#8 Visit a Vineyard...well in this case, a Winery

Check off #8... Visit a winery=complete!!

While in Branson, Cody and I took a trip to the Stone Hill Winery. The actual "home" of Stone Hill is Hermann, MO, but they have a location in Branson as well. We loved hearing how the winery was established and touring the facility...but the best part, of course, was the wine tasting!! After this experience, I'm definitely a fan of Stone Hill wines! If you are out looking for an amazing red or white, you should give one of theirs a try.

Just a little history for you: At the turn of the 20th century, Stone Hill Winery was the second-largest winery in the United States and the third-largest in the world; it produced 1,250,000 gallons in 1900. Its wine had won numerous awards in international fairs, including Vienna in 1873, Philadelphia in 1876, and St. Louis in 1904. Due to Prohibition, the winery was closed in 1920, along with virtually all others in the nation. During this time, the family earned money by using its wine cellars to grow mushrooms for sale until 1965. In 1965 the Held family made Stone Hill Winery the first in Missouri to be re-established. In 2008, wine production was 260,000 gallons. The Stone Hill winery is owned by the Held family, with the property passed down from generation to generation.