Lori Cheatham, owner-operator of Wineology, a new wine shop and tasting lounge, has a love of Missouri wine that she wants to share. The St. Charles storefront opened 3767 New Town Blvd. on March 24, a few short months after she secured the lease. “I worked in the local wine industry for five years, for Augusta and Montelle wineries,” Cheatham said. “There is a stigma about local wines like it’s all sweet, but Missouri wines have so much to offer.”
The shop and lounge currently feature seven local wineries – Augusta Winery, Defiance Ridge Vineyards, Montelle Winery, Serenity Valley Winery, Jowler Creek Winery, Wild Sun Winery and Baltimore Bend Vineyard – and Cheatham hopes to add more in the future. A selection of beers and local spirits is also available, and Cheatham plans to offer “winetails,” cocktails made with local wine, like ice wine with vodka and frozen berries, or a bloody mary with local Southside Alchemy’s bloody mary mix, Vidal blanc wine and a garnish with Volpi sausage, Marcoot Jersey Creamery white cheddar, olives and pickles. On the food side, Wineology offers a build-your-own charcuterie board with a selection of meats, cheeses, breads, dried fruits and nuts.
The space, which is roughly 1,250 square feet, seats 24 inside; patio seating for about 10 will be added in the summer. Wineology will be available for private events, and Cheatham also plans to have ticketed events such as wine tastings with local winemakers, as well as vertical tastings featuring wines produced in different years from a single maker.
“I knew nothing about Missouri wine before I started working for Augusta,” Cheatham said. “They press, ferment, bottle and sell, so I got to learn the full experience. The response from local wineries has been great, and I’m excited to build those relationships.”
Wineology is open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., they are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
This article appears in March/April 2021.
