. Mount Pleasant and several other wineries are owned by the Hoffmann Family; Noboleis remains family-run.

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