Some St. Louisans may have heard of Cedar Lake Cellars, a 95-acre winery located in Wright City, Mo., about an hour west of St. Louis City. The venue opened to the public in 2008, hosting only private events in a charming, rehabbed barn. In 2009, the winery was built, and then a tasting room opened quietly last fall. This weekend, the folks at Cedar Lake are holding a grand opening to mark the start of their first full season in operation.
Cedar Lake has a total of 10 wines in its portfolio. Four are made from Missouri grapes while the other six use grapes grown in California. In the tasting room, visitors can sample from five of the 10 Cedar Lake labels for just $5, while guests interested in exploring wines from other regions of the globe can choose from 15 “wines of the world.” There is also a small selection of beer, including the estate’s signature Cedar Lake Cellars Amber Ale, brewed by Boston Brewing Co.
The winery offers food at its Wine Country Cafe including cheese and charcuterie plates for sharing, antipasto, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. Entrée specials hit the menu on weekends.
Cedar Lake is open to the public Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. This weekend, the fanfare begins Friday at 5 p.m., with a happy hour that includes complementary apps and wine samples. The party continues with a barbecue Saturday afternoon, followed by an all-inclusive evening dinner affair ($50/person; $75/couple). On Sunday, the winery will launch Sunday brunch. For more information, visit the Cedar Lake Cellars Web site.
This article appears in April 2011.