The Parson’s House sits high on a hill in the heart of Defiance, Missouri, overlooking the scenic Missouri River Valley. The historic home was built in 1842 by Thomas and Phoebe Parson, who had ventured west from Virginia in 1840. Their family settled high on the ridge and farmed more than 1,000 acres of land there long before the town of Defiance was established.

Their grandson, William Lee Parson, Sr., played a key role in establishing the town of Defiance. The tale is told that the town’s name would have been Parsons, if it hadn’t been for a Parsons, Kansas, already founded along the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad (now known as the Katy Trail).

Complete restoration of the historic brick house commenced in 1986 when the property was no longer owned by the Parson family and since has served the community as a Bed & Breakfast. Today, Norm Kellar, a dear friend of Defiance Ridge Vineyards, owns and operates the Parson’s House. Norm is fond of Chardonnay wine which attributes to using the Parson name for this Chardonel label. 

The team at Defiance Ridge Vineyards enjoys commemorating the history of their town by naming wines after cornerstones of their community. Some of these wines include Katy Traminette, named after the nearby iconic Katy Trail, Falling Leaf Off-Dry Vignoles, dedicated to the local Falling Leaf Farm, and of course, Parson House Chardonel.

Guests visiting Defiance can book their stay at the Parson’s House by contacting Norm at 314-280-3555. Enjoy a getaway to the Defiance area and be sure to complete your trip with a stop at Defiance Ridge Winery and a glass of Parson House Chardonel.

Chardonel (shar-doe-nel) is a classic varietal in Missouri and may sound familiar to wine enthusiasts all over the world. It is a hybrid between Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc grapes. Depending on how it was aged, this tasty varietal may have the butteriness of Chardonnay or the crispness of Seyval Blanc.

In 1953, the Chardonel grape was developed at Cornell AgriTech. The fruits were observed for the first time in 1958 and then later propagated. Cornell described this varietal as ‘vigorous and productive [with] large clusters’ (“Chardonel” Grape, n.d.). Chardonel was officially released in 1990 and now accounts for 7.2% of acres of grapes in Missouri.

Chardonel can be enjoyed by itself, but it is phenomenal when paired with various foods. The next time you pour a glass of this hybrid wine, try it with Gouda, grilled chicken, bass, a cream sauce pasta or even a scoop of bread pudding. 

If you are looking to utilize this wine in a recipe, we highly recommend the Cheesy Chardonel Bacon Mac & Cheese - it is oh-so-easy. 

This varietal is not only outstanding but also award-winning. The Montelle Winery 2022 Chardonel was the 2023 Missouri Wine Competition’s Best Chardonel. This wine has aromas of apple, pear, and fig with a medium body and lingering finish. 

Whether you want a buttery or a crisp finish, Chardonel has an original taste that cannot be forgotten. When shopping for your next bottle of wine, make sure you grab a Missouri Chardonel. 

SOURCE:

“Chardonel” Grape. (n.d.). Www.hort.cornell.edu. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.hort.cornell.edu/reisch/grapegenetics/bulletin/chardonel.html#:~:text=