Earth day is every day at wineries in Missouri. Many of these businesses, both small and large, take time out of their day to reduce, reuse and recycle. Taking care of the Earth is top of mind when it comes to growing grapes and vine management, but it is also reflected in the small business aspect too. One of these wineries is Baltimore Bend Vineyard and Winery in Waverly.

Manager Sarah Schmidt says they want to minimize their footprint however they can. The staff at Baltimore Bend Vineyards takes the time with their glass to recycle it twice a month at their nearby towns of Marshall at Marshall Municipal Utilities and Higginsville at Lafayette County Enterprises, Inc. Not only do they recycle their tasting room bottles, but they welcome customers to bring their empty bottles back to the winery and they will happily recycle for them.

There are many packaging materials that ensure the safe arrival of products sold in their gift shop, as well as with other winery necessities such as corks, bottles, labels, signage and shipping boxes. Sarah and her team reuse these however they can. Boxes are often offered to those who need them for moving or storage. They even recycle plastic and aluminum too. Water bottles and cans on site are sorted and taken with other recyclable materials.

As the winery has continued to grow, the priority of reducing their waste has grown as well. A local distiller in Rayville approached the winery for their leftover skins and seeds after crushing. Jim Pierce started Of the Earth Distillery in 2010 and utilizes the leftover pomace to make fruit brandies. Other wineries add these leftovers as mulch in the vineyards or share it with livestock producers to utilize as feed. This adds a dynamic angle to their recycling, especially supporting another local business owner and his product.

Baltimore Bend Winery is housed in what used to be a cider mill. The town of Waverly is home to Peters’ Orchards, the largest apple producers in the state. The Peters previously utilized the entire space but now share it with Baltimore Bend, with hope of purchasing it in the future. These plans were delayed by the COVID pandemic, but lots of ideas are waiting to be explored with this possible expansion.

Although it can often be cliché, taking care of the Earth and its resources is very important to those who produce crops or live off the product of the land. Wineries across the state take pride in supporting this cause and their communities. If your local winery embraces sustainability, give them a shout out on social media by tagging them and us @missouriwine and #missouriwine.

A home away from home, this winery has continued its growth through the years. 

The beautiful blufftop property overlooking a subtle bend in the Missouri river is tucked right along Interstate-70 west of Columbia, Missouri. Les Bourgeois Vineyards is a familiar place to many locals in mid-Missouri while being a popular attraction to tourists near and far.

Curtis (Doc) and Martha Bourgeois purchased the Rocheport property in 1974 and officially opened as Les Bourgeois Winery in 1985. They settled into the area living in the small A-frame structure, now known as The A-Frame Winegarden, while building a home on the property. They planted vines on the rolling hills and eventually began making wine in the garage of their home.

The opening season in 1985 was a huge success as they sold out of their wines very quickly. Expansion easily approached as they built the Bistro in the 1990s with intention to host weddings, University gatherings, family reunions and more. After outgrowing the wine making facility in their garage, they purchased the Pete’s Café building which housed their production facilities and tasting room. This setup was cozy and worked for many years. In 2011, the winemaking facility and warehouse was built next to the tasting room. Four years later, the Tasting Room expanded and continues to house the tasting bar and retail space.

In 2019, Curtis Bourgeois, son of the founding Doc and Martha, retired after 32 years of ownership. He passed the baton to two leaders who played influential roles at the winery for many years prior. Jacob and Rachel Holman, with the partnership of an outside investor, took ownership of the winery and turned a new leaf while still upholding the culture that the Bourgeois family cultivated for more than 3 decades.

Since then, the new owners purchased two guesthouses and renovated the house built by the Bourgeois family in an effort to present a destination that feels like home. They continue to strive to build a place that feels welcoming, comfortable and altogether, a place for guests to create the most memorable experiences. Their ultimate goal is to perfect the small details that make up big moments.

The property is nestled alongside the Missouri River with easy access to the iconic Katy Trail. Visitors can experience this beautiful piece of the Midwest while enjoying the quality wines grown and produced on property. Wines can be enjoyed at each location on The Blufftop from The Tasting Room to The Bistro and The A-Frame Winegarden. Guesthouses have been perfectly tailored to feel like a piece of home where guests can stay and experience The Blufftop.

Given the continued growth of the Les Bourgeois Vineyards, the overall experience you can receive in Rocheport has outgrown the winery name. With the expansion into distilling, premium wines, lodging and more, it was time for an all-encompassing name to better describe the overall experience.

Recently introduced, The Blufftop at Rocheport(hyperlinked) will showcase all the property has to offer. Visitors now have a trailside vineyard retreat where they can wine, dine, shop, stay and play. Les Bourgeois Vineyards will be sticking around as the well-established brand of their winery and wines.

"We really are a big family here, and it's our hope that every guest who visits us will feel welcome and like this is a destination that feels like home for them," said Owner and CEO, Rachel Holman. "There is more than 35 years of history here on The Blufftop, and we look forward to continuing that legacy of growth and evolution with this brand expansion." 

Keep on the lookout for these exciting experiences with The Blufftop at Rocheport that you won’t want to miss.