September is Missouri Wine Month and this year, we’re raising a glass to tradition.

Missouri wine is more than what’s poured into a glass. From historic vineyards along the Missouri River to family-owned wineries scattered across the state, Missouri’s wine industry is built on traditions that have been passed down.

German immigrants brought their winemaking to Missouri in the 1800s, discovering that the climate and landscape could support thriving vineyards. Hermann and Augusta quickly became centers of Missouri’s early wine industry, and Missouri-grown wine eventually earned national and international recognition.

Missouri’s wine story has never been just about making a good bottle. It has always been about adapting, experimenting, and finding ways to make the land work. And that tradition continues today.

Walk through a Missouri vineyard in September and you’ll see that winemaking is still deeply connected to agriculture. Rows of vines stretch across hillsides. Grapes are harvested by hand and machine. Winemakers taste, test, blend, ferment, and wait. Families work together. Vineyard Managers watch the weather. And every vintage tells a slightly different story. That’s part of what makes Missouri wine special.

Today, Missouri is home to wineries of all sizes, from historic family operations to newer vineyards bringing fresh ideas to the industry.

Some have been making wine for generations. Others are just beginning to write their story. But the common thread is tradition. It’s the tradition of working the land. The tradition of welcoming people around a table. The tradition of sharing a bottle with friends. The tradition of celebrating a successful harvest. And perhaps most importantly, the tradition of doing things with intention.

Missouri Wine Month is the perfect excuse to explore what’s growing in your own backyard.

Visit a local winery. Try a Missouri-grown varietal you’ve never tasted. Take a vineyard tour. Attend a harvest event. Bring a friend. Buy a bottle from a Missouri producer and enjoy it with dinner.

This September, let’s raise a glass to the traditions that got us here—and to the people carrying them forward.

Cheers to Missouri. Cheers to the harvest. And cheers to tradition.