Stone Hill Winery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Stone Hill Historic District
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Stone Hill Winery and vineyards
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bounded roughly by W. 12th, Goethe and Jefferson Sts., and Iron Rd., Hermann, Missouri |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000102 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1969 |
Stone Hill Winery is a famous place in Hermann, Missouri. It's a winery located right by the Missouri River. This area is often called the Missouri Rhineland because it's great for growing grapes.
German immigrants started Stone Hill Winery in 1847. It quickly grew to become the largest winery in Missouri.
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A Journey Through Time: Stone Hill's History
The winery began in 1847. It was a small, private winery built on a hill. The founder was Michael Poeschel. From 1861 to 1878, John Scherer joined him. The winery was then called M. Poeschel and Scherer.
They started building on the current site in 1861. The first buildings included wine cellars and an office. In 1878, Poeschel and Scherer sold most of the company. William Herzog and George Stark took over.
In 1883, Herzog and Stark became full owners. They changed the name to Stone Hill Wine Company. George Stark, who came from Germany in 1867, became the sole owner in 1893. Under his leadership, Stone Hill became one of the biggest wineries in the country.
Stone Hill's Rise to Fame
Around 1900, Stone Hill Winery was very important. It was the largest winery west of the Mississippi River. It was also the second largest in the entire United States. Globally, it was the third largest winery in the world!
In 1900, it produced an amazing 1,250,000 gallons of wine. Its wines won many awards at international events. These included fairs in Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876), and St. Louis (1904).
Facing Challenges: The Prohibition Era
A big challenge came in 1920. This was when a time called Prohibition began. During Prohibition, it became illegal to make or sell alcoholic drinks. Because of this, Stone Hill Winery had to close its doors. Most other wineries in the country also closed.
To make money, the owners found a new use for their wine cellars. They started growing mushrooms there! They sold mushrooms until 1965.
A New Beginning
In 1965, local farmers Jim and Betty Held brought the winery back to life. They were the first to re-establish a winery in Missouri after Prohibition. They moved into the old buildings, which needed a lot of repair. They worked hard to restore the historic buildings and the underground cellars.
Old Stone Hill Historic District
The Old Stone Hill Historic District is a special area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
The district includes 11 important buildings. These buildings are all connected to the Stone Hill Winery. They include the manager's home and office, the wine processing plant, a warehouse, a barn, and the stone-lined cellars where wine used to age.
