Head to Missouri and Chaumette Vineyards & Winery, this fabulous midwest destinations provides visitors a lot to discover.
My adventures in the Missouri wine region enabled me to discover a charming getaway that has everything you could possibly desire when it comes to a relaxing experience and enjoying sumptuous meals. Chaumette Vineyards & Winery is more than a winery. It is a destination.
Chaumette Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room. Photo by Cori Solomon
Located about an hour south of St. Louis in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, an area settled by the French in the 1750s and is also known as the first colonial settlement on the west side of the Mississippi River. Situated on rolling hills, Chaumette boasts 310 acres with 30 of those acres planted with grapevines.
Chaumette Vineyards. Photo by Cori Solomon
Hank and Jackie Johnson founded the winery in 1990. The winery began as a weekend getaway but later became their permanent home. In 1992 Hank planted their first grapes, and in 2000 they started producing their wines. Hank and Jackie’s passion and love of wine, food, and property are quite apparent in every aspect of Chaumette.
Chaumette features the Tasting Room, the Village with 13 villas, the Spa, pool, Gift Shop and Art Gallery, Saint Vincent’s Chapel-in-the-Vineyard, The Barn, and the Grapevine Grill.
Chaumette Vineyards & Winery Villas. Photo by Cori Solomon
A bonus is that Chaumette is very dog friendly. Hank and Jackie have several dogs that roam the property and happily greet many a guest. Zoe, my Saluki, accompanied me on my visit, and she was allowed pretty much everywhere on the property.
Lunch at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
Zoe and I arrived just in time for a late lunch at the Grapevine Grill. We sat on the patio overlooking magnificent views of the vineyards. I was thoroughly impressed with the superb cuisine options.
The View from the Patio at the Grapevine Grill. Photo by Cori Solomon
Being a Californian, my taste buds lean towards a dryer wine. I desired either a white or Rosé with my lunch. It was hard choosing between an Unoaked Chardonel, the Reserve Chardonel, and the Rosé. Chardonel is a hybrid of Chardonnay and Seyval, a grape that reminds one of Sauvignon Blanc. I chose the Rosé, made from the Chambourcin grape, as it exhibited a bolder, deep, and refreshing flavor.
Chaumette Vineyards & Winery Tasting Room
The tasting room bar is adorned with a large mural that tells the story of Jean de la Chaumette tracing the family origins from France to the United States. Artwork from local Missouri artists fills the walls of the tasting room and dining room.
Chaumette Tasting Room Mural tells the Chaumette family story. Photo by Cori Solomon
St. Vincent’s In The Vineyard
After lunch, Hank took me on a tour of the property. Our first stop is St. Vincent’s-in-the-Vineyard, an all-faith chapel that sits on a knoll overlooking the property. The chapel was moved onto the property and reconstructed. Being a destination winery, the chapel has become a very popular place for weddings, especially for those choosing to make Chaumette the backdrop to their marriage.
St. Vincent’s Chapel. Photo by Cori Solomon
Nearby sits The Barn, a popular location for wedding receptions and other celebrations.
The Barn at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery. Photo by Cori Solomon
Chaumette Winery
Leaving the barn, we drove over to the winery. Chaumette specializes in utilizing advanced viticultural techniques to handcraft its wines. Chaumette’s portfolio comprises about a dozen wines, including Norton, Chardonel, Traminette, Chambourcin, and Vignoles. Being a boutique winery, Chaumette concentrates on producing dry wines along with a small percentage of semi-dry and semi-sweet styles for a total output of three to five thousand cases annually.
Chaumette Wiinery. Photo by Cori Solomon
The Pool and Fitness Center at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
Chaumette Vineyards & Winery Pool. Photo by Cori Solomon
Chaumette Villas
Our tour ended at the Villas. My Villa was nicely appointed with a fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, two baths, and a living-dining area with a fireplace.
Chaumette Villa Living Room. Photo by Cori Solomon
In fact, Zoe raced up and down the stairs deciding if the loft bedroom or the downstairs main bedroom bed was more befitting for this Saluki.
Chaumette Villa Loft Bedroom with my Saluki, Zoe. Photo by Cori Solomon
Zoe and I immediately settled in, enjoying the country charm of our private villa.
Chaumette Villa Bedroom with my Saluki, Zoe. Photo by Cori Solomon
Dining at the Grapevine
Since my visit occurred on a day the restaurant was closed, Hank had the Sous Chef prepare a special meal. Upon Hank’s and my arrival at the restaurant, we found another couple sitting outside waiting. The couple was celebrating their anniversary and thought they made reservations for the evening. This couple drove an hour and a half to enjoy dinner at Chaumette’s Grapevine Grill. How could one send these people away, especially on their anniversary?
Hank, being ever so gracious, invited them to dinner. They had a private dinner on the patio with the most gorgeous sunset. This situation highlights Hank’s philosophy and his dedication to Chaumette. Hank wants people visiting to truly experience the environment in their own way. For this couple, the private intimate dining experience on their anniversary is one they will never forget.
Sunset at the Grapevine Grill. Photo by Cori Solomon
Our dinner was fabulous, and Hank poured a Chambourcin to complement the chef’s flavors. The meal started with a Spinach Salad with fried eggs and mustard vinaigrette. Our entrée was a salmon rubbed in garlic oil, salt, and pepper, topped with horseradish, and oven-dried. The salmon was cooked on a wine stave. This had to be the most succulent-tasting salmon. It truly melted in my mouth. Grilled asparagus and oven-dried tomatoes accompanied the salmon. For dessert, I indulged in a Rhubarb Crisp. The sweet and sour taste was a marvelous closing to this meal.
The Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
Chaumette being a French name reminds me of some of the exquisitely charming hotels in some of the hillside towns of France that include a four-star restaurant on the property. I believe Chaumette deserves a 4 or 5 star for the exceptional service and quality I experienced during my stay.
Without a doubt, Chaumette Vineyards & Winery is a wonderful winery to visit, whether for a meal at the Grapevine Grill, a wine tasting, or an overnight stay at the Villas. You will not go wrong, especially for those looking for a fall or springtime getaway in Missouri. Let Wander With Wonder be your guide to planning a visit to Missouri or for wine tasting anywhere.
Adore the dog!